Page 71 of Tiers of Joy

“Sorry! My bad!” I yell and hide.

I slump down in the rocking chair and stare out of the window, drinking my wine. My phone pings with a text. I frown. I don’t really get text messages as the only people local to me who have my number are Bob, Amy, and Josie.

I unlock my phone and see it’s a message from an unknown number.

It’s good to see you still like the rocking chair. G x

I look out of the window and see him standing next to his truck. He’s looking up at me. I pick up my phone to reply.

How did you get my number?

I drink my wine and watch him type and then look back up at me. I flip him the bird and he just laughs. My phone pings again, alerting me.

Bob gave it to me. He begged me to tell you not to kill him or worse, cut him off from your cakes. Can I come in and talk to you?

I roll my eyes and reply.

I will deal with Bob. No you can't, you can piss off.

I keep glancing outside to see him writing a text. What is he writing? An essay? Eventually my phone pings with a text.

Fair enough. You can’t blame me for trying. There is what looks like a smashed up cake on the ground. You get an angry customer in or did you throw one at me and miss?

I snort and quickly type my reply.

It was a Victoria sponge. I didn’t throw it at you. It was a symbolic protest against you. A warning if you like. Now please leave me alone. I have to get up early in the morning for work.

I hit send and wait.

My phone pings.

What if I were to camp out in my truck all night to show you how serious I am about you? To show you how sorry I am? I could bring you breakfast in the morning? I could make you lunch, dinner, supper. Anything. Just hear me out. x

I read his message and my heart lurches just a little. I have to protect what little bit of my heart I have left.

I reply.

Go home Gaige. Goodnight.

I get up and switch the light off so he can’t see in. I watch him sigh and look up.

“I'm not giving up Esme!” He yells before getting into his truck and driving off.

I climb into bed that night and curl up into a ball. It’s almost as if I'm protecting my heart. I was broken and fragile after Jay and Gaige helped to fix that broken part of me. But when he up and left, he undid the part of me he had fixed. He killed any hope I had. After the date with Tanner I resigned myself to just being alone. I need to look out for me and focus on my business, at least I can enjoy that.

Chapter Eighteen

I open up the bakery and see a parcel on the step in front of the door. I look around for who might have delivered it. I pick it up and bring it inside. I place it down and open it. There’s a card that reads.

Esme,

I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?

Gaige.

X

Inside the box under some tissue paper is a lumberjack gnome holding a flower.

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