Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 91434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
I walk out with my head hanging, spotting Mrs. Gregory waiting for me. She holds her arms open for me, and I give her a hug. “I don’t know how to thank you,” I say. “If you weren’t there…”
“Hush yourself,” she scolds, letting me go. “I’m going to go home and get some sleep and come back later.”
I nod at her as we walk out together, but she goes one way while I go the other. I get into my car and head down Main Street. My eyes roam down the empty street as I park and let myself into the little bakery store my mother used to work at and then bought from the old owner when he retired.
I turn the lights on and head to the fridge to take the big bowl out. I ignore the burning of my eyes as I start doing all the things I need to do. I’m taking the last batch of donuts out of the oil when I hear the bells for the front door jingle. I look over, seeing it’s just after seven. Wiping my hands, I walk out of the back, seeing a brown box on the counter.
“Hi,” the woman says, smiling at me.
“Hey,” I greet her as I walk over and look into the box to see there are cellophane-wrapped cakes.
“Are you okay?” she asks with worry in her voice, and I can’t even imagine how I feel.
“You must be Harmony, the girl who bakes the cakes,” I say, totally ignoring the question of if I’m okay. I’m not okay, but I know if I stop, I’ll collapse in a puddle in the middle of the floor.
“I am.” She nods at me.
“I’m Everleigh,” I introduce myself, “Ms. Maddie’s daughter.” Saying my mother’s name breaks me a little as I blink away the tears that are threatening to come back. “She had a heart attack last night.” Harmony’s hand goes to her mouth to stop the gasp. “Luckily, I was on the phone with her when it happened, and I was able to get her neighbor to help her, so the ambulance got there in time.”
“Oh my.” Her own tears now run down her cheeks. “Is she okay?”
“She was resting this morning when I left the hospital,” I say. “Doctor says she needs to stay off her feet and rest.” I exhale, trying to control my breathing and making sure I don’t sob. “But she’s stubborn, and unless I’m going to stay here and watch her—” I shake my head. “So now, here I am for the next little while.” I decided it as soon as I saw her lying in that bed.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asks, and I just shake my head. “I have another one in the truck.” She points at the box on the counter before turning and walking out of the store. When I look up, my eyes go to the mechanic shop smack in the middle of the block, facing Main Street. You can’t miss it once you get to the intersection. You either have to turn right or left or drive right into it. My chest contracts as I look over at the windows. Seeing a couple of men arriving, I scan to see if I’m able to see him.
The door opens again, forcing my eyes to go back to see Harmony place another box on the counter. “Do you have my number?” she asks. “If you want to take my number down, let me know if you need anything.”
I pull my phone out of my back pocket when she gives me her number, and I text her.
561-277-6498: It’s Everleigh.
“That’s my number in case you need to get in touch with me about the deliveries,” I say as she does something on her phone.
“Do you know when they are discharging her from the hospital?” she asks, and I take a big inhale, thinking back at the scene that happened this morning.
“I might have to get cuffs and cuff her to the bed,” I mumble. “From what the doctor said, depending on the results of her tests today, it could be up to five days.”
“I’ll let you get back to work,” she says as the door opens, and I see a couple of customers come in. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I smile at her. “I’ll be here,” I confirm. My eyes go to the mechanic shop, wishing like hell I wasn’t here in the town where I lost two of my best friends and the man I thought I would love for the rest of my life. A man I thought I would marry and have children with. A man who shattered my heart, and it’s never, ever been the same since. I don’t think it ever will be. “For however long I need to be here.”