“Oh, are you sure? She’ll be home anytime now.”
“I have somewhere to be.”
“Should I tell her you were here?”
“No.” I leave that house, get into my car, and drive away. I’m livid. I want to slam my fist into something or someone. I look back at the house. I should wipe that smug look off his face.
But what then? What did I have to offer anyway?
That was everything she would ever need.
I was jealous, bitter, and resentful of the man who could give her what I could not. Still, the letters kept coming. She grew angrier with each one, and eventually, they stopped, and I locked them away, never wanting to be reminded of the one that got away.
* * *
Two months after Erin died,I walk back into the shop. Thomas is still managing the place, and it hasn’t fallen to the ground like I thought it would. Erin was right; I worry too much. I see my life as before Erin and after her. This is after her, and I have no smile to offer my assistant. I walk into my cramped office and sit in my dusty chair. The one Erin slept in on long days. It’s stiff and awkward, but she’d curl up and lean against the backrest and sleep as if she were tucked in bed.
I look at the bouquet of flowers on my desk, and I hate it. Why on earth would Thomas get flowers? This was Erin’s thing. A month before she died, she’d taken to sending me flowers every now and then. I hate them, not because they remind me of Erin, but because they remind me of Hayley. They’re sunflowers, bright and beautiful like she is. I can't help but think about her. I feel like shit. I just lost Erin, and here I am thinking about Hayley. I slam my fist on the counter.
“Whoa there.” Thomas sticks his head in the door.
“These fucking flowers. Why’d you put them in here?” I growl.
“I didn’t get them; a guy dropped them off yesterday, said it was for your office.”
“It’s probably a mistake. Fuck!”
Thomas reaches for them. “I’ll keep them in my car, take them home for Sally. She’ll be thrilled.”
I huff, nod, and sit back, closing my eyes.
“You don’t have to do this now, you know,” Thomas says kindly.
“I have to do this.” I let out a breath. “She’d insist I do.”
“That was a feisty one you had their boss.” He smiles fondly.
I smile back at him. Erin sure was.
