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His chest heaved in and out. His skin buzzed with pent-up energy, and he wanted to hit something.

“Is that what you really think? That it’s all my fault?” Kelly asked, her face now had color blooming on her cheeks.

“I told you with Dad coming home that he couldn’t be stressed out. That all the activity around the farm wasn’t going to be good for him. But you promised me,promised, that you would do everything in your power to make sure nothing happened to him. Well, guess what, all that activity was too much and, now here we are. My father’s in a sterile room having God knows what done to him all because of a stupid festival.”

None of what he was saying was making him feel better, but he had to get it out. The red haze in him wasn’t dying down.

“I did do everything possible to keep the stress away from the farm, Tate. But I’m not the one you should be blaming. Tyler is the one who volunteered the farm, not me.”

“Yes, you’re right, and I’m hell angry at my brother. But you were the one who had to make it extravagant with arbors and urns and carts full of flowers. Like Tyler, this event at my farm is all about showcasing your business. The trees should’ve been enough decoration for everyone. No one’s going to notice what you do. They’re not going to ooh and ahh over roses and whatever other pretty little things you put in them.”

Her sharp intake of breath should’ve been a sign for him to slow down. Stop and think before he said anything else, but worry about his dad was making his thought processes slow.

“Is that what you think of my business, that it’s justpretty little things? Those pretty little things bring joy to people, and don’t you forget it.” Kelly shook her head and her fingers played with her wrist. “You know, I thought that I was wrong about the age difference between us. But I was right. You’re immature, and you’re acting like a spoiled brat.”

“Jesus Christ, you can’t let the age thing go, can you? You’re scared to be with someone younger than you, but being with someone the same age didn’t do you any favors, did it?”

She held out her hand, palm up. He could see his mom’s bracelet sitting in the middle. He looked up at her, tears shone in her eyes. “I think we’re done here. I don’t want this anymore.”

On autopilot, he reached out and took the jewelry from her, the metal still warm. The anger fizzled as if doused with buckets of cold water. “Kelly, I—”

“Save it. I don’t want to hear it. Sometimes, what we really want to say is said in anger, and you’ve made your opinion more than clear. But here’s the thing, Tate. You don’t always have to be the one to shoulder all the burden. You don’t give anyone else a chance to help you. You just say yes to everything and take it on yourself, including caring for your dad.”

His anger simmered up again, and he clenched his fist, the bracelet digging into his palm. He welcomed the pain. “Now, wait just a minute. You were the one who came tometellingmethat I was the only one you could trust to make sure the urns were delivered safely. So don’t tell me that I don’t have to take everything on myself. You. Didn’t. Give. Me. A. Choice.”

“You know what, you’re right. I didn’t, and perhaps I should’ve, but it’s not like it’s the first time you’ve been unable to say no.” She shook her head and gripped her bag tighter on her shoulder. “You know I was giving my heart to you, Tate. I was taking the chance to put myself out there with you, but I can’t be with someone who isn’t willing to ask for help. Actually, it’s more than not willing to ask, it’s that you don’t want to. You don’t want to be seen as unable to cope with everything handed to you. I’m sure if you let them, Trey and Tyler would’ve done what they could’ve to help you with the farm and your dad. I really hope Trenton is okay, Tate.”

She walked out of the waiting room, and pieces of him broke off and shattered to the ground. His heart clenched tightly and the pain was so intense he grabbed at his shirt. After a moment, the pain settled to a dull ache and Tate didn’t think he’d ever be the same again.

Chapter Eighteen

Exhaustion had beenKelly’s constant companion since she walked out of the hospital waiting room and driven back to the shop. Her mom had taken one look at her and put theclosedsign up on the shop door. The second Mom’s arms closed around her, she broke down in great, heaving sobs, relaying her confrontation with Tate in the hospital waiting room.

Once she’d stopped crying and rational thought returned somewhat, Kelly acknowledged that fear and worry were probably behind most of Tate’s words, but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with.

Her heart was shuttered with a pile ofdo not entersigns hammered across it. How many times was she going to allow herself to open up her heart, only for it to be trampled on? Well, no more. Those signs weren’t coming down.

Of course, her worst nightmare had also come to fruition. Their argument had been observed by a couple of regular customers of Betty Lou’s Diner. They were quick to relay their juicy gossip to anyone who would listen, and now everyone was talking about her and Tate. God, she hated living in a small town sometimes. She couldn’t go anywhere without someone tutting her for being insensitive to Tate’s worry about his dad. Very rarely did she come across someone who had sympathy for her or her broken heart.

With the festival in full swing, avoiding people wasn’t an easy task either. Then again, she had the excuse that she was super busy and couldn’t spend time chatting. She had her group of friends that rallied around her and tried to keep her mind off Tate. They’d informed her that his dad was fine and had only had a reaction to the medications he was taking. She was relieved to hear that it wasn’t another stroke. As far as she was aware, he was already back home at the farm. Not that she’d seen him—she’d tried to avoid her contact with Prentice Peach Farm as much as possible, preferring to send one of her high school helpers than going out there herself to refresh the arrangements. The thought of seeing Tate was too much for her to cope with on top of the festival arrangements.

Her cart displays had been a big hit with a lot of people who stopped in at the farm and then headed to town to see what was happening there.

By all intents and purposes, she should be happy that her idea made the festival a success, but everything felt hollow. At least she’d done something right for Macy.

Tonight was the final event. Macy was giving a big concert, and Kelly couldn’t summon up the energy to go. The bell over the shop door tinkled with a new arrival. Damn, she really should’ve put up the closed sign, and why was anyone coming to see her anyway? They all should’ve been heading to the concert.

“I’m sorry, we’re closed. I just didn’t put the sign up.”

“Well, that’s good to hear. I was wondering if you were going to bail out and not come to my show.” In front of the counter stood Macy, looking stunning and every inch the country rock star she was. Her hair was curled and teased but still managed to look natural. Her makeup was heavier than she normally wore, but didn’t look garish. Her outfit of a flowy green top over a denim skirt that stopped above her knees looked effortless. She’d finished her ensemble off with a pair of green cowboy boots to match her top.

“You look fabulous, Macy, but I was about to text you. I can’t keep my eyes open. I don’t think I can make it to your show.”

Macy crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “You’re not doing this to avoid being around everyone, are you?”

“What if I am?” she responded belligerently. “Everyone has spent the whole weekend gossiping about me and Tate. Talking about the fact that I’m the cougar of Sweet Ridge. I hate being talked about. Why don’t they do something more constructive with their time? Like start a community garden or go keep people company at the rehab center.”

Kelly closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. Complaining about things wouldn’t make them go away, but being the brunt of the town gossip wasn’t high on her bucket list of things she wanted to achieve before she turned fifty either. In fact, her worst fears about dating Tate had come to fruition. But her heart hurt at not seeing him. She’d gotten so used to the text messages they sent each other.