Page 70 of Timber Ridge

I pause, filled with a rush of conflicting emotions. A part of me wants to cling to every extra moment here, to resolve the situation with Hailey and Amanda, to find a way to solidify the fragile peace we’ve been building. But another part, the part that came here searching for growth and new beginnings, knows this call might be my cue to leave. And then there's Kane. The thought of saying goodbye him tugs at my heart. How will my departure affect him, and what will it mean for us?

“Mr. Bromley, I need to arrange a few things, but I’ll be there,” I reply, my voice steady, a decision made in the heartbeats between his question and my answer.

As I hang up, a sense of resolve settles over me. This isn’t just about leaving a place. It’s about embracing the next chapter. Maybe, coming here was never about finding someone else—it was about finding myself. And in finding myself, I’ve also discovered the strength to make tough choices, not just for my own good but for others, too.

Turning back to the room, I find Amanda watching me closely, her expression unreadable. The kids are busy with their activities, oblivious to what’s going on.

“It looks like I’ll be starting my new job a week early,” I say to Amanda, my voice calm despite the storm of emotions inside. “So, I'll be out of your way soon.”

Amanda's expression changes. Am I seeing relief or regret in her eyes? “Thank you,” she replies, her tone more subdued than before. “Maybe it will help to have some space to figure things out with Hailey.”

The acknowledgment that my departure might ease her path to a relationship with her daughter is bittersweet. It confirms the painful reality that my presence has become an obstacle rather than a support system. It also reassures me that stepping back is the right choice, not just for me, but for everyone.

The weight of my decision settles in my heart. I glance at Hailey, who is happily drawing at the table, and a pang of sorrow grips me. The thought of leaving her—leaving what we’ve forged—is almost unbearable. I know, deep down, that I’ll never truly get over her. She has woven herself into the very fabric of my being in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

As for Kane, he has irrevocably captured my heart. It belongs to him now, and I could never dream of reclaiming it. How will I ever manage to live without him, without the heart he holds?

Chapter Thirty-One

KANE

Timber takes my hand and leads me out for a walk, leaving Hailey with Amanda back at the house. We don’t talk much as we walk down the familiar path that leads to the pond. It’s quiet, except for the sound of the birds and the breeze rustling through the pines. The longest days of summer have passed, taking with them the endless hours of daylight.

I’ve been grappling with Amanda being back, trying to support her attempt to reconnect with Hailey while managing the strain it’s putting on everyone else. With Timber’s departure date getting closer, I’ve been thinking about how to ask her to stay, hoping we could talk tonight and finally clear the air.

Timber stops by the creek that feeds the pond and faces me. There’s a serious look in her eyes that tells me something’s up before she even speaks.

“Kane, I’ve been called to start my job early,” she says. “I'm leaving next week.”

The words knock the wind out of me. Panic surges through me, gripping my chest with a vise-like pressure. “What do you mean, you’re leaving? I thought you’d stay.”

“You never asked,” she replies, her voice soft.

Desperation claws at me, making it hard to breathe. “I’m asking now. Stay.”

She shakes her head. The decision is already made. “Everything’s set up. I talked to Eliza, and she’s coming back early to teach. My job is waiting. I need to go.”

I scrub my palm over my face, my mind reeling. “This is because of Amanda, isn’t it?” My voice is sharper than I intend.

"Yes, but not like you think." She kicks at a stone under her foot. "If I stay, Amanda won’t ever get to really know Hailey. Do you remember when you and I talked about how much we’d give to have more time with our moms? Amanda is here, and she’s trying. I can’t get in the way of that. I don’t want to be the reason Amanda isn't close to Hailey."

I shake my head vehemently. “She’s the reason she doesn’t have a relationship. It’s because she leaves.” Anguish wells up inside me, choking my words. How can Timber not see that Amanda will just leave again, hurting Hailey all over?

She cups my face with her palm, her touch both soothing and tormenting. “I know, but she’s here now. You once told me you wouldn’t take her back for you, but you’d give her another chance for Hailey. So, this is for Hailey.”

“But Hailey loves you,” I say, my voice breaking. The thought of Hailey losing Timber is unbearable, knowing it will hurt her as much as it’s hurting me.

“I love her too, Kane. I’m not saying goodbye forever. I’m saying goodbye for now. I’ll be back,” she says, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I love you,” she adds.

Her words pierce through my heart, bringing both comfort and pain. I want to believe her, to trust that she’ll come back, but everyone goes. They always leave. How can she do this to me, to Hailey? How can she think getting out of the way is the solution when Amanda is just going to leave again?

I pull her close, holding her tight as if I can keep her from slipping away. “I just...” My voice trails off, overwhelmed by the turmoil inside me. All the women in my life except Eliza leave, one way or another, and it seems Timber is no different. But this time, it’s supposed to be for the right reasons. That thought doesn’t comfort me—it just hollows out the ache even more. “What about us?” I know I should be the bigger person here, but all I feel is abandoned, even if it’s her love for Hailey that’s pushing her away. How do you hold on to someone who believes letting go is for the best?

I think about my daughter, and how she’ll react to Timber leaving. The confusion and hurt she’ll experience The thought makes my stomach ache.

“How am I supposed to do this without you?” I whisper, my voice raw with emotion. “How is Hailey supposed to?”

Timber’s tears spill over as she holds me. “You’re stronger than you think, Kane. And Hailey will be okay because she has you. She needs you.”

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