Though the joy of kids was infectious, I needed a moment to calm myself down after my little run-in with Alex, so I headed into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee.
After a few sips, the kitchen door opened, and my mama came in, Kadie trailing behind.
“Mama!” my little girl said, rushing over to hug my leg. I smiled and hugged her back.
“Why don’t you go into the back and play with the other kids for a second, sweetie?”
“Okay, Mama.” She rushed back through the door.
Watching through the kitchen window, I saw Kadie start chasing two of the other kids in the backyard. They all laughed and ran in circles, having a great time.
“Something wrong, Aspyn?” Mama asked, a concerned look on her face.
I wondered how she knew but then realized I’d just sent my own daughter away, and my hands were trembling. I placed the coffee cup on the counter and took a deep breath.
Alex wasn’t the only person I’d avoided talking to about important things.
“He’s back. Kadie’s father is back,” I said, my voice shaking. “On Tuesday. He’s working at Carl’s ranch. I guess he’s trying to find himself or something.”
“Oh, my.” Mama let out a long sigh. “And does he know?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I haven’t told him.” I gestured toward the window. “I don’t know, though. Maybe he does. Maybe he worked it out, or maybe Carl told him.”
She walked up and put her hands on my shoulders. “Just talk take a breath, honey. You have family and friends who are here to support you.”
“I just never thought he’d come back.” I let out a nervous laugh. “So, I never even thought much about what I’d say if he ever came back.”
“You never thought he’d come back?” She gave me a skeptical look.
“He showed up in town one time in three years,” I said. “And then …” I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “It’s not crazy to think he’d never come back.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just know that whatever you decide, I’m here to support you as I always ha
ve.”
I gave her a tight hug. Returning my hug, she patted my back.
Mama was right. I had her and my other friends. More important, I had a little girl I needed to think about. I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself and put my worries about Alex aside.
“Thank you, Mama. Thank you.”
Chapter 12
Alex
With so many other changes in my life, it was kind of comforting to be sitting in the coffee shop by the library. Aspyn had told me the owner changed, but everything else was the same: the black tables and chairs, the Vanderbilt and Tennessee banners on the walls, and the small number of signed pictures from a few famous country stars who had made their way into town. The only new one I spotted was a Luke Bryan one in the corner.
I’d spent so many days at this place in high school. It wasn’t like I was into coffee, but more into one of the waitresses at the time. Aspyn.
I remembered waiting in this place for her to get off work. She’d get me a free drink, and we’d go off to have fun by ourselves or with Perri, Joe, and Carl.
They were memories of good times before my dad died and everything had changed. Before I’d left town and abandoned the few people who gave a crap about me.
I stared into the darkness of the hot drink in front of me. Where were my dreams now? All I’d ever wanted then was to be happy with Aspyn. I figured I’d come back into town the conquering college boy hero and sweep her off her feet.
But yeah, it hadn’t worked out that way.
I gritted my teeth. Maybe life was working out the way it should. I’d made a lot of bad choices, shortsighted choices focused only on me, and now I was alone.