Mystic Park (Finding Home 4)

Megan gaped. “Why didn’t that work for me when I offered to help with your wedding plans?”

Benita shrugged. “You’re not used to unreasonably stubborn personalities. My family’s full of them: people who have to do things themselves, who have to do things their way. I don’t have time to reason with unreasonable people. Sometimes things just have to get done.” She turned back to Doreen. “No offense intended. I’ll see you and Alonzo later.”

She walked toward Books & Bakery’s exit, pausing to peruse the shelves of books. It was so easy for her to manage other people’s lives. It always had been. Why was it such a challenge to take control of her own?

CHAPTER 7

“Why is Leonard George sitting on your front steps?” Ms. Helen stood in her doorway behind Doreen Wednesday afternoon as they stared at the Fever home across the street.

“I was wondering the same thing.” Doreen returned Leonard’s stare from Ms. Helen’s porch.

“Do you want me to go with you to kick him off?”

Doreen smiled at the tone of Ms. Helen’s voice. Her friend sounded like she was looking for excitement. “Thank you, but that’s not necessary, Ms. Helen. I can handle this.”

“Well, be sure you tell me about it when you do your rounds tomorrow afternoon.”

Doreen turned to face her neighbor. “I keep telling you, Ms. Helen, I’m not on rounds. I like visiting with you, especially on my way home. It’s a nice way to end my day.”

“And I keep telling you that you and the rest of my Watchers aren’t fooling me.” Ms. Helen turned to go inside. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that, the retired chemistry professor crossed her threshold and locked her door. Doreen turned back to the street. Leonard sat on her bottom step, waiting for her. I might as well get this over with.

Doreen climbed down Ms. Helen’s front stairs and crossed the street. “What are you doing here?”

Leonard rose to his feet. “It’s been a long time, Dorie. Don’t I at least get a hello?”

Doreen stopped a little more than an arm’s length from her ex-lover. “What do you want?”

“Could we talk inside?” Leonard jerked his head toward her house behind him.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t have anything to say to you. And if you aren’t going to talk out here, then we have nothing to say to each other.” Doreen started to walk past him.

Leonard shifted to block her path. “I want you back.”

Is he kidding?

His eyes scanned her face as though searching for a weakness. He must have thought she’d lost her mind.

“How does Yvette feel about that?” Doreen settled farther into her coat. It was the second week of April. Although the childhood poem presaged that April would come in “like a lamb,” it felt a lot like the lion of March.

“We broke up.” Leonard didn’t sound too torn up about it.

“Well, good for her.” Doreen started to circle Leonard to climb her stairs.

Leonard grabbed her left arm and raised her hand to see her fingers. He studied her two-carat Monarch diamond engagement ring with disgust. “I’d heard that the sheriff had proposed. I think condolences are in order. I’d like to rip that ring from your finger and throw it into the street.”

Doreen fisted her hand and yanked it from his grip. “You’ve said what you came to say. Now leave. I don’t want to see you again.” She tried to step around him a third time.

Again, Leonard blocked her way. “I wish we’d never broken up.”

“Step aside, Leo.”

“I miss you, Dorie.”