Country Wishes

by RaeAnne Hadley

  “Shall we?” I ask Jace. For some reason, the air feels supercharged like change is in the wind, it makes me a little nervous.

  “You want to use your one and only wish today?” He makes a cute face that I can’t help but fall for.

  “I do. Maybe we are allowed more than one wish too. Who knows?”

  “Okay, let’s do this.”

  It’s snowing but somehow, we can still see the full moon in between all the clouds. The setting is perfect, everything is beautiful. I feel beautiful with that man next to me. Its midnight, we need to do this and head back home.

  In my mind, I say my wish loud and clear. If whatever this is between Jace and I is meant to be, show me a sign. Something large that would catch my attention. It needs to be obvious because I can’t make the same mistake twice. I thought Derek was meant to be my husband until death do us part and I was wrong. This time around, Jace has to be the right one or I can’t do this. Getting attached to a man is a lot easier than letting him go. So if this wish thing is really working, I want a big bold red sign that I’m doing what’s right. A one-night stand or friends with benefits situation isn’t my cup of tea. At my age, I’m not into playing around.

  “Done.” He says. “I don’t know what you are wishing for but with the face you are making, they'd better not disappoint.”

  “They better not.” I repeat laughing. “I think we should head back now. I should really get to bed.” As if I was going to be able to sleep after an evening like this. Jace is… wow… amazing. An amazing man.

  “Yeah, it’s time.” He says in a low voice. Is he disappointed to go already?

  We walk back with the wind blowing at our back. This time, he has his arm wrapped around my shoulder and it helps keep me warm.

  I hear the cutest chuckle coming out of his mouth. “What’s so funny?”

  “I can’t believe how my day has gone. From the minute I saw you at Bear Lake until now. I have enjoyed my day very much.”

  “Even when you carried me?” I should take a minute to give him a shoulder massage. Poor guy. He carried me for quite a while.

  “That was my favorite part.” He squeezes me closer and presses a kiss to the top of my head.

  “Your shoulders might not agree in the morning?”

  “Babe, I lift much heavier than you at the gym on the daily.”

  Blushing, I hide my face toward his chest. “Are you trying to impress me now or what?”

  Even if we are just feet away from my place, he stops me in my tracks and turns me to face him. “I don’t feel like I need to impress you. You seem to see me for exactly who I am.”

  “Pure hotness, strong arms, pretty face and good kisser, am I right?” I bat my frozen eyelashes trying to make him laugh.

  “You got to see more than that. I’m trying to show you who I really am.”

  I touch the tip of his nose with my cold as ice fingertips. “I was teasing you. I see you how you want me to see you.”

  “Is that enough or do you want more?

  I take a moment to answer that question. “Jace, I want the real you, no bullshit. Don’t try and seduce me by being someone you aren’t.”

  “No bullshit works for me.”

  We agree with a kiss and we go on our separate ways. Jace walks to his truck parked by my apartment. He removes the snow that accumulated over his windshield and waves goodbye before jumping inside. I bet his hands were cold. Mine sure are. Climbing the first two steps to my door, I keep staring at Jace.

  When he finally drives off, I’m shocked to discover I feel some kind of sadness. I really wanted to spend more time with him.

  Chapter Four

  I leave my apartment wishing I could stay home snuggled up in my warm bed. As I step outside, I notice footprints in the snow leading to and from my door. I wonder who that may be? This is the exit leading to my apartment door directly. Who could it be? It better not be Derek. So far, I have been living my life here without any interference and I don’t want it to start either.

  Despite the storm, the bakery is open as usual. It takes more time to get set up than normal but I have my first customer by the time it’s 7. Who the hell wakes up that early during a snow storm? Apart from me that is.

  “You look a little pale, Bexley. Are you feeling okay?” Marnie asks. She comes in every few days to get fresh bread and two cinnamon buns. Her husband is battling a cancer and he sure loves to eat a cinnamon bun. They eat it together for breakfast.

