Page 121 of Promise Me

“I didn’t tell you that you wanted the space because I was there the day you pitched your reason to Mrs. Whittaker.” Hopefully, she will give me one more minute of her time.

She turns to me, and I let out a breath.

Yes.

That’s my girl.

“I was also there every time you spoke about Sips and Stories, and Sadie, baby, let me tell you, your passion between the two was as clear as the blue sky. One you were doing for someone else, and one you were doing for you.”

More tears fall down her cheeks. I need to wrap this up because I hate being the reason she hurts.

“You wanted to find yourself again, and I thought that if I told you why you wanted this space for the bakery, you’d pick that over Sips and Stories again. That’s all I want for you, Sadie. I want you to get everything you want in life, and that means the store of your dreams and not anyone else’s.”

But Sadie doesn’t reply to my confession. Brooke tugs her arm gently, and Sadie follows her into the bakery. The faint click of the door locking is like a punch to the gut.

Like the door to the future I was so convinced I had this morning is gone.

Vanished.

In seconds.

All over again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

HUDSON

Beer sloshes over my hand.

Again.

“Motherfucking stupid piece of tr?—”

“Okay, all right.” Two hands land on my shoulder and guide me away from the tap behind the bar. “That’s a bit much for the customers, let alone anyone in general, to hear right now,” Betty says before stiffly ushering me away from our diners.

I sigh and then shake her off.

“Sorry.”

“I know you are, but if you’re just going to be a grump and shout incoherent profanity, I think the best place for that is anywhere but here.”

“I need to work,” I tell her and step for the bar again, but she stops me.

“You need to take time off.”

“Betty,” I warn.

“Hudson,” she warns back. “You. Need. A. Break.”

I start to argue, but then I notice the prying eyes. There’s amix of tourists and locals, and it’s enough for me to step back and take a breath.

I need a distraction, yes, but I don’t need an audience, and that’s exactly what we have.

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Go for a walk or something. Get some air.”

I nod.

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