Page 78 of All Inn Thyme
“I love you so much. I’ll be back tonight. Please let me explain…”
I shake my head and refuse to look at him.
He walks back down the hall and comes back carrying a big navy duffle bag. “I promise I’ll explain everything when I get back. I love you, Mellie.” He doesn’t come to me, but finally turns and leaves, the big ATF logo on the back of his vest giving me chills. I slide to the floor and watch him out the slider door as he slides into his truck and leaves.
How many times did Bradley hurt us and then pull on that uniform and head to work like nothing had happened?
Ty knew my ex was a police officer, and he knew I was upset about how the local police covered for him whenever he abused me. He had so many opportunities to tell me the truth, to be honest. I wouldn’t have told anyone. I let him in, yet he couldn’t do the same.
Tears stream down my face as I go to the greenhouse and sink into the grass. I hide my face in my hands and cry. I’ve never been much of a crier, but I need this. Tears I’ve pushed down for the past year spill out, and I cry for so long and so hard I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop.
I must have fallen asleep in the grass by the lavender field and don’t wake up until dark when I feel arms around me, shaking me gently.Ty.Then I remember what he did, and he’s gone. It’s Evan, and he’s worried.
“Are you okay, Mel?”
“It’s Ty.”
He searches my face. “What happened?”
“Did you know he’s ATF?” I whisper.
He just nods. “I kinda knew, Mel. I couldn’t say anything, but we had talked about some things before he went home, so I had a good idea.”
“I went to the cabin to take him dinner and he came out in his uniform, getting ready to leave.”
“What’d he say?”
“He said he loved me, but he couldn’t tell me.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” He pulls me into a hug.
“Can I please move back to the garden shed?”
“Yes, you can always come back. But are you sure that’s really what you want to do?”
“He could have told me.”
His head tilts down. “Sometimes it’s not that easy.”
“Everything I know about him is a lie.”
After a while, Evan finally says, “I don’t think that could be true with the way he loves you guys but come back to the garden shed if you want, or take a room at the inn.” He pats my arm.
Beth soon joins us. She wraps her cardigan around her belly that doesn’t quite stretch enough. “What’s going on?” She looks worried as she comes up and puts her arm around me. “Are you okay?”
“Something happened with Ty.”
She pulls out her phone and fires off a text message. “Okay, come on, we’re going to meet up with Allie.” She types more on her phone and then slides it back into her pocket and stands on her tip toes to kiss Evan. “Babe, can you keep the boys?”
“Yeah. It’ll be okay, Mellie,” he says as he leaves.
“Thanks.” I follow Beth to the bunkhouse to pack.
She looks over at me. “Am I going to want to kill him?”
“I don’t know. He lied to me. A big lie.” My heart sinks again and I feel so distraught.
“Okay, well Allie is headed this way and she’s bringing food. You look like hell, Mel. Is that grass in your hair? Tell us everything. We’ll be Ty’s judge and jury. And his executioner if we have to,” she adds as she shoots me a fierce look.