  “I’m feeling amazing, but I wasn’t able to sleep much last night.” I wonder why. Maybe because I kept thinking about Mr. Jace King and all the dirty things I want to do to him or with him.

  “The full moon, it does that to me as well. That’s why I’m late. Snow is just snow, I wouldn’t be late because of that.”

  “There is an awful lot snow, Marnie.”

  “We are in Colorado, it’s normal. Besides, I want a white Christmas for my grandkids.”

  “We all do.” I smile as she removes her wool beanie. “You want the usual, Marnie?”

  She nods. “Yes, please, dear.”

  I slice her fresh bread as usual and put two cinnamon buns in a box. “Have you started your Christmas shopping?”

  “Believe it or not, I’m already done. I started early this year.” She says with pride.

  “That’s what I say I’ll do every year and somehow I never do.”

  “I can’t deal with the Christmas shopping anymore when the mall is crowded. It makes me anxious.” Marnie must be in her late sixties, I can understand the anxiety she feels shopping during the holidays.

  “I will probably start shopping online.”

  “Yeah, well I’m too old for that.”

  I give her the bread and buns and she pays. The same amount counted out to the last penny, every time.

  Minutes after she says goodbye, I hear the alarm from the fire station going off and they leave few short seconds later. I wonder if Jace is in there. I don’t want him getting hurt. Driving through the snow might make it harder for them to do their job. The snow plows haven’t cleaned all the streets yet.

  Chill out, Bex, it’s his job.

  For once, I chill out. I pull up my favorite playlist and listen to some of my favorite songs by Hozier while icing some cakes. The fourth coffee is starting to kick in, finally. My energy level is low but I’m starting to feel less drained. The magic of caffeine I would say.

  It’s almost 8 by now and I’m pretty sure my employee is about to show up. I could take that opportunity to head back to bed but I won’t. Cecelia is a ray of light and pretty funny to be around.

  Five minutes to 8, the bell that hangs over the door rings but she doesn’t come to the back.

  It must be a client, I wipe my hands on a towel and set the cake I was working on in the walk in freezer.

  I walk through the flipping door and lock eyes on Derek. A drunk Derek. My heart is accelerating so much I don’t know if I’m about to cry or yell at him. The footprints outside my door, it was him. He knows where I live and I bet he has been watching me.

  “It has come to my attention that you have been kissing a man at midnight in the middle of town.” His slurred declaration is enough to give me chills.

  By saying a man, I take it he doesn’t know who it is. I want Jace to stay out of it. My issues with my ex-husband can’t affect him.

  “What do you want Derek?” I say back controlling my emotions, I’m not afraid to fight for my own freedom.

  “Who is he?” He asks with so much anger that I take a step back but he steps forward. Aggressive Derek has never happened before. Hearing about the kiss must have hurt him a lot. His hand grabs my shoulder in a way that isn’t meant to be nice. Does he want me scared or hurt?

  “You don’t need to know who he is. We’re divorced and you are also free to date who you want.” It may not be the best thing to say but it’s the truth. The truth sometimes sucks and might be hard to digest but it needs to be said.

 
“I want you.” He reeks of alcohol. Memories flash through my mind of all the nights I had to look after him. Help move his drunk heavy body to the bed or over to the couch, almost every single night.

  “Derek, you are drunk. You signed the divorce papers so I really don’t understand what your intentions are this morning.”

  “When I heard that you were with someone, it hurt me so bad.” His hand presses on his heart and I know he’s hurting. The tears in his eyes are enough to convince me of the pain he feels. Divorce is never easy and I feel bad for him. For many years, I was his anchor, the one saving and protecting him but it wasn’t a life for me. I knew I deserved more out of life than that.

  “I’m sorry. I really am but there’s nothing I can say now that’ll make it better for you.” My voice isn’t as strong as it should be. I don’t want to be here facing him alone. Not today, not ever.

