AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The first email she opened was from Ziccardi, a well-known jewelry store that had commissioned her to run ads. They were requesting their invoice.
She decided to get on it right away. Just as she brought up her business invoice template, her cell phone rang. Raising herself from before the screens, she made her way over to her desk, where her cell phone sat.
Andrea noticed the caller id read “unknown” but thought nothing of it as she was used to getting those calls from potential clients.
“Hello?”
She felt the blood drain from her face from the initial shock of who was on the other end of the call. Soon anger replaced her shock, and she gripped the phone tightly, causing her knuckles to go white as her face likely reflected her annoyance.
“Why are you calling this number?” she seethed. “Save it. I don’t want to hear it,” she blared, interrupting whatever the person was saying. “You had your chance over twenty years ago to pick up the phone and call me, and you didn’t. So maybe you should’ve kept that same energy until the day you go to your grave. Don’t ever call me again. Stay away from us.” With that, she ended the call, raging. Steam rolled off her in waves as she paced back and forth, shaking, her breakfast and plans forgotten at that moment.
So much for the peace she’d felt earlier. Suddenly her phone blared again.
“I thought I just told you to never call my phone again,” she barked into the receiver.
“Well, hello to you, too, Sis.”
Instant regret filled her at the sound of Cora’s surprised voice.
“I’m sorry, Cora, I thought you were someone else,” she apologized.
“I’d hate to be that other person who’s got you in such a tizzy,” her sister half-joked.
“I’m really sorry, Cora. I should have had a better handle on my anger. It’s just that the call earlier caught me by surprise, and let’s just say it was a blast from the past that I don’t want to revisit,” she explained.
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” her sister said with understanding.
“If Joel called me now, considering all that he’s done up to this point, I’d probably go off on him just the same,” she revealed.
Andrea sighed, resting her hip against the desk.
“I’m really sorry about Joel, Cora. What he did to you guys was so wrong, but on the bright side, at least it has opened you up to the possibility of finding love again with a certain contractor,” she encouraged.
“Jamie’s a great man… a good friend.”
Andrea picked up on the hesitation in her sister’s voice.
“Cora, no buts,” she halted her. “You deserve this. I know you’re trying to be cautious, but please don’t try to make excuses to ruin what is happening between you two.”
When her sister didn’t immediately respond, she pressed on. “You deserve to be happy.”
“Thanks, Drea,” Cora spoke up gratefully. “I’m actually calling to see if you’re still coming home tomorrow,” Cora continued carefully.
Andrea’s heart slammed against her chest. She’d been putting off going back to her childhood home to help Cora take care of the inn and her mother for the past couple of weeks. It had been one thing to attend her father’s funeral in the town she’d grown up in and had never returned to after she’d left so long ago. Now, she knew that to be back there for any amount of time would bring up unwanted memories and emotions she’d chosen to bury a long time ago.
“Mom needs you, Drea,” Cora stated after some time of silence. “I need you,” she murmured in a resigned voice.
Andrea could hear the vulnerability in her sister’s voice, and it filled her with guilt that she’d left all the responsibilities to her alone.
“I am,” she promised. “I’ll be there tomorrow by four in the afternoon.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Cora replied with relief. “Oh, there’ll be a barbecue with Uncle Luke, Aunt Maria, Aunt Stacy, some of our cousins, and their kids will be here too.”
“All right, I’ll try to make it in time,” she agreed. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, Drea. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
