Chapter Five
ELIZA
Monday morning rolls in, as inevitable as the thunder after lightning, filling my insides with anxiety. I desperately need the paycheck, but I can’t go back to work and bump into them daily. On the other hand, the town is too small to find another job with the same salary. I have some savings but not enough and I should be smart about it. Have a safety net.
When I inherited the cabin four years ago, Jared wanted nothing to do with it and said he didn’t want to live in the forest. He resented me for not selling it so he could get a brand-new car.
What do you know about renovation and decorating?
I did my best with minor updates and pieces I reconditioned from the flea market and rented the place out through Valerie, a real estate agent I knew from billboards in town.
Jared scoffed and pouted for every bit of time I put in getting it ready and couldn’t care less about the few tourists that came my way.
You’re wasting your time for scraps.
I saved all the little money I made from the rental to surprise him with when I had enough for a deposit,so we could buy our dream house and start a family, even if he brushed me off whenever I wanted to show him a listing.
The thought of spending my savings makes me physically sick. Without a second thought, I know what’s going to happen. I slip back into the old survival mechanism.
The sheets are as comfortable as sleeping on sandpaper. It’s pointless to force myself to stay in bed so I start cooking breakfast for my grumpy roommate. It gives me enough time to whip up something different from yesterday.
Carter’s reaction is lackluster at best.
Oatmeal and nuts. He doesn’t touch the tea again. I’ll get to him eventually.
“You’re not eating?” he asks.
The lie comes easy. “I’ll get something on my way to work.”
“Hm.” Carter leans back, crossing his arms, and I’m forced to look away from his intense stare.
I tune him out, miserable about how fast my life went south. I had a boyfriend who hinted at marriage and a good job. After I left the Millers, I swore I’d never be alone and penniless again. But here I am, after working so hard.
After a string of minimum-wage jobs, I managed to get my first office job at the paper company. It took so long to compensate for the lack of a college degree.
I remember the day I graduated from the online courses two years ago. Despite Jared’s constant grumbling whenever I had to study.
“Why does a girl like you need a college degree? Just be grateful for the job you have.”
“I could get paid more, get a promotion.”
“Why would you need more money? I make enough to take care of you.”
In hindsight, it meant he could control me. The pay raise and added responsibility were such a step up, that I wanted to celebrate them with him. His reaction is burnt into my brain forever.
“Congrats, you showed me, you can.” Jared rolled his eyes.
“This is good for both of us,” I argued.
“I hope it won’t affect your work around the house. I’d hate to start looking for a real woman who can take care of her man.”
His phone rang and he rushed out to go fishing with his buddies, leaving me sobbing into a cupcake with Quinn bringing me pity smoothies for free.
“You’re awfully quiet this morning.”
Carter’s voice draws me out of the sad memory, and it takes me a moment to catch the meaning of his words.
“Thinking about work.”
