Page 115 of When Wildflowers Bloom

Shenods—slightly.

Then we’re looking at each other—staring. The woman who gets to love him at the woman who can’t anymore.

“Mandy,” a voice calls, making us both turn at once.

It’s Libby, beautiful in black like her sister. Her red lips force into a tight smile toward me when our eyes meet. A silent,Everything okay?telegraphs from her to me. I smile and give her a nod, my,Yes.

“I’ll be right there,” Mandy calls, making cold clouds float around her face from her breath. Then she turns back to me. “I’m glad I met you.”

“Me too.” Oddly, I mean it.

Then she’s gone, walking toward Libby, where they meet John—looking shockingly tame in his suit when he lifts his chin toward me with a small smile—and walk across the parking lot together. I wish I was walking with them.

When Bo walks across the parking lot, my fingers lift in a slight wave as our eyes meet. He stops, just briefly, and we look at each other through the people dressed in black that walk all around us like a colony of ants.

Looking at him look at me sends a deluge of thoughts rushing through me. I love him; I hate him. I want to hug him; I want to slap him.

When someone calls his name, he turns, shakes a hand, and I take the opportunity to slip into my minivan. My eyes meet his through the windshield as I’m driving away.

The next tears that fall on my drive home aren’t for Veda—every single one is for Bo.

Forty-seven

“Huck wonders where weare going today,” Huck shouts from the back seat.

“I was thinking we could go to the library,” I tell him. “They have an insect exhibit.”

“Huck wonders if we could go see Bo at the cabin instead.”

I blow out a long breath.

“You know, we can drive by, but he’s really busy, so I don’t think we can stop.”

Reluctantly, I drive to the site I know all too well.

The cabin is nearly finished now; today they are installing windows. I roll the back window down for Huck to watch a few minutes while my gaze is steadfast out the windshield—anywhere but the cabin.

“There’s Bo!” Huck shouts.

I don’t turn to look.

“Awesome. You should wave to him because we have to go now if we want to get to the library before it closes.”

“He’s walking over here now. Maybe we can stay.” I hate how excited he sounds.

I hate my response even more.

Rolling up his window with the button on my door, I start to drive away. “Maybe next time.”

After the library, dropping off Huck, and dinner, I will myself to look at my phone and all the messages I’ve been ignoring.

From Libby,You know, if I was the kind of girl that read into things, I’d think you’re ignoring me. What’s up, Pam Beesly? Call me. I miss watching you eat healthy food.

I read it, smiling so I don’t cry. I’ve put her in a terrible position that I had no right to. Her sister married Bo; she can never be my friend. Not really. Not now. Not with Mandy here. The nicest thing I can do to her is shut her out so she doesn’t have to feel guilty for having to do the same to me.

Then, Bo.

Is your plan to ignore me forever?

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