Page 35 of Hidden Vows
“Only a blind man would say that about your father.”
I want to be cordial, but when it comes to others insulting the people I love, cordial goes flying out the window. “What the hell happened between the two of you? Is there some imagined wrong he committed? Or are you jealous of the relationship he had with Grace?”
“Don’t you dare say her name!” he booms, taking another step closer to me. “She was too good for the likes of this town. Noneof you deserved her.”
I know Edward loved his wife, it was hard not to notice in the way he looked at her, but sometimes it was easy to forget how much he loved her with how often he was out of town and how often Abbey said she heard them fighting.
I don’t back down from him, he’s angry, but I know he won’t do anything to jeopardize his reputation in town. He may hate it here, but he also can’t stand the idea of others disliking him. He cares too much about what other people think—like I used to.
“You’re right that she was a far better person than most, but this town absolutely deserved her—simply because she wanted to be here.”
Edward seethes, his face red with anger, and part of me honestly feels sorry for him. To love someone as much as he loved Grace, only to lose her far too young. It’s a horrible reality to live.
I don’t understand it entirely; while I lost Abbey, she wasn’t gone from this world. I always knew where she was and could’ve come back to her if I’d been able to get over my own issues. My loneliness was of my own making, and, to an extent, so is Edward’s, but losing the love of your life? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
“Sir, I get that you love your daughter and you want to protect her from what you think might hurt her, but have you ever thought you might be wrong about me?”
Nothing in Edward’s countenance changes. The anger still sits under the surface, barely held in check. I wish I knew the full story. I wish I understood what happened to make him hate me and my father, but I know he’ll never tell me, and until my father wakes up, there’s no other person to ask.
If only I’d been smarter in the past, I could have talked to my dad about it. Instead I held the secrets of how badly Edwardtreated me from everyone.
“I don’t know what you think happened in the past, whether it was something between my dad and Grace, or some history with my grandparents, but I swear to you, Abbey is the most important person in my life.” He flinches at the sound of his wife’s name, but he doesn’t interrupt me. “I’m not disappearing from her life—not again.”
The door to Murphy’s opens, stopping Edward before he can say anything. We both turn to find a woman with deep brown hair stopped in the doorway. It’s not hard to imagine why when the tension in the air around us is palpable.
“Sorry, I saw the help wanted sign in the window and wanted to ask about the position.” She stays where she is on the threshold, the door held open as she decides what her next move will be.
I help the decision along, stepping back from Edward and addressing her directly. “I’ve got a couple positions open, but I’m interested in hiring a bar manager first.”
“We aren’t done, Mr. Murphy.” Edward’s words are quiet enough only I can hear them, but the anger is still more than evident.
“I think we are.” I keep my words just as hushed as his. “I think it’s time you go.” I don’t back down from his stare, making sure he sees how serious I am. Nothing he can say or do will make me leave, not this time.
Without another word, Edward spins on his heel and marches toward the door. The woman has just enough time to press her back into the door, making space for him to breeze past her. I take only a second to release the tension from my shoulders before finally addressing the stranger.
“I’m sorry about that.” I reach forward, presenting my hand for a handshake. “I’m Jude Murphy, the owner’s son.”
The woman hesitates only a moment before she accepts my handshake. “Jane Smith.” When she speaks, her voice is clear and direct. It’s clear whatever made her nervous isn’t going to stop her from doing what she came for, and I respect that. “I just moved to town, and while I’ve never managed a bar before, I do have experience managing a store.”
My brow lifts at her name—it’s a little too generic for me not to question its validity—but I don’t comment on it. I know what it’s like landing in a new town looking for someone to take a chance on you, and after everything I’ve been through, I like that I have a chance to pay it forward.
“Come on in. Let’s sit and talk about the position.”
Dad may not love that I’m hiring staff to help with the place, but he’s not going to have a choice when he finally wakes up. If this heart attack should teach us anything, it’s that he needs to take better care of himself first and foremost.
Besides, I’m not going anywhere this time and I want to make sure we have plenty of time to catch up with each other. I’ve missed too much and I refuse to miss more time.
sixteen
JUDE
The bellabove the door sounds as I step into the disheveled bookstore. My eyes immediately roam the cluttered space, searching for a head of sandy blonde hair, one that belongs to the woman I’ve always loved.
“I come bearing coffee,” I announce into the store.
It’s comical how quickly two heads pop up from behind piles of boxes and books in the back of the store from those four simple words.
“My hero!” Ava practically sprints around the boxes in front of her, springing to grab one of the cups from the carrier in my hands. “I know I should be holding a grudge against you on Abbey’s behalf, but I have to be honest; you’re making it very difficult,” she whispers so Abbey can’t hear.
