Chapter Four
Sadie placed morechocolate-covered donuts in the case and leaned into my side. “Dylan’s still standing at attention outside my bakery. Are you ever going to invite him in?” Sadie’s whispers in a clipped pattern indicated her patience was wearing pastry-sheetthin.
I could only imagine the gossip line in town abuzz with the news of former bad boy turned soldier, but that wasn’t my problem. “Is it affectingbusiness?”
The answer was obvious since there was standing room only and people in line out the door. Even Carol the knitting store owner had turned out to see the novelty at the bakery shop. Of course, they all wanted some delicious sweets from the French-trained pastry chef, but they could get that most days of theweek.
“So, what are you going to do?” Sadie placed the last donut in the case with an elbow to myribs.
“Nothing. He’ll go away eventually,” Ihissed.
Sadie disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me to deal with the overexuberant and inquisitive breakfast crowd. I handed Carol her blackberry scone, but instead of taking it, she patted me on thehand.
“I think you should give the poor boy a chance to explain. From what I heard, he didn’t have no choice but to leave Magnolia Corners. According to Melanie from the coffee shop, who said that Paul from the pharmacy saw Sheriff Milton pull Dylan over that night and handcuff him. Kristi from the dollar store happened to hear from Blake from the florist shop that that same night, he saw Sheriff Milton escort Dylan onto a bus.” Carol managed to take a quick breath and dive right back into her gossip. “You see, he didn’t have no choice but to leave. Paul says his uncle told Melanie that he neededto—”
“Carol.” I clutched her hand in hopes of distracting her long enough to stop her diatribe. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m afraid the line is backing up and people are getting more sassy than sweet at this point.” I winked and tried to brush her off without embarrassing her toomuch.
“Oh, right. Well, I hope you give that boy a chance. He’s hot.” She giggled, her cloudy eyes shining. “I mean, he’s overheating in that uniform standing outside with the sun rising andall.”
To my relief, the woman behind her nudged Carol from the counter and huffed at me with an eye roll for extra emphasis. By the time the breakfast crowd cleared out, I was done hearing about Dylan standing outside and both sides of the town’s perspective of how I should or shouldn’t speak tohim.
It wasn’t my fault he was standing out there. He should leave if it was toohot.
Before Sadie had a chance to come out and see the crumbs on the counter, a situation that would turn her crazy, I wiped it down and then the tables. Anything to avoid another conversation aboutDylan.
I peered through the glass door and found him still standing like one of the queen’s guards. That was it. Enough was enough. I tossed down the rag and marched outside. “Go away. I don’t want youhere.”
No response, only a blank stare ahead as if Blake’s florist was too fascinating to turn awayfrom.
I stomped my foot. “Do you hearme?”
Nothing.
“Fine. Stand out here and sweat. I don’t care.” I bolted back inside, only to be stopped by Zoey at thedoor.
“It’s time you read these.” Zoey dropped the letters Dylan had written on the table near me. “You left them at the house, so I thought I’d bring them here for you. He’s saved them all foryou.”
I moved to another table to clean it. “Leave mebe.”
“I would, but it isn’t good for you, being like this.” Zoey removed her apron and set it on the counter. “Listen. I know you’re scared,but—”
“Not scared,” I clipped. “Sorry, it’s just everyone is up in my business without an invite. I haven’t had time to even think about what I want. My head is spinning, and I just need some time to process all ofthis.”
Zoey pointed out the door. I followed the direction to find Dylan still standing there at attention. How did he do that for so long? “He’s not leaving until you give him a chance toexplain.”
“I’m surprised you’re encouraging me to talk to him. You hated him when we weretogether.”
“I didn’t say my attitude has improved toward him at all. I’m just saying that I want you to talk to him sooner rather than later. You deserve to have a life full of happiness, and I fear you’ll never move on until you hear him out.” Zoey stood and held out the letters to me. “You’re a smart girl. If these are full of lies and misguided attempts at winning you back, you’llknow.”
Those words didn’t scare me; they petrified me. “What if I’m not strong enough? What if he manipulates me into believing in him and then he leaves without a word again? I mean, what ifI—”
“Still love him?” Zoey asked before she threw her arms around me. “Oh dear sister, that’s the problem. You still do. And you’ll never be able to let him go until you work through those feelings you’ve bottled up for solong.”
She shoved the letters into my chest until I was forced to take them before she snagged the empty trays from the case and raced into the kitchen. Undoubtedly, she went to fill in Sadie, who Zoey had forced to remain on the sidelines of the Dylan versus Averygame.
With no energy left to resist, I collapsed into a chair and placed the envelopes in front of me, toying with the rubber band holding them together. That’s how I felt, attached to Dylan with a rubber band all this time. He’d gone away, stretching the distance between us but never really releasing me of hishold.
