Hometown Hope: A Small Town Romance Anthology

by Zoe York

Still, when Jackson had offered to bring food, I’d jumped at the chance to see him.

  “Talking to yourself again?” Dru asked as she walked in, her trusty clipboard in hand.

  “Of course,” I replied with a smile, then gave my sister a onceover and whistled. “Wow, you look great.”

  “I thought the baby blue would be a good fit for the baby shower,” Dru said, leaning up against the counter, her gaze on my hands as I worked on the flowers. “Plus, I wanted to show off the birthday shoes you and Tasha got me.”

  I glanced at her shoes briefly. “Sexy.”

  “I know, I love them,” Dru gushed, then turned serious and asked, “Everything on track?”

  I nodded and replied, “Claire and I loaded up, along with Enrique and Stacey, and the three of them took off to set up. Claire will come back after to see if I’m still working on the cakes, and the others will go home after breakdown.”

  “Perfect. I’m so excited about tomorrow. I heard that Mr. and Mrs. Stonopolis have written their own vows to renew and are going to be dressed to the nines. They are so sweet, and I can’t wait to make their special day go off without a hitch. You should totally be on site for this one, Mills.”

  “I was thinking about it,” I told her, a small smile playing on my lips. “You know I’m a sucker for a good love story.”

  “That’s because you’re in the middle of one,” Dru joked, just as the bell chimed outside.

  “You didn’t lock up?” Dru asked with a frown, since the front was closed.

  “Yeah. I just unlocked it for Jackson and Kayla; they’re bringing me dinner.”

  Dru waggled her eyes at that, to which I had to reply, “Shut up,” which was my sisterly duty.

  “Hey,” Jackson called.

  “We’re back here,” I replied, taking a moment to flex my stiff hand.

  “Hi, oh, hey, Dru,” Jackson greeted as he walked in carrying a bag of food, his daughter trailing behind him wearing the sullen look I was beginning to think never faded.

  “Hi, Jackson,” Dru replied, setting down her clipboard and crossing to give him a side hug, then she looked down at Kayla and said, “And, you must be Kayla. I’m Dru, the cool twin.”

  Kayla looked momentarily surprised, heck, I think she almost even smiled, before saying, “I didn’t know Millie had a twin. You guys look a lot alike.”

  “People have always said that, although we are fraternal, and I’m the pretty one…”

  “Jerk,” I said with a laugh.

  Dru turned her head and winked at me.

  “Actually, we have another sister, too. Tasha; she’s the baby. We all work here together.”

  “Oh,” Kayla responded, then closed her mouth swiftly and looked around the kitchen without saying another word.

  “Are you hungry, Dru? We have plenty,” Jackson offered, but Dru shook her head.

  “Better not. I’ve got to head out, but you guys enjoy. Don’t work too late, Mills,” my sister ordered, then swept out of the room.

  “I can take a break now,” I said, rubbing my palm absently. “Want to eat at one of the tables out front?”

  “Sure, come on, Kayla,” Jackson replied, guiding Kayla back out the door they’d just entered, while I went to wash up and put a few things in the refrigerator.

  When I was done, I found that he’d already set up the paper plates and had the cartons open and ready.

  “I didn’t know if you like anything else, so I got a few different items, but there’s your Beef and Broccoli and the eggrolls. I also got some sauces and both forks and chopsticks.” As he spoke, Jackson took the items out of the bag in his lap.

  I grabbed the chopsticks and said, “Thanks, I really appreciate this. I hate to admit it, but I often get so caught up that I forget to eat.”

  “We’re happy to feed you anytime, right, Kayla?” Jackson asked his daughter, trying to make her a part of the conversation, but all she did was shrug and keep her eyes on her plate.

  Before I could think of something else to fill the silence, Jackson’s phone rang. He looked down, frowned, then looked up at me and mouthed, “Lawyer,” then stood up and walked back into the kitchen for some privacy.

  “So, how was school this week?” I asked Kayla, painfully aware of how awkward things were with Jackson gone.

