Page 98 of Love on the Run

“Oh, really? You think you can walk out of a wedding, disappear for a week, and have no consequences?”

The burning in Anna’s core stoked to a raging flame. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” She pointed to her chest. “He cheated, and I cleaned up the mess.”

Her mom laughed, and the sound sent a chill down Anna’s back. “You didn’t clean up any mess. You’re an embarrassment. You made us a laughing stock. You ruined everything!”

“Please keep your voice down. People can hear you,” Anna pleaded.

Her mom pointed a thin, manicured finger at her. “Don’t you dare tell me what to do. This is whatyouare going to do. You’re going to really fix this mess. Dean is expecting your call, and I’ve smoothed things over with the vendors. They’re willing to work with us again, but we have to make quick decisions to get on their schedules again.”

“Do you hear yourself? I’m not going back to Dean. He cheated on me. The woman he was seeing showed up at my wedding! It’s not happening.”

There. She’d said it, and it felt good to let the truth out. Not only had she healed from the betrayal, but she was happy about the outcome. If Misty hadn’t shown up when she did, Anna would have tied herself to a man who wouldn’t be faithful to her.

Catherine took two steps closer until they were mere inches apart. Glaring down, she set her jaw and pointed a steady finger at Anna. “You are going to make things right. You have one week to come to your senses and make all of your apologies. I suggest you get started immediately.”

With that final order, Catherine walked out of Anna’s office, slamming the door behind her on the way out.

Anna’s knees weakened, and she lowered herself to the office chair. She’d held firm against her mother, but had it actually worked? She wasn’t any better off than before. Nothing had been resolved.

She grabbed her laptop, ready to shove it back into her bag and head home, when an invisible force stopped her. She paused, frozen in place with a white-knuckle grip on the computer.

You can do this.

Could she do this? Could she stand up forherself? Could she be firm when the one person who terrified her demanded obedience?

Yes. Anna didn’t serve her mother. She served the Lord, and there was a newfound determination to remain bold on this front.

Slowly, she released the laptop and sat back in her chair. The tension from her encounter with her mom eased as she closed her eyes and prayed.

Father, help me remain strong. I can’t do it on my own. I need help.

She sat there until her breaths came easily, then she straightened her spine and got to work.

Chapter 31

Anna

Anna stepped into her cottage and leaned back against the door. The silence was both welcome and unnerving. She wanted to hide away from the world, but the thought of being alone kindled a familiar fear.

Closing her eyes, she prayed for the tenth time today. It was the only thing that had given her the strength to stay at the office when she really wanted to run home and hide.

Her mom hadn’t returned to her office, but their next meeting lurked somewhere in the near future. Catherine wasn’t one to give up without a huge fight.

The sounds of an approaching vehicle turned Anna’s attention to the window by the door. Olivia stepped out of her car and bounded up the porch steps.

Flinging open the door, Anna wrapped her arms around her friend.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Olivia whispered against Anna’s hair.

“I’m so glad you came.” She needed a hug in the worst way.

Olivia pulled back to get a good look at Anna’s face. “What’s wrong?”

Anna didn’t try to stop the instinctual eye roll. “Mom.”

Liv huffed. “I knew it. She won’t let you have a minute of peace.”

“The good news is that I stayed at work all day after she brought out her sword the minute I got to the office.”

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