Page 24 of Autumn Wishes and Pumpkin Kisses

“Howdy,” I tell her, as I tip my cap. Capri is a bit of a flirt, but it’s harmless. There’s always been something lurking in Capri’s seafoam green eyes that makes me wonder what her story is. There’s more to her than she lets on. “I was looking for Warbee or Teaganne.”

I watch as her face drops. “Oh, Warbee rushed out of here a while ago. Something to do with Teaganne, but I’m not sure what. Warbee just said it was an emergency.”

My stomach drops to the floor and the room spins a few times. What could have happened to Teaganne? After I regain my composure, I thank Capri and rush out of the bakery. I call my mom first since she has Silas and Seraphina. “Mom, do you know anything about Teaganne?”

My mom sighs. “Not really. She just called and told me that Warbee would pick the kids up in a little while. I know she was trying to get a hold of you.” I explain that I got stuck on a work call. “I’d call Warbee if I were you.”

I don’t even say goodbye to my mama before disconnecting the call. Warbee answers. “What the hell is going on?”

“Breathe, Keefer. Just get to Teaganne’s house. She’s fine, but there is some...stuff going on and I think she could use you.” Warbee’s voice sounds strained and I can feel the worry rolling off of her through the phone.

I don’t even hesitate. “I’ll be right there.”

When I pull up to Teaganne’s house, the first thing I notice is that the hatch on her SUV is open and there is a suitcase sitting inside of it. Confusion fills my body. Warbee appears in the doorway with another suitcase in hand. I hop out of the truck and jog to Warbee, taking the suitcase from her once I reach her. “It needs to go in there and then we can lock the SUV back up.”

“What’s going on?”

Warbee shakes her head. “Joe is causing all kinds of trouble for Teaganne. Teaganne’s lawyer called and wants her back in New York City immediately. That’s about all I know. When she called me, she was in tears, so I just ran out of the bakery and came here. She’s been on the phone ever since.”

I never liked Joe. I didn’t like him in Los Angeles when I first met him. I didn’t like him in the tabloids when I’d see him and not just because he had the one girl that I loved and wanted. It was just this icky feeling of distrust I saw in him. He showed up offering Teaganne all her dreams of a silver platter, too good to be true, in my opinion. He whisked her off to New York City away from everyone. Joe is a good ten years older than us and Teaganne was young and naive. Now, he’s messing with her again, but this time I might not be able to just sit by and let it happen.

TWENTY-ONE

Teaganne

I’m trying to make sure I have everything I need. As I start to descend the stairs, when I notice a familiar navy-blue baseball cap. My heart stutters as he looks up. His eyes are creased with worry. A frown sits on his face, stealing the dimples I love to see so much. “Teag, I’m so sorry. I got caught up on work stuff back in Atlanta and then when I tried to call you, I just assumed you were at the bakery working. What’s going on?” He reaches me, taking two stairs at a time and pulls me into his arms.

I’ve managed to keep myself together so far, but the moment the comfort of his arms wrapping around me, the dam breaks. A sob rips itself from my body and I collapse against him. Keefer, the one who always knew how to handle a crisis, just wraps his arm around my waist tighter, holding me up. His other strokes my hair, soothingly. His voice, calm and comforting, keeps telling me that ‘it’s going to be okay’. Maybe, if he keeps repeating saying it, I’ll start to believe it. Eventually, I start to calm down. The sobs turn to hiccups and my tears dry. Keefer lowers us to the step below. He makes sure to keep an arm around me and I rest my head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” I whisper hoarsely, as I wipe under my eyes. I’m sure mascara smudges my face.

“Don’t ever apologize for crying. I’m here for you no matter what. I wish I had picked up the phone earlier. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner to help you deal with whatever is going on.” I can hear the guilt in his voice and feel it the tense muscles of his body.

I pull away and look at him. “It’s okay. There’s nothing you can do really.”

Keefer takes my hand in his. I never noticed how small and slender mine is compared to his large and strong one. “What’s going on darlin’?”

Just thinking about the phone conversation makes me sick to my stomach. Bile rises in my throat once more. I swallow attempting to push it back to the pit of my stomach where it churns like curdled milk. “My divorce lawyer, Mr. Martin called me. I assumed it was because it was finalized.” Keefer must sense my struggle because his free hand starts to rub light, relaxing circles on my back. “It’s not finalized because Joe is fighting for something else now.”

His head drops, but it’s not what he thinks. “Silas and Seraphina?”

I shake my head in disagreement. “No, although that would actually make sense. He’s only willing to try and get them if I don’t sign over all my fashion lines to him.”

Keefer goes still, so still he could actually be a statue. I’m not even sure he’s breathing. If it wasn’t for the tick of his jaw, I wouldn’t believe he was real. That was always Keefer’s sign of being angry. “You’re kidding right?”

“Nope.” I sigh heavily. My chest literally hurts. I’ve put my heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into each and every fashion line I created. I’m in disbelief that he could be so cruel.

“He can’t do that right? I mean, it’ll never hold in court.”

This is the part that shreds my heart as if it was nothing more than a thin piece of paper. “He can and more than likely he'll win.”

“What?” Keefer’s voice rises. It booms in the silent house. He’s on his feet, pulling his cap off and roughly running his fingers through his hair. “How is that possible? You created those.”

“I created them, but it was his money that helped them build. Joe was my biggest investor in each line. He also co-signed for any start up loans I had. Mr. Martin said unfortunately just about any judge that looks at that will grant Joe at least half if not all of the ownership of my fashion lines.”

Keefer begins to pace back and forth on the stair in front of me. He stops and squats down so we are eye to eye once more. He takes my hands in his. “We can fight him. There’s got to be a way.”

Once again, my heart breaks. “There’s not. He’s a conniving, manipulative man with more money and power than either of us have. Even if we could, I wouldn’t waste the time. He knows how to get what he wants.”

He studies me. The tension and silence are so thick I’m pretty sure you could literally slice it like a block of cheese. “What are you not telling me?”

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