My heart throbbed at the distance between us. I glanced down at his right leg that was straightened and lifeless. “Can I help?”
“I don’t need anyone’s help,” he barked out. “I can do it myself.”
My eyes widened at the hostility in his voice. He’d never spoken to me like that before, but it had been ten years. A hell of a lot could change in that time.
He rubbed his hand over his face, covering the scar, and shaking his hair in front of his face. “It was good to see you, Evelyn.” He climbed back into the tractor, trying to hide his struggle. Without glancing back, he threw the tractor in gear before it kicked on with a bellow of smoke.
I wheezed, coughing on the thick clouds as he drove away. Some residual smoke hung in the air, shifting like ghosts in a breeze, as it obscured the view of him driving away on his tractor.
Tears flowed down my face and dripped from my chin. I couldn’t even cry out or wail. I stood there as still as a statue while he drove away. I saw the longing look in his eyes before he shut himself down. I was tormented by a past that couldn’t be undone, and the one person who could save me just blew smoke in my face.
I strode to my car and fumbled through my purse, pulling out my phone. I clicked Faith’s name and pressed the phone to my ear with a shaky hand.
“Hello?” her soft voice carried over. Faith had a calming atmosphere around her and was able to provide a nurturing aspect to anyone. I suppose that was why she was an elementary teacher.
“Can I come over?”
I heard shuffling on her end. “Of course you can. What’s wrong?”
“I saw Flynn,” I croaked.
A sharp gasp escaped her. “Come on over. I’ll call Mags.”
“Thank you.” I hung up, tossed my phone in the passenger seat, and peeled off the side of the road.
Faith and Mags had been my best friends since I moved to Violet Ridge in junior high. They were the best type of people, with enough love in their hearts to fight for and defend what was right. They believed and supported me when I couldn’t do it myself. When Flynn left without any word, they were the ones to pick up the pieces. I could count on them, and they could count on me.
I was thankful for their friendship, and as I sat curled up in the corner of Faith’s plush black sectional, sipping on an ice-cold sweet tea, I knew why.
“He just took off?” Mags’ eyes were blazing with anger as she bounced her son in her arms. Lance was fast asleep, his mama’s rocking was his kryptonite when it came to nap time.
I nodded, staring at the ice cubes that danced around the sweet amber liquid. “He looked at me for a while. It was like there was this magnetic pull. I just wanted to hold him, and I swear he wanted me too.”
Faith gave me a comforting pat on my shoulder. “But he just ran off?”
I gnawed at my bottom lip. “He ran off, alright. With a limp. Mrs. Rockwell mentioned he had been injured in the Army.” An icy jolt shot through me. “He was so cold to me. I just don’t know what he went through.”
Faith and Mags shared concerned looks before Mags spoke, “Listen, Flynn left almost ten years ago. He could’ve told you. He should have contacted you. I don’t care what his excuse is. You were shattered, Eve. For years.”
“I still am, though,” I mumbled. “It’s like part of me left with him, and now that he’s back I feel like part of myself is back. I don’t know how to explain it. I loved him somethin’ fierce.”
“Would you ever be able to trust him again?” Faith asked.
“I still don’t know why he left. Depending on that, maybe I could.” I pressed a hand to my cheek. “I don’t know.”
Faith brushed her palms together as she got to her feet. “Well, Asher ditched me after taking my virginity and seven years later I forgave him. I guess it could happen.”
“Just keep your guard up, okay?” Mags told me.
“Oh, hush. Luca and you slept together twice. He was a real asshole to you, and you forgave him.” Faith’s eyes rolled.
Mags sniffed Lance’s head. “Yeah, and I did get this cute baby out of it.”
A burst of giggles came from Faith and I and Mags narrowed her eyes at us.
“Hey, babies smell wonderful. Sue me.” She frowned as Faith walked into the kitchen. “Seriously though, please be careful.”
“I will. Not like he wants to talk to me anyway.” I took another sip from my glass.
Faith walked back in with a bottle of wine and three wine glasses. “Asher and Luca are out back grilling. I say we enjoy girl time.”
I reached over and poked Lance’s squishy tummy. “Girl time plus one little man that Auntie Evie adores.” His eyelids fluttered open before he zonked out again, and the corners of my mouth twitched. “He’s just so cute.”
Mags nodded. “He’s everything we ever wanted.”
My heart skittered. I wanted to be a mom like Mags and a wife like Faith. Deep down I knew the only man that could do that for me was Flynn, but I had never been the assertive type. I didn’t know how to go about talking to him. I knew one thing to be true though and that was if it was meant to be, it would be.
My unit in the Army moved as one, a sea of green as if they were one brain instead of many. The right legs moved in unison and then the left legs. Each step of
