Page 23 of The One I Left Behind

Fucking hell. I lean my back against the wall and bump the back of my head against the hard surface.

What exactly happened while I was away?

Chapter Eight

Gillian

I work as a court stenographer all week, but on Saturday afternoons, I help Laurel in the bakery. I handle the front while she’s usually preparing some elaborate cake in the back. It’s a nice way for me to get my mind off the bar exam. Since Clayton’s gotten older, he’s really all about his friends.

Plus, I love the people in Willowbrook, and it allows me to chat with the usuals when they come in for their sweet treat.

“So, you didn’t tell me what happened last night when you went to the bathroom. I didn’t want to ask in front of Lottie and Romy.” Laurel ices the wedding cake she’s making, her eyes on the details, while I put together a box of cookies and treats destined for The Harvest Depot. Lottie said she’d send someone to come get them this morning to sell at the country store on the Noughton property.

“Do you want the play-by-play? I peed, washed my?—”

She stops icing the cake and glares. “You know what I’m talking about.”

“What?”

“The bull of a man who followed you inside?”

I stick out my tongue, and she continues icing. Her ability to make it appear like lace is strewn over the cake is what has made her famous in our tri-county area.

I sit on a stool, tape the box, and push it aside, watching her work. If someone comes in, I’ll hear the bell. “Same as last time. He tried to talk to me, and I said no.”

“You looked a little flushed when you returned to the table.”

My head tilts. “It’s June, Laurel.”

“You know what I mean. This has to be hard for you.”

“He’ll be gone soon.” I cross my fingers under the table because he’s being kind of relentless, something I didn’t expect. And the fact I’ve already run into him three times in the first week of his being back shows how small this town is.

“Are you sure about that? I heard Coach Marks is pushing him hard to help out this season. Romy told me last night that Mr. Noughton is making him build his own house on the property. If he starts building that house, I’d take it as a sign that he’s staying longer than you think.” She switches out the icings and eyes me as if her point wasn’t made.

I shrug. “Then it will be me who leaves.”

She huffs. She and Clayton are on the same page about us moving. “Stop talking about it.”

“I still have to pass the bar, and even if I pass it the first time, I’d have to interview and find a job.”

“Why not just start a business here?”

“So Clayton and I can starve?” There’s no way Willowbrook would keep me busy enough to make a living. I’ve scraped by my entire life, and this is my time to finally have what I’ve always wanted. Financial freedom.

“You’re not starving now.”

“I will be if I have to live off what I’m making now and pay back my school loans.”

“I can give you more hours here. I need a delivery person.”

I laugh. “I could never handle the stress of getting one of those to a wedding. With my luck, I’d take a turn too fast and have to tell the bride I ruined her cake.”

“You’d be fine, but I get it. I want you to have the world, but I’m going to miss you.”

I hug her from behind. She has no idea how much I’ll miss her too. “I love you, and I won’t be far. Promise.”

“No New York?”

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