“I’m coming upstairs with you.”
“No need.”
“I think you need someone to vent on.” Doreen straightened. “I’m here.”
Dump his problems on Bethany’s mother? Sierra’s local mom-figure? Yeah, right. He stalked over to the door and wrenched it open. He’d lock her out.
“I still have keys to this building, Gabriel James. I’m coming upstairs.”
“Whatever.” He’d get in the shower and stay there until the hot water ran out. He could outlast Doreen.
A vestige of manners whacked him, and he stepped aside, indicating the stairway. “After you.”
“Thank you, Gabriel.” She made her way up the steep steps and into his kitchen. She filled his kettle and set it on the stove to heat. “I need some tea.”
Tea. If he were a drinking man, tonight would be the night. Tea seemed like a granny way to deal with his problems. Gabe straddled a kitchen chair. “You know Sierra as well as anyone. What is she trying to prove?”
Doreen leaned against the cupboard by the stove and wiped a hand across her forehead. “I really don’t know.”
“How long has she been seeing Burke?”
“They met over a year ago, I think. When Sierra took the beekeeping course from his father.”
So they’d been dating long before Gabe returned. How could he have known he shouldn’t stay away from Galena Landing for three years? It had seemed the only thing he could do at the time.
Doreen poured hot water into two teacups and set one in front of him. “But they’ve only been going out since spring, I think. Maybe even summer. I’m not sure. She hasn’t mentioned much about him.”
Gabe jabbed the teabag in his cup. “Why did she lead me on?”
Doreen shook her head. “I wish I knew.”
“What does Burke have that I don’t?”
“Money.”
He barked a laugh. “I never thought that would matter to her. This place isn’t big or fancy, but it’s better than a cardboard box. It’s more than what millions of people around the world have.”
“I didn’t say she valued it. That’s not what you asked. You asked what he had that you didn’t.”
“Doreen, I—” Did he really want to give her the details? But what did it matter now? “I thought there was a spark between Sierra and me. We went out a few times. I — I kissed her. Told her I loved her.”
Bethany’s mother’s face did not change expression as she squeezed out her teabag and put it in the garbage can.
“I figured on getting her a diamond for Christmas. I knew it was rather soon, but we’re not teenagers. Why wait?”
Doreen nodded and added honey to her cup.
“I felt alive for the first time since Bethany died. Like I had a reason to live again. Not just a stock reason, but joy. Anticipation of what the future might bring.” He glared at the insipid tea in his cup.
“I don’t know what happened,” Doreen said slowly. “She never seemed serious about Tyrell. She didn’t glow when she talked about him. It seemed to me as though she had a friend to do things with besides her girlfriends at the farm.”
“Who are both married.”
“Yes.” Doreen frowned. “That’s why she moved in here after Claire’s wedding. She said she wanted to give them some space, but there was more to it than that.”
Sierra had lived right here in his apartment. He kept forgetting. “What else?” Might as well grind some salt into his wound. Get it all over with tonight.
“Jealous isn’t the right word. It’s not that she’d fallen for Zachary or Noel, I mean. She just felt like a fifth wheel out there with all the lovebirds.”
“So she started dating Burke.”
Doreen nodded, sipping her tea. “I always kind of wondered if she… if she was waiting for you to come back.”
“Me?” He didn’t know whether to be flattered or horrified. “Tonight was a strange way to show it.”
“Something changed in the last few weeks.”
“Tell me about it.” All his burgeoning happiness yanked away.
Doreen glanced at him. “But then I haven’t seen her as much since you got back and took over again at the store, so it might have been my imagination. She’s looked distracted. Sad.”
“Why didn’t she have guts enough to tell me there were problems? Maybe even tell me what they were? I could have helped. Couples talk about stuff. They share each other’s burdens. I thought we were past that stage of keeping things back.” Though he’d never pressed her about Burke. Should he have? But why bring the other guy into the conversation when everything looked so rosy?
He’d been a fool.
