Page 8 of Finding Hayes
Hayes Woodson was not my best friend anymore.
He hadn’t been for a very long time.
I’d shared way too much with him already. I knew better.
I needed to end this conversation right now.
I dropped a twenty-dollar bill on the bar and reached for my coat on the back of my barstool.
“It’s been nice catching up with you, Woody. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
His jaw ticked, and he looked a little startled that I was leaving so abruptly. “Yeah. I’ll be at the funeral tomorrow. I’ll see you there.”
I nodded as I pulled my beanie over my head and slipped my mittens on my hands before making my way past him toward the exit.
Tonight had been a lot.
This whole day has been a lot.
Ruby came around the bar and hugged me. “I’ll see you at the funeral tomorrow, and I’ll have River get you on his schedule Monday morning so he can take a look at the paperwork for you.”
“Thank you.” I held up a hand and made my way out to the blizzardy cold. My car was covered in snow, and I groaned. I used my gloved hand to clear the driver’s side of the windshield before sliding into my cherry red 1995 Honda. She was old, but she’d been good to me. I turned the ignition, and nothing happened.
“Come on, Big Red. Don’t fail me now.” I pumped the gas and tried again.
And again.
My head fell forward against the steering wheel, and I foughtback the tears.
I will not cry. I will not cry.
Money was extremely tight at the moment—well, aside from the check that the probate attorney said I’d be receiving in the next few days. He said Abe had granted me a small advance until I was officially married in thirty days, when I’d receive the full inheritance he’d left me. Then he’d handed me keys to the farmhouse, so I’d canceled my hotel reservation in town, which was one less expense that I’d have at the moment. The last thing I needed was a huge price tag to fix my crappy car. But apparently, Abe had thought of everything. He’d noted that he wanted the keys to the farmhouse given to me the day I’d be called in for the reading of the will because he knew I’d be heading to Magnolia Falls for his funeral and that I’d need a place to stay.
His heart was so big, and every time I thought about him being gone, I couldn’t keep the tears away.
So, I let it out.
I cried because I was back in a place that held a lot of memories for me.
Both good and bad.
I cried for the loss of both Abe and Lily. Two people who had been a constant in my life. Two people who had treated me like family when I’d needed it most.
I cried for the loss of my best friend. A man I still felt a connection to but desperately wanted to hate.
Wanted to forget.
I cried for my father, who was sick and didn’t have the financial resources to get the help he needed.
I cried for my piece-of-shit car that had failed me once again.
I cried because I was tired of being failed by everyone and everything, and I still woke up every day and put a smile on my face and tried to live my best life.
There was a knock on my car window, and I sucked in a breath and swiped at my tear-streaked face.
I could see him through the falling snow.
I was overwhelmed, so I let the tears fall, making no effort to stop them this time.
