I pushed several people aside, all of whom complained until they saw my size. Then they backed way off.
I finally pushed my way through the hordes of people and made it outside. I sat on the bottom step leading off the Reyes’ porch and held my head in my hands. I’d lost her. She was going to marry that guy.
He didn’t even come close to deserving her. Was part of this my fault? Had I given her bad self-esteem to the point that she was willing to settle for someone she didn’t even love?
I wanted to cry, but I restrained myself.
I stood up to walk to Harrison’s car, hoping they’d left it unlocked. I wanted to just sit in there until it was time for them to go home.
But before I could get more than thirty feet from the house, I heard Sadie calling me.
“Tim! Where are you going?”
I turned and looked, surprised. She was in the middle of taking her shoes off so she could run after me. I held up my hand to stop her and ran to her instead.
“What is it?”
“She said no,” she said, slightly out of breath and smiling from ear to ear.
“She said no?”
“She said no!” Sadie did a little jump and dance combo that I would have made fun of her for if I weren’t so intent on getting to Nat. I had to get her out of there before Heath or his parents were nasty to her.
Because I didn’t think they’d be very pleasant after she’d turned him down in front of hundreds of their closest friends.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Natalie
I stood out on the deck wearing a new sweater, scarf, and hat Lynne and Pete had given me for Christmas. They were warm and cozy, and I was enjoying the day after Christmas for once. I’d always felt such a let down on this day. There was always such a long build up before it happened, the day itself was wonderful, and then afterwards? It sucked. It was like you were on a wonderful roller coaster for a month and then suddenly had to get off and immediately leave the amusement park.
But today wasn’t like that. I was glad to be on the other side of breaking up with Heath. My God. That had been a whole strange fiasco that I wasn’t sure I’d ever fully understand. Tim had told me the conversation he’d overheard between Heath and some friends of his. I’d never make sense of it, I didn’t think. Heath Reyes was handsome, successful, smart—it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to find someone who would have loved to marry him. I’m not sure why he got focused on that person being me or why he waited so long to find someone to fulfill that little clause in his grandparents’ will.
But that’s what he did.
And now… he and his family weren’t exactly fond of me. I wasn’t sure how I’d be received at the hospital this morning, but I knew I needed to get going soon.
Lynne stepped onto the deck and handed me a travel mug of hot cocoa. “What are you doing standing out here in the cold?”
“Just taking some deep cleansing breaths before work. I’ve always thought winter air felt so… clean to breathe in. Summer air is so humid, breathing feels like you’re almost drinking some hot water sometimes.”
Lynne shuddered. “Okay, I like summer much better than winter, but you just made it weird for me. Listen, I wanted to talk to you before you left. I know Heath’s dad is the hospital director. If they try to make things difficult for you, we’ll help you get a lawyer.”
My eyes widened. “What do you think they’re going to do?”
“It might be nothing. But if they’re vindictive—and after their behavior at the Christmas Eve Ball they’ve proven they are—they might try to end your contract early. Just be ready for anything this morning.”
Now I was a little more apprehensive than I’d been before. After I’d turned Heath down, they’d basically kicked everyone associated with me out of the ball.
She gave me a hug. “Whatever happens, it will be okay. You have a contract.”
I just didn’t want them to try to fake a reason to fire me. I didn’t think they would though. Half of Halliwell and a portion of Indigo Falls were at the party. They’d seen what happened. It wouldn’t be difficult to prove they were making things up to get back at me. I worried about it the whole drive to the hospital.
It turned out that Lynne had been right. There had been a definite reason for me to worry. I’d been scheduled in surgery, but someone else was in my spot when I’d walked in. That’s when I’d been told to report to human resources.
I was freaking out but trying to hide it. I didn’t want them to lie and say I was bad at my job or something that could endmy career before it’d ever really gotten started. But then I was surprised.
I was let out of my contract with a severance package and a glowing letter of recommendation from Heath’s dad, the Chief of Staff. I’d sat on a bench outside the hospital in shock looking over the paperwork and hoping I’d read everything correctly. On one hand, I couldn’t believe that they’d get rid of me for embarrassing their son. He shouldn’t have chosen to ask me in such a public place. I think he knew I was leaning towards breaking up with him.