  Shoot, they’re awkward when he is in the room…

  “Millie?”

  I looked up to see Jackson standing in the doorway, motioning for me to come over.

  I placed my chopsticks down and rose, then followed him out of the store.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked when we were far enough that Kayla couldn’t hear, assuming that if he wanted her to, he would have spoken to me at the table.

  “That was my lawyer,” he began, distracted as he fidgeted with his glasses. “He said that Julie is at his office right now and he wants me to come down.”

  “Why’s she there?” I asked, my stomach dropping as a million different reasons crossed my mind.

  “I don’t know, he didn’t want to go into it over the phone, just said I should get down there. He did say it’s nothing major, so I’m assuming that means she’s not contesting, still … I need to get down there and see what’s up. I want to get this over and behind us so we can move forward.”

  “Of course, is there anything I can do?”

  “Can K stay here with you?” he asked, and I was sure my worry shone through when he amended, “It’ll only be for a little while, my lawyers’ office is only like five minutes from here. I can’t take her there and risk them bumping into each other, she can’t handle that right now, and it would take too long to drive her to one of her grandparents. I won’t be long, I promise.”

  “Yes, I’m happy to help,” I said, but I couldn’t help wondering how Kayla was going to react to this turn of events.

  Jackson

  I parked outside the lawyer’s office and walked slowly in, giving myself time to try and calm down. To breath.

  Mr. Hurley had said it wasn’t bad, but the worry that had formed on my drive over was that Julie was going after Kayla. I remembered what she’d said just a few days ago, and I knew my lawyer would categorize such a thing in the bad category, but still, that’s where my mind had wandered and stayed for the duration of my trip.

  Now I was close to hyperventilating, I was so sure that Julie was about to try and take my baby away from me.

  No way am I letting that happen, I promised myself as I opened the door and went into the waiting room. I turned my phone to silent, then crossed to the receptionist to let her know who I was and why I was there, then went to sit down. Before my butt could hit the chair though, my lawyer stepped out, and I knew he must have been waiting for me.

  “Jackson,” he called, giving me a welcoming smile, which eased my worry a tiny bit.

  He wouldn’t be smiling if my world was about to fall down around me, right?

  We walked back into the hall, pausing outside the door to his conference room, and Mr. Hurley turned to me.

  “Like I said on the phone, Julie showed up here asking to speak with me. She didn’t have an appointment, so she waited about five hours until I could fit her in. My secretary didn’t make the connection between you and Julie, since she has a different last name, and thought she was just a random walk-in, or I would have called you sooner.”

  I nodded that I understood, although I couldn’t quite find my words yet. My throat was too dry, my heart beating too fast.

  “Anyway, after speaking with Ms. Baker, I thought it would be best to call you in and try to handle this without paperwork, since yours is already being processed. No need to halt progress if it’s not needed, right?”

  I nodded again, tried for a smile, which felt more like a grimace, then followed him through the door when he opened it.

  Julie was sitting at the end of the conference table, dressed somewhat demurely in a low-cut dress, at least, more demurely than last time I’d seen her. Her blonde hair was blown
out and curled, and she wore light makeup. All in all, she looked quite pretty, although still completely opposite from the way she used to look.

  It was almost hard for me to reconcile that she was the same woman.

  I wanted to shout, to ask angrily, what is going on? Instead, I held my tongue, took the seat farthest from her, and waited with forced patience.

  “First of all, I want to assure you that no changes to the divorce paperwork is necessary, rather this is just a meeting, in which I will mediate. It’s a little out of norm, but as long as we get this done quickly and amicably, I have no problem with it. One of the nice things about owning your own law firm, is answering to no one but yourself; still, I wouldn’t want this to become a habit,” Mr. Hurley began, pausing so that each of us could process his words.

  “Of course, thank you, I really appreciate your time,” Julie said softly, because, apparently, I’d gone mute.

