to say.
“Danielle—I…”
“Why did you call, Audrey? Why do you keep calling?”
“You’re my daughter!” She sounded exasperated, as if that was the most obvious answer in the world. I suppose it could have been if this wasn’t my mother and if she hadn’t put me through a lifetime’s worth of her bullshit. “Oh gee, you remembered.”
“Don’t be this way, Dani! I’m really trying to get better!” She pleaded which may have softened my defenses a little, if it wasn’t for the week I was already having.
“You’re not trying to get better, mother. Being holed up in a fucking prison cell doesn’t count as recognizing you have a problem, that has affected more than just your selfish ass.”
“Listen Danielle, I’m up for parole soon and if I get out I will try my hardest to prove to you how sorry I am.”
“Do me a favor.”
“Anything, sweetie.”
“If you get out—don’t come see me. Please continue your life as if I am nothing more than the burden you’ve treated me as, because I’m done.”
With that I hung up the phone and immediately felt a little better. I’ve been waiting years to say those things to her. It’s just too bad it took being an emotional wreck, to have the courage to burn her with the truth.
* * * *
It was now Sunday—a week since the last time I’ve seen Corey—and I was already going a little stir crazy. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t miss about him, and it seemed that every time I was about to call him I got another text from Gabby. Each one assuring me that Erik was going to make a play for my relocation back to the city—soon. That was enough to keep my fingers from dialing Corey, even just hearing that beautiful husky voice on the other end would be my undoing.
It was a cold December day and sitting inside next to my fireplace, was what I should have been doing. The walls were confining every sorrow-filled thought that crossed my heart, though. Instead, I pulled an over-sized sweatshirt on over my jeans with a pink knit cap and sat outside on the tree swing. The chill wind whistled past me and numbed my face and chin but being numb was preferable to hurting anymore. In fact, I was so lost in the feel of the wind against my face, that I failed to notice I had a visitor.
My heart leapt into my throat and tears were already pressed against the back of my eyes—ready to spill out. Corey stepped into the yard from the outdoor gate, immediately I wanted to rush to him. His hair wasn’t styled in the typical fashion and the bags under his eyes made me wince. It was a slap in the face to see the effect my plan was having on him. Ignoring Corey and the issue completely was hard enough, but none of that prepared me for the sight in front of me now.
“Dani, you have to talk to me. Whatever I did—whatever I said just tell me, so I can fix it. Please baby, I’m begging you.” Corey closed the distance between us and latched his hands onto the ropes on either side of my face so I had no way out.
“You didn’t do anything.” I whimpered out. The smell of aftershave and Corey rushed around my senses, reminding me just how badly this was killing me.
“That’s such bullshit! Tell me Danielle, because I’m not going anywhere.”
“But I am.” When I met his eyes, I nearly burst into a mess of tears. The typical piercing baby blue eyes, I loved so much were almost gray. He looked completely drained of all other emotions but the same longing that was suffocating me.
“What are you talking about?” Even as he asked the question, I knew he had the answer.
“The expansion is set in stone. I’m waiting for my offer before I move back.” Some reason I couldn’t use the word home anymore. It didn’t fit for the city and it has never fit for Serenity Cove.
“Don’t go, Danielle.”
“It’s my job.” The answer felt lame but it was all I had to give.
“But that’s not your home, Dani, not anymore.” I bit down on my lip to hold back the sobs that were already shaking my chest.
“Yes it is.”
“This is your home. This is your life. The Inn, this house are all yours now and you can stay right here and turn down the offer to go back. Danielle, I can’t imagine