Page 86 of The Secret to a Southern Wedding

“I wasn’t sure. You were hesitant about the background check when I mentioned it.”

“That’s because I worried if you saw that you’d worry, but when you stopped talking about a background check, I did, too.”

“I still don’t understand why you broke things off if you already knew.”

Linda pulled the cash drawer out and placed it on the counter. She sighed before speaking. “I saw his face when you came in the other day. He wasn’t keeping it back because he thought it was tough to talk about, he was keeping it back on purpose. He didn’t trust me with the truth. That’s when I knew that I was rushing into things. That I’d let your dad’s calls about getting married stop me from looking at everything about Preston. He loved me, but if he was afraid that telling me the truth would turn me away, then I knew he didn’t trust me. I wasn’t going to tie myself to a man who didn’t believe in me. I think I deserve a little more than that after all I’ve been through. Don’t you?”

Imani nodded slowly. She felt foolish for not believing her mom would do her own background check. She’d rushed here thinking her mom was fragile and unable to make her own decisions, when she was far from fragile or gullible. Preston hurt her mom, but not for the reason Imani had believed. Cyril had been right, Preston should have trusted in her mom enough to tell her everything. That was what relationships were supposed to be built on, mutual trust and understanding.

“I do,” she said.

Linda smiled and nodded. “Good. It’s why I’m going to close the store for a while and go back to Tampa with you. I think I need a little bit of time to get my thoughts together.”

“Are you sure?” Imani saw how much her mom loved working and how she had become involved in the town again. She was surprised when Linda suggested going back to Tampa with her, but she honestly didn’t want to leave her alone.

“I’m more than sure. Now, let’s close up and go eat. I’m hungry.” Linda took the cash drawer and headed to the back of the store.

Cyril passed a beer to his dad sitting at the end of the bar. “You alright?”

His dad took the beer and nodded. He didn’t bother to smile and the typical twinkle in his eyes wasn’t there. “I’m alright.”

Cyril sighed and leaned his hands on the bar. “Dad, just call her.”

Preston shook his head. “I tried. She’s not answering my calls and when I went by the house, she didn’t answer the door. I’m not going to harass her and force her to talk to me.”

“Then are you going to continue like this?” Cyril couldn’t stand to see his dad this upset.

Preston wasn’t as sad as he’d been after his wife died, but Cyril hadn’t seen him this upset since they’d moved to Peachtree Cove. He still went out and helped around town, but once he finished his job he came back to their place and sat in front of the television until he fell asleep. Cyril would wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of some video playing and get up and tell his dad to go to bed. It was as if Preston didn’t know what to do with himself now that he didn’t have Linda in his life.

“I’ve done enough to Linda. I won’t make her talk to me if she doesn’t want to.” He lifted the beer and took a sip. “Now go deal with your customers. I’ll be alright.”

Cyril wanted to send him home, but also worried that he didn’t need to drive in that state. He wasn’t drunk, he’d only had two beers, but between the alcohol and the emotional state, he preferred keeping an eye on his dad. Even if it was hanging out at the end of the bar.

“It’s all good. It’s Wednesday. The bar isn’t that busy.”

Preston nodded and took another sip. “Remember when me and the fellas used to hang out drinking beers and talking?”

“Dad, you know I remember. It’s why I opened A Couple of Beers.”

“I know. I know. Still, I used to really enjoy those evenings hanging with Vera’s brothers. You know my brother died when I was twenty, so they became my brothers.”

“I know they did.”

Preston sniffed then cleared his throat. “Shame to lose them right after losing her.”

“I know.”

Preston nodded slowly and took another drink. “Real shame.”

Cyril looked at Joshua at the other end of the bar. His friend raised a brow. Cyril shook his head. “Hey, let me go check on Joshua for a second.”

Preston waved a hand. “Go work. I’m good.”

Cyril walked over to Joshua who frowned at him. “Is Mr. P going to be alright?”

Cyril shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope so, but this is almost as bad as losing Mom. It may take a while for him to bounce back.”

“Is Ms. Kemp still not talking to him?” Joshua asked in a low voice so Preston wouldn’t overhear.

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