Page 16 of Where You Left Me

I’m a fucking liar. Because that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.

Not only doI have a pounding headache from my very public return to Maple Ridge witnessed by practically the entire town, but Dad is also having a rough day. I’ve only been home for three days and can already tell the good from the bad days. And today is a bad day.

While Mom is busy giving Dad the extra attention he needs, I’m in charge at the store. It’s been eight years since I’ve managed Base Camp Sports. Since then, not only has the store been rearranged, but the software they use has changed too.

I’m given a crash course by Ellis, one of the full-time employees. But I still don’t feel fully confident being in charge. Especially with the persistent headache and my queasy stomach.

Thanks so much, Wine Wednesday.

I’d love to take Rosie up on her offer. Coffee sounds like heaven right about now. But leaving Ellis alone to man the store doesn’t feel like the responsible thing to do.

While I crouch in front of a shelf to stock it with some new Stanley cups, Ellis works the register. Someone appears next to me. I peer up and instantly regret it. My stomach does a flip-flop.

Standing next to me is Cassidy, a well-known Maple Ridge resident. And a regular customer at The Pines. My memories from last night might be blurry but I can recall seeing her in the crowd while I not only belted out the lyrics to Shania Twain’sAny Man of Mine, but also confessed mine and Jones’s secret.

I stand and release a sigh. “Hey, Cassidy. How can I help you?”

She pushes her lips into a pout. “Mia, I’m so sorry Jones knocked you up and forced you to deal with it on your own.”

I furrow my brows. “Um, what?”

She leans closer and whispers, “The baby.”

“Yeah, well…thanks, I guess.”

“You should’ve made him leave town, not the other way around.” Cassidy crosses her arms.

“He didn’t make me leave. I had an opportunity for school I couldn’t pass up.”

She nods, but it’s in a condescendingly, like she doesn’t believe me. It makes me realize that Jones is going to get a bad rep for this. And that maybe, he already has. Without anyone even knowing about the baby.

The thought causes my stomach to tighten. My choice to leave eight years ago had felt right at the time, as difficult as it was. But I suppose I never looked at it from Jones’s perspective. And it makes me feel selfish.

“I’m sort of busy here, so if I can help you find something, let me know,” I say and get back to work on my task.

Luckily, she takes the hint and leaves. But a few minutes later, I feel someone next to me again. This time, relief fills me when I find Cammie standing there. And even more so when she holds up a coffee cup.

“Thought you could use this.”

I pull myself to stand and accept the coffee. “You read my mind. Thanks.”

“How ya feeling?”

I take a sip and my favorite flavors assault my taste buds. Cammie must take notice of my surprise because she replies, “Rosie told me this is what you ordered yesterday.”

“Ahh,” I say with a nod. “And I’ve been better.”

“I bet.” Cammie gives me a meek smile and shuffles her feet. There’s an elephant the size of Texas in the room. But I’m not fully ready to answer all the questions I know Cammie wants to ask. Not when Jones and I have hardly had a chance to talk about everything.

“They’re keeping me pretty busy today.”

“Okay, I’ll let you get back to it. But I’m around if you wanna talk or whenever you’re ready to talk about it. Stop by the hardware store anytime.”

My heart gives a little squeeze in my chest. I appreciate her more than she knows. Maybe the most right now because she’s giving me the space I need.

You’d think eight years would be enough but returning to town and disclosing something so personal and then having to give an explanation, is too much right now.

“Thank you. And I do. Just…not right now.”

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