Page 74 of Marrying Hope

HOPE

Iattend to the next customer at the counter, handing him his order. Today I’m filling in for Holly who is in Cherrywood celebrating her parents’ wedding anniversary.

“Hope?” someone calls me from behind the line and I look up from the cash register.

“Kristy, what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to have lunch with you. Is it a bad time?” When I was in Zach’s office last week, Kristy and I said we would get together soon, but there was no set date, and the plan was just up in the air. “Didn’t Zach call you?”

I take my phone out of the apron pocket and see two missed calls from him and a text.

Your Highness:Kristy is coming to have lunch with you.

“He did. I think I missed his calls during the morning rush.”

“Oh. No problem. You carry on. Next time I’ll make sure to plan ahead with you.” The smile on her face doesn’t drop.

Apart from Zane, Kristy is one person from Zach’s family who has been overly kind toward me since our meeting.

“No, wait.” I look down to check the time on my phone. “It’s almost lunchtime, I can leave a few minutes early. Let me ask someone to man the counter.”

“Take your time,” Kristy says before ambling toward one of the couches facing the window.

I quickly assist the lady at the counter with her order of cupcakes and focaccia bread before calling Sue to take care of the customers for the next ten minutes until the day shift baristas arrive.

I grab two cups of coffee, sandwiches, and two cupcakes, asking Sue to add them to my account before walking to Kristy. “We actually don’t serve proper lunch, so this will have to do.”

“That’s perfect!” She removes the paper from her cake and takes a bite before grinning. “My whole family is addicted to your cupcakes.”

I smile. “Then you must take a few home with you.”

“How are you doing?” Kristy asks, taking a sip of her coffee. “I thought you would like to talk since you were missed at Rose’s dinner last week. Did everybody scare you?”

“Um, it’s not that. I was busy…with moving my mom to the care facility.”

“But I bet you were a bit relieved that you got to miss the family dinner.” Her blue eyes dance with mischief.

I’m not sure if Kristy is trying to get a rise out of me, but if she’s really looking for truth, I don’t want to unnecessary lie.

“Iwasrelieved. I’m not going to deny it. I know you, Zane, and others might have accepted me, but Zander and Rose are still upset.” I quickly add, “And I totally understand.”

She grabs my hand between us on the couch. “I knew you would be feeling this way. Although it is not my story to tell, I want to give you some background on Rose’s childhood and maybe you will understand her better. Please don’t think I’m trying to make you like her, but I think you will eventuallyloveher.”

I nod when Kristy smiles this time. Not because I believe her, but because my chest warms at her concern for my feelings.

“You have met Mom and Dad and I’m guessing you imagined us as a happy family.” When I nod, her smiles drops. “But that’s far from the truth.” Her fingers play with the straps of her handbag as she struggles to find the right words. “Without going into details, Rose was kidnapped the day she was born, and it took us all more than two decades to know the whole truth.”

“Oh my God!” The ground underneath my feet shifts. “W-what happened to Rose?”

“She was tortured by her kidnapper for years until she was found. It was only after their engagement that Zander and my father could connect the dots and solve the mystery. It was coincidence that after Mom left Dad, he became guardian of Zach and his brothers.” She glances at the celling, trying to force the tears back as she rehashes the story of her sister.

“I can’t believe it.” My own throat tightens when I imagine Rose as a baby.

“I understand.” She holds my hands in her cold ones. For a moment, I can feel her pain. My own family was destroyed by one single incident, though it was my own doing. “Since her childhood, Rose suffers from extreme social anxiety. She has come a long way since then but she still doesn’t do well with surprises. And that Friday was just too much surprise for her.”

“I don’t know what to say, Kristy. I feel horrible.” My throat constricts saying the words.

“Don’t. It’s not your fault. It’s nobody’s fault. Just don’t take her every action to heart.” Kristy pats my hand lightly and I try to remember everyone from that night in a new light. “I just wanted to give you some perspective of your family.”

“I feel embarrassed for feeling sorry for myself.”

“Hope, everyone you met that weekend has lost something in their life, but we all learned to find happiness eventually. His cockiness aside, I have complete belief that Zach will make you very happy. You will be an amazing couple.”

A weighed-down feeling settles over me as I lean back. I don’t tell her that he already makes me happy in so many ways, but we can never be a perfectly happy couple.

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