Page 48 of The Woman Left Behind

“Oh, we began.”

“Nope, I’m not doing this,” I stated. “You’re the past. A depressing, stupid past. And I’m beyond it.”

“Lil—”

I didn’t hear what he was going to say because I disconnected, then I blocked him.

Flipping heck.

Was he really going to do this?

After I had the best date of my life with maybe the best guy I ever met and in the middle of maybe (probably) learning my parents were dead?

No, not dead. Murdered.

Yes, he was going to do this. Because he was Willie Zowkower.

And worse, I was probably going to have to tell Ronnie and (eek!) George about it.

Even worse!

Harry and I were just beginning, but even so, I knew if I didn’t tell him Willie had called, he’d be upset.

“Dang, damn, shit,” I whispered. Then, “Ugh!” I grunted.

With that, I threw back the covers and pulled myself out of bed.

It was time to make bread.

TWELVE

Planted My Flag

Lillian

It was three o’clock in the afternoon when I opened the door to Harry.

He was out of uniform, wearing jeans and a sweater that were more casual than what he wore last night, but no less attractive.

I didn’t stare like I did (mortifyingly) the night before.

I was preoccupied by the pinched skin around his eyes.

He noticed me noticing and tried to throw me off the scent by rounding my waist with an arm and dropping a soft, hey-there kiss on my lips.

He smelled great and his lips felt even better, but his attempt didn’t work.

When he tried to pull away, I curled my fingers into his sweater.

“That bad?” I asked, knowing the answer because of the word “fatality.”

He tried to throw me off the scent again by saying, “I don’t think there’s a better smell in the world than baking bread, except your perfume.”

This had me melting into him, but I tipped my head to the side, a nonverbal demand for him to share.

“Lillian, it’s a lot,” he whispered.

“Can I take this opportunity to remind you that my parents disappeared sixteen years ago, and I had help, I had support, but I survived it. I pivoted from the life I thought I’d have and made a life that’s good. In other words, I’m not breakable, Harry.”

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