  “Take me back, I’ll change. I’ll be the man I was when we first got married.” It breaks my heart to hear him say that. He once was an amazing husband and I’m surprised he even remembers his old self before the alcohol took over.

  “Derek, please, don’t do this.” I’m begging him. “This isn’t fair to me and you can’t make promises after failing so many times in the past. Don’t do this.” He falls in my arms, holding me close to him.

  I see Cecelia coming toward the door. She has so many layers of clothes that if it wasn’t for her pink handbag, I wouldn’t have recognized her. “How did you get here? Can you go back home?”

  “I don’t want to go home without you.”

  “Derek, this is my workplace. What you are doing now it isn’t respectful or playing in your favor.”

  Cecelia walks in and realized who is hugging me.

  “Good morning, Derek. You are up early or have you been up drinking all night?” She snaps.

  “I had to speak to my wife here. She has been making out with some guy. I’m not okay with that.” He steps back.

  “And she isn’t okay when you are coming to her workplace drunk off your rocker and filled with anger. What were you thinking?”

  He puffs. “I’m allowed to come here. This is a public place.”

  I wish I could put him in his place like she just did. Flawless and to that he is speechless.

  “Find a way to go home and sober up and if you still feel the need to, we’ll talk later.” I try to add more distance between us.

  “This isn’t the end.” Derek points his finger at me. “The divorce means nothing to me.” He walks toward the door. “Did you hear what I said? It means nothing to me. I will get you back home in no time and you won’t be kissing anymore men around town.”

  We both watch him leave. I don’t know what to think right now.

  “What the fuck was that?” I say out loud.

  “The better question is who the fuck did you kiss?” The glee on Cecelia’s face says everything.

  “A man.”

  “Well, good for you because as far as I know you aren’t gay or bisexual. Who is he?”

  “You are going to love this. Mr. Jason King himself.”

  “Jace? Oh my lord! You kissed Jace? You know that all the single ladies of this town are going to come after you with tar and feathers now, don’t you?”

  “It just happened. I can’t explain it. He likes me and I think he has for a while now.”

  “Oh my God. That’s why they keep coming to get cupcakes. They use the cupcakes as an excuse to see you. Oh, this is so much fun. It’s like something straight out of one of those cheesy Netflix movies.”

  “No, we came here last night and we had cupcakes together. It isn’t just an excuse. He really does love them.”

  “Wow, Wait! You came here with Jace to have cupcakes? That’s so hot. The baker of the town has turned into a naughty seducer. Feed the man, girl!”

  “You are crazy.” I laugh.

  “No, I’m not but you have changed. I think the real you is finally out of its cage. Free the bird. You are young and you are allowed to be wild.”

  Free the bird, really? I smile at her words.

  “I think I have to agree with whatever you are saying.” Cecelia lightens my mood and already I feel better. Derek’s visit had the potential to mess up my day, as much as I hate to say it affects me. I have to just let it go.

  The phone on the wall of the bakery starts ringing and I’m guessing someone wants to know if we are open.

  I pick up the phone with a huge smile on my face. Cecelia knows how to make me happy.

  “Bexley. It’s Jace.”

  “Oh! Hi Jace. Everything okay?”

  “Are you at work already?”

  “I am. I saw that you guys had a call. It must be difficult getting out with all the snow.”

  “I’m okay, don’t worry about us. I’m calling regarding your ex-husband.”

  “He was here a few minutes ago, completely out of his mind.”

  “Derek was at the bakery? What time?” Oh no, I don’t like where this is heading.

  “Like two minutes ago.”

  “Listen, I don’t want you to panic but we found his car buried in a snowdrift on the side of the road. He probably lost control but he was nowhere around the scene. So he’s probably downtown as we speak.”

  “I can go outside and try to find him if you want. It isn’t like he could run away too far, he is far too drunk to do that.”

  “No, no, stay inside.” I can hear the panic in his voice. “The house... it’s on fire. It looks like it started in the kitchen.”

