Page 9 of Second Chance with Seth

“There’s nothing going on,” I said, shaking my head and doing my best to sound offended by the suggestion.

“You expect me to believe that?”

“It would be nice, yeah.”

“It would be even nicer if I didn’t keep seeing the two of you together.”

“She’s a friend, Everly.” That much was true. Helen was a friend. I had a lot of them in Hart’s Creek, and although I knew I’d blurred the lines with Helen, I’d never have let them progress any further, no matter what Everly thought.

“I don’t have friends who touch me the way she touches you.”

I was relieved about that. The thought of another man touching Everly made my blood boil, but as I contemplated that, I was awash with guilt for letting Helen do the things she’d done. They were innocent, playful, nothing more. But I should never have allowed any of it to happen. I knew that. Even so, I wasn’t in the mood for being blamed.

“That’s just the way she is,” I said.

“Maybe. But does she have to be that way with you?”

“I’m pretty sure she’s that way with everyone.”

“Are you suggesting I’m seeing things that aren’t there?”

“I’m suggesting this could have more to do with your insecurities than anything else.” I felt guilty for saying that, and quickly added, “And besides, she’s not the problem,” because I wanted to get us back to the script… away from my misdemeanors, I suppose.

“You think?”

“Yes.”

She let out a sigh, pulling her hair from its ponytail and pushing her fingers through it before looking up at me, tears welling in her eyes. “What is the problem, then?” she asked.

“Things aren’t right between us, and we both know it.”

“Do we?”

“You know we do. It hasn’t been right for ages, Everly.”

“Are you unhappy with me?”

“I’ve been happier,” I said truthfully, and although I still wanted to revert to my rehearsed speech, to explain how I’d been feeling for the last few months, the only words that came out of my mouth were, “I feel like I never see you anymore,” which were wholly inadequate.

“You see me every evening.”

“Yeah, for the hour or two that you can stay awake.”

“Because I’m tired.”

“I get that, but when your aunt was alive, you used to split the shifts between you, as well as having the two part-timers. Now, it’s just you.”

“No, it’s not. I’ve still got Monica and Barbra.”

“Who between them cover the breakfast and lunch shifts… at least some of the time, which leaves you doing all the rest on your own.”

“I know,” she yelled. “But it’s not that easy.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re suggesting I should find someone to take Aunt Clare’s place… just like that?” She rounded on me.

“No. That’s not what I was suggesting at all. Stop putting words in my mouth.”

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