Page 47 of Crossroads of Love

“We’ll go in the office and talk,” he says, gesturing for me to follow.

The door opens behind me, and I turn to see Gavin walking into the waiting room. His eyes flit between Mike and me.

“Hey, I thought I’d stop by and let you know that I’m staying in Hicks Creek for the year like Dad wanted.”

“You are?” I gasp.

My heart is beating so fast, and my stomach plummets.

Is he staying because of me? Is he staying because we slept together?I told him it couldn’t happen again. He can’t be staying for me. That’s just…crazy.

“Yeah.”

Why the sudden change of heart?

Please be because of me.

Stop it! You can’t be thinking that way!

I bite the inside of my cheek as I think about spending the next year doing everything possible to avoid Gavin Wells. I didn’t think he’d actually stay. I especially didn’t think I would be so relieved and happy that he wanted to either.

I can’t feel this way, though. It’s not right.

The guilt starts to take over. I was married to his brother, and while it wasn’t a good marriage, it was still a marriage in which I did love his brother at some point. It’s only been two years. I can’t be having these feelings about his brother already.

“Beautiful, Henry would be so happy,” Mike comments. “Why don’t both of you come into the office so we can discuss things? I know it’s your appointment, Lena, and this wasn’t planned…”

“Yes, I mind,” I snap.

I can feel my face getting red as I shake my head in disbelief.

The last thing I want is for Gavin to know anything about the mess his brother left for me. I don’t want him to see me as weakfor staying with Aaron despite all of his faults and shit treatment of me.

“Truth be told, Aaron wanted Gavin to handle all of it. It defaulted to you

when he didn’t show up for the funeral and didn’t respond to my attempts at contacting him.”

My mouth drops open as I look back at Mike in shock.

Why would Aaron want his brother to handle anything with our finances?I’m not great with them, but I’m capable.

Did he not trust me to keep us afloat?And why is Mike just now telling me this?

“Since Henry took over everything for you, he put in his will that all of this was to fall on Gavin’s plate and not yours. It’s gotten to the point that you can’t be kept in the dark anymore, though,” Mike replies gently.

“What are you talking about? The finances were in Aaron’s and my name, so I should get a say in who is in the meeting and who is not.”

“You’re right, and I think Aaron expected you to say that. Everything in his estate is tied to the farm, remember? Without Henry here and Gavin as part owner, he has to have a say.”

“Fine,” I grumble as I follow Mike and Gavin into the office.

I want to run away and not deal with any of this. The fear of Gavin learning the truth about the way I was treated and the threat of how it might change his view of me is too much to handle. I can feel the anxiety taking hold in my chest.

Gavin pulls a chair out for me, and I reluctantly sit. I grip the armrests and focus on keeping my breathing and thoughts at bay. The next hour is full of discussions about the farm and Henry’s last wishes.

“As you know, Lena, the death benefit that the Public Safety Officer’s board paid out was used to pay off the astronomical debts that Aaron had incurred. You’re receiving a pension fromthe county, but I just received word that those will be on a temporary hold.”

“Temporary hold? What does that even mean?” I ask.

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