“I’ve had to listen to Henry moan about you not having enough staff. So, what’s the issue? Cassidy has a resume. She has her license, doesn’t she?” I ask, crossing my arms, heat building within me from frustration. “Is it because she’s a single mom?”
On the other end, Bryce sighs again. “Okay. Okay. Her resume is dated, and being a single mother, how can I rely on her? Be real, Caleb. I know they’re a protected class here in Willow Ridge, but I’m running a business. I can’t be chasing her up for inspections and sales because she’s distracted by her kids.”
The frustration quickly shifts into something else. Something that feels like rage. “Is that really what you think?” I ask darkly, voice harsher than I’d intended. “Especially with the way you were raised? Or is that different because you didn’t have a mother?”
“Fuck me,” Bryce hisses. “That’s a low blow.”
“No, it isn’t. And you fucking know it,” I snap. “Your father basically built the mill from the ground up and gave people jobs who needed it. Single parents especially. He’d be pretty fucking disgusted if he heard the way you spoke about Cassidy. And might I add, you know nothing about her. Not her work ethic, or her life. If you’d bothered to interview her, you would have seen how bright and intelligent and kind she is. You would have seen she could not only handle the work, but she’d blow your expectations out of the water. But you didn’t. So, you have no right to judge her on anything, you callous prick. Jesus fuck, what is wrong with you?”
“It’s business, Caleb. That’s all it is.” There’s another beat of silence, one that has the anger swelling again. He’s a fucking coward. Always has been. And I shouldn’t be surprised at allthat the man who peaked in high school has this sort of thought process. I’d just hoped maybe he’d actually listen.
Finally, after another long moment, he groans. “Yeah, no. I don’t know if I can justify it. If she had actual support, then maybe. But I know enough about her situation from your mother and Winnie to know I won’t be able to rely on her. And really, you haven’t exactly helped her, Caleb. You probably just blew up her one chance at getting a job here, and good luck finding anywhere else who’ll hire her with this bullshit. Don’t call me again.”
And with that, he hangs up, tearing everything apart.
“What the hell did you just do?” Cassidy asks from the doorway.
I spin. I hadn’t even heard the sliding door open, but there she stands with her cheeks pink from the cold, one of my coats wrapped snugly around her body. Tears brim her eyes as she stares at me in horror.
“Did you just blow up my chance at getting a job?” she says slowly, keeping her voice low.
A lump forms in my throat. “Cass?—”
“No, wait.” She holds up a hand, stepping into the cabin. I quickly follow her as she turns away from me. “You just cost me my one chance at doing a job that could actually give myself and my children a decent shot here. And then maybe destroyed any chance of me getting a jobanywherein town. Is that what he meant by that?” She whirls towards me, the tears falling. “Did you just ensure I willneverwork in this town? Ever?”
My mouth goes dry as I try to fumble with an answer, but everything she asks me has a very simple response:yes.
Yes, I did just destroy her chance at getting a job. Yes, I might have just stolen away her ability to get work elsewhere.
Cassidy presses a hand to her forehead, her breathing hard. Before I can explain, Arlo and Cleo walk out of the bedroom,eyeing their mother first, then me. I can tell they sense something is wrong, and that I’m the problem. They go straight to their mother, gluing themselves to her sides while sending me harsh looks.
All the progress I’d made with them—withCassidy—disappears in an instant.
I really am a bastard.
“The roads have cleared,” I say, clearing my throat. “Winnie texted and said she found you guys somewhere to stay for a few nights that isn’t the motel. It’s down the mountain, so you’ll have everything you need and access to the town again. I don’t know how well your car will get through the snow, so I can take you down if you prefer…”
Cassidy cuts me a look I can’t read, shaking her head slowly as she wraps her arms around the children. “I’ll text Winnie about getting the details for the accommodation. I don’t think there’s anything else we need from you, Caleb.”
That cuts through me like a knife, making it impossible to breathe, impossible to think beyond the fact that I just royally screwed up. Worse, I did irreparable damage that I can’t fix. Damage that could mean losing her forever.
You already have, a voice whispers in the back of my head as I watch her guide the children towards the bedroom.She knows exactly who you are now.
A bastard. A selfish asshole. Someone who doesn’t deserve the kindness of the woman walking away from me.
But I suppose I’ve made her choice for her now.
She can’t stay in Willow Ridge after this.
And it’s all my fault.
I can’t rememberthe last time I came down to Daisy’s willingly, but I know I can’t stay at my cabin. Not when the ghosts of them roam the bedroom, their laughter a whisper in the kitchen. And especially not when I know if I sit on my sofa, I’ll still feel her above me, the pressure of her body like a soothing blanket I never wanted to leave.
Only now they’re gone. She hadn’t taken my offer to drive them, but I’d guided them all the way to the end of my access road, pushing the snow out of the way with my truck so they didn’t get stuck. That was the last time I saw them. Now, they’re in a cabin at Sterling Ranch, tucked away safe where they’ll make their next choice.
Most likely, they’ll sell the land, then move away. It would be the smartest choice. Although I doubt Bryce Fletcher will work the sale after all this.
I mean, she won’t want to do business with him. Not when he insulted her. So, there goes his commission, at least.
