“Don’t.Hawk.I’m done talking to you.”
For good.She left him standing outside the faux castle.A dark shadow, silhouetted against the glittering lights and music.And he let her leave.It was a relief that he didn’t try to keep her there.She might have screamed.Might still scream.
The anger dug itself into her muscles and carried her all the way back to her car.But when she slammed the door closed and sat in the quiet darkness, all the emotions hit her in a tidal wave.She broke down, curling against her steering wheel like it would give her comfort.
How could she be such an idiot?
How could she think, for even a second, that things would work out for her?
Her business wasn’t a success.
Cancer was killing her mother.
And Hawk Carlisle was, in fact, the meanest man she’d ever met.
Ye Olde Girl Gang Chat
Margo
Lilian where are you?
Margo
OMG!Hawk just came in and punched his dad in the face.There is a full-on brawl happening now.Get over here!
Margo
Best night eva!
Margo
Lilian!Do you know anything about this?
Margo
Lilian?
After the Faire
Andthenitwasdone.All those weeks of wearing the same corset, hauling bins of books across the faire grounds, the fried food, the “huzzahs,” the friends.It was all over in an instant.
Back to reality.
Working in the bookstore usually put her in good spirits, but stepping in now brought on a fresh wave of grief and loneliness that knocked the air out of her every time.
So.Much.Work.
She’d put in so much work.And it was all wasted.
Her dad had come by with two bags of Burger King in hand.It was the first time he’d seen the changes to the shop, and though he would have said the words no matter what, there was a look of true awe on his face.“This place looks as good as new.”
Beatrice smiled at her husband.“Isn’t it great?Lilian did an amazing job.”
Lilian looked back at the shop.Most of the shelves were organized; a few of the bookcases were cleared entirely.The piles of old magazines and newspapers were gone, along with the smell of perpetual dust.It was clean, but not so much that it lost that air of comfort that came from old books and aged wood.
It’s not enough.
“Thanks.”She sighed.Was she spiraling downward into depression?Probably.But hey, she deserved some time to wallow in her feelings.
