Chapter 22

chapter twenty-two

Addie

The moment I step inside the bakery, I get an overwhelming sense of… unease. I can't even really explain it, but there's a sense of dread weighing heavily in the pit of my stomach, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up, sending goose bumps along my flesh.

My hand shakes as I feel for the light switch along the darkened wall and flip it on, illuminating the back room.

Nothing seems out of place at first glance, but still, the feeling of unease creeps higher along my spine, sending my senses into overdrive.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid, like the other day when I thought that I saw Dixon on campus. It's probably because I'm barely functioning on three hours of sleep and have been a little paranoid since the maybe-Dixon incident. I'm sure I'm just imagining things that aren't really there.

Amos should be here soon, and then I won't be so freaked-out.

At least that's what I keep repeating to myself as I turn back toward the door and lock the deadbolt.

I grab my apron off the hook, securing it around my waist before walking through the kitchen, flipping the rest of the lights on. A flood of relief washes over me when everything seems to be in place. No serial killers hiding in the shadows.

You've worked yourself up over nothing, Addie. Just chill.

I exhale, blowing out a pent-up breath, and then make my way to the front of the bakery.

There, I find exactly where the feeling of unease and dread came from. The sight in front of me sends me into a state of panic and pure fear. My stomach plummets, and I begin to shake so badly that I'm worried my legs will give out.

Oh god.

I lift a trembling hand to cover my mouth as a pained, heartbroken cry tumbles from me, and hot, stinging tears well in my eyes.

Someone's… destroyed Ever After.

It's completely trashed. Pieces of wood and glass are strewn on nearly every inch of the floor from the shattered front windows, one of my mother's most favorite parts of the bakery, leaving nothing but a gaping hole.

The bistro tables in the front have been flipped, the wooden chairs lying in broken pieces next to them. The display cases are smashed, along with all of the plates that were on the counter.

With each new thing I discover, my stomach twists, and I feel like I'm going to be sick. Seeing my favorite place in the world this way does something irreparable to my heart.

I just… I just don't understand… Why would anyone do this? What could they possibly gain from destroying a bakery? Kids who thought vandalizing a business would be fun? But this just seems way more intense than a random case of vandalism. A hundred different scenarios play out in my head, and I just can't seem to make sense of the nightmare in front of me.

Everything's been thrown from the counters, bags and boxes strewn across the floor behind the counter, yet… the only thing that seems to have not been touched is the cash register.

Why would someone break into the bakery and not take anything? This seems so hostile and targeted an?—

Realization hits me with a force so powerful that I have to reach out and grip the wall to remain upright. Dixon? Brent?

Oh my god.

Did they … do this? Did my stepdad do this? Did Dixon?

Would they really stoop this low? To damage the bakery this way?

I honestly don't know anymore. I thought that I knew who Brent was, and then I found out that it was all a lie. That he spent the majority of my life lying to me and manipulating me. It doesn't seem too far-fetched to think that he could do something like this.

And that night at home… he threatened me.

The only difference between Brent and Dixon is that Dixon physically hurt me. He could have done this.

I'm spiraling, my thoughts moving in a hundred different directions, furthering the anxiety that's taken root inside of me. No matter who did it, there's nothing I can do right now besides call the police.

The damage is done.

My vision blurs as my tears fall in earnest, and a choked sob erupts from my chest. My heart hurts for my mother's beloved bakery. A beat passes before I'm able to suck in a shaky breath and wipe the salty wetness coating my cheeks.

It suddenly hits me that this is a crime scene , it's still dark outside, and I'm alone. I'm barely able to hold it together as I turn and flee to the safety of my locked car. I can hardly get my phone out of my purse because I'm shaking so badly, but I finally am able to pull it free. My fingers hover over the screen, and I can barely make out the numbers as tears cloud my vision.

Hold it together, Addie. You have to hold it together.

I know I need to call the police, but there's one person I need to call first. The only person that I want when the world is falling apart around me… the only person who makes me feel safe.

My husband.

I'm still shaking as I sit on the curb outside of the bakery, a blanket wrapped tightly around my shoulders courtesy of the police officer who responded to the 911 call. My teeth were chattering because I was shaking so badly, a combination of adrenaline and shock, as I attempted to give my statement about what I walked into.

My gaze lingers on Grant, who's standing near the bakery entrance, his arms crossed over his chest, talking with the officers. Every few seconds, he glances over at me as if he needs to reassure himself that I'm okay. His face is an uncontrolled mask of worry mixed with frustration as he speaks, his jaw clenching with each shake of his head.

