Page 160 of Ever With Me

Mike Valders may have won for nowand taken everything good from his life.

But he will never hurt my family again. I’ll make sure of it.

45

MADDIE

ONE MONTH LATER

“The window looks fantastic, Garrett,”Maddie said as she surveyed the outside of the Depot. She wrapped a thick shawl around her shoulders, the icy chill of autumn getting stronger each day. The foliage had peaked already—most of the trees had lost their leaves.

Winter—and Christmas—would be around the corner. It was usually her favorite time of year.

These days, though, even the allure of the holidays had lost its luster.

“Itdoeslook fantastic,” Naomi said, smiling at Garrett Doyle as he packed up his tools. “And I’m thrilled we’ll have our best display window up in time for the Christmas season.”

Garrett straightened, a gentle smile on his handsome face. “Sorry I couldn’t do it any sooner. But thanks for being patient with me.” He searched Maddie’s face. “How are you doing these days, Maddie? Sam and I have been worried about you.”

“Hanging in there.” She gave a taut smile. “You know, getting inducted into Brandywood’s Most Notoriously Dumped Women’s Club this week.”

Naomi shook her head. “Only Maddie could joke about something like that.”

“At least I’m joking.” Maddie shrugged. There was truth in that statement, even though she’d delivered it as lightheartedly as possible. She’d cried into her pillow for three weeks straight after Brooks had left. Called him, despite the number not being in service, and sent text messages that were never delivered.

Then, about a week earlier, she’d finally stopped crying at night. But the pain of heartbreak pervaded every single day. Rom-coms didn’t make her happy. Parties and family events seemed overwhelming.

She didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything.

Yet here she was, struggling along because—what else could she do?

Garrett leaned over and gave her a hug. “Just let me know if you need anything at all. We’re here for you. All Brandywood is on your side.”

Yeah, I doubt Gina Strickland is.Then again, she’d been fortunate not to really run into Gina lately.

She nodded, swallowing a lump in her throat. His words were kindly meant, but she didn’t want there to be a side. Even if her family was mad at Brooks—if everyone in town was mad at Brooks—she still loved him. Every kindly meant barb in his direction hurt.

She’d wanted to explain to the town that Mike had kidnapped him and exhorted him for money, and that was why he didn’t perform at the fair, but that would affect Kayla, so she couldn’t do that either.It all just sucks.

As Garrett left, Naomi wrapped her arm around Maddie’s shoulder. “You okay, or are you done peopling for the day?”

“I can handle it,” Maddie said with a sigh. “If I need a break, I’ll just head up over to Pops’s for a bit. See how he’s doing.” She’d been staying at Pops’s house for the past few weeks anyway. He needed a hand around the house after surgery while Bunny was working, and she didn’t want to sleep at her apartment anymore.

Everything there reminded her of Brooks. Even his clothes were still there, his razor still on her bathroom sink. As though he was coming back for them. She couldn’t stand it.

A tug at her skirt made her look down, then Audrey popped her head around her hip. “Hi, Aunt Maddie! Aunt Nami!”

Maddie looked around, surprised, then saw Kayla and Logan coming down the sidewalk. Kayla had been making plans to move here recently—she’d even gotten a job at the local hospital—but as far as Maddie knew, she was still living in Virginia.

She was happy for Logan, but the idea of eventually running into Brooks again because of his sister being in a relationship with her brother was exactly what she’d feared.

How in the world am I going to handle that?

“Hey, Audrey.” Maddie bent to give her a fierce hug. It still took her breath away sometimes when she looked at Audrey and Kayla—they both resembled Brooks enough that it hurt—but she’d grown to love Brooks’s sister, who had been calling and texting her daily. “How are you?”

Kayla and she had also bonded over the fact that Brooks was avoiding Kayla, too. He’d sent more security measures to her house, sure. Just like the bodyguards stationed outside Maddie’s apartment despite her asking them to go.

But Kayla had talked to Brooks only once, she’d said, and only for five minutes.

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