Page 12 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

“That’s nice of you,” I mumbled. “Could you point me in the direction of an oven that’s not going to break the bank but is also a similar value to this one?” Mrs. Henderson didn’t deserve to have me putting something crappy in her house .

“Depends. How much of a chef are you?” Mel, the repairwoman, asked.

“Well, I set an oven on fire trying to cook a frozen pizza.”

Mel burst out laughing as she grabbed her tablet from the counter. “I got you, girl. Solid basics is what you need. None of this starting-your-oven-from-your-phone baloney.”

“Dear God, no. I’d blow up the house for sure.”

She flipped the tablet around. “Here are the three I’d recommend.” She tapped the screen. “But this is the brand I get the fewest callouts about.”

“That’s the one, then. I feel like I should always buy from appliance repair people. You have the inside scoop.”

Mel grinned. “We do see the good, the bad, and the ugly. You want to buy it now?”

I nodded, moving for my bag and pulling out a credit card.

This would put a dent in what I’d saved.

While my job paid pretty well, New York was an expensive city to live in, and I didn’t have buckets of cash squirreled away.

My stomach cramped as I thought about how easily I’d let Bradley pay for things.

Our condo. Trips. Food. Even my tab at Neiman’s.

The cramping sensation turned to nausea, a feeling that came from shame. I’d let it all happen. Allowed myself to become everything I’d promised Linc I wouldn’t.

“Ms. Pierce?” Mel asked, concern bleeding into her tone.

“Ellie, please,” I croaked. “Sorry. One of those days. Here you go.”

She took my card. “I know how that is. Hopefully, it’ll get better from here.”

“I’m sure it will.” Because I was manifesting that shit.

“The install team will call you in the next twenty-four hours to get you on the schedule, but here’s my card in case you run into any issues.”

“Thanks, Mel. I really appreciate your help.”

“Anytime.”

I led her toward the door, holding it open as she headed out.

With a wave, I shut it behind her and slid to the floor.

A headache pulsed through my skull. I knew I should think about making myself something for dinner, something that didn’t require an oven or stove, but I couldn’t find it in me to push to my feet.

Maybe I should just crawl into bed and start fresh tomorrow.

A knock sounded, sending a startled shriek out of me since it was right above my head. I scrambled to my feet and opened the door, expecting to see Mel saying she’d forgotten something. But what I saw had me wanting to slam it right back in place.

A towering array of white lilies stood opposite me, a delivery guy struggling to keep them upright. “Ellie Pierce?”

I wanted to say no. To lie. But that wasn’t fair to the poor driver. “Yes,” I croaked.

“These are for you.”

“You can keep them.” The words were out before I could stop them.

The man frowned. “Keep them?”

“Yes. I don’t need them. Maybe you can donate them to a retirement home or hospital.”

His frown deepened. “I have to deliver where I’m supposed to, or I’ll get in trouble.”

“It could be our little secret,” I begged.

Panic spread across the driver’s face. “I-I’m sorry. I can’t.”

“It’s okay. Sorry I pushed.” I took the flowers, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Have a good day.”

I was sure that was the last thing the guy wanted to say to me as I struggled to balance the massive vase. I set it in the open doorway and glared down at the blooms. Bradley’s favorites.

A card was tucked into the top of the flowers, taunting me. At least my name was written in an unfamiliar script. I’d memorized Bradley’s handwriting over the decades I’d known him, and this wasn’t it. Which made me let out a breath. At least he wasn’t in Sparrow Falls.

I plucked the card from the arrangement and opened it.

You can’t live without me. Come home. – Bradley

Rage washed through me, hot and fierce like some sort of instant inferno engulfing a hillside of dry tinder. I crumpled the card in my fist. What kind of florist delivered that sort of message? They were going on my shit list.

I shoved the crumpled card into the flowers and picked them up with a grunt.

Not only was Bradley leveling threats, he was also going to throw out my back.

I tried my best to navigate the porch steps with the arrangement and headed toward the side of the house where the trash cans lived, but it was nearly impossible to see around the preposterous bouquet.

I almost tripped when grass turned to the pavement of the driveway but finally caught a flash of blue. The trash can. I flipped up the black lid with a muttered curse, getting a face full of lilies in the process. I instantly started sneezing.

Cursing louder this time, I heaved the vase into the can and grinned when it shattered against the bottom. Justice. But my satisfied smile fell when I heard a deep, familiar voice behind me. One I knew was paired with hypnotic green eyes.

“What’d those flowers ever do to you?”