  “Also, normally, Ms. Baker would have her own counsel. Since that is not the case today, I will reiterate that I am Mr. Heeler’s lawyer, and am only here in the best interest of my client.”

  “Thank you,” I managed to croak out, finally turning to Julie and asking, “What is this about?”

  Julie twirled the ring on her middle finger nervously, then took a deep breath and brought her gaze to mine.

  “I’d like my stuff,” she said, and I blinked.

  “What?” I asked.

  That was the last thing in the world I’d been expecting her to say.

  “My things … clothes, shoes, jewelry. The box of mementos from high school and when I was little. I’d like to set aside a time to box up and take my things, a time when you and Kayla aren’t around.”

  My mouth was gaping like a fish as I stared at her.

  “What?” she asked defensively. “It’s my stuff, and I should be able to have it if I want.”

  “You came to my lawyer’s office so that you could get your clothes?” I asked, my tone bordering on mean, but I couldn’t help it, I was angry.

  “Well, yeah. I didn’t want to put my mom in the middle of it by asking her to ask you, and I didn’t think showing up at the house unannounced was a good idea. This seemed like the safest way.”

  “The safest way?” I practically shouted. “Did you ever think of, I don’t know, calling me?”

  “I didn’t think that was a good idea, and you did, do, seem pretty angry, so…”

  “Oh, don’t you pull that shit on me. Angry? You’re damn right I’m angry, but you know I’ve never given you a reason to not feel safe around me, and although you’re right, I’d rather you not call my phone, it makes more sense than having me called down to my lawyer’s office for something that could have taken minutes to set up.”

  I took a deep breath and shook my head.

  “I could give two shits about your things. What I’m so angry about, is that you’re more worried about some fucking shoes and mementos, than your own daughter…”

  “Jackson,” Mr. Hurley warned, and I took another deep breath before muttering, “Sorry.”

  “Yes, we can set up a time for you to come pack up and take your things, and no, Kayla certainly won’t be there. But I will be. There’s no way you’re going into my home without me being present.”

  “Okay,” Julie said softly.

  I rose quickly and added, “Now, if that’s all, I need to get back to my daughter. Text me to set up a time to get your things.” Then I turned my attention to Mr. Hurley and said, “I’m sorry for wasting your time. Thanks for your patience.”

  Then I got the hell out of there.

  Millie

  We’d finished eating in silence after Jackson left, my Beef and Broccoli tasteless, so I barely ate at all.

  After we cleaned up, I took Kayla into the back. I gave her a brief tour, making sure she knew where the bathroom was, showing her our office, the kitchen, and the different walk-ins. I thought briefly about taking her up into my apartment, so she could hang out and watch TV or something, then figured it was too far and maybe for my first time watching her, I should keep her close.

  So, we were in the kitchen and I was explaining the flowers I was making, the type of cake it would go on, and telling Kayla about the party the next day. If there was ever a person who looked or acted more bored, I’d never met them. Still, I kept trying.

  “You can make flowers with frosting, fondant, gum paste…”

  “He’s never going to fall in love with you, or marry you, you know,” Kayla broke in, her tone full of anger.

  I looked up from what I was doing, put my tools down, and started as gently as I could, “Kayla…”

  “No, this is stupid. My dad loved my mom, and she left us, she’s never coming back. So now, he has me, and we’re doing just fine. We were happy and everything until you showed up. Now you think you can take him away, but you can’t. He told me, I’ll always be his number one girl … not you.”

  My stomach clenched painfully as the anger on Kayla’s face turned to worry and sadness.

  “Oh, honey, I’m not trying to take your place, or your mother’s. I really like your father, and we’re having a great time getting to know each other, that’s all it is right now. No one has said anything about marriage or anything, so you don’t need to get worked up about that. Not now, let’s just get to know each other, okay? I think that would really make your dad happy.”

  For some reason, my words brought the anger back. In fact, Kayla looked so angry, with her red face and clenched fists, that it made me worried for her.

  “You don’t know what makes him happy,” she spat.

