Page 119 of Hometown Girl

“Drew, please.” A lump formed at the back of her throat as he let go of her hands.

“And I didn’t hurt Jess,” he said. “I would never hurt anyone.” His blue eyes had gone distant.

“I know you wouldn’t.” Her words came out as a whisper, too quiet and too late.

He stayed still for a while longer, then headed down the stairs. Beth watched through tear-filled eyes out the second-story window as Drew Barlow exited her house, duffel bag slung over his shoulder and German shepherd close on his heels. He threw the bag in his truck, let Roxie in the front seat and pulled away.

Sobs overtook her body, and she sank to her knees, still holding the photograph of a little boy with the same kind eyes as the man she loved.

Chapter Thirty-One

The emptiness of the farmhouse seeped into the loneliest parts of Beth’s soul. After too many long minutes crying on the floor of the hidden room, her phone rang, forcing her to pull herself together. A number she didn’t recognize showed up on the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Beth? It’s Dina. I just got your email about the barn sale.”

Beth had sent that email weeks ago.

“It got lost in our server—long story—anyway, I had my team work something up. A logo, a website and an ad campaign. Look it over and send me the names of the vendors so I can put the finishing touches on it and make it live. I would say send me your changes, but the sale is in just a couple of weeks. We should probably just go with it as it is.”

“Dina, you shouldn’t have gone to all that trouble.” She thought about the gossip she’d heard and wondered if it was true. And if Harrison was leaving her, how was Dina handling it?

Her own heart ached at the thought of losing Drew—and their relationship had barely begun.

“I told you, I think it’s brilliant what you’re doing. I want to help if I can.”

“Well, thanks. I haven’t had much time to put anything like this together.”

“You want me to handle it?”

Beth straightened. “Handle?”

“All the advertising. The whole thing. I’ll get the word out for you. We’ll pack that place.”

Beth didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t good at asking for help—especially from someone like Dina.

“It would mean a lot to me if I could help with this, Beth. No charge.”

She heard the sadness in Dina’s voice. She needed something to keep her mind occupied—to help her stop thinking about her impending divorce.

Beth’s thoughts turned to Drew, the way he’d worked around here as if his life depended on it.

And maybe it did. Maybe he needed this place as much as it needed him.

Had she taken that from him?

“Beth?”

“What? Oh, sorry. I would really appreciate your help, Dina. I’ll look at what you sent over, and if you could get the word out, well, we’d be really grateful.”

“Anything for Fairwind Farm. I mean it. Think of me as your in-house ad agency. I’m here whenever you need me. Once you guys get up and running again, we can discuss pricing and I’ll work with your budget, I promise.” Dina sounded happy—and Beth had to admit, genuine. “Thanks, Beth.”

The words hung between them—simple, yet so full of meaning.

“No, thank you,” Beth said.

After she hung up, she set her phone down and walked outside. The day had turned gray. Clouds hung low and dark in the sky.

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