Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

As the evening settled over the city, Brynlee flipped the sign to “Closed”, relieved that the day was almost over. Only one client remained with Jane, but they would hopefully be finished soon.

Brynlee moved on autopilot, gathering towels and loading them into the washer, then checking the bathroom to make sure it was clean and well-stocked. The stylists were responsible for their own stations, but Brynlee did a quick once-over to make certain everything was in its place.

After Jessica had slammed out the door this morning, the remainder of the day had been a blur of appointments and stilted conversation. A few of Jessica’s friends had come to her over the course of the day to express their concerns but also to show their support, understanding why she had made the decision she did. It wasn’t an easy conversation to have, but it was a necessary one.

She had built this salon from the ground up, and she wasn’t about to let anyone tear it down. She had weathered storms before; she would weather this one too.

"Thank you so much, Jane," Elisa gushed as the stylist guided her toward the reception desk. The woman turned to Brynlee. “She did an amazing job. I'll definitely be coming back."

Brynlee smiled warmly. "We're glad to hear that, Elisa."

She led Elisa to the front desk, giving her the total, and Elisa handed over cash, glancing around the salon appreciatively.

"Is there a restroom I can use before I go?" she asked.

"Of course," Brynlee replied, pointing down the hallway. "It's just past the massage rooms, on the left."

Elisa nodded, following Brynlee's directions. While she was gone, Brynlee continued her end-of-day routine, sanitizing surfaces and organizing supplies. She made sure everything was in its proper place, ready for the next day's appointments.

Elisa headed toward the door with a little wave. "Thanks again. Have a great weekend!”

"You too, Elisa," Brynlee replied, waving as Elisa walked out the door. She then turned to Jane, who was gathering her things. "Enjoy your day off tomorrow, Jane. You've earned it."

Jane grinned. "Thanks, Brynlee. You have a good weekend too. See you Monday!"

With one last smile, Jane headed out, leaving Brynlee alone in the now-quiet salon. She took a moment to breathe in the calm, the peacefulness that came with the end of a busy day. Then, she set about turning off all the lights, each room falling into darkness one by one.

She gathered her belongings, then stepped out into the cool evening air. Pulling her jacket tighter around her shoulders, she locked the front door, then climbed into her car and headed home.

As she pulled into her driveway, the sight of the sight of a small package on the porch caught her eye. She groaned, the sight of it triggering a wave of apprehension.

She sighed deeply as she shifted the transmission into park, finally mustering the energy to step out of the car. Stepping out of the car, she approached the porch with a sense of foreboding. Climbing the steps, each one felt like a small mountain. The knot in her stomach tightened with every step.

It was the third time this week that Zane had left something for her. He had been returning her belongings one by one, an unwelcome reminder of their past and his betrayal. At first, it had been small things—a book, a piece of jewelry, a sweater. But each package felt like a stab, reopening wounds she was desperately trying to heal.

She wished he would just stop and leave her alone. She didn’t know what he was trying to accomplish, but each item felt like a small, calculated intrusion into her carefully rebuilt life. He had cheated on her, moved on with someone else, and yet he still found ways to disrupt her life.

Brynlee picked up the package, her fingers trembling slightly. She could see his handwriting on the label, neat and familiar, and it made her heart ache. The sight of it brought back memories of happier times, tainted now by his infidelity.

For a moment, she contemplated throwing it into the trash without opening it, but her curiosity and the need for closure got the better of her. Inside the box was a small stuffed bear, a red rose clutched in one paw, a heart in the other. She remembered it vividly. He’d given it to her for Valentine’s Day—just days before she’d found out he’d been unfaithful.

Brynlee felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. She would gladly give up everything she left behind if it meant never having to see or hear from him again.

Brynlee unlocked the door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of home doing little to calm her. She tossed the bear into a box in the hall closet and slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the empty house. She leaned against the door for a moment, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

She’d dealt with enough today; she didn’t need to add Zane’s ridiculous excuse for absolution, too. Pushing off the door, Brynlee headed into the kitchen. She needed something to take her mind off the day—a hot shower, a glass of wine, maybe even both. Anything to drown out the echoes of her confrontation with Jessica and the unwanted reminders from Zane.

Scooter was lying contentedly in a patch of evening sunlight that streamed through the back door, and she paused to pet him. “Were you good today?”

Meow .

Brynlee chuckled. Figured the cat would behave—Sawyer wasn’t home yet. It seemed like the cat lived to torment her neat-freak neighbor. “We have to get that door fixed.”

Pushing to her feet, she dropped her purse and keys on the counter then made a beeline for the bathroom. Inside, she turned on the water for the shower, letting it run until steam filled the bathroom. As she stepped under the hot spray, she let the water wash away the stress of the day. But no matter how long she stood there, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her past was closing in on her, one small, unwelcome reminder at a time.

A moment of clarity hit her all at once. This would be the last time he had the power to disrupt her peace.

She needed to focus on moving forward, on healing. Brynlee knew it wouldn't be easy, but today had shown her that she had the strength to make tough decisions. She had faced one difficult goodbye already; it was time to face another.

Stepping from the shower, she grabbed up her phone and pulled up Zane’s information. With a deep breath, she tapped the option to block his number.

No more packages, no more reminders. As she stood there, a sense of calm washed over her. It was time to reclaim her life, one step at a time.