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I’d struggled to fall asleep, wondering where things had gone so wrong, and I’d planned to speak with her this morning, but once again, she was gone before I’d woken.
I glanced down to my watch. It was almost ten, and I knew Vicki wasn’t going to be late. She’d said she would swing by the diner, so I could follow them out in my vehicle.
“I need to speak with her,” I said, making my way toward the kitchen.
“I’m sorry, Tristan, but she really doesn’t want to be bothered,” Melinda said, grabbing my arm and stopping me.
I met her eyes and shook my head. My chest hurt, and I had a funny sinking feeling in my stomach. I stepped away, but then turned around and made my way toward the kitchen, pushing the door open. Brooke sat at one of the tables, quietly icing some sugar cookie cutouts, and as the door closed, she looked up. I was about to speak when the door opened and Melinda stepped inside, followed by Cici.
“Sorry, Brooke, I told him,” Melinda said, her voice full of irritation.
Brooke met my eyes and put her focus back on decorating the cookies. “It’s fine,” she murmured.
I looked to both Melinda and Cici who quietly took a step back out of the kitchen, closing the door behind them. I stood there waiting for her to say something, anything, but when she didn’t, I took a step toward her.
“Were you not going to say good-bye?” I questioned.
Brooke shook her head, still holding the cookie in her hand, carefully sprinkling white sugar on the white icing. “There isn’t anything to say.” She shrugged.
“What do you mean, there is nothing to say?”
“Exactly what I said. I already thanked you for helping me with everything this year. Now, you’re on to your next big venture, and I already wished you luck with that. What more is there to say?”
“Well, I figured, now that the contest is over, you’d like to tell me what it was you were going to tell me the other morning. You were all words, yet after the interruption, you grew quiet.”
“As I told you, it was nothing important,” Brooke said, getting up off the stool and moving to grab more icing.
I stood there, not sure what had happened over the last two days, but she wasn’t acting herself. I wanted to know what was bothering her.
“Brooke…”
She didn’t even acknowledge I had called her name. I was about to approach her when I saw Vicki pull up with Frank, neither of them getting out of the van. I knew she wouldn’t wait for long.
“I see the crew is here,” she said nodding to the window. “You shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
“Here is my number. Text me?” I said, placing my card down on the table she was sitting at.
She glanced at me, then down to my card. “You best not make them wait. Good luck with everything, Tristan.”
I looked up and met Brooke’s eyes. They were red and glassy, as if she’d spent the morning crying. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and was about to step forward when I saw a tremble in her lip. Just then Melinda came flying into the kitchen, pulling a tray of cookies from the rack, and made her way back out to the front. We stood there, frozen, looking at one another, and my heart sank when she turned away from me, bringing her hand up to wipe her cheeks.
“Tristan, your ride is out front,” Cici yelled through the door. “They are blocking the fire route.”
Not knowing what it was I should do, no matter how much it hurt, I didn’t say a word. I turned and made my way out of The Crispy Biscuit. I threw my bags in the back of my car. I was about to climb in when I heard the familiar voice of Fred, the postal carrier, call my name.
“Tristan, my friend, leaving us so soon?” he said, coming around and gripping my shoulder.
“That I am. Heading back to the city,” I said, shaking his hand.
“Well, thank you for everything. For keeping young Brooke’s dream going. I hope you’ll keep in touch. Perhaps come and visit us again soon.”
No one had ever said those words to me before. I swallowed hard and nodded. “Sure will. Here is my card,” I said, digging into my pocket. “I’d love it if you’d keep in touch.”
“Willow Valley is sure going to miss you,” Fred said, shoving the card deep in his pocket.
I looked around and realized that I too would miss this small town. It was the first place I’d ever felt welcomed in my entire life. Not to mention, it was the place I was beginning to think I’d finally fallen in love. To say it was going to be easy to drive away was a lie.
“I’ve got to get going. Make sure you say good-bye to everyone for me. Hopefully, I will see you again one day.”
