Page 65 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

“Chase did none of those things he was accused of,” she’d said. “In fact, I watched Chase try to talk my brother out of adding him to the will. Chase never wanted that money, but now that he has it, he’s done nothing but help people. He’s donated to charities and scholarship funds and lifted thousands out of poverty. His uncle, my brother, refused to do any of that. I’m glad the judge sees Chase for who he is, because Chase deserves all the happiness in the world.”

Bridget finished reading and then turned to me in wonder. “Yes, he does deserve happiness. But you guys are over now, right?”

I chuckled bitterly. “Couldn’t be more over. Dead and buried, over.”

“But you don’t want to be. Does he know that?”

I wasn’t sure if he did, not that it mattered. In a moment of guilt, I’d blocked his number from my phone. Hopefully that small gesture would make it slightly easier for him to find happiness with the right woman. The kind he deserved.

I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter now.”

Bridget stood and pulled me into another hug before putting her hands on my shoulders and looking me square in the eye. “You know what though? I have something important to tell you, so listen carefully.”

My eyes felt too warm and blurry. “What’s that?”

“You, Daphne, deserve happiness too.”

TWENTY-NINE

When I returned homethe next morning, Mom had a strange look on her face. “Did you get my text?”

I grabbed my phone and glanced at the screen. “No. Did you send it to the right number?”

She checked her own phone and laughed. “Oh, I sent it to Dad. He must be so confused. He’s mowing Mort’s lawn across town. Poor man broke his leg last month. Anyway, you had a visitor.”

“Who?” Nobody besides Bridget knew I was in town, unless she’s been spreading the word.

“Don’t know. Some man. He wouldn’t leave his name.”

Ty again. The man wouldn’t give up. I’d told him about my coming home, so finding my address wouldn’t have been that hard. “Where is he now?”

“I told him you were sleeping over at a friend’s and he left. Not one for words, that one.” She shrugged. “Couldn’t see his eyes under his sunglasses, but he seemed mighty handsome.”

Sunglasses.

Ty never wore sunglasses.

“Mom,” I said breathlessly. “Was he tall, about six feet four inches? Wide shoulders?”

She nodded. “Looked like a football player but with expensive clothes. He seemed disappointed when I told him where you were. I told him you’d be back soon, but he didn’t want to stick around. Even when I offered him tea.” She seemed surprised by that.

Ty would have stayed. That I knew. There was only one person who fit that description, and I knew exactly what he would have assumed about the “staying over at a friend’s house” thing too. “Did he say where he was going?”

“No, but he seemed polite. I was impressed, to be honest. Is he a work friend of yours?”

“How long ago?” I asked impatiently.

She tapped her fingers on her thigh. “Maybe ten minutes ago?”

I bolted out the door before remembering I had no car, and Dad had taken the truck. “Mom!” I shrieked. “I need a vehicle right this second. When will Dad be back?”

“He’s only been gone half an hour,” she called back.

My mind raced. I could take Rosie to meet my dad and grab the truck, but that would take time I didn’t have. The nearest airport was only half an hour away.

I pulled out my phone to call an Uber, then growled in frustration. No available drivers for at least twenty miles. Even if I could convince one to come all the way out here, I’d arrive at the airport too late to find him.

I sprinted to the stable and called to Rosie, who immediately stuck her head over her stall door.

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