Page 109 of Bleeding Hearts

I tell her everything. She knew about the abuse, and we’d discussed it before, but I never went into detail about what I dealt with when I escaped to her shop after school every day.

She listened without interruption, not pitying me when I finished but praising my strength. Then she asked more about Asher, and I wasted no time gushing over him.

I told her how he was my best friend who turned into the love of my life. How he makes me feel like I’m the most special person in his life.

How he has and would do anything for me, and I feel the same for him.

She’s smiling big by the time I finish. She talks to me about her late husband, Harvey, something she rarely does and about how he was also her best friend before they got married. She gets emotional as she talks about how much she loved him and how he was taken from her far too soon.

The two of us bake, eat, and talk. The entire morning is perfect.

I told Asher that I’d be fine alone this morning while he went to meet with my mother, but it wasn’t the truth. I would’ve sat here all morning anxiously waiting for him to get back. I wouldn’t have been able to stop thinking about what they were talking about in the first place.

But with Lydia here, I’ve barely thought about what could be happening with them at all. She was the perfect distraction I needed. As the muffins bake in the oven, Lydia and I sit on the couch, Gordon cuddled into her lap.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so busy and haven’t made the time to come see you,” I say to her, knowing we’re long overdue for a visit.

“You don’t have to apologize to me, Demi.” She smiles, petting Gordon as he purrs. “Of course, I’ve missed you, but I’m happy that you’re out living your life.” She looks up to me. “You’ve come a long way from the little girl who walked into my bakery all those years ago.”

“I wouldn’t be here without you, Lydia. You gave me a safe place to come when I was stuck in that house. You gave me an outlet. You’ve helped me in more ways than you can imagine, and you continue to.” I reach over, grabbing her free hand in mine.

“I’m proud of you, my girl.” She squeezes my hand in hers. “There’s something else I’ve been wanting to talk to you about but was waiting to do it in person. Do me a favor and grab my purse for me, ..”

“Okay,” I agree skeptically. I stand from the couch, walk over and grab her purse from the entryway table. I hand it to her before sitting back down next to her.

“Thank you,” she says, placing it next to her and rummaging through it until she pulls out a long white envelope. “Here.” She hands it to me, nodding for me to open it.

I carefully break the seal, peeling it open and pulling out the contents inside. It’s a single paper that reads “Sales Agreement” on top.

I look at her, confused, before looking back down and reading through the paper.

“You’re selling the bakery?” I ask, looking back up at her in shock. “And they’re giving you this much for it?” My eyes widen as I see the number with a shit ton of zeros on the bottom of the paper.

“I already sold it,” she says. “It’s too much for me to handle on my own anymore, and I don’t trust it to anyone else besides you.”

“I would’ve taken it over for you,” I say, slightly hurt that she didn’t ask me before selling it.

“I know you would have, but that’s not your dream, Demi. A restaurant is. And you deserve to have all your dreams, sweet girl.” She smiles at me lovingly. “All the money I made from the sale is yours.”

“What?” I gasp out. “Lydia, no. I can’t take your money, let alone that much of it.” I shake my head vehemently.

“You can and you will,” she says firmly. “I have more money than I need for just myself, and you know I never had any children of my own. You’re the closest thing I have to a daughter, Demi. Take the money and use it to open the restaurant of your dreams. Just promise me that I can be your first customer, okay?”

I feel a tear leak from my eyes at her words. I feel wrong taking the money from her, but I also know that she won’t take no for an answer. If it was ever a question where I learned kindness, it was from her.

Lydia took care of me when she didn’t have to. She mentored me when I was nobody to her. She loved me even when it felt like nobody else did.

I meant what I said when I told her I wouldn’t be where I am now without her. Lydia saved me in a way. She allowed me an escape from my everyday life and helped me find myself in the walls of her bakery. She was a role model for me when I had nowhere else to look.

She inspired me to be better, and in the end, she was the one who inspired me to leave.

“I promise,” I say, tears streaming freely down my face at this point. “You’ve been like a mom to me too, Lydia. I love you.” I lean forward, wrapping my arms around her.

“I love you more, sweet girl.” She hugs me back. “Now, let’s start looking for some spaces for sale. You’ve waited long enough to start going after your dreams. That changes now.” She pulls away, pulling out her phone to start googling.

“Yes, ma’am.” I laugh, scooching close to her as we look.

We keep looking for the perfect space until Asher gets back. I tell Lydia to stay, but she gets up to leave as soon as he does.

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