Page 60 of Passion in Bloom

Chapter 21

Heather

Nance and I talkedover lunch. I expected the conversation to make me feel awkward, with her pushing me to stay in Burton and to give this retake on my life here a longer chance. I made it clear that I wasn’t rushing to go anywhere.

I liked the home I’d made at the cabin.

And I gave in a little to let her know that Roarke was staying there temporarily too.

“Wait,” she said, laughing lightly. “Let me get this straight. You guys are...busy. And then all of a sudden—” She mimed an explosion going off in her hands.

“Water.” I nodded, biting back a laugh at the pure shock we’d both experienced. “Everywhere.”

“From the bathroom.”

“And the kitchen. But we didn’t realize it until a few minutes later.”

“Ohhh man.” She shook her head, still laughing. “That’s awful.”

I added to the fact that Todd mentioned the owners wanting to tear down the cabins too, per the chat that I’d overheard when I dropped off my check.

“To tear all of them down?” She frowned. “That’s excessive. Not all of them can be that bad.”

“No. They’re not.” I felt like this was a good sign of growth. That I could turn away from my initial thoughts of the place being a dump unlike anything newer or nicer in a city. I’d come to like my cabin, even if it was small. It sure felt smaller now, with Roarke staying there. It emphasized how much larger than life he could be, but it wasn’t an oppressive reminder.

He was stronger and bigger, obviously. But I didn’t have an inkling of fear that he’d overpower me like David ever did.

Roarke only showed me how strong he was and how much stamina he had when he pounded into me hard and fast, blowing my mind over and over again.

“Yours wasn’t impacted by the water?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No. Not a sign of anything going wrong. I suspect my cabin might be connected before the problematic spot. They were saying that deposits built up? Pipes were rusted out and repaired and patched up too many times to be a long-term fix?” I shrugged. “I’m not sure on the details, but the pressure was packed in there and it really made a mess of his cabin.”

“I can just imagine. And so close to winter.” She shivered. “I hope he’ll have some luck finding another place.”

I did too. Deep down, I was excited about it on his behalf. He’d invited me to go with him to look at the places and do some pros-and-cons investigating, but I hadn’t committed to an answer. Going house hunting, even if it was just for him, seemed like such a couples thing to do. We weren’t a couple—yet. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be half of a couple, even with him.

I had to do more soul searching and recovering to feel ready for a relationship. It was far, far too soon after the hell I left behind with David. Or what I thought I’d left behind. His return, showing up at my door then hiding nearby, wasn’t a sign of him staying in my past.

“Hey, Heather?” Fergus asked, popping his head around the doorframe to the breakroom Nance and I were wrapping up our lunch at. We hadn’t talked too much about that job in Wisconsin Janelle mentioned, but I was sure Nance wouldn’t give up on convincing me to stay in Burton.

“Yeah?” I looked back at him.

“I ordered lunch to pick up at the café but I don’t have time to walk down there. Could you grab it for me, pretty please? If you have time.”

“Sure, I can do that.”

Nance stood as I did. “Want me to come?”

I knew she was asking out of worry with David, but I wanted to be brave. It was a mere stroll down Main Street, passing the four buildings that stood between the café and the bank. I wouldn’t be alone. People would be out and about.

“No, that’s okay,” I told her as I threw my trash away and grabbed my coat.

David didn’t jump out at me on the short walk. Not many were out and about, actually, and I bet the brutal chill in the air dissuaded many from walking in town today.

I reached for the door to the café, shivering as I entered the warmth of the small eatery. Heat blasted at my face from the vent positioned over the front door. Before the bell finished chiming to announce my arrival, I glanced up and spotted Nevaeh rushing out of the bathrooms toward the back.

She’d taken off yesterday so strangely, seeming sick then perky. “Hi, Neva—”