Page 2 of Big and Bold
“Order up,” the cook calls through the window from the kitchen. I turn quickly and take the order off the shelf and put it on the tray in front of me. Without another look at Kathy, I walk over to deliver the food. I have a forced smile on my face as I set the plates out on the table, and after making sure they don’t need anything else, I walk away.
I’m almost to the back when the bell announcing a new customer chimes. I turn with a smile on my face, ready to greet the newcomer, and practically trip on my feet when I see Dustin Clay, my husband, walking in the front door.
His eyes are on me, and it’s just like every other time he’s looked at me. There’s no hiding the attraction he feels for me. It’s always been obvious that he wants me. I just wish that was enough. I turn my head quickly and walk to the back of the restaurant. Kathy is standing there with a huge smile on her face. “Oh my God, Dustin is here.” She practically claws my arm. “And he’s sitting in your section.”
I swear Kathy is practically foaming from the mouth she’s so excited that she’s got a front row seat to the drama.
She fluffs her hair, and whether she does it consciously or not, she unbuttons the top button of her shirt. “I can take him if you want. I mean, if it’s going to be too hard to talk to him or whatever.”
She ends that offer with a lick of her lips, and it takes everything in me not to smack that smirk off her face. Yes, it’s going to be hard to face Dustin, but it would be even harder to stand on the sidelines and watch Kathy throw herself at him. I grit my teeth. “Thank you, Kathy, but I got this.”
I straighten my apron and push a piece of hair off my face before walking toward the front. Dustin is watching me the whole way, and my body betrays me by coming alive under his appraisal. I stop next to the table. “What can I get you?”
His voice is low, but he might as well be hollering because the restaurant is silent. It seems everyone is wanting to know what Dustin Clay has to say to his estranged wife. “Is that it? That’s all you have to say to me?”
Violet comes out of her office, and when she sees me standing next to a seated Dustin, she comes toward us. “Hey, Annie. Let me finish up for you. Have a seat. I know you two have some things to discuss.”
I try to argue with her, but once Violet has an idea, she’s not one to bend. She practically shoves me into the booth across from Dustin.
She turns a smile to my husband. “Dustin, can I get you anything?”
He’s looking at me, but he shakes his head side to side.
Violet is completely unfazed. “Okay, well, I’ll bring out two slices of cake. Be back.”
She walks over to my other table, and after refilling drinks, she goes back toward the kitchen.
“What are you doing here, Dustin?”
He puts his hands on the top of the table and leans forward. “Well, where should I start? My wife walked out on me a week ago. You didn’t talk to me, didn’t tell me anything. Hell, I thought you were happy, but you had me served with divorce papers. I’ve tried calling. I’ve tried texting you, and you’re not returning any of my calls.” He stops, sucks in a breath, and runs his hand through his hair. He seems stressed out, but I’m still reeling from his declaration.
“You’ve called me?”
He looks at me with disgust. “Please, you know I’ve called you. At least a hundred times. Why, Annie? Why did you leave me?”
For the first time, I’m second-guessing myself. I thought for sure he wouldn’t care when I left. I thought he would just go on with his life and look at the last year as if it was a little blip. I never dreamed he would have tried to track me down. “I left my phone. It’s in the glove box of your truck.”
His mouth drops open. “You left your phone?”
I nod. “Yeah, it was yours.”
He practically spits the words out. “And you didn’t want anything from me, right? You wanted to erase our whole marriage as if it didn’t happen.”
All I can do is gawk at him. I expected him to be surprised, but I never expected him to be upset about it. I actually convinced myself that he would be relieved that I left. When I just stare at him, he opens his mouth but closes it again when Violet comes to set two pieces of cake in front of us. She sets two waters down too, and we both thank her before she turns to walk away.
“Dustin,” I start, but I’m not sure what else to say. I’ve thought about him for this entire week, and I thought of all the things I wanted to say to him, but I don’t know where to start.
He sees my hesitancy, and he’s not having it. “Annie… talk to me. You owe me that.”
I lean back and cross my arms over my chest.
He matches me and lifts his shoulder. “Why are you in Whiskey Run?” He chokes over the words. “Is there someone else?”
My mouth drops open. Does he truly think that? How could he? He’s ruined me from ever being with another man. “What? No, of course not.” I shake my head. “Why would you even think that?”
He grits his teeth. “Because you left me without a word, Annie.” He puts his hand to his chest. “You broke my heart and… and… you think I don’t deserve to know why?”
Stunned, I just stare at him. Did he just say I broke his heart? Yeah, we were married, and yes, I loved him, but he’s never said those words to me. He’s always had a wall between us, and half the time, I didn’t know what he was thinking. And now, he’s acting like I destroyed his entire existence. I hold a hand up. “First of all, I did leave a note. Second of all, I didn’t break your heart. And third, I didn’t think you would care.”
