Page 105 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

‘I made him promise we’d have an easy fling without any strings attached. That once his time in Ivy Falls was over, he’d go back to Africa and we’d part as friends and nothing more.’

‘And you made him promise this because?’ Torran pressed.

‘You know why. Up until a few years ago my life was a shitshow. I thought I’d never be steady enough to have a regular, committed relationship. In Maisey’s words, Ford could be my training wheels. The test spin I needed to find out if I was ready for a real relationship.’

‘Training wheels?’ Tessa grumbled. ‘Where does Maisey come up with these ideas?’

‘Her heart was in the right place when we talked about it. At the time it made sense.’

‘What about now?’ Torran said.

‘I’ve come to the realization that I’m a total idiot.’ I picked up a rag and swiped at a dried spot of coffee on the counter.

‘There’s more,’ Torran pressed.

‘When we were saying goodbye,’ I scrubbed at the spot harder, ‘he sort of gave me an opening. Asked if I wanted to tell him anything.’

Torran pulled her tea toward her, took a sip and groaned at the rush of caffeine filling her veins. ‘And you said “no”?’

‘I didn’t say “no” but I deflected. Sort of turned the question around on him. In my defense, he didn’t offer up how he felt either.’

‘The miscommunication trope.’ Tessa pretended to bang her head on the counter.

‘The what trope?’ Torran said.

‘Miscommunication. In romance novels, it’s what readers hate. How the couple would never break up in the third act if they were honest with each other.’ She pointed an accusing finger at me. ‘When a simple conversation would solve all their problems.’

‘Tessa, this is real life. People are messy,’ Torran said. ‘Things get complicated when feelings are on the line. As humans, we usually favor self-preservation over the chance of being rejected.’

‘Did you think he was going to reject you?’ There was Tessa’s soft motherly voice once more.

‘No. Yes.’ I threw up my hands. ‘None of that matters because I had to let him go. He has a contract and they need him there. It wasn’t like I could spill my guts and expect him to stay. That’s not fair to the people he’s committed to serve.’

‘How long is the contract?’ Tessa asked.

‘Six months.’

‘And his plans after?’ Tessa pressed.

I gave a weary shrug.

‘Six months can go by in a flash, Pipe. It’d be easy for him to finish his contract and come back here.’ Torran paused. ‘If that’s what you want.’

I went back to scrubbing the stains on the counter. ‘What if he doesn’t want it? Want me?’

Torran reached over and pressed her hand to mine. ‘One thing I learned with your brother is that not knowing is a thousand times more painful than the truth. Reach out to Ford. Tell him how you feel. That’s all you can do.’

I squeezed her hand back and her cheeks went pale. She jumped off the stool and raced for the bathroom.

‘You should have listened about the tea,’ Tessa called.

‘Should I go back to peppermint?’

She gave a weary smile. ‘Make it two.’

I turned to grab the glass mugs with the P&P logo when my phone went off with a siren noise more jarring than a train whistle. A second later Tessa’s phone made the same frantic sound.

‘Oh shit.’ Tessa gulped and turned her screen to me.