Page 78 of In Full Bloom

“No, he wasn’t.” I draw a deep breath. “He was drunk when I got home early from my shift. I left work early because a woman he’d been screwing showed up and offered me all the evidence I needed to know the relationship I’d been trying to save was a sham. He admitted everything and yeah, he was leaving. But not to come here. He was going to find another of his women. Because that’s what he did.”

“You screamed at him until he got in the car and drove drunk,” Max yells in my face.

“Yeah, I screamed in his fucking face. I gave himeverythingand the bastard screwed me over, time and time again. But it was his choice to get in that car. I tried to stop him, but he shoved past me anyway, pushing me into a wall as he went.”

A gasp catches my attention and I turn woodenlyto find Tilly, Max and Toby’s younger sister, standing between us, her face pale and eyes wide.

I’ve always adored Tilly. She’s a total sweetheart and I never, ever wanted her to know these things about Toby. I especially didn’t want her to learn them like this.

“Tilly,” I rasp out.

“Don’t speak to her,” Max snaps.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to Tilly.

Then I drop the bag containing the shirt and Sadie’s picture, and I run.

I rush through the store, tears already streaking down my cheeks and blurring my vision. I skid around the corner by the counter, my boots slipping on the polished concrete floors.

There’s a woman in front of me, waiting at the counter, and I manage to twist my body to avoid hitting her.

“Are you okay?” she asks, grabbing at my arm, trying to slow me down.

I take in the sight of her. She’s wearing a pair of slim fit charcoal dress pants and a green blouse that perfectly matches the colour of her eyes. Her make up is flawless and her dark hair tumbles in waves down her back. She’s so completely out of place in Kauri Creek. That’s the only thing I can think as I take her in.

I snatch my arm away from her and rush through the door.

I’m sure Dallas will be coming after me. I’m sure he’ll meet me outside and I slow my steps as I head for the street, expecting to hear his footsteps, his voice, anything.

But I don’t.

Dallas doesn’t follow me.

34

DALLAS

I reachthe end of the aisle, my long strides eating up the distance between me and the door, and hopefully Katie.

The confrontation with Max was too much. Katie tried to keep it calm, but in the end, she shouted at Max, right as Tilly appeared around the corner.

The devastation on both their faces made me want to go back in time and eviscerate Toby Sheridan for what he did to Katie.

No wonder she hates this town, and Max. No wonder she took so long to let her guard down with me.

She wanted to face Max though. She wanted to settle whatever was between them, so she could move on.

So she could be here with me.

I reach the counter and skid to a stop.

A woman is standing in front of it, staring out the door with confusion written all over her face.

She turns to face me and the world slows down, each second that passes feels like a year.

“Dallas?” she asks, stunned.

“Abi.” I choke out the single word. I stand and stare at her, both of us frozen to the spot. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see Sadie’s mum again. I sure as hell didn’t expect to find her standing in the middle of a farm supply store in Kauri Creek.

---