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Chapter

One

Moving to Jackson Ridge hadn't been one of my dreams in life.

Which wasn't a surprise as nothing in my life was what I planned.

It was, however, doable.

Prices in Jackson Ridge were good.

I put a good amount of money down on a lease for my half of a duplex. It was room enough for me.

And room enough for the baby that was going to come in four or five months.

Here, where no one knew me, I could pretend that I was alone because I wanted to be.

Not because my husband, no, myex-husband, had decided to move in with his secretary.

Yes.

I am one of those women.

Left for a secretary.

I was a joke.

At least I was in Gatlinburg.

In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, I was the one everyone pretended they didn't know. But I was also the person everyone pointed at and talked about behind my back.

"Oh... that's her!"

"Her? Who?"

"The one whose husband is boning his secretary."

"Oh... her!!"

Some people were kind enough to be quiet about it.

More people felt like they didn't have to lower their voices.

And there were those who looked right at her when they laughed.

I needed to get away from them.

I needed to find a place where I could be me.

Where I wasn't the tragedy.

"Hey!"

I looked up and smiled.

"Hey, Willow."

I nodded at her, but I didn't know if I should wave. Or invite her over.