Gabe surged to his feet. “Remember when Tammy stopped by the other day and asked if I wanted to sell the business? She has someone looking for a turnkey business just like Nature’s Pantry. At the time, I laughed at her, but I’m going to call her in the morning and get the ball rolling. Of course, these people may have found something else already.”
“But—” Tears started down Doreen’s cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away.
“What else can I do? I’m not sitting in Galena Landing smiling and nodding at everyone while watching Sierra and Burke’s kids grow up. I can’t do it, Doreen. I don’t have it in me.”
“I — I understand. I’ll continue to pray for you, for God’s leading. I’ve never stopped.” She pushed the teacup away, still nearly full, and slipped out the back door.
It seemed so easy. He paced the floor. Did he wish Doreen would’ve argued? It crushed him even deeper to know she didn’t think there was reason to hope, either.
Nothing. No hope.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
Gabe dropped to his knees in front of the sofa. If Jesus was all the hope he had left, wasn’t it more than so many had? He’d cling. He had to.
But that didn’t mean he could sleep another night between the sheets Sierra had bought for his birthday. He balled up the whole works and shoved it into the spare room closet. The room that, once upon a time, was to be his baby’s room.
The death of his relationship with Sierra was just as devastating.
Gabe dug an old army sleeping bag out of storage and crawled into it. It smelled stale, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to sleep anyway.
Chapter 29
Monday. Sierra had dreaded this day for almost a week. Her parents had finally taken off yesterday with Jacob, leaving Allison to talk business with the gals at Green Acres and return later with Chelsea.
She’d tried to tell everyone she was busy Monday, but Jo had pushed right over that. “Whatever it is, Sierra, put it off until Tuesday or Wednesday, won’t you please? We need to get details finalized while Allison is here.”
“I can’t change the date. I’m sorry.”
“Good grief, girl! What could possibly be more important for that one day?”
Sierra had stared at Jo. No doubt her misery had seeped out her eyes. “I can’t tell you, but I also can’t change it.”
If only she could. If only she could be as happy as she’d anticipated a month ago. Thinking of dancing with Gabe at their birthday party, the kisses they’d shared in the days afterward… man, she’d give anything to erase the time since and get her hopes back.
Sure, the D&C might remove all the abnormal tissue. She might not have cancer. But somehow she’d managed to screw everything up anyway and send Gabe away. She’d only meant to slow things, not shut him down completely.
If only she hadn’t invited Tyrell to Thanksgiving.
If only she hadn’t made her best friends and her family furious with her.
If only.
Chelsea at her side, Sierra walked in the doors of the Wynnton Hospital ER to check in for day surgery. The smell of antiseptic once hadn’t bothered her. Today she nearly gagged.
“Right this way, Ms. Riehl. The procedure room is on schedule, so we’ll be taking you back there in th
irty minutes.” The nurse swept the curtains open to reveal a now-familiar cubicle. “First, into this gown please. I’ll be back in a moment to take your vitals.” She bustled back out, the curtains rattling shut behind her.
How many times had she stripped down for bodily invasions lately? Too many. Sierra pushed the thought aside and shrugged out of her purple sweats, which she’d deemed the comfiest clothes for going home later. She donned the poor excuse for a gown then folded her sweats and stacked them into Chelsea’s gym bag with her wallet at the bottom.
“I’ll run this out to the car.” Chelsea patted the bag and turned to leave. “I’ll be back before they haul you off.”
“Thanks.” There wasn’t really anything left to say. They’d done all their arguing in the days and weeks gone by. Now Sierra just needed to get over this hurdle. Finally someone would be able to tell her the extent of the endometriosis, and do something to remove the most of it. Waiting for results was her new way of life.
“How much blood?” the nurse asked in the distance. “How far apart are the pains? You said you’re thirteen weeks along?” Her voice came closer, along with her squeaky shoes and the trundle of a gurney.
“She’s been spotting since late last night,” a man’s voice replied.