I've never seen him look scared before. But he did when he pulled up, flinging his truck door open and leaving the truck still running while he ran to me, hauling my nearly lifeless body against him protectively. The moment his strong arms closed around me and I breathed him in, I just… broke. He let me sob into his chest, seemingly needing to hold me as much as I needed to be held.

Being in his arms was the safety I needed to let go, to purge all of the heartache and fear that had been building inside of me, not just this morning but over the last few months. He held on so tightly I thought I'd stop breathing, but I only pulled him closer.

Because Grant is my safe place to land, and I know without a doubt that I'm falling in love with him.

I'm scared to admit that, even to myself, but I think I've loved him since before I even saw him for the first time. I fell for the guy through a computer screen who saw me more clearly than the people I saw face-to-face every day.

The guy whose quiet, unwavering strength has gotten me through one of the hardest times of my life.

"Cher?" My gaze whips to Amos, who's standing on the sidewalk next to me. "Are you okay?"

Numbly, I nod, clutching the blanket tighter around me. "Yeah. I'm just sad. And angry. And scared that we'll never be able to fix everything that was broken tonight. This place is so important to me, Amos."

"I know, darlin'." He takes a seat on the curb next to me before curving his arm around my shoulders and tucking me tightly against his side. "I'm sorry that you had to go through that this morning. I'm sorry I wasn't here to protect you."

The sad, remorseful tone of his voice has fresh tears stinging in my eyes and a ball of emotion rising in my throat. I lay my head on his shoulder as a moment of quiet settles over us.

I guess the adrenaline is starting to wear off because I just feel exhausted. Overwhelmed with everything that's happened this morning.

I hate this. I hate that it's affected not only me but the people that I love. Amos, Earl… Grant.

"It's not your fault. Please don't apologize. I came in early because I was planning on making a special batch of cream cheese croissants for Grant." I laugh humorlessly, swiping at the tears on my cheeks. "I guess that plan isn't happening now."

Amos tightens his arm around me and lays his cheek on the top of my head. My eyes flit back to Grant, and I sigh defeatedly.

"It's going to be okay, cher. I know it might not feel like it right now, but it will. We've got insurance, and they'll cover the damages until the police arrest whoever's responsible for this."

I scoff. "You know who's responsible for it."

"I have an idea, but we don't know that for sure. That man's a lot of things, but I don't think he's that foolish. And I know this is devastating to us both, but I want you to remember something. Okay? I want you to remember that no matter how dark it gets, that sun is gonna shine again. And when you feel those warm rays on your face, all of the darkness that you suffered through will be a thing of yesterday."

I nod, sniffling. "I know."

"I think I've been telling you that since you were a little girl. Goodness, you would run around the bakery, hiding behind my legs from your mama when you played hide-and-seek. I still remember those days like they were yesterday."

I could never forget growing up in the bakery or the time I had with my mom before she passed. Most of my memories include Amos—he loved her as much as I did.

Grant strides over to our perch, dropping to his haunches in front of me. He reaches out, brushing my hair back from my face with a softness in his eyes that's so tender it makes my chest ache. "You doing okay, baby?"

"Yes. I-I think…" I whisper quietly. "I will be okay."

Amos presses his lips gently to the crown of my hair before sliding his arm off and pushing to his feet. "I'm going to go do some cleanup inside, make some calls to the insurance company, and see how quickly I can get someone out here to replace the front windows and repair the display case. Probably should get the locks changed just in case."

God, I hadn't even thought that far ahead. I hadn't really thought about anything other than making it through this morning. I was exhausted before I even got here, and now that the adrenaline has begun to wear off, my eyes are heavy, and my brain is not functioning properly.

"I'm coming too," I say as I pull the blanket off my shoulders and stand, swaying slightly from how quickly I got up from the curb.

Grant reaches for me, immediately wrapping his hand around my arm and steadying me. "Baby, you're dead on your feet. You need to rest."

I shake my head adamantly, bringing my fingers to my temples and attempting to rub away the ache. I can't just leave the bakery. Amos and Earl need me to help clean up the disaster that's inside.

"Grant, I can't just leave them with this mess. This is my responsibility."

"I understand," he starts, gently pulling me to him and wrapping me up in his arms, practically holding me up. "But you also need to take care of yourself, Addie. You went through something traumatic this morning. You need to take a moment, get some sleep. I called in some help… I figured we could use it."

My brows pinch in confusion. I try not to fixate on the fact that he referred to the situation at the bakery as we and how it made my heart flutter.

"What do you mean?"

