AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Daniel was a good guy,” he said with a sad smile. “He was the reason I stopped giving free refills.”
I laughed. “He did love to sit down here and work.”
“He always talked about you. Loved to brag about your paintings.” He smiled. “I know you miss him.”
“I do,” I said softly.
Billy’s eyes moved past me toward the patio. “He causing you any grief?”
I knew who he was looking at.
“He’s been doing some of my repairs. He’s a huge help.”
“That sounds like him,” he said in that tone that only a very close friend used. “He likes everyone to think he’s a jerk.”
“But you know better,” I guessed.
“Oh, he can be a jerk.” He laughed. “But he’s a good guy. Better than most.”
A sadness washed over his face, but as soon as it was there, it was gone again. “So, can I get you guys something, or did you just come by to say hello?”
“Oh, we definitely came for food.” I laughed. “Macon already knows I can’t cook. Like, at all.”
He grinned. “I remember. Daniel told me horror stories.”
It warmed my heart that other people in the town had fond memories of my husband and that he would hopefully be remembered, even after I left.
IfI left.
He started jotting down my order, and just as I was starting to give him Macon’s, those eyes of his shifted past me once more, but this time, he didn’t like what he saw.
I turned and saw Macon standing, his back now facing me. But even from that angle, I could see every tense, rigid line of his body.
And as my gaze moved past him, I saw the reason.
Kristy.
She was positioned between two women, all dressed similarly. They could have been clones, but I was guessing they were her friends. A strained smile was plastered across her face as she motioned with her hands. Then, her expression turned heated, and I heard Macon raise his voice.
“Uh-oh,” Billy said. “I’d better go do something.”
“Why?” I asked. I turned my head toward him and saw the panic on his face.
“Because the last time she laid into him like that, he went on a three-day bender, and it took weeks to sort him out.”
I looked back through the window, seeing how tense he was. Seeing the power she had to destroy him again and again.
It was time someone put her in her place.
“No,” I said, feeling anger build inside me. “Let me.”
* * *
God, what a bitch.
Her voice carried over the patio as I pushed the door open.
She was so focused on herself that she didn’t even notice me walking over.
