Page 15 of Mountain Dreams

Wyatt slowly nodded, and Cody’s hackles went up. He leaned over the desk and pinned Wyatt in place with a steely gaze.

“Don’t do this to Maddie. She doesn’t deserve it. If you need to ‘sow your oats,’ or whatever you want to call it, break up with her now before anyone gets hurt.”

His friend stared at him, but Cody didn’t waver. He’d do anything to prevent Maddie from experiencing more pain, even if it cost him his friendship with Wyatt. Based on Wyatt’s expression, he must have deduced the same thing.

They were interrupted when Wyatt’s cell phone rang where it lay atop a stack of papers. The screen lit up with Maddie’s name, but he didn’t immediately answer.

“Go ahead,” Cody prompted. He didn’t want to eavesdrop on their conversation, but if Wyatt didn’t answer, she might be worried he was with another woman.

Wyatt picked up the phone and said, “Hey, Mads.”

Cody heard her voice but not her exact words. Still, he could follow the conversation on Wyatt’s end.

“Yeah, I’m still at the shop. Cody stopped by to say hi, but I’ll be home soon.”

After they hung up, Cody stood, deciding it was time to leave. He’d said his peace, and now the rest was up to Wyatt.

Wyatt followed him to the door and said, “Thanks for stopping by.”

Cody nodded, although he wished his visit had been for a different reason. He’d done what Maddie had asked, and now he’d have to sit back and wait and see what happened.

On the drive back to Sawyer’s Ridge, he prayed Wyatt would do the right thing and come clean with Maddie. It would probably pain her to hear his doubts, but it would be worse if she caught him in a compromising position with Sadie or some other woman.

He recalled when she’d come to see him, her face tear-stained and her expression grim. He’d never seen her so upset, and he hated that it was because of Wyatt. If she were his, he’d do his utmost to put a smile on her face every day. He’d appreciate and cherish her and treat her with the respect she deserved.

She’s not yours to cherish, he reminded himself. And she may never be.

Six

Maddie took one last look around Wyatt’s house, wondering if there was anything she’d forgotten. She’d already loaded her car with boxes of clothes, books, and toiletries, but she’d have to return later for a few bigger items, such as the armoire that had been handed down by her grandmother. For now, her main concern was leaving before Wyatt came home, though he’d told her to take as much time as she needed, like that was a consolation prize or something.

Carrying a tote bag in her right hand, she reached out with her left to turn off a lamp, and the diamond in her engagement ring caught the light. She knew she’d forgotten something. She slipped off the ring, went into the kitchen, and set it next to the coffee pot, where she knew he’d see it.

She glanced down at the sliver of pale skin that had been hidden beneath the band. Oddly enough, relinquishing the ring didn’t feel as heart-wrenching as she’d thought it would. She hadn’t worn it for very long or become overly attached to it. Maybe that was a commentary on her engagement in general—it had been fraught with fear and uncertainty more than joy and love.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts, determined not to sink into despair and self-pity. People broke up all the time and lived to tell about it. Some of them even found a stronger, deeper love that lasted a lifetime. The same thing could happen to her someday. Besides, she’d already cried enough tears. It was time to pick herself up and move on. The only problem was, she wasn’t sure where to go.

They’d broken up last night, and she hadn’t told anyone yet. She’d been too shaken up to call anyone last night, and she’d spent most of today packing. She could only imagine how her parents and sisters would react once they found out: shocked, saddened, and probably indignant on her behalf. She simply wasn’t ready to face them yet.

Sadly, she had very few female friends and none that she’d wanted to confide in. Growing up with two sisters was like having built-in friends, and there’d also been Cody.

Cody. Two weeks had passed since she’d gone to see him at Sawyer’s Ridge. She’d thought about calling him a few different times, but then she’d decided not to. She shouldn’t have gone to him in the first place, and she felt bad about involving him in Wyatt and her problems.

She knew he’d gone to see Wyatt at his shop, and she wondered what they’d discussed. Last night, when Wyatt had sat her down and told her he wanted to call off the wedding, she’d been tempted to ask if he were seeing someone else, specifically the woman whose name was on the napkin. Somehow she’d sucked it up and decided it didn’t matter anymore. Clearly, he’d made his decision, and she wasn’t going to change his mind. Their discussion hadn’t been easy or emotionless, though. There’d been plenty of tears from them both, but she’d refrained from hurling accusations.

When it was all said and done, Wyatt had left the house to give her some time alone, though she hadn’t needed it. She’d been grieving the loss of their relationship for weeks, and oddly, she felt relieved. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe that she was completely over him, though, and as she drove away from the house they’d shared, her throat felt tight. Regardless of their difficulties over the past few months, they’d spent eight years together, and it would take some time to heal.

She drove down the two-lane road from Townsend toward Pigeon Forge, debating where to go. Her oldest sister, Debbie, lived on the north side of Pigeon Forge with her husband, two boys, and a variety of pets. Their house was full and bustling, and Maddie didn’t want to add to their chaos. Her middle sister, Sara, lived in the opposite direction, on the outskirts of Gatlinburg. She’d only been married for a few years and had a preteen stepdaughter who was sometimes “difficult.” While either sister would surely take her in, she didn’t want to add to their worries.

Her parents lived in nearby Sevierville, but pride prevented her from going there. She’d lived on her own since college, and she refused to return to her childhood home.

Another option was to stay at a hotel for a few days while she got her bearings. Then she could start apartment hunting, and maybe she’d get lucky and find one with immediate occupancy. Yeah, right!

Suddenly her cell phone rang, and the caller’s name flashed on the car’s audio screen. Cody.

She stared at it for a few beats, debating whether to answer. Had Wyatt called and told him the news? Was he calling to check on her? She made a split-second decision and answered the call just before it went to voicemail.

“Hi,” she said, sounding breathless.