"Davis and a few guys from the team. They're going to come by in a bit and get a tarp up over the front window to prevent anything getting in." He pauses to look over at Amos, who has the smallest hint of a smile that I can't quite read on his face. "They're at your beck and call, Amos. Put them to work. Anything you need, they're here to help. I figured with their help, we can get the place cleaned up today, secure it as best we can until someone comes out to replace the windows and we can order new supplies."

God, my heart squeezes with each word that comes out of his mouth. I'm on the verge of tears again as I stare up at his ridiculously handsome face.

I think he might be perfect, and until now, I wasn't sure the perfect man existed.

But he does, and he's my husband.

"Grant," I whisper, and he glances back at me. His dark blue eyes are a hurricane of concern within the depths, and I can't take another second without touching him. I rise on the tips of my toes as I slide my arms around his neck, and then I lean in, sealing my lips to his.

It's the first time I've ever been the one to initiate a kiss. It's the first time that I've been so overcome by emotion that I physically restrain myself from pressing my lips to his. His arms tighten around my waist as he tilts his head, deepening the kiss, sweeping his tongue along the seam of my lips.

He pulls away with a small smile. "What was that for? Not that I'm complaining, but…"

"Thank you. Thank you for coming as soon as I called, for calling your teammates to come help clean up the bakery an—" I feel hot, fresh tears wetting my cheeks as my words tumble out in a frenzied rush, my exhaustion and emotion finally bubbling over.

"Hey. Hey," he whispers as he reaches for my face, smoothing his thumb tenderly over my cheeks and wiping the tears away. "You don't ever have to thank me, Addie. I will always come, no matter where you are. No matter what happens, I'll come, okay?"

I nod. His gaze lingers on mine, searching almost. I wish I could tell him what I'm feeling. That I could be brave enough to put it all out there, despite the fact that there's a huge chance he might not feel the way that I do. That this is just an arrangement to him with some attraction involved, and I'm just the foolish girl who fell in love.

"I promise you, Addie, I'm not going anywhere. And I know that promises are just words, but I'll prove it to you. I'll prove it with my actions."

Nodding, I sniffle, nearly swaying on my feet again. "O-okay."

"Now that we've got the bakery taken care of, at least for now… why don't you let me take you away for the weekend and get away from everything? I know that you're worried about everything going on here, but the guys have it under control. They'll get things cleaned up in no time. I can see how exhausted you are, and I know being here and stressing isn't what you need right now."

Even though there are a hundred reasons why I want to say yes, there are even more reasons why I can't.

I can't leave this mess for Earl and Amos. This is my bakery to look after.

"I—"

Amos interjects, cutting me off. "Don't say no, cher, because I already know you were about to. I think your beau is right. He's got a whole slew of strong, capable boys coming up here to get this place cleaned up, and you look far too exhausted to be helpful. The police report is done, and once I make the call to the insurance company… there's not much more we can do until we get the windows and cases fixed. We'll have to be closed for a few days while we wait. There's no better time for you to get away. To take a break for the first time… maybe ever?"

I chew my lip nervously, trying to cipher through the thoughts in my head. All of that may be true, but it still doesn't mean that I can just up and leave the bakery.

"Amos, I just… I can't leave. There's so much that I need to be doing. I can't leave you with this mess. And then there's Auggie."

Amos places a hand on his hip and shakes his head, his long ponytail swaying. "All I hear is you making excuses. You know that nothing makes Earl happier than getting to spend time with Auggie." He pauses, arching a bushy brow. "There's nothing you can do right now, cher. As much as I know you'll worry, I think you should go and give yourself the weekend. Rest and recover."

My gaze flits between the two of them as I mull over what he's saying.

It seems so easy… to take off for the weekend and not worry about what I'm leaving behind, but it's not a luxury that I've ever had. I've fought so hard for Ever After, and I'm struggling with the thought of leaving it this way. It physically hurts.

But there is a huge, overwhelming part of me that wants to go with Grant. To have an entire weekend of uninterrupted time with him, away from all of this . Because I have a feeling whoever did this, Brent or otherwise, did this to hurt me.

I'm not just angry and hurt… I'm scared.

If he was willing to do something as underhanded as this, how much further would he go to hurt me?

The thought terrifies me, and a shiver racks my body as I start to tremble. Pure exhaustion settles over me in a wave so strong that if it wasn't for Grant's arms tight around my body, I'd probably end up on the ground. As weary and afraid as I feel, I still feel safe and secure in his arms.

I guess… if there's nothing I can do while we're waiting on repairs, then I could go with him.

"Are you sure, Amos?"

Amos nods. "Absolutely. I've got everything under control. Go, enjoy a little quiet."

I drag my attention back to Grant, a beat passing between us before I speak. "Okay. I'll go away with you. But… where are we going?"

"Home."