Country Romance - Carolyne Aarsen Page 0,73

Sixteen

"So what do we do?"

Leah sat beside Adele in the heated auction building, both huddled over a cup of hot chocolate. In the background they heard the yodeling of the auctioneer, selling yet another item. People milled about them, carrying bid numbers, talking on cell phones. All filled with purpose.

Adele stirred her hot chocolate, still unable to take a sip. From the looks of her still-full cup, neither could Leah. This morning neither had eaten breakfast, and Adele knew she needed to put something in her stomach.

"I don't know. Still trying to absorb this. Don’t know how else to say this other than it sucks."

Ten minutes ago, the equipment they had so hoped to purchase had gone for half again as much over the amount they were prepared to bid. Two other people besides them were interested, which was all it took to send the prices rocketing upward. The lot that had sold last night had also gone higher, but that wasn't necessary equipment. Nothing they couldn't buy wholesale elsewhere. But the ovens, cooling racks, heavy-duty mixers, and tools that had been on the block this morning were the main event as far as they were concerned.

And she and Leah had been outbid on them. By more than they could afford.

"I truly didn't think it would go that high," Adele said, easing out a deep sigh. "I did my research. Checked prices."

Leah laid a gentle hand on hers. "I know you did. Don't beat yourself up. It’s not your fault these people caught auction fever. Better them than us."

Adele gave her a feeble smile of thanks. "You're right. But it still hurts."

"I know I'm right. And yeah, it still hurts. Though I wonder if we can't check—" she stopped short, waving her hand between them as if to erase any words she might say.

Adele guessed she would have mentioned the bakery in Millar’s Crossing.

"Sorry. I know where you were going. I can't go to Millar’s Crossing. If Theresa is trying to make a go with Wyatt, I have to keep my distance. It's not fair to Wyatt or Dean." Besides, there was no way she could live in Millar’s Crossing and risk running into the reunited family from time to time. Which, she was sure, would happen. It would be heartrendingly difficult.

"I know. You're right. I guess I was just trying to keep the dream alive."

Adele attempted another sip, her mind spinning between her broken dreams and Wyatt, Dean and the girls.

All the way to Edmonton they had been on her mind. She had to fight the urge to text Wyatt. To explain. But she had to keep her distance. So she’d turned her phone off. Then, as if to add insult to injury, it had dropped out of the car when she got out at the hotel, right into a puddle of melted snow. She’d had no way of drying it out and now it didn't work.

Just as well.

"I hate to be pushy, but what's next?"

"I should get back to Millar’s Crossing and get my stuff. If my laptop wasn't there, I'm sure I would just leave the clothes behind."

"Do you want me to come along? For moral support?"

Adele shook her head. "Thanks a lot, but you need to get back to Whitehorse. No sense in adding to your trip."

"I don't like the idea of you traveling with a non-working cell phone."

"People have done it for years," Adele said with a light chuckle.

"Yeah, but there were pay phones then."

"I'll be fine," Adele assured her. "The roads are dry and the forecast looks good. It's just time and miles. I can listen to the radio for a change instead of baking podcasts."

They sat in silence for another few moments, then Adele glanced at the large clock above the cashier at the far end of the building. "I should go. I'll see you when I see you," she said. "If I get a hotel tonight, I'll give you a dingle."

"Sounds good." They said a quick good-bye, then went their separate ways.

All the way back to Millar’s Crossing, driving down the road she had driven all those weeks ago, Adele struggled to listen to the radio and keep her mind off Wyatt and Dean and the girls. Each song reminded her of what she had lost.

For the first time in a long while hope had been part of her vocabulary. Had been a ray of light in her life.

At least Wyatt and Dean were reunited. Father and son.

Now, mother and daughters.

She hoped,