She wiped her hands across her face, looking in at the empty restaurant devoid of life. Her dream was dead and over. A sob tore at her throat and she walked around to the driver’s side and pulled open the door. Her breath hitched in her throat as Lena took one last look at her restaurant and home. The past five years of her life and everything she’d worked for were no longer hers. Memories faded and hers would, of that she had no doubt. But at least she had her son. Nobody could take him from her.
Never again would she make the mistake of falling for a man who put himself first. It had taken hours of sleepless nights to figure out what happened with Cole. The asshole had taken her for a ride and Lena was embarrassed to admit it even to herself. Papa had warned her not to rush into anything when she announced they were getting married, but typical independent Lena, she didn’t listen. If only she could turn back the clock and dissect where things had gone wrong, maybe she wouldn’t feel so cheated or dejected. Hindsight was a wonderful thing unless it was you that was involved. Sucked in, Lena, chewed up and spat out with a vengeance. He got you good girl! What the hell did you do wrong to deserve that?
She never noticed it at first the way he manipulated her into his way of doing things. The move out of the backstreets with her tiny restaurant into something larger and more up-market when she’d been happy with the clientele and home she had. The subtle changes to her menu and the way he took over the staff, supposedly leaving her to create the wonderful food she served and spend more time with Kyle.
Slowly but surely everything she’d worked for was eased out of her control until he totally ran the show. And once he had everything he wanted, he pushed her aside without a second glance, grabbing everything he could.
Lena hadn’t noticed how the passion had cooled. Admittedly they both worked hard and he was the last one to finish at night while she managed to get Kyle time. She understood that he was tired. But even on his days off, Cole found other things to do rather than spend time with his family, and she’d let him do it thinking he was entitled to his own space. Sadly that space grew until there was no room for her in it.
She sank into the seat and lashed on the seatbelt before sliding the key in the ignition. One last look through tear-filled eyes and she swung out into the almost empty street. The sun was barely casting its glow over the horizon as she navigated her way out of the impending early morning traffic mayhem toward home. Lena hit the button for the radio, hoping the idle chatter of the early morning hosts would give her something other than losses to keep her occupied as she got out of Sydney.
By the time she’d left the city behind her, the tears had dried and the hurt was buried deep enough that she could function. Arriving at her parent’s home and seeing Kyle was going to be hard. He’d liked Cole and they got on fairly well apart from butting heads occasionally as most kids did with their parents. His life was in turmoil and she’d have to try and be upbeat so he didn’t go into a decline and lock himself away. Not that he’d ever done that, but Lena wanted to make sure he stayed on an even track. She was mindful losing a father figure could impact on him emotionally, and he might not want to share his feelings with her.
When she made it to the outskirts of Mudgee the following day, she was a lot calmer. A night by herself in a wayside motel had given her time to gather her thoughts and emotions. With the worst behind her, Lena watched the scenery go by as she headed back to the town she’d grown up in. As Lena drove through the busy streets, she realized just how lucky she was to have this to come back to. At least she had her parents and friends. Even though Lena had left the town as soon as she was able in her younger years, coming back had always been something she enjoyed now she wasn’t tied to the place. She saw it with fresh eyes every time she came home. There was plenty to like about her small home town, regardless of how nasty Cole had been about it. After one trip to meet her parents, he’d put his foot down and refused to go there again. Now she was thankful for it.
She turned left at the old church, drove past the honey farm, and admired the white roses rambling over the old wire fence. The greenery of the country town always made her miss it more when she was away. Lena kept plant pots filled with bright flowers in the restaurant and large tubs of fresh herbs to use as decoration as well as for cutting for the kitchen, but nothing could beat being able to wander in a vegetable garden with flowers adding their bright colors as if her mother had accidentally