Zach?
Sierra surged upright, cocooned behind pale blue dividers no thicker than sheets. What in the world was going on?
“It was a stressful, busy weekend. She tried to get as much rest as she could, but it didn’t help.”
Definitely Zach.
Had she added to Jo’s stress? Oh, no.
The curtains next to Sierra’s cubicle rattled down the rail. Shoes appeared below the dividing curtain. “I’ll get the doctor in for an exam. Here, Josephine, can you change into this gown? I’ll be right back.”
Sierra froze. Should she let them know she was here? Ask what was going on? Then they’d wonder why she was here in her own backless gown. Was it time to tell?
“Let me help you,” came Zach’s low voice.
Jo whimpered.
Sierra had never thought she’d hear a sound like that. Her heart clenched. Jo in pain? She couldn’t just barge in there and intrude on their privacy. Even once Jo had donned the gown.
“Maddie will be fine with Mom. Don’t worry about a thing, sweetie.” Zach’s soothing voice was barely discernible. “Everything will be okay.”
If only Gabe were here with her, and they were facing this challenge together. With a pang, Sierra realized he would have been in a heartbeat. Before all this drama.
It would have been inappropriate in this stupid gown though. She closed her eyes. God, are You there? I can’t deal with all this on my own. I’m terrified of what the results will be. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to have a hysterectomy. I want a family like any woman my age wants. I want Gabe.
Her mental prayer faltered. That would require a miracle probably beyond God’s abilities.
Please be with Jo and Zach. It sounds like they might be losing their baby. Please comfort them.
“Sierra? Can I come in now?” Chelsea asked from outside the curtain.
“Shh. Come in,” she whispered, and the curtain swished. The aura around her sister’s head looked like a full migraine headed in. There was no way Jo and Zach hadn’t heard Chelsea. It wasn’t like Sierra was that common a name. It wasn’t like her friends had never heard Chelsea’s voice.
Sierra closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable with her finger across her lips. Willing Chelsea to silence. Knowing it was too late.
“Sierra?” asked Zach.
Sierra stifled a groan as panic swelled through her.
“Zach?” Chelsea turned toward the curtain, her face perplexed. “What are you doing here?”
“Chelsea? Is Sierra with you?”
Chelsea turned wide eyes on Sierra and bit her lip. She spread her hands wide, the question of what to do now apparent.
Sierra took a deep breath. “Yes, I’m here, Zach. Are you guys okay?”
“Not sure. Jo might be miscarrying.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“What about you?”
The nurse jogged into Sierra’s cubicle. “Let’s get that blood pressure now, shall we? Sorry it took me so long to get back here. We’re almost ready to take you into the OR.” She wrapped the band around Sierra’s arm and began to inflate it.
Sierra might have been saved by the nurse’s return, but it definitely wasn’t over.
* * *
“Gabe, I’d like you to meet Stuart and Barb Smith,” Tammy said as the middle-aged couple glanced around Nature’s Pantry with obvious interest.
“Nice to meet you, Gabe.” Stuart shook his hand. “Thank you for allowing us to view your business so quickly.”
“Uh, no problem.” Actually, he could think of a bunch of problems, all with Sierra’s name on them. But that meant nothing to this couple. “I’m glad I could accommodate you.”
“Tammy said there are living quarters upstairs?” asked Barb.
“Yes, have a look through it as well. If you wanted to buy a house, you could always rent out the apartment.”
She nodded. “Now there’s an idea.”
Thankfully Tammy had called him yesterday to set up this viewing and he’d done a quick blitz of the space. It irked him to remake the bed with Sierra’s gift, but he didn’t want to answer any questions about why his bedding was in the closet instead of where it belonged. Trying to see the apartment through strangers’ eyes was weird. Would they love the turquoise and honey tones throughout? Surely the colors presented better than battered beige.
“I’ll leave you with Tammy.” Gabe nodded at the couple. “I’ll be around, so if you have any questions she can’t answer, feel free to find me.” It wasn’t like he could leave the building with the store open for business.