  “Derek’s house?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh my god... this is terrible.” It isn’t even his house which makes the situation even worse. It belongs to his family. He’s really ruined everything this time.

  “It doesn’t look too good. I’m not sure we’re going to be able to save the structure.” He sighs. “I’m sorry to call you concerning Derek. If you see him again, can you call 911? The police are looking for him.”

  “I started this, Jace. It’s my fault. He’s in some sort of crisis.”

  “Why is any of this your fault?”

  “Because... because someone saw us kissing last night and told him. He’s hurting.”

  “Damnit. I’ll call you back when I have more answers. Take care, okay?” I’m pretty sure I hear a fuck echoing in the background as he ends the call.

  “Yes.” I start crying and place the phone on the counter nearby. My fingers are shaking and I’m not sure how I’m going to handle the situation.

  “Derek is in so much trouble right now.” I blurt out. Of course, I have to say more now, don’t I?

  “Bexley, I’m so sorry.” She hugs me like a mother hugs a child, with so much love and tenderness. Cecelia is only a few years older than I am, but she is very maternal.

  “Prior to coming here, he probably had an accident with his car, so he just abandoned it on the side of the road, and now the house is burning down.”

  “Bex, nothing about this is your fault. Derek has issues and you know that.”

  “I know, I know.” How can this be real and not be some twisted storyline on a soap opera? “This is such bullshit. He’s gone mad because he found out about me and Jace. Did he think I would stay off the market forever? It happened fast true, but trust me, I had no intention or any ideas Jace King could have a thing for me. That is still hard to believe. I mean, come on... but it’s no reason to take his car out in the middle of a snowstorm drunk, and my guess is that he forgot to turn the oven off or something. Now the house is nothing but a pile of rubble. His family is going to be so mad at him now. That house had been in his family for three generations.”

  “Okay, sit down, take a deep breath.” I do as she says but it doesn’t stop the flow of tears. “I’m over and done with him but I still shared my life with him for a long time. I hope he’s going to get the help he needs this time.”

  Police sirens echo in between the buildings on Main Street. “They are probably looking for h
im.”

  “We both know he isn’t in a good place mentally but he wasn’t hurt after crashing his car. I think his family will get him the help he needs or force him into treatment.”

  I dry the tears on my face. “They will, I’m sure they will.” I groan. “I can’t let him get to me like this. We’re divorced and I knew one day, shit would hit the fan once I started dating again.”

  “I just want you to understand that your happiness with Jace shouldn’t be affected by Derek’s misbehavior.”

  I nod. “I know. I’m just mad right now.”

  “Be mad if you want but as soon as Jace steps back in here, you better smile and be happy.”

  Through the anger boiling inside of me, I still find the will to laugh. “Of course, I don’t know what’s going on with us right now but damn, he’s such a good kisser.”

  “You deserve it, girl. I knew something was about to happen with one of those hot boys across the street. They keep coming in here.”

  “Well, first, we’re the queens of cupcakes and second, come on, we’re two hot babes why would they go anywhere else?”

  “Hot babe for you, I’m a chubby mom.”

  “Shut up, you’re hot. Men love women with curves.”

  “Oh, please! Stop with that.”

  “Your man thinks you are hot. I know because I see the way he’s looking at you every time he comes in to drop off your lunch. The bakery about burned down last week from the heat in his gaze.”

  Now, her face is flushed and my work is officially done.

  Cecelia is beautiful and I love having her on my team. At seventeen, she became a mom but it didn’t stop her from realizing her dreams. She finished high school and she went on to get a baker diploma. She’s had it rough but right now, she’s indispensable to my shop. Her passion and talent are bringing different ideas which the customers love.

  Both of us are laughing despite the shit my ex-husband is going through. He isn’t my problem anymore and the trouble he put himself in shouldn’t affect me. Right?

  “What should we do today? I mean, I don’t think we’re going to be too busy.”