Page 26 of The Leaving Road

“I knew it was wrong to keep the truth from you, but I couldn’t bring myself to give you one more reason not to smile. I had this dumb notion in my head that Cassie was a place filler for you until you and Sloan were ready to admit your feelings for each other. Turns out, I was wrong in that aspect as well. Cassie was dead set on getting her claws as far deep into my son as possible, butunfortunately, Cassie and Sloan’s relationship isn’t my story to tell. And as mad at my son as I am, I won’t betray his trust by filling you in. I don’t know all the details, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to gossip about it.”

“Yesterday, when we saw you, I asked Sloan about it, and he came clean. He told us about the conversation you overheard; he explained to us a little how Cassie used to treat you.” Her sad tears had transformed into tears of anger. “I’m sofuckingmad at him, Magnolia.”

I gasped because I don’t think I had ever heard Lori swear once in my life.

“Oh stop, you’re an adult now, I can swear in front of you. I just need you to know that you were never an obligation to me. I considered you like my daughter; Istillconsider you like my own daughter. I would have never thought of you as an obligation… I am terribly sorry about my part in keeping Cassie a secret from you.” Tears were still streaming down her face. I pulled her into a second hug and let my tears spring free.

“I’m sorry it took me eight years to come home.” I was overcome with emotion, so that was the best I could do for now. I was ready to forgive and move on.

Chapter 17

Magnolia

Lori ended up taking off before the BLTs were even ready. She did, however, leave her number on a card on the kitchen table, and made her departure only after I promised I would call or text her in the next week or so, and set up a time for coffee.

Seeing Lori made me feel better and worse at the same time, and my mind was still trying to process everything. I was so lost in my feelings that I didn’t realize Lexie had made her way back.

“Do I smell bacon?” She floated into the kitchen with a huge smile on her face.

“You do… That’s quite a smile you’re wearing. Good trip to the store?”

“Actually, yes…” She fidgeted, looking a little unsure of herself. I tilted my head in question, so she knew I was on to her. “Listen, it just kind of happened…but we have guests.”

“Guests? I think I’ve had enough guests for the day.” Now it was her turn to look at me questioningly, but before I could elaborate, the front door opened and in walked Jace and Dexter. My gaze turned to them both, confusion on my face.

“Hey, Mags, ran into Lexie at the store and she mentioned you guys needed some help fixing things up?” Jace said as he began making himself a sandwich. I couldn’t help but be amused at his behavior.

While we weren’t close in high school, he was always around to some extent with Sloan. He was the kind of guy who never took anything seriously, but at one time he was serious about leaving this town.

“Why don’t you guys help yourself to some sandwiches, and we can talk about how this,” I waved my hand at the three of them, “came about.”

Dexter at least had the decency to look a little uncomfortable at Jace helping himself without a second thought, but when our eyes met across the kitchen, I offered him a half shrug and a small smile. He must have been satisfied with what he saw because he started making himself a plate and joined us at the table.

Once everyone sat at the table and had a few bites of food, I decided it was time to figure out what this was all about.

“So…” I prompted, hoping someone would fill in the details for me.

“I saw Ms. Lexie in the wine section at the grocery store. She looked positively distraught, so I had to go ask her what was wrong,” Jace started.

“I know this is a small town, but the selection is justterrible. I can’t believe it, Mags. How do they not have a solid Moscato option? My heart was weeping.” Lexie looked at me with a horror-stricken face. Iknewhow much that girl loved her sweet wine. It was a problem, it tasted like juice, went down way too easily, andalwayscreated the hangovers from hell. Regardless, Lexie didn’t care. It was her drink of choice, even in college, so I could only imagine the internal meltdown that Jace and Dexter were privileged to.

“We’re going to have to sign up for one of those monthly wine subscriptions,” she said, her face a mask of utmost seriousness.

“Don’t worry, Lex, we can make a road trip to a bigger city and stock up as much as you want. That still doesn’t explain why you two are here, in my kitchen.”

This time it was Dexter’s turn to talk. I found his presence here the most confusing because, even though I had only met the man once, I had the distinct feeling that his girlfriend Lydia was a foe, not a friend. She kept giving me the side-eye at the bar, and when Sloan and I started going at it, I could have sworn I saw her lips turn up into a barely concealed smile. I didn’t feel the need to address or even think much about it until now because Lydia was no one to me, so there was no use in sinking feelings into someone who didn’t even know me and vice versa.

“Well…basically, in the middle of the wine meltdown, Lexie let it slip that this house needed to be fixed up.”

“Meltdown, you say?” I looked over at Lexie with a fake shocked expression. “Lexie? MyLexie? A meltdown.” I tried my best to contain my laughter. “I don’t believe it.”

“Oh, hush you. I like what I like, I am who I am, and all that.”

Lexie was the exact opposite of me. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and you could always tell what she was feeling by one look at her face. She loved with her whole heart; she believed the best in everybody. She felt every single emotion on a large scale and never held back.

“But that still doesn’t really answer my question…”

“Oh yeah, well, see we own a construction business. We are partners. While most of our construction business is commercial, we have been talking about getting into the residential aspect for a while. We figured you might be willing to take a chance on us and give us our first residential project.” Dexter shrugged. He looked nervous, like I would tell himhell no.

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