Page 2 of Unbreak My Heart

He shoved his phone in his pocket and let himself out the front door. It wasn’t necessary to lock it. The Crossing was a safe place and he’d be back soon, anyway.

Feet pounding the pavement, he headed toward the Lakewalk. The wide boardwalk ran around beneath the bridge and down in front of the shops, all the way over toward the weir at the other end. It was a good, long run, and this time of night—or morning—not another single soul was in sight.

He hadn’t bothered with earphones, knowing he wouldn’t run into anyone. It allowed the night sounds of the mountain town to invade his body instead, a calming balm that reached deep and tried to soothe, the bright stars above flickering their cold, beautiful light, oblivious to his mortal problems.

He loved where he lived, had never wanted to be anywhere else. Family meant too much to him. Besides, his education was severely lacking, and he’d find getting a job in another town problematic.

No. The Crossing was home and, right or wrong, putting up with well-meaning people came with the territory.

It just made dealing with them on a daily basis pretty darned hard.

The solid, rhythmic slap of his sneakers hitting the thick wooden boards of the Lakewalk intruded, the sound distinct and hollow compared to the bitumen now behind him.

Simon glanced at the lit windows of the shops fronting the Lakewalk, letting the happy little snapshots of the businesses wash over him.

Cat’s cupcake shop drew his attention and he almost tripped over his own feet as he stumbled to a stop.

Bright blood-red, white, and silver beamed out at him, her custom track lighting highlighting the display, and hollowing out his stomach at the sight before him.

Valentine’s Day.

Red hearts and teddies and chocolates sat enshrined in the two huge windows, some even being stuck to the windows themselves.

It was beautiful, if you liked that kind of thing.

Cold sweat broke out all over him. His stomach churned and he spun to the Lakewalk railing and leaned over it, in case his stomach made good on the heaving and forced his dinner from his body.

Valentine’s Day. His wedding anniversary.

He pulled his phone from his pocket with shaking hands and tapped the screen to light it up.

Wednesday, 14 February.

It was today.

Amy had chosen the romantic date for their wedding, cheekily explaining that it would be impossible for him to forget it that way.

All strength went out of his legs and he sank to the boardwalk, hunching over his bent knees, wrapping his arms around his legs, his whole body shaking.

He didn’t know how long he sat there before soft footsteps intruded. He jerked back at the gentle touch of a hand to his shoulder.

“Simon?”

Cat Hart’s worried voice hit his ears as her face registered, reflected in the light from her shop across the Lakewalk. He looked at her compassionate eyes.

“Are you all right? Do you need me to call someone?”

He was shaking his head before she finished speaking, not sure which question he was answering.

“How do I help you?”

The concern in her voice undid him further. He struggled to his feet. Cat had always been so damned nice. Not only to him, but to everyone she came across. It was in her blood.

He motioned to her shop. “V-Day. I-it’s…” Scrubbing his hand over his mouth, he pushed on. “It’s our anniversary.”

Compassion lined her face and her eyes filled. Simon looked away. He couldn’t handle seeing her upset, especially becausehewas the cause.

He glanced down the boardwalk. The weak, predawn gloom was tingeing everything a strange, dark, muddy grey.

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