Page 13 of Fractured Grief (Hope’s Ridge #2)

Indy

H azel hadn’t been thrilled about having to go to before-school care.

On the whole, she was such a well-behaved, mature kid, but sometimes, or I should say recently, she’d been getting a little sassier with me, almost to the point of being rude.

She’d started to talk back a little, not doing what I asked when I asked, and she was spending more time in her room with her door closed. That part, especially, was unlike her.

It made me feel so much lonelier than usual. I didn’t know how to help her.

To make matters worse, we’d argued before I’d dropped her off this morning, and I’d had to leave her almost crying on the school’s doorstep. Seeing her look of betrayal and sadness hurt me more than I cared to admit. Everything was finally catching up with both of us .

Lexi’s birthday was coming up. This first one, without her, would be difficult. No doubt that was adding to Hazel’s behavior.

I needed to focus. Today was my first appointment visiting Seb at his home. I needed to ensure I checked everything and addressed any concerns he was having, but I couldn’t get Hazel’s tear-filled eyes and look of betrayal out of my head. When she hurt, I hurt.

Then Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” came on the radio, and it was the last straw to my already frayed nerves.

I gave in to the tears that had been threatening to come for the last forty minutes of this trip.

This was one of Lexi’s anthems. We’d rock out to this song and many other “hair bands” whenever we needed a pick-me-up during, and this was the first time I’d heard it since she’d died.

Knowing I would never see her grab her hairbrush and belt out the tune while jumping around our living room again, crushed me.

I still couldn’t believe she was gone.

As the song finished, I was bawling and could barely see through my tears. I carefully pulled over to the side of the road and let my grief wash over me. Overwhelmed by sorrow, I cried for my best friend, my only friend, the person who’d been with me through thick and thin.

I was drowning without her.

I was barely balancing my job, Hazel, our home life, and the hole Lexi had left behind. I couldn’t breathe because I missed her so much.

I didn’t know how long I cried on the side of the road, but when the wailing sobs turned to sniffling hiccups, I had a headache and a stuffy nose.

Taking some much-needed deep breaths, I did my best to clean myself up and checked the time.

Darn it! I needed to get a move on, or I’d be late for Seb’s appointment.

Rubbing a hand down my face, I blasted the AC and forced myself to get a grip.

I could break down later, on my own time.

Right now, I have a job I love and a patient waiting for me.

I didn’t dare look at myself in the mirror as I turned the car back onto the road and made my way to Seb’s house.

Entering the town of Hope’s Ridge was surreal.

It was idyllic in the shadow of beautiful mountains.

Forest morphed into farmland and then shops as I turned onto Main Street.

The street was full of cute mom-and-pop stores with their own colorful awnings.

Locals bustled around greeting each other as family, and Fall decorations lined the street and stores, reminding me it was almost Halloween.

This was the sort of town Lex and I had wanted to settle in—homey, small-town America.

Turning onto Third Street, I found Seb’s house easily.

It was a beautiful two-story Craftsman-style house complete with a wraparound porch and flowers lining the perfectly manicured front yard.

There was even a charming pebble footpath up to the wooden front steps.

It reminded me of the picturesque houses in the Home and Design magazine we’d stolen from Lex’s mother while dreaming of another life .

The house was surprisingly large compared to the properties on either side and the ones I’d driven past. The classic white fence ran along either side of the property, far into the distance, with a large drive-through gate on one side and pedestrian access on the other.

I could also see the roof of another large building at the back.

It looked like a smaller version of the house, but only one story.

I wondered if Seb lived with someone, or maybe that was where his parents lived. How big was the property? It only had one mailbox, but that didn’t mean he didn’t live with someone or even have renters or roommates.

No point gawking at a house I could never afford when Seb was probably waiting patiently for me to come inside.

I braced myself, grabbed my equipment bag, and then made my way to the front door.

I couldn’t help but smile at the metal bell, like an old-school dinner bell, affixed to the wall by the door.

Was that really his doorbell? Chuckling to myself, I gently moved the dangling rope and made the bell clang as quietly as I could, which wasn’t that quiet at all.

A moment later, the door opened, and Seb’s impossibly large figure loomed over me. Even though I’d been working with him for months and had seen him less than a week ago, he felt much bigger somehow. How had I not realized how much he towered over me?

I gulped and took an involuntary step back as a handsome brunette I recognized elbowed Seb to move out of the way. “Are you going to invite the poor guy in or just stand there staring? ”

“Sorry, of course,” Seb cleared his throat. “P-please come in.” Seb stepped aside and gestured for me to enter.

His home was as lovely inside as it was outside, with vaulted ceilings, dark wood floors, and gray-blue walls.

It was stylish yet cozy. Glancing around the entryway, I moved farther into the house.

“Where do you want to do this? Do you have a preferred space to use, like a home office or gym? Or we can work in your living room or bedroom, depending on space.”

“Wait.” Seb stopped me as he grabbed my shoulder, turning me to face him. “What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean? Nothing’s wrong,” I said, looking up at him.

“Your eyes are red.” His large, calloused hand moved as he gently brushed his thumb over my cheek, causing me to shiver. Shit!

“Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”

Seb was frozen in place, seemingly lost for words.

“It’s down the hall, second door on the right.” Lyric gestured over his shoulder.

I rushed past them to wash my face, pull myself together, and save myself from any further embarrassment.