Page 24 of Steadfast

“Wait, Love.” Oakleigh caught the soft fabric of his shirt with her fingers, grabbing his attention for a quick moment. “Don’t you have sandbags to haul and cattle to drive or something?”

“That was the plan,” he responded, balancing the piping hot cooking sheet in one mitted hand. “But then Maeve pulled up in the truck and yelled,Oakleigh’s cracking, get in.”

“She said I wascracking?” Oakleigh ran her fingers across her brow. Her stomach turned with embarrassment as she wondered now how much Amos had embellished her loss of composure that morning.

“Hey, we’re here. That’s all that matters,” he reassured her. “Family is always priority, my love. You should know that by now.”

Oakleigh swept a stinging tear from her eye with her pinky finger, hoping Crew hadn’t noticed. She didn’t want to be the focus of everyone’s concern that day, especially his. Everything within her fought against the public narrative that she was the distraction that got him injured and was hindering his career. Now here she was again, keeping him from his daily tasks.

“And how did Sawyer take it?” Oakleigh asked, blinking quickly and clearing her throat.

“He’s spittin’ mad.” Crew fired back with a sparkling grin. “We’ll make it up to him later, though.”

Before long, Maeve and June finished their coffee and lengthy conversation. When they made their way to the front of the shop, Maeve spun her empty mug on the counter as she collected her thoughts.

Oakleigh poured a double espresso shot into a cup of hot drip coffee.

“What’s that?” Maeve asked, her interest peaked.

“It’s called a Red Eye,” Oakleigh answered, handing the customer their drink. Turning to Maeve, she began immediately with an apology. “I’m really sorry—”

“We’ll talk later.” Maeve interrupted, “Plan to make me one of those Red Eye things.”

Oakleigh nodded, trying to gauge what the tone of the conversation would be. Maeve’s demeanor revealed few hints.

June stopped to give Oakleigh one of her famous hugs that always drove a smile to her face no matter the circumstances. “Great latte, dear. Just keep up the good work.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, “Don’t youdaregive this woman any more coffee today, you hear me?”

When Crew said goodbye, a loud sigh of disappointment was heard from seemingly every woman in the shop.

Oakleigh grinned, biting her lip as she pulled him in by his belt loops. “They’re just here to see you.”

She closed her eyes and savored the softness of his lips on hers for a brief moment before the packed room could whip out their phones.

“I am who I am because of you,” he whispered in her ear.

Oakleigh knew it wasn’t completely true, but she would gladly take the sweet compliment. When they had met, Crew was full of the raw talent that made him destined to be a star in his sport. All she did was record and hitpost.She deflected by playfully pulling his hat off his head and placing it on hers, striking a pose.

“I knew my outfit was missing something today.”

Crew grinned, “You’re gonna have to get your own one of these days. A cowboy needs his hat.”

When it was finally time to close shop, Mia helped as much as she could, although it was clearly the first time in her entire life that she had ever mopped a floor.

The drive home was quiet. Oakleigh was tired and felt like she had run out of words after the emotional day. When she pulled the car up to her spot in front of the ranch house, she finally broke the silence.

“Thanks for everything today,” she said. “I don’t think I could have done it without you.”

“Anytime, Oaks,” Mia answered. “That’s what I’m here for.”

Oakleigh stepped into the foyer and hung her key fob on the hook. There was another bright yellow little sticky note there with Maeve’s writing.

Everyone’s on their own for dinner tonight.

— Maeve

Oakleigh felt a pang of guilt knowing they would be out late that evening, making up for lost time due to her meltdown. There was a lot to do before the autumn storms came rolling across the property, and they couldn’t afford to lose a single day.

She stepped into her shower, allowing the hot water to ease the tension that had caused a painful knot between her shoulders. Crashing into her soft, plush bedding, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her apps. Seeing all the posts that she had been tagged in that day brought a smile to her face. She decided to fan the flames of social media chatter and post a picture of herself and Mia donning red aprons and holding spatulas. Oakleigh knew that Mia’s presence in White Bridge wouldn’t go unnoticed by her fans, followers, and gossip influencers alike.

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