Page 63 of Sugar Coated Secrets

“It’s clever, but I don’t like the fact that you used Ford.”

I almost snorted. If she only knew Ford was worse than Danny.

“Trust me, I’m forgotten as soon as they step out of the bakery.”

It's not like I was hurting anyone’s feelings. Danny is... involved with someone. Ford gets around. Literally.

”If you think so,” she huffs.

After her bath and dinner, I sit with her, and she tells me stories about when she was young. She recounts my childhood activities with my parents. When she fell in love for the first time. She wanted me to always remember those moments. Itmade everything worth it. I could never get those stories when she was gone. Without her, I would have no one to share these stories with. There was no one to remind me that I had a family. I had people who loved me.

“You need to find someone to start a family with, Dulce,” she says as I rub lotion on the wrinkly, pale skin on her feet. “Maybe not right now, but soon.” While I sit in the recliner next to her bed, she looks over at me. “Find someone to start a family with. Create memories to add to the ones I've shared with you. It’s what will give you peace and happiness.”

“I haven’t found the right person, Grandma.”

I don’t think I ever will, but I don’t tell her that. I don’t want her to worry more than she already does. I’ve accepted that there may not be anyone out there for me. At least, not until I can get out of this town.

It’s not like I could hide it. At night, the nightmares will haunt me. A panic attack out of nowhere. Unexplained crying when I fall asleep. I can make excuses. Maybe I'll see a doctor when I leave here, but it’s too late. The damage is done.

Sooner or later, whomever I’m with will know. There are only so many lies you can tell before they surface. Because they always do.

Keeping secrets is just a prison for the lies that can destroy you.

The following day, Katie comes to pick me up to take me to Trent’s garage. I had to close the bakery for another day until I could get everything sorted out. Danny texted me to say he still has no news about the break-in. I’m not sure he ever will. This town only allows you to understand what they want you to know.

I make my way to Katie’s car down the little path, careful not to twist my ankle. It’s hot despite it being only eight o’clock in the morning. When I open the oven door after a cake finishes baking, I can sense the sun's heat radiating. A sheen of sweat coats the back of my neck by the time I make it to her car.

“It’s hot as hell outside,” I tell her when I get in the car.

“Tell me about it. Every time I breathe, it feels like cotton balls are in my throat.

“Thanks for picking me up.”

“No biggie, we’re closed today. We need to figure out what we are going to do about the van.”

“Yeah, that is a wonderful place to start.” The thought of going over to Trent's fills me with dread. “How’s your grandmother?”

I smile weakly. “Um, she’s still alive.”

“I’m sorry, Dulce.”

After ten minutes, she turns on a road that haunts me even in the light of day. I clear my throat, trying to remove the feeling of suffocating. Panic bleeds into my chest. It feels like all the air has been sucked out of my lungs.

“Dulce?”

I place my hand on the dash, not caring if my seat belt is cutting into the side of my neck. “Could you pull over for a second?”

She pulls over, and I hear her unclick the seat belt. “Dulce? What’s wrong?”

I blink twice, trying to clear the spots clouding my vision. “I need a minute,” I say between breaths.

“Are you having another panic attack? I don’t mean to be nosy, but you should see someone.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course you can,” she says softly. “There are resources. Free hotlines.”

I laugh, and it sounds crazy. If she only knew.

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