Page 2 of Keep My Heart (The Haydon Falls #1)

She laughs as she goes to get in the van.

Diane and I have been friends since ninth grade.

She knows my mom and knows her constant advice-giving and questioning of my decisions drives me crazy.

I almost didn’t come here, knowing my mom would offer up her comments about the divorce, but I really needed to get away and I didn’t know where else to go.

‘Thanks for picking me up,’ I say as Diane pulls away from the curb.

‘I was happy to! It’s a pretty drive.’

The scenery is one of the things I missed most when I moved away.

Haydon Falls is a small town in a part of Wisconsin that’s lined with rolling hills, dense forests, and winding roads.

Along the river are the falls. You have to hike on a trail to get there, but it’s worth the walk.

The falls are beautiful, especially in autumn when they’re surrounded by pops of orange, yellow, and red from the turning leaves .

‘Sorry I was late,’ Diane says. ‘Hopefully you weren’t waiting too long.’

‘No, not at all. And while I was waiting, I ran into Matt.’

She glances at me. ‘Matt Jennings?’

‘Yeah. Isn’t that weird? I haven’t seen Matt since high school.’

‘I see him around town. I used to take a yoga class with his wife but she got busy with the kids and stopped going.’

‘Who’s his wife? Anyone I know?’

‘No. Tessa’s not from around here. She’s from Indiana. Matt met her in college. She’s adorable. Tiny little blonde with big blue eyes. Her daughters look just like her.’ She turns onto the highway. ‘So what’d he say? He must’ve been shocked to see you.’

‘We didn’t talk long.’ I pause. ‘He asked about Chris.’

‘Oh, Lyndsay, I’m sorry,’ she says, reaching over to put her hand on my arm.

‘It’s fine. Being back here, I knew people would ask.’

‘Did you tell him about the divorce?’

‘Yeah. He didn’t seem surprised, or maybe I just interpreted it that way.’

She sighs and puts her hand back on the steering wheel. ‘Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.’

‘What?’

‘You coming back here the week of your divorce. I thought it would help to have friends and family around, but it might just make things harder, with all the memories.’

‘It’s still better than being back in LA, living in that apartment and seeing all of Chris’ stuff.’

‘He still hasn’t cleaned out his stuff?’

‘Not yet. He promised me he’d get everything out next week, before I got back.’

‘What’s taking so long? He’s had months to move out.’

‘I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I’m trying not to talk to Chris. ’

‘Did Matt say anything else? Besides asking about Chris?’

‘Not really.’

‘Why was he there? Was he picking someone up?’

‘Yeah.’ I pause. ‘Nick.’

‘Nick Kanfield?’

‘Yeah. You remember him, right? Smart. Kind of quiet.’

She laughs. ‘Of course I remember him. Everyone knows Nick.’

It’s because of his family. If you say the name Kanfield around here, everyone knows who you mean. Nick’s parents own an apple orchard that’s huge and draws in tourists from all over the area, even surrounding states.

‘Is he here for the reunion?’ Diane asks.

‘I don’t know. He didn’t say.’

‘I’d be surprised if he went. He doesn’t seem like someone who’d like that kind of thing. Maybe he’s just here visiting his family.’ She glances at me. ‘Didn’t he used to tutor you in math?’

‘Yeah. He’s the reason I passed algebra.’

‘So how did he look?’

‘Good,’ I say with a shrug.

‘Does he still wear those big glasses?’

‘No, he must’ve got contacts. He looked, um .?.?. different.’

‘Different how?’

‘Just different. Like bigger, more muscular.’

She smiles at me. ‘You saw his muscles?’

‘Well, no, but I could tell by the way his suit fit. His shoulders were broad, his chest was bigger. He looked like he’d put on some muscle.’

‘I don’t know when he’d have time to go to the gym. Being a lawyer, he probably spends all his time at work. Did he say if he’s married?’

‘No, but I didn’t see a ring. ’

Her brows rise. ‘You checked for a ring?’

‘I was just curious. I assumed he’d be married.’

‘Maybe he is and just doesn’t wear a ring.’

‘If he was, you’d think he’d bring his wife with him.’

‘Maybe she had to work.’

‘Yeah, maybe.’

‘He was kind of a nerd back in high school, but like one of those sexy nerds.’ She glances at me. ‘You know what I mean?’

I know exactly what she means. Nick was one of those guys who had a way about him that seemed sexy even though he didn’t fit the traditional definition of the word.

It was the way he carried himself—confident, yet serious.

He was one of those quiet types that you imagine having a wild side he doesn’t let come out very often.

And by wild, I mean in the bedroom, or that’s how I imagined him being in the few, but detailed, fantasies I had of my math tutor.

‘So you said he’s hot now?’ Diane asks in a teasing tone.

‘I didn’t say that.’

She looks over at me, smiling. ‘You didn’t have to. I can tell just by looking at you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’re all flushed, like Nick got to you.’

I roll my eyes, laughing. ‘I spent like a minute with the guy and we barely said two words to each other.’

‘Sometimes that’s all it takes.’

‘Yeah, well, I’m not interested in Nick, or anyone else. I just got divorced. Dating is the last thing on my mind. It’ll be a long time before I even consider dating again.’

‘You wouldn’t have to date him,’ she says, smiling. ‘Sometimes a night or two with someone else helps you get over an ex a lot faster than endless nights of crying and eating ice cream. ’

‘I’m not doing that. Eating ice cream or hooking up with a guy. The crying part? Yes, but not for much longer. I need to get over this and move on with my life.’

‘I don’t think it’ll be that easy,’ she says, frowning as she reaches over to squeeze my hand.

‘I know, but being here is a start, right? Getting away from Chris, and the apartment, and LA?’

‘For now, but then you’ll have to go back.’

I look down. ‘It’ll be different when I’m back. I’m officially divorced now. Chris and I are over.’

It hurts to think about that. As much as I wanted to end things with Chris, knowing my marriage is over still hurts.

I thought Chris and I would be together forever.

When I imagined my future, it was always with him.

Now that he’s gone, I’m not sure what to do with my life, where I’ll go from here, and if I’ll ever trust a man enough again to give him my heart.