And, if Caroline wasn’t wrong, to try to f**k himself into happiness. But he wasn’t that type. Oh sure f**king felt good, but f**king to fill up some empty space in your life never worked.

“I came back, and there was a time when I think she waited to see how it was going to go. We’d always gotten together in the past. But I was done. Being gone it just allowed me to really own my shit. I told myself the day I came back to Petal that I would never settle for someone who didn’t love me as much as I loved her. It’s lonely and f**ked up even when both people truly care about one another. I look at you, or I hear your laugh, smell you on my sheets, and I know not only how I feel but how you feel. I see it reflected on your face, or in the tone you use when you talk about me. I never feel like I’m not quite enough when I’m with you. That means everything. Despite being shot at and broken into and vandalized and threatened, I wouldn’t trade this. I never expected what you’ve given me.”

“Yep. We’re awesome all right.” He took her hand and squeezed briefly.

Of course he insisted on escorting her inside where her window had been replaced and a special film put over it to make it impossible to see in. She also had new curtains and her desk had been moved.

“Wow. Thanks.”

Holly grinned, handed her a mug of coffee, a stack of messages and welcomed her back.

She worked her way through her day steadily until she looked up to find Anne Murphy in her doorway.

“It’s lunchtime and I’m starving. And I bet William will be extra nice to you if I take you along with me to the Honey Bear. You know, he’ll ply you with treats and because you have good manners you’ll share. Also you’ve had a pretty craptastic time of it lately, and I think you could probably use a break.”

“Thanks. Yeah I’m hungry.” She stood and carefully reached to grab her wallet from her bag.

“You’re okay to walk a few blocks? Tate said you had to get stitches in two places.”

“I’m fine. The stitches are in my back and arm. Thanks for asking.” She checked in with Holly, sure to tell her where they were headed, and they made their way out and down to the sidewalk.

“So Tate told you? How’d she…oh! Matt. I forgot for a moment.”

“This time next year you’ll be saying how’s your momma and that’s so precious like an expert again. First you need to remember that nothing is a secret in this town very long. A friend of Beth’s saw Royal in the hospital with you yesterday and was telling everyone how gone he is for you. So don’t touch your stomach in public or everyone will start timing your cycles to see if you’re knocked up.”

“Joy. I mean, toe to toe with getting shot at, I’ll choose everyone in town knowing when I’m on the dot.”

When they went into the front doors of the Honey Bear, Maryellen saw her and came over to gently hug her. “Honey, how are you? Melissa told us all about that whole mess yesterday. Come on back and have a seat. Get off your feet. Hey, Anne, I really do love that new hair color. Looks so pretty on you.”

Maryellen grabbed menus and took them to an open table. She looked at Anne. “You’re an orange soda and you’re cherry vanilla coke, right?”

Both women nodded and looked over the menu before ordering. William sent out orange sticky buns as a treat for Caroline, who shared them with Anne.

They’d gotten through lunch and were drinking coffee and waiting for the check when Polly Chase came in. She saw them and came over.

“Don’t you dare stand up.” Polly bent to hug Caroline gently. “How are you feeling, honey?”

“I’m all right, thanks. Would you like to sit? We’re having some coffee and have also been talked into a brownie fresh from the oven.”

Polly sat after giving Anne a hug. “Thank you. I’m glad I saw you in here. I ran into your grandmother today.”

Caroline sighed and turned to face Polly better so she wasn’t stretching her back muscles. “That couldn’t have gone well.”

“I was at the police station dropping canned food off. They’re having a food drive. Anyway, on my way back to the car I saw Abigail and she waved me over and I said how sorry I was that you’d been having such a rough time but how I was so happy to have you back in Petal after you’d been away from us so long.”

Caroline could only imagine how that went.

“She asked me about you, you know. I understand your grandmother has done and said some pretty unforgivable things and I’m not advocating for you to do anything but keep away from her. But I just wanted you to know that. Anyway I told her about the stitches and I urged her to look into her heart to find a way back to you because you’re not only a piece of their daughter, but you’re their oldest grandchild and you were so special. In the middle of that, Garrett Moseby comes sidling up all sneaky like. He dutifully reported that you’d merely done all this to yourself to make it look like your father was innocent and the real killer was out there still. And I said, Abigail, are you going to take a chance that this is some silly ploy? You don’t know that girl at all if you think she’d do something along those lines. She told him to hush up. I gave him a look. I should have boxed his ears but Shane says he can’t protect me from assault charges if I do it. Really the men in my life all conspire to keep me from having fun.”

Caroline and Anne laughed. “I’m sad to hear it, but not surprised I guess. Thanks for letting me know.” She balled up her napkin. “I need to get back to the office. I have about a million calls and emails to return, and I have a meeting at four too. Mrs. Chase, I appreciate that you’d defend me. It means a lot. You and your husband have both been so welcoming and kind to me.”