“What happened? You didn’t get fired?” herfriend asked.
“No, but I’m wondering if that’s not a betteroption.” Chantelle opened the bag and grabbed her sandwich.
“So... what?”
“I’m profiling the Taylor wedding.”
“No way!” Cameron grinned. “Lance Taylor? Heis… well… he’s… gorgeous.” Her friend paused. “Wait a minute? Yougrew up in Delta Heights.”
Chantelle nodded. She bit into her sandwichand chewed despite her dry mouth. She forced herself toswallow.
Cameron’s mouth opened. “You knew Lance,didn’t you? Delta Heights is not that big of a town.”
“I knew him alright.” Chantelle didn’t mindsharing her past with her friend, but she didn’t go into detailsabout her history with Lance.
Cameron clapped her hands. “This could be it,Chantelle! You got the big story.”
Chantelle forced a smile. Her mind repeatedwriting the story as a good idea. Why did she have a hard timebelieving it?
“How about we go out tonight? Have some fun,”Cameron said.
“I’d rather go home.”
Cameron shook her head. “I disagree. I cantell you need to get out.”
Chantelle stared at her friend. “Where?”
“It’s a surprise.” Cameron grinned.
***
Chantelle admired the green space withlakefront parks to the east. She loved the gorgeous scenery fromthe second floor of her apartment and the lush foliage. Goingthrough the iron gate, she climbed up the concrete steps of thebrick building. Entering her abode, she placed her keys in thebasket.
Blowing out her cheeks, she proceeded to heropen concept kitchen. In her refrigerator, she grabbed her leftoverhomemade mac and cheese, grateful her mother taught her how tocook. Grabbing the Tupperware container, she transferred the cheesyelbow noodles to her plate.
Chantelle placed her plate in the microwaveto heat her snack. Pacing her vinyl floors, she rubbed at herchest. She would return to her hometown in Delta Heights, Texas,and stay for the rest of the month leading up to Lance Taylor’swedding. She would interview his fiancé. Chantelle carried herheated plate over to her small table, despite her fidgetyhands.
Her fingers tingled along with her toes. Bein the same room with the man who broke her heart? Chantelle hadto. She’d already agreed.
Brenda had expectations, and she expectedChantelle to follow through and write an interesting article.Swallowing a bite from her plate, she heard a knock at her door.Giving a slight smile, she answered to greet her neighbor Mr.Freemont, who reminded her of the well-known actor Morgan Freeman.The older gentleman held up another book in his hand.
Chantelle focused her eyes to read the title.“Crime and Punishment?”
“Another classic,” he said with a wink.
She accepted it with a nod and grabbed thesmall journal from the side table next to her front door. Shehanded it to Mr. Freemont. “Tell your wife thank you for the recipefor the mac and cheese.”
“If you make it like she does, you’ll landyou a husband any day now,” he replied, taking the journal inhand.
“Thank you, but not holding my breath,” shejoked. “Besides, I’m good on my own.”
“You’re beautiful with a good heart. The menin your generation need to come to their senses.” Mr. Freemontadded.
If only they saw her for more than her looks.Chantelle swallowed and smiled. “I hope they do too.”
He winked and waved goodbye. Chantelle closedthe door after him.
Walking back to her seat, she resumed hermeal. Perhaps she could ask Brenda for a transfer. Sure, she workedhard to prove herself, but this was asking too much. Grabbing herbuzzing phone, Chantelle spotted a number with no name. Sherecognized it despite deleting it a month ago. Why was Brycecalling?
“Yes.” Chantelle answered.
“Hey,” his baritone voice said.
“I have a busy day, so I can’t talklong.”
“Are you okay?”
If only he wasn’t sweet about it. “I’m fine.Thank you.”
“I am sorry, Chantelle. I didn’t mean halfthe things I said. I hate the way things ended.”
She rubbed at her forehead. “I’m sorrytoo.”
“You think we can still be friends?” heasked, sounding hopeful.
“I can’t do that, Bryce,” Chantelle said.
“I understand. I wish you the best ofluck.”
“You too.”
She hung up and resumed her mac and cheese.Another failure. Chantelle would have to start over. Did she wantto? Wasn’t one divorce under her belt enough to deal with? She heldup her fork to her mouth, only to hear persistent knocks on herapartment door. Only Cameron was that tenacious, so Chantelleopened the door to her friend.
“You’re not dressed?” Cameron asked withwidened eyes.
“Can a girl eat first?” She joked back andgrabbed her plate to wash it in the sink. “Where are we going?”
“Eataly.” Cameron replied. “We can then hangout downtown.”
Chantelle cocked her head to the side. “Thatplace is thirty minutes away.”
“My treat, Chantelle. After everything thathappened with…”
She sighed. “You can say Bryce’s name. Hecalled.”
“No.” Cameron’s mouth fell open.
“Yep.” Placing a hand on her hip, a night onthe town in Chicago didn’t sound too bad as she thought. “I’llgo.”
Cameron clapped her hands as Chantellesauntered to her room to change clothes.
Chapter 2
Lance Taylor adjusted the volume on hisphone. He wasn’t a fan of FaceTime, but since he hadn’t seen hisfiancé since their engagement announcement, he made an exceptionsince she was overseas. He preferred the town of Delta Heights.Lance couldn’t wait to smell the yeasty bread from the bakery orthe hamburgers cooking from the diner.
“What’s up with the beard?” Andrea asked.
Lance rubbed at his facial hair. “You don’tlike it, Babe? Thought I’d try something new.”
She giggled. “Oh you. That’s why I love you.Stepping outside the box. I can get used to it.”
“How’s Greece?”
“One word, gorgeous. I’ll send you somepictures when I get the chance.”
“And the photo shoot?” he asked.
“I love it. We took a break, but I’m due foranother round of hair and makeup soon. I would love a nap rightnow.”
“Why don’t you? Sounds simple to me. Tellthem you want to take a longer break,” he said.
Andrea tilted her head to the side on thescreen. “This is my job. I don’t tell you—”
“It was only a suggestion.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s wrong?You never FaceTime me?”
“Wanted to see you.”
She bounced in her chair. “I can’t believewe’ll be featured in The Wedding Report. Can you believe it?We’re the next power couple, Lance.”
Staring at the signs from the ceilingdirecting passengers to different areas of the airport, Lance’smind wandered from his conversation with Andrea.
