Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

Josie

A week later, I stood at the kitchen window, watching Fox’s truck pull into the driveway. We’d had no contact since he’d walked out of my house. I was embarrassed to admit it, but at first I think I was hanging on to hope that he’d come around, realize he’d made a mistake and apologize. But as the days went by, I felt like an idiot for considering that was even in the realm of possibility. The man was cut and dried. He liked his life neat and orderly. But at least one good thing had come out of me trying to pretend I wasn’t waiting on him—I’d kept myself super busy.

I looked around the house. Fresh paint, the living room had an actual ceiling, new flooring, appliances, lighting fixtures, hardware, and decking. I’d gotten a few windows replaced, the house power-washed, the driveway sealed, and today I’d replaced the last of the tattered screens. It was almost unrecognizable as the house I’d walked into two months ago. Feeling proud, I snapped a few pictures and texted them to Nilda. A few minutes later, my phone rang, and I smiled at the screen.

“That is not the same house,” she said when I answered.

“It is. I have the dent in my bank account and pain in my back from all the lifting to prove it.”

“It looks amazing. I can’t believe you did all that yourself.”

I hated to give the jerk credit, but I couldn’t lie to Nilda. “Actually, I didn’t do it all myself. Fox is a contractor, and he helped a lot.”

“Oh, how wonderful! Mr. Grumpy Hothead who is thoughtful, fiercely loyal, and devastatingly handsome is also handy! Sounds too good to be true.”

Truer words were never spoken. Too bad I’d fallen for his act—hook, line, and sinker. I sighed. “Turns out he was, Nilda.”

“Oh no. Are you okay?”

I didn’t like to lie, but I didn’t want her to worry. She had enough on her mind with her upcoming move. “I’m good. He wasn’t my type after all.” I took a deep breath and soldiered on. “When are you leaving for South Carolina?”

“Four days. The day after tomorrow is my last day with Dr. Preston, and I leave Tuesday morning.”

God forbid Mom give her some time to breathe after twenty-five years of employment. I bet she wasn’t even doing anything special for her last day. Nilda deserved a party.

With that, a light bulb flicked on in my head. She does deserve a party. Everything was done now here. There was no reason I couldn’t drive back and throw one.

As quickly as the thought struck, I turned to look at the house next door. But I forced my eyes away and inwardly scolded myself.

No.

No, no, no.

I’m done here. I’m done wallowing. And Nilda’s departure was important. I’d let a man turn me upside down yet again.

“Will you have dinner with me on your last night?” I asked.

“I didn’t think you’d be back until after I left?”

“Change of plans. I’m coming home.”

“It would mean the world to me to spend my last night here with you, Josie.”

I smiled. This was the right decision. “I’ll see you Monday night.”

“Safe drive home, sweetheart.”

After I hung up, I got to work. I called the only auto-repair shop in Laurel Lake and made an appointment to get my oil changed and tires checked. Then I called a real estate agent I’d met at the party Bernadette Macon had thrown when I first arrived. Lynn Walker had been elementary-school friends with my dad and owned one of the two agencies in town. She said she’d stop over tomorrow to look at the house and discuss renting it again.

With the big things out of the way, after dinner I decided to pour myself a glass of wine and sit down and write out a to-do list of what needed to be done before I left the day after tomorrow.

Three tasks in, my phone rang.

Opal.

I figured it was safe to answer. I might have believed Fox had fallen for me, but I was certain he was not spreading gossip. So I swiped.

“Hi, Opal.”

“I’m going to kill that man!”

Uh-oh.Apparently, I’d misjudged more than I thought about the man next door. Yet I pretended to not know what she was talking about. Just in case… “Who are we talking about?”

“That jackass boss of mine. I knew there was a reason he’s been particularly hateful the last week and a half.”

I sighed. I supposed it would get out sooner than later. Though I would have preferred the later to be after I was gone. “He told you…”

“I put two and two together. He fired three subcontractors this week, can’t put anything down without slamming it, and looks like he hasn’t slept in a month. He tried to play it off to Porter as being stressed over one of our jobs going long. But then Regina Watson called me.”

“Who?”

“I don’t think you’ve met her yet. Regina bowls with Bob on Friday nights. She’s a really good bowler. Whoops all the men’s asses.”

I was lost. “Okay…”

“Bob is Bob Walker. He’s married to Lynn, the real estate agent you’re talking to about listing the house for rent. Lynn mentioned it to her husband, who mentioned it to Regina at bowling tonight, and Regina called me. Now it makes sense why the boss is extra grumpy. You’re leaving. And my guess is he did something to cause that.”

Oh, Jesus Christ. I couldn’t keep up with the game of telephone these people played. But the cat was out of the bag. I exhaled. “I am leaving. But Fox didn’t do anything to me. Not really. He just…we’re not looking for the same thing.”

“When are you leaving, sweetheart?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Well, then we’ll need to have the party tomorrow!”

“That’s very sweet. But I don’t want a party, Opal. I don’t really feel up for it.”

“If you’d rather keep it small, I can do that. How about just a few of the girls then?”

It wasn’t lost on me that a woman I’d met only two months ago was ready to jump in and throw a party for me on a day’s notice, yet my mother wasn’t even taking Nilda to dinner. Laurel Lake was a special place. It wouldn’t be right if I snuck off without saying goodbye to some of its special people.

“That sounds perfect, Opal.”

“Great. I’ll call the gang and set it up and get back to you with the plans. But let’s say seven tomorrow night?”

“Okay.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Goodnight, Opal.”

***

A few turned out to be twelve. But it also turned out to be exactly what I needed after a full day of packing. Opal had arranged dinner at an upbeat Mexican restaurant two towns over, one with a lively mariachi band and a long list of margaritas. When I’d walked in, she’d hugged me and whispered, “The jackass hates these types of places. He’d never step foot in here.” That went a long way toward helping me relax and enjoy the evening. Everyone had gone now, and it was just me and Opal at the table, eating fried ice cream.

“Thank you for pulling this together. You have made me feel like family since the moment I arrived, Opal.”

“You are family, sweetheart. Your daddy grew up here, and we take care of our own. But that sounds like it’s an obligation.” She shook her head. “With you, it’s an honor.”

My eyes welled up. So much of me didn’t want to leave here. After two months, this place felt more like a home than my own house ever had. Opal reached across the table and covered my hand with hers.

“He’s crazy about you,” she said. “I know he is.”

“He has a funny way of showing it.”

“The man can keep skating after taking a stick to the head. He’s the toughest guy I know. But he can’t seem to move on from what happened.”

That might be true, but I’d promised myself I’d never settle for a man who wasn’t willing to give me back what I gave him. “I can’t stick around waiting for something that might never happen. You know how he is, everything is black and white. I don’t exist anymore to him.”

“I think you’re wrong there. He might not be knocking on your door anymore—in fact, I’d wager that dumb oaf keeps his head locked straight ahead when he comes out of the house because he won’t allow himself to catch a glimpse of you—but you’re in here…” Opal tapped over her heart. “He can pretend all he wants, but you exist in a place you can’t ignore forever. Maybe he’ll come around.”

“I can’t wrap my life around a maybe.”

“Of course not. You have to do what’s best for you.”

“Take care of him, will you, Opal?”

“You know I will. Whether the grumpy idiot likes it or not.”