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“What the part of men showing up claiming to love her or the emergency Wine-Down.”
“First off, I didn’t declare love but yeah, okay fine I still love her, but you know that already. Second, I told her I missed her and I never stopped thinking about her.”
He waves his hands as if they all mean the very same thing and puts his feet back up on my desk. I find myself wondering how on earth Emma hasn’t pummeled him already. Mattie is Mattie, you either love him or want to strangle him.
“The Wine-Down seems to be happening more often lately with Carson dragging Zoey through the mud.”
“How so?” I push his feet off my desk as I pass and sit down in my chair opposite him.
“She left everything behind when she moved back here after the girls were born. Took only their stuff and her clothes. She doesn’t want any of it back, she just wants the divorce, but he is dragging it out, fighting child support and shit.”
“What an ass.”
“Like I said he doesn’t want them, but it’s like he doesn’t want anyone else to have them either. She’s living in a rental property her parents own and refusing to live there for free. From what Emma says Zoey’s dad just takes the money and has been piling it in an account for her and the girls without Zoey’s knowledge.”
“That sounds like her father,” Tom Harding was always a proud man.
“Took her awhile to move forward with the divorce. She was depressed, had two babies to care for. She lived with her parents for a couple years, then her father fixed up a rental property he’d bought. Fresh paint, new carpeting, the works. Hired Dean to go in and make it nice, then he tried to give it to Zoey. Herbeing proud like him refused the gift but agreed to pay rent on it.” Mattie’s words fill my mind, as I envision everything he describes. “Then she asked Carson for a divorce, he pulled this, you move back home and we’ll see if we can make it work, crap.”
I lift my gaze to meet Mattie’s thinking he’s about to tell me how she went back to her husband and I’m not so sure I want to hear this part of the story.
“She laughed in his face, probably damaged his poor little ego. Zoey’s been going through this for more than a year now, the back and forth with the attorneys, from what Emma says she is emotionally drained and is just trying to make it through each day.”
Of course now I feel like even more of an ass. Barging in the way I did, thinking my actions would somehow erase the last thirteen years. “She says the girl I knew all those years ago is gone.”
“Maybe she is,” Mattie stands and I do the same.
“She’s not,” I assure him. “I just think her asshole ex managed to take away her shine. She’s buried beneath all the shit he dropped at her feet.”
“Then maybe you should polish her,” Mattie chuckles as her waggles his brows suggestively.
“You’re a pig,” I shove his shoulder.
“Tell me you weren’t thinking the same thing.”
“I wasn’t.” Not the exact same thing he suggested anyway.
“Bullshit,” he hurries after me kicking at my feet trying to make me stumble. It’s like we are two teenagers all over again. It’s just one of the many things I’ve come to realize I’ve missed. Beingclose to family, being in a place that makes me feel settled and secure.
For the first time in years I feel like I’m home again.
“Dr. Lincoln,” I look up from my phone when my name is called. A dark-haired girl with a sweet smile stands behind the counter holding my coffee and a small bag. “Your orders ready,” she adds.
Tucking my phone back into my pocket I move in and take them both from her. “Thank you,” she bites her lip and watches me beneath her long lashes.
“You’re welcome,” the corner of her mouth tips up in a smile.
Offering her a nod, I turn around to leave and find Lemon standing in the line behind me. One brow arched I feel like I’m being scolded by the principal.
“Morning doctor,” she offers trying to tame her smile.
“Good morning Ms. Walsh,” I move around her pausing at her side. “Watch that one,” I nod toward the brunette that is still standing behind the counter watching me. “She likes to flirt.”
Lemon laughs, then quickly brings her hand up to hide her smile. “I think I’m safe,” she says in a low voice, still looking toward the girl. “Little Miss Perky seems to have her eyes set on you.”
“Maybe,” I shrug, “but I’ve already got mine set on someone else.” Confessing this seems simple and I’m sure with this small town Lemon already knows all about my trip to Zoey’s.
“How is Zoey these days?” she asks, her eyes softening, as she glances over at me looking genuine. "And the girls?”
