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Chapter One
Jill Walsh groaned as she watched the tan Jaguar pull up her driveway and park behind the moving van.
Crap.
She rolled her head backward, to the left, then the right. Slowly, slowly, trying to ease the tension from her body. It didn’t work. Her teeth seemed welded together as her jaw refused to unhinge.
Are you kidding me?
Jill didn’t bother to approach the car. If Jake insisted on coming today after she told him not to, he could damn well get out of the car and come to her.
Another groan escaped Jill’s lips as Jake opened the car door and did just that.
“I told you not to come,” Jill said not looking his way. She continued to watch the movers as they carried out the larger pieces of furniture. Most of the furniture would go into storage since her grandparents’ home, which she would be living in temporarily, was already furnished. Only her photography equipment, her clothes and a few personal items were going to Westbrook with her.
“I thought I should be here. Just in case you need me,” Jake answered with that pitying little smile on his face.
It irked the hell out of Jill that she still had feelings for her ex. That even though Jake treated her like a two-year-old, and even though he’d left her for his mistress after seven years of marriage, and even though he was an obnoxious jerk who just couldn’t leave her alone, a part of her still wanted to rewind the clock and go back to the way things were before Jake told her he wanted a divorce.
Jill didn’t answer him. It was a waste of breath. Clearly, if he listened to her, he wouldn’t be here right now.
“Ma’am, you said there were things upstairs you’re setting aside for Goodwill? Do you want to show us what to leave for them?” asked one of the movers.
“What? She’s not giving anything away,” said Jake. He stepped between Jill and the mover.
Jill gritted her teeth, her breath bursting out as she stepped around Jake.
“Yes, Jake. I am.” Jill turned to address the moving man who now looked uneasily back and forth between Jill and Jake.
“All of the furniture in the master bedroom is going to charity. Can you move it downstairs, please? They’re going to come take it after we finish up here,” Jill said.
“What? Why are you giving the furniture away? It’s perfectly good. I gave you the furniture so you wouldn’t need to get anything. I’m trying to take care of you and you’re giving it away?”
He loved to sound like the hero in the divorce settlement. A big man, taking care of poor little Jill.
She closed her eyes and began to count.One...two...three... Oh to hell with it.
“Yes, Jake. I’m giving away the damn furniture,” Jill said, rounding on him as the movers retreated back into the house, away from the awkward tension of watching strangers argue. “Do you honestly think I want the bedroom furniture? That I would sleep in the bed where you slept with her?” Jill swallowed hard as she tried to finish the sentence that stuck in her throat.
Jake didn’t look the least bit chagrined. “It’s perfectly good furniture, Jill.”
“You’re unbelievable, Jake.” For what felt like the tenth time since Jake arrived only a few short minutes before, Jill closed her eyes, took a deep breath and tried to center herself. Tried to let the feelings wash off her. Tried to release the tension.
“I’d like you to leave, Jake. I asked you not to come here and I’d like you to leave,” Jill said, her eyes still closed.
“I just want to help you.” He was indignant, as if Jill were being insensitive tohisneeds.
She opened her eyes and leveled a shuttered stare at him. “I need you to leave. I need a clean break, Jake. I need you to leave me alone and let me move on. You’ve clearly moved on with Missy.” The name felt like acid coming out of Jill’s mouth. “Let me move on.”
She wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself tight and turned back to watch the movers bring the last few boxes out of the house she’d shared with the man she’d loved with all her heart.
When the sale of the house had gone through yesterday, she had finally been rid of the last piece of communal property. She now needed to be rid of the memories and the heartache. Distance herself from her failed marriage. From the feelings she couldn’t seem to get away from.
It was several more minutes before Jill felt him move away. She really didn’t understand what he wanted. Why come around if he didn’t want to be married to her anymore? Was it guilt? Control? Was he trying to keep her waiting in the wings in case he changed his mind?
She didn’t understand his motives and didn’t care at this point. In the beginning, his continual presence had given Jill hope. Now, she didn’t want hope. She wanted this over. Over and done with for good.
A moment later, she heard his car start, listened to it as it pulled down the driveway. She began her neck rolls again. Slowly rolling back, left, right.
