Drinda.
He crushed the note between his fingers and swore. He’d blown it. She was everything he wanted, and he’d blown it by being stubborn. His chest tightened as he smoothed the wrinkles from the letter and slid it back into the envelope.
He could fix this.
He had to.
Chapter Fifteen
Tonight was supposed to be the glorious launch of her dessert catering expansion. Okay, it still was, only she barely cared. She should be elated. That latte had gone sour. She struggled with the final preparations as the crowd filled the community center.
She was not joining them for dinner, though she did have a reserved seat. She was going to hide out in the kitchen, serve dessert and vanish.
This morning, she’d left Ford a cake and a note. She expected him to call. Her optimism was fading.
“What’s up boss? Did you forget something at the shop? I could run and get it for you.” Maxi, her overeager teenage employee bounced on her feet. Tonight, her hair was bright pink.
“I have everything. I’m just thinking through service. I love your hair.”
“Pink for Valentine’s, it seemed like the thing to do.” She dropped her bibbed apronover her head and tied it at the waist. “If you didn’t forget anything, why the long face? You’re like totally in the dumps. Did someone die?” She grasped Drinda’s arm, her concern etched on her face. She was incredibly caring towards other people.
“Nobody died. This week’s been a dumpster fire and I’m ready for it to be over. Dinner. Dessert. Then bed.” She didn’t have to stay for cleanup. She had used the community center dishes and the committee had hired cleanup staff.
“Oh, is it man trouble? My auntie gets distracted and grumpy when she’s got man trouble.” She grinned. “Drinda’s got man trouble.”
“Sh. Someone will hear you.” She couldn’t help but laugh at the singsong teasing. “Yeah, but keep it to yourself.”
“You and Ford? Brutal. You guys are so good together.”
“We were good together, but we have irreconcilable differences.”Ya, Ford was a jerk, and you can’t fix that. “I have to find a new place to live. He was my landlord, and he doesn’t like dogs.”
“How can he not like dogs? Oscar is the best.” Maxi, like many of the local teens, had taken to stopping at the back of the store to visit Oscar now that he had a proper doghouse. It took a while to convince the kids not to feed him scraps.
“Not everyone is an animal lover.” Why was she explaining her life to a teenager? She sighed again. Maxi might be a teen, but she was intelligent and empathetic.
“I hope Ford realizes what an idiot he is.” She washed her hands and said, “What do you need me to do?”
“You can plate the torte, like this.” She demonstrated. “I’ll prep the mugs with the Irish cream. You can’t do that because you aren’t legal drinking age.” They worked in silence for ten minutes.
“What are you going to do about Ford? Are you just giving up on him?”
“I don’t want to, but I don’t see another option.”
“Maybe you can hook up after your move. You know when you’re not under his roof anymore. Then there isn’t anything to keepyou apart. Right?”
Drinda set the Baileys bottle down.Was that possible? Was there hope for them? She shook her head.Nope. Ford was a jerk. He didn’t even give her a chance.
“I don’t think so. I can’t be with a man who would let a dog freeze in the snow. We’re over.”
“But you like him, right? I think you still love him.” Maxi gave her a glare that said wise up, get a grip, and I feel your pain. “Right?”
Loving him wasn’t the point. She did love Ford, but she had lied to him. He probably wouldn’t have been so annoyed if she had asked before bringing Oscar into her suite. He had every right to be peeved.
She closed her eyes and drew in a breath. Being in love and facing differences was way harder than it should be. Maybe that was the point. Maybe her heart was telling her that she needed to get around those differences because she did love Ford. There was no way to deny it. Had she panicked and backed off too soon? Maybe she should fight for him. Lord knows her own parents had survived more than one divorce-worthy argument. Even Oma and Opa had fought in whispers while she was staying with them.
“You’re right! I’m not giving up. I’m going to fight,” she declared, slapping her hand on the stainless-steel counter making the mugs dance.
“Can you keep it down?” the lead chef for the caterers asked. “We can’t disturb the diners.”
