Page 73 of Fake-Off with Fate
“I mean, remember that things happen for a reason. Even if they don’t make sense at the time.”
“If you’re talking about my house burning down, I do not accept that anything good can come from that.”
“I’m talking about everything, Ashlyn. Everything that happens in our lives is a conductor for the next thing. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Getting off at the Colorado Street exit, I tell Jamie, “I need to go. I’ll call you in a day or two, okay?”
“Call sooner if you need me,” he says.
And with that, we hang up again. Talking to Jamie feels so normal and so right, I can’t imagine not doing it multiple times a day for the rest of my life. But I also know that if I hear his voice that often, I’ll only be bringing heartache on myself. And that’s the last thing I need right now.
Dillion’s parentsare very welcoming and do their best to make me feel at home. The guest room they are letting me stay in is lovely, but even so, it’s strange being so close to home without being home.
I have a hard time sleeping, but I finally conk out around three a.m. Which is why I’m still asleep at ten when my phone rings.
I groggily reach for it. “Hello?”
“Ashlyn!” It’s my dad.
“Hey, Dad. Are you home?”
“We are. Just arrived an hour ago to the find the police at the door.”
“Why were the police there?”Seriously, what else could go wrong?
“Phillip called them.” He chuckles. “He started to worry that you were up to no good and he thought you might have done away with me and your mother.”
That little poop. “Excuse me?”
“He says he’s been texting me nonstop and when he didn’t get a response after twenty-four hours, he figured something had happened to us.”
“He didn’t get a response because I was FedExing your phone back to you so it would be there when you got home.”
“I figured it was something like that when I opened the envelope on the doorstep and found my phone.”
“I don’t know how you put up with that guy, Dad. He’s a real piece of work.” I grunt loudly before sitting up and fluffing the pillows behind me.
“He’s probably going to be the next mayor of Maple Falls,” he says.
“Do not underestimate the intelligence of my hometown,” I retort. “What did you tell the police?”
“What do you think I told them? I told them we were just fine.”
It occurs to me that he hasn’t said anything about the whole Alexander MacDonald fiasco, so I ask, “Any chance you’ve been updated on what’s been going on in town while you were away?”
My father laughs.Laughs!“Your mother caught me up to speed on the flight home.”
“Are you furious with me?” I ask nervously.
“Why would I be upset with you? It sounds like you’ve done your best to put everything into motion to save Maple Falls. You’ve done a great job, honey.”
“What if Alexander doesn’t take the money?” I want to know.
“That would have nothing to do with you,” he says. “If Mr. MacDonald doesn’t take the money then we’ll have to figure something else out. But just know I couldn’t have done a better job than you did.”
Tears unexpectedly fill my eyes. “Thanks, Dad. That’s a really nice thing to say.”
“It’s the truth. I told you I thought you’d make an excellent mayor, and you’ve proven I was right.”
