Page 2 of Coffee Shop Cupid
“This is Vince’s house!”
“Not until he finishes buying out my half, which isn’t complete yet. I have every right to throw you out of here. Now leave or I’ll have the police escort you out.”
She glared at me for a moment, then, when she realized I wasn’t backing down, stomped towards the door.
“This isn’t over.”
“Yes it is, Helen.”
She slammed the door as she left, but the ringing in my ears was preferable to her nagging.
I walked to the front window and watched her get into her car and leave. Then I pulled the curtains closed, sunk to my knees and started shaking.
I’d never stood up to her before. Eight years of being mated to her son, and I’d always allowed her to run roughshod over me in order to keep the peace.
But I was on my own now, and I would need to learn to stand up for myself.
No alpha would want me. I couldn’t be bonded, and I no longer had a womb to give them children.
My own family, except for my older sister, viewed me as a failure since I was barren, and had almost completely shunned me.
I took several deep breaths, then got to my feet again.
I wasn’t going to break. If years of fertility treatments, IVF, and miscarriages hadn’t broken me, then I could face my future alone.
∞∞∞
“Are you sure about this Tristan?” my principal, Robert, asked as I handed in my resignation. “You’re a good teacher, and we don’t want to see you go.”
I nodded as a group of children ran down the hall outside the office, squealing about something.
“I can’t do it anymore,” I said softly. “Not now. It’s still all too raw.”
I took a deep breath. “Besides, the kids only knew me for a few days before I went into the hospital.”
He sighed, rounded his desk and sat. Then he motioned to the guest chair.
I sat, and readied myself for the pushback. The school was already short on teachers, and my leaving would make it worse.
“What would it take to make you stay?” he asked. “Leave of absence? Can I relocate you to an administrative position until you’re ready to come back?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m moving. There are too many memories here, and in this city.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve decided to move to Valle Granja for now, though I don’t know if I’ll stay or not.”
“Do you have family out there?”
“No. I’ve never been at all.”
“Then why there?”
I shrugged. “Precisely because I’ve never been. There are no memories.”
“I guess I understand.” He paused, the silence in the office heavy. “What are you going to tell the kids?”
I flinched. The last time I’d seen my students I’d still been pregnant. My class had been excited to watch me grow.
