Page 8 of Marrying Off My Husband

“I’ll talk to Spencer, see if we can make it.”

Her mother cackled on the other end. “Oh, that man wouldn’t have plans if they bit him. Next weekend, Lou-Lou. The lawyers will be here. I expect you to make yourself presentable. And please don’t wear your hair up. You know how I hate that.”

The line clicked on the other end, leaving me hanging there as disgust and shame roiled through me. No matter how much distance I put between myself and my mama, her words could still gut me like a fish.

I stood in the middle of the sidewalk, tears filling my eyes as I stared down at my dark display.

Someone knocked into me, sending me stumbling forward. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!”

“Get out of the way, lady,” he shouted back before he continued on his way.

My lips formed a deep frown as I pressed a hand against my forehead. Tears stung my eyes, blurring the shops around me as I fought the urge to sob right there in the middle of the sidewalk.

My interest in a purse waned. I needed something else right now along with the chance to calm down. With a sniffle and a nibble on my lower lip, I glanced up and down the street before I darted into it.

A car screeched to a halt as I hurried across it. I gave them an angry wave as I stepped onto the sidewalk on the opposite side. With a shaky sigh, I swung the door open to my favorite bakery and stepped inside, the sweet scent of coffee and cinnamon filling the air.

I stepped to the bakery case, still sniffling and wiping away a few tears. “Uh, I need a chocolate eclair and a latte.”

The woman’s face behind the counter twisted into a wince. “Oh, I’m sorry. We just sold our last chocolate eclair. Did you want something else or just the latte?”

The words crushed me more than they should have. After dealing with my mama, the slightest thing could send me spiraling and this was it.

“What?” I repeated, trying to keep my tone measured.

“Did you want to pick something else?”

I stared at her like she had three heads. “How can you not have a chocolate eclair? What kind of bakery is this? You can’t just…not have things. You can’t run out. You can’t steal things that belong to other people. You can’t!”

“Uhh,” the woman behind the counter murmured, her eyes going wide.

But it was too late now, I was in full melt down-mode. My features twisted as I prepared to launch into a tirade against the incompetent baker when a gentle touch on my shoulder stopped me.

I twisted, my features incredulous as I searched for the source.

A woman, shorter than me in my towering heels, tucked a lock of light brown hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear, offering me a slight, almost hesitant smile. Her simple pink blouse paired with plain trousers and a pair of flats screamed wholesome and reflected the inherent softness that surrounded her.

“What?” I snapped.

She thrust a bag forward. “I just bought the last chocolate eclair, but it sounds like you could really use it. Here.”

My gaze fell to the bag she held in her hand, my eyebrows knitting.

She offered another slight smile and a tiny bob of her head, encouraging me to take it.

My lips parted, still not understanding the kind gesture. I hadn’t been on the receiving end of much kindness in my life. Only Spencer had ever really treated me nicely. Which was why I needed to find him a new wife.

And I just may have stumbled upon the perfect one. I just needed to do a little more vetting.

I slowly tugged the brown bag from between her fingers.

“Enjoy, and I hope you feel better.”

She spun on her heel and stepped toward the door.

I quickly wiped away some of the tears clinging to my chin as I called after her. “Wait!”

She glanced over her shoulder, those pretty blue eyes questioning me silently.

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