Page 12 of Where You Left Me

My phone has been blowing up with texts since the night before. Word travels fast in a small town. Especially when a bomb like that gets dropped in the largest bar in Maple Ridge on Wine Wednesday.

The only person I haven’t heard from yet is Dad. Which is just as well. I’d like to be the one to tell him about the baby.

Maverick

I’m not gonna make you explain. But what the actual fuck?

When were you gonna tell me? Never?

Cammie

I’m so sorry you had to go through that alone! I’m here to talk or listen whenever you’re ready. I love you, big bro!

Rosie

Of all people, you told Nico!

Don’t think he’s off the hook for not telling me!

Dad

My beer fridge is getting a little low. Mind stopping by before work today?

Son of a Bitch, I swear, if someone told Dad before I’ve gotten the chance, I’m gonna beat the shit out of them.

The bell above the front door of The Pines chimes as it opens while I’m fixing a pot of coffee for brewing. I’m not up for seeing anyone or talking to anyone either.

“We’re closed,” I growl without turning around.

“Then why do ya got the door unlocked, dipshit?” Maverick snips back.

I exhale a long sigh and rest my hands on my hips. Rather than being on the defensive, my shoulders ease. Mia exposing our secret is somehow giving me the respite I didn’t know I’d needed.

When Maverick reaches the bar and our gaze meets, sorrow throbs in my throat. Tears sting my eyes and as always, my best friend lets me off the hook from speaking first.

“Look, I get it.” He drops onto a bar stool and rubs at his forehead. “Fuck,” he breathes out. “But I don’t understand it. Why you wouldn’t tell me.”

I shake my head; I don’t really know why either. I wanted to. I wanted to tell him and Cammie. And Rosie. My dad. Hell, even Grams and Gramps.

“Everything happened so fast. It was like, one minute Mia was telling me she was pregnant, and we were planning our future. The next minute, I was rushing her to the hospital, and we lost the baby.” It hurts to push the wordbabyover the lump in my throat. “And then Mia was leaving. I guess I thought if I didn’t talk about it, I’d get over it faster.”

“You of anyone should know better. Grief doesn’t work that way.”

For some fucking reason, I never put grief and losing the baby together. Sure, everyone talks about grief after a loved one dies. When Mom passed away, grief was like another person in our house. Taking up a seat at the dinner table. But losing something—someone—you never met, how can you miss them? How does that count as grief?

I let the word soak in and peer down at the floor through hazy eyes.

“You should’ve let me be here for you.”

I nod, adjusting the ballcap on my head.

“And Cammie. She’s fucked up over this. She’s blaming herself for not being a better sister.”

Lifting my gaze, I wipe at my eyes. “She couldn’t have known.”

“Still. You know Cammie. She’s too good for us. Always will be.”

I shake my head. He’s not wrong.

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