Page 97 of The Affair
The thought made me ache for her. For what once was and could never be. Sawyer was right; change wasn’t always comfortable, but I was learning to adjust.
“Good thing we brought my trailer,” Sawyer said as he surveyed the giant pile of junk I’d collected.
“Oh, don’t even start to think we’re done.”
Laughing, he shook his head. “I wouldn’t expect any less. I’m going to go take some of this to the parking lot though. Try not to go bankrupt while I’m gone.”
“I’ll try,” I said, watching him load his arms up with two full boxes.
“You two been married long?” the old man asked as he watched me wade through the last few piles.
“Oh, we’re not married.”
“Really? You seem so smitten with each other, so I just assumed.”
“I was married before,” I answered, leaving out the more scandalizing bits. “It didn’t work out.”
“Looks like you found a good one this time around.”
Smiling, I couldn’t help but agree, “Yeah, I think I did.”
“Well, I’ll let you do some more looking around. Let me know if you need help.”
“Will do,” I answered, diving back into the hunt. But as I stood there, deciding between an antique frame or another beat-up window, my thoughts drifted back to Sawyer.
Had I found a good one?
I thought I had, but I’d spent years with Reed, believing he was my soul mate. My one true love.
We all knew how that had ended.
So, how could I be sure? How would I ever trust another with my heart?
Or had I already given it away?
Chapter Eleven
By the time we returned home that evening, Sawyer’s truck and trailer filled with new treasures, and I couldn’t help but feel hopeful.
I could do this.
I could keep this store alive for another generation and make my family proud.
When he dropped me off at the store so I could grab my car, I took one look at the sign and smiled.
Yeah, I could definitely do this.
My head was filled to the brim with ideas and plans. Knowing I wasn’t going to be able to concentrate on anything until I wrote it all down, Sawyer left me to it, promising to return later with sustenance.
As I unlocked the door to the shop, I realized it was the first time in a while I hadn’t entered with a sense of dread. Taking a deep inhale as I walked in, I felt confident.
If only I could have kept that feeling a bit longer.
Flipping the lights on, I turned to see Reed, standing by the front door as he gave it a gentle knock.
Although I knew I should just ignore him, I instead headed toward him and turned the lock. “We’re closed.”
Holding his arms out like a white flag of surrender, he answered, “I just want to talk. You left me a message the other day.”
