Meant To Be (Coming Home To The Grove 2)

“I still can’t believe you quit school to work at some bakery,” her mother starts.

I clench the fork in my hand, knowing I can’t sit here and do nothing. I look toward Donald, and he seems just as mad as I am. I dare a glance at Carrie, knowing I’m going to see the hurt on her face, but I’m surprised by the confidence I find instead.

“Mother, we all know I quit school. I wasn’t happy. I’m happy now. Can you please just let it go and let me be? Your remarks about school”—she pauses and looks at me with a blush before turning back to her mother—“and my weight have got to stop. It’s hurtful, and frankly I’m tired of being hurt by my own mother.”

Suzy is shocked. She drops her fork, and it makes a loud crash as it bangs against the plate. “Carrie! Oh my goodness, honey, no. I’m so sorry. Sometimes I don’t even think before I start spewing my nonsense. I’m pushing my own regrets of not finishing my degree on you.” She shrugs and looks sheepish. “And how I’ve always felt so badly about my own appearance. I want you to love your body and your choices, Carrie. I’m so… sorry.” She starts to sob, and Carrie jumps out of her chair to hug her mother.

“It’s fine, Mom. I’m fine with how I look, and I do love my choices.”

They continue to hug, and her father and I take it as a cue for us to start clearing the table and give them some space.

I’m so proud of Carrie for standing up to her domineering mother in such a loving but strong way. It was better than the fierce threat to leave her alone that I’d been thinking about jumping up and screaming. I know that Carrie is something else, and she’s going to continue to amaze me left and right.

I come back into the dining room for more dishes just as Suzy tells Carrie that she’s going to do her best to respect Carrie’s decisions. “After all, I approve of your choice in men,” she says, making Carrie blush when I smirk at her.

Her father and I work side by side tackling the dishwasher. “She’s special, ya know.”

Instantly, I know he’s talking about Carrie. “I know she is, sir. Really special.”

“Don’t hurt her.”

And I tell him truthfully, “I’ll never hurt her.”CarrieIt’s only been a handful of days since Scott and I have been officially dating, but I feel like my life is finally on track. I’m happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time.

The day is busy at the bakery, and I continue to try out more recipes when I have time. I don’t want Scott to have to eat a burrito every morning for breakfast, and the bacon quiche I made him ended up being a big hit.

Once the bakery is closed, I pack up some leftovers with a plan to go see Scott on his break during the night shift.

I’m on my way to the car when I see a police officer talking to two other men near the parking lot entrance. I’m pretty sure it’s the same one that had asked me out but not sure since I only saw him the one time.

They are talking loudly, and I can’t help but overhear. “I don’t think it’s right the way the sheriff is using the fat donut lady to make him look more like a family man with re-elections coming up.”

I almost stop to listen but don’t want to be obvious, so I slow my pace as I hear him continue talking. “The way he talks about her, someone should tell her how the whole town feels sorry for him. He’s disgusted by all the different gross recipes she makes him. Only reason he stomachs her is because her father is such good friends with the governor. Scott has to do what’s best for his career.”

The men he’s standing with start talking about how he’s not so bad off. “I saw him putting the moves on Beverly Ogle just last night.”

It’s lies. None of what he’s saying is true.

I tell myself that over and over until I’m sitting in my car and everything starts going through my head. As I blink past my tears of devastation and finally get my keys into the ignition, I realize that some of what he said is true. I do make him recipes, but he acts to me as if he likes them. Could what the police officer was saying be true? And if some of the details are true, most likely everything is. Why would he lie?18ScottCarrie didn’t meet me like she said she was going to last night. I tried to reach her, but she wasn’t answering the phone. All I can figure is she was too tired. I kept her at my house pretty late the night before.