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Walking to where Sterling stands on his front porch, I watch Lucy in her car. I could still see the bruises on her beautiful face. She had on an oversized sweatshirt, but I can tell she’s smaller than when we all went out only a few weeks ago. My gut still says something more is going on with her than she’s willing to tell. “What was that about?” I ask Sterling when I reach him.
“She needed to say something as Ivie’s sister.” His eyes turn to the ground.
I don’t know why but it makes me smile and tells me I was right to call her firecracker.
“I hope she talked some sense into you, because I know Bree and I have tried without it working,” I knock him in his hard head with my knuckles.
Sterling smirks and pushes my hand away. “I think she did, but I’m not sure how to apologize for being such a dick the last few days. I never wanted to hurt her. I should’ve swallowed my fears and talked to her. Hindsight is twenty-twenty.”
I laugh knowing he’s going to have to think of something good to dig himself out of the hole he shoveled.
“Yeah, well, if I were you, I’d go see her bearing gifts. Big gifts. What you did is a dick move, even if I somewhat understand. Maybe some flowers, like forget-me-nots, or tulips. Don’t be cliché with roses. Be original. Oh, and chocolate. Don’t most women love chocolate?” I lift my hands in the air as I start back toward the barn.
Sterling guffaws. “Why would I take advice on what to give the woman I love, from you,MisterI don’t date, I only do one-night stands?”
“Don’t hate on me, brother. That’s good solid advice. You know I’m right. Besides, I do some gardening in my spare time, and you’ll be interested to know they both have love meanings behind them. I’m just saying, girls like that stuff.” I continue to the barn after offering my advice.
Sterling doesn’t give up. “You’re just saying what? That you’re really a big softie and not the badass you try to paint yourself as?”
I chuckle at him. “I’m full of surprises, aren’t I? Just do it, you can thank me later.”
He yells this time since I’m back at the barn, “This sudden change of heart wouldn’t have anything to do with Lucy McCree now, would it?”
I keep walking and flip him off without looking back. The truth is, Lucy’s doing something to me, making me feel things I don’t want to feel. And I haven’t even been around her more than a handful of times. I need to keep my distance as much as possible because I know in my cold, loveless heart, Lucy is the kind of girl you fall for. The one who changes everything. No one-night stand or fling would ever be enough with her.
When I left Sterling’s, I went back to Ivie’s to take her some of her favorite food and we talked. Our first “heart to heart” about being sisters and why I didn’t tell her when I found out. There were some tears as we shared how we felt. Ivie told me through her own tears I could call Rhett, Dad too. After all he is. But I’m not ready yet. As usual, Ivie has the biggest heart of anyone I know, and she’s embracing this…shiftin our relationship with all that she has.
Truth be told, my heart feels like it finally has one of the missing pieces back. If only the others would magically fit back together.Maybe one day.
I left after Sterling apparently wasted no time taking my advice and came bearing flowers and what I know was a heartfelt apology for staying away. We all scattered so they could talk. Rhett, Rayna, Briella, and I all went to Frank’s Diner for blackberry cobbler. I didn’t want to, but Rhett’s eyes pleaded with me to tag along. We ate and made small talk for about thirty minutes and now we’re heading to our vehicles.
“Goodnight, Lucy,” Rayna says as she gives me a quick hug.
“Goodnight, Mrs. Davis.” She squints at me because I didn’t call her Rayna. She told me earlier to call her by her name and not Mrs. Davis. It’s going to take some getting used to.
I feel my cheeks heat and offer an apology. “Sorry, Rayna.”
She smiles back and gets in the waiting SUV. Rhett walks around to where I am standing by my car. Earlier in the evening, he also made it clear he wants to get to know me ashis daughterwhen I’m ready.
He searches my face. “Your beautiful face is healing.” He smiles warmly. “Maybe we can both heal the missing parts of our hearts one day soon too.”
I’m speechless with emotion, and I can’t help but let a few tears fall. He wipes them away with his thumbs and moves closer, silently asking permission to hug me. I answer by stepping into his waiting arms. We stay that way for a few minutes before he whispers, “I love you, my sweet girl.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting any more tears to fall. I’ve gotta get my emotions under control. He drops a kiss on my head and walks away. I catch a glimpse of him under the lights of the parking lot and see his cheeks are wet. It hits me, this man,my dad,truly does love me. He’s trying. Why else would a grown man cry in a moment like this?
They wait for me to reach my car and get it started before they leave the parking lot. Briella is parked next to me, also in her car. She rolls her window down, I do too.
“How are you holding up?” she asks, and I can hear the sincerity in her words.
“I’m doing okay; taking it a day at a time.”
“Well, I want you to know I’m here if you ever need me. Ivie’s family to me, no matter what happens with her and Sterling and that makes you family too.” Briella Brigg is a beauty and apparently has a heart to match.
“Thank you. I appreciate that, and I’m sure we’ll be spending a lot of time together from here on out.”
We both smile and offer our goodnights before going our separate ways.
I reluctantly return to my cottage. I still don’t like being there right now. Taylor’s tainted what should be my safe haven. I don’t know if it’ll ever feel the same again—even with new locks and an alarm system. If he wants to get to me badly enough, he will. The thought sends a chill straight through me. I still haven’t told a soul what he’s done. Nor have I cleaned up the mess in my bedroom, but maybe tonight I should. I need to start putting the pieces of my life back together if I’m ever going to move forward and be happy.