“Thanks so much.” Barb twined her fingers through Stuart’s as they turned toward the Realtor.
Gabe retreated behind the store’s counter. He’d been meaning to sort out the shelves underneath. This would be the perfect time.
Voices rose and fell as the trio slowly walked each aisle then disappeared into the receiving bay. A few customers came and went. Eventually he heard the stairs creak as Tammy led the potential buyers upstairs.
What were they thinking? Surely if they hated it, they’d be gone by now. They’d driven all the way from Bozeman yesterday — on Thanksgiving Sunday — to view Nature’s Pantry.
Did he want them to make an offer? His gut clenched. He could always refuse it. Not if it met the asking price he and Tammy had worked out on Friday, though. He’d signed a contract, but convinced Tammy not to put For Sale signs up until they saw how things panned out with the Smiths. Next week would be soon enough to answer all the curious townspeople when word got out.
To say nothing of Sierra. Would she care? Would she remind him he hadn’t given it six months? She wouldn’t dare.
The bell jangled and Mrs. Bowerchuk ambled in, leaning on her cane. The old woman’s hunched back made it difficult for her to walk, but her face brightened at the sight of him behind the counter.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bowerchuk.” The Smiths would take good care of her, wouldn’t they? They wouldn’t allow stock of Cora’s plain rice cakes to run out.
“Good morning, Gabriel. Did you have a blessed Thanksgiving?”
The smile froze on his face. How in the world could he answer that? “I, uh, have much to be thankful for.” It was true. He knew it, though it was hard to remember the details at the moment.
“Don’t we all, dear boy, don’t we all.” She thumped her cane a few times for good measure. “I’m here for some rice cakes. Do you have any in stock?”
“I sure do. They’re over here.” He walked past her toward the right aisle. Not that she needed to be shown.
She peered at the shelf. “Can you spare two packages? In case that storm we’re supposed to get keeps me inside a few extra days.”
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“No problem. Buy as many as you’d like. I think there are four on the shelf. Would you like them all?”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t do that. What if someone else needs them before you can get another order in?”
“Three, then?”
She tilted her head to one side, considering.
If only the biggest problem in his life right now hinged on how many sleeves of rice cakes to buy.
“Two will be plenty, dear boy. I don’t want too many lest they go stale.”
As though anyone else in town bought the things. He should just give her a case lot price and drop the whole thing off at her place. “Whatever you say, Mrs. Bowerchuk. Is there anything else I can help you with today? Do you need any vitamins, maybe? Or some organic pasta?”
She blinked at him. “No, this will be fine.”
Gabe tried to keep his sigh inside. “Okay, I’ll carry this up to the cash register for you.”
The back steps creaked and voices grew louder, though still indistinct. Nothing wrong with the old lady’s ears. She turned to peer at the door to the back just as Tammy and the Smiths breezed back through.
“Well hello, Mrs. Bowerchuk,” Tammy said with a big smile. “What brings you out today? It’s a nippy one.”
The old lady tapped the counter. “I needed my rice cakes.” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “I’m buying two packages in case that storm is as bad as they say on TV.”
“Good idea. It always pays to be stocked up.” Tammy’s gaze met Gabe’s as Mrs. Bowerchuk turned to the counter, fumbling with the snap-top change purse she’d pulled from her pocket.
He shrugged and grinned. What could he say? Keeping the old ladies in this town happy was part of his job. Even if they dropped less than five bucks a week into his till. He set the two tubes into her shopping bag, and she hobbled toward the door.
Gabe sprang around to open it for her, but she turned to Tammy before he could. “You here on selling business? You leave this dear boy alone. Galena Landing needs him.” Then she proceeded out the door, icy wind swirling past her.
He shut the door, grimacing. “Sorry about that,” he said to the Smiths.
A Farm Fresh Romance Series 1-3 (A Farm Fresh Romance Box Set) Page 73