  I lifted up my hands and spoke softly, hoping to calm her down.

  “You’re right, let’s just take a break, maybe go in the back and have some water.”

  “I don’t want to go anywhere with you. I don’t want you coming to my house for tacos, I don’t want to come here to your stupid kitchen to watch you make stupid food. I want you to leave us alone!” she shouted, and before I knew her intentions, she rushed to my counter, lifted her arm, and swept all of my flowers onto the floor. “I hate you.”

  My heart was pounding and my hands were sweating, and I felt utter despair as I looked at all of my hard work in a crumbled heap on the ground.

  “Go back to my office and wait for me there. I’ll come back when we’ve both calmed down,” I managed to say through my teeth. When it looked like Kayla might argue, I said more sternly, “Now!”

  Kayla huffed in response, but followed my directions and stomped off toward my office. After a few moments, I heard the door slam, then braced myself against the counter with my hands.

  I tried breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, but it didn’t work. My eyes filled with tears anyway as I thought about the confrontation we just had, then about how long it was going to take to redo all of the work I’d already completed.

  It’s going to be a long night.

  I used my sleeve to wipe the tears from my cheeks, then went to the refrigerator and pulled out two waters.

  You can do this … you know what she’s going through and can put yourself in her place. She’s hurting and took it out on you, but you’re a grown woman, you can take it.

  Once I was done with my mental pep talk, I squared my shoulders and went to the office. Opening the door, I held the waters in front of me, like a peace offering, then faltered when I saw that Kayla wasn’t there.

  I set the waters down on Dru’s desk and did a quick search of the room, looking under all the desks and in the closet.

  Nothing.

  I started calling out, “Kayla,” as I left the office and searched all of the walk-ins, the bathroom, the kitchen, and the storefront.

  When I didn’t see her and she didn’t answer, I ran up the stairs to the apartment level and tried all of our doors. They were all locked, so I knew she couldn’t have gotten in. Panic started setting in as I whirled in the hallway and ran back down the stairs.

  I did
another lap around the downstairs, hoping like hell Kayla was hiding from me, but when she didn’t come out and didn’t call out, I grabbed my phone and dialed Jackson.

  “You have reached the voicemail of Jackson Heeler,” the automation said after a few rings, his voice supplying his name.

  I waited for the beep and said, “Call me as soon as you get this.”

  I pressed end, cursing under my breath as I retraced her steps from the mess in the kitchen, down the back hall, and to our office. That’s when my eyes caught on the door at the end of the hallway.

  The back exit.

  I rushed to the door, pushing it open so hard it slammed against the wall as I looked out over the back parking lot, only to find it empty.

  She’s gone.

  Jackson

  There was a war of motions happening within me. A fight between annoyance and relief.

  It was annoying that Julie had reentered my life only to gather her things, but a total relief that she wasn’t contesting the divorce and it was still going through on schedule. I needed that part of my life to be in the past, needed to move forward, needed to be able to focus on the fall with Millie.

  So, I was cruising down Main Street, feeling pretty good, even if I did have another meeting with Julie looming.

  I pulled up to the curb in front of Three Sisters and was hopping out of the truck, eager to get back inside and see my girls, when Millie came rushing around from the back of the building, crying and visibly shaking as she called out for Kayla.

  My heart leapt out of my chest as fear coursed through me.

  “Millie!” I shouted, jogging over to her on the sidewalk.

  Her head was turning quickly from side to side as she searched the street, and she was so caught up in her panic that my return didn’t immediately register.

  When I was almost to her, I called her name again, then reached out and touched her shoulder. “What’s going on?” I asked. “Where’s Kayla?”

  “I don’t know…” Millie cried, her head still swinging back and forth, obviously out of her mind with worry, which was really freaking me out. “She got mad, threw my flowers, and we fought … I don’t know what makes you happy, I can’t take her place … I told her to go cool down, but she left.” I understood the gist of what she was saying, but not all of it. “I went to take her a water and she was gone … just gone.”