Page 28 of Rumors in Bayberry (The Bayberry, Vermont #3)

She pulled her phone out of her purse. Her fingers moved rapidly over the screen.

It took a little while, but she finally had a flight reservation for the next day that would get her to New York.

She intended to talk to her editor in person.

She would show her she was serious about continuing her career.

And now that she was leaving, Sadie felt like there was a lot left unsaid between her and Reed. She wasn’t sure how to say what she was feeling. Her best form of communication had always been through her writing. That’s it…

She reached into her bag and pulled out the mini notebook and pen that she always carried with her. Technology was great, but batteries died. With pen and paper, she could always jot down notes for a new story.

This time, she wasn’t writing a story. This time, she was writing a goodbye letter. She was better writing down her thoughts than she was uttering them. When she wanted to say something deeply personal and emotional, the connection between her brain and her mouth sometimes had a disconnect.

She opened the notebook. The first page was blank. And so, she began to write. To her surprise, the words came easily to her. The pen moved effortlessly over the page…

Thunk!

Sadie glanced up to find a vase of black-eyed Susans knocked over. Water ran off the end table and all over the floor. Binx jumped out of the way of the water. He perched on the edge of the bed and examined the mess with a twinkle of pride in his green eyes.

Sadie jumped up, the notebook and pen falling to the floor as she rushed around the bed. She stopped next to the end table and reached for the flower vase. By the time she righted it, most of the water had escaped.

She turned to glare at Binx. “Really? Did you have to?”

“Mrrr…”

“I don’t want to hear it. You’re lucky Kate agreed to take you in. If you keep this up, she might kick you out, and then what are we going to do?”

She didn’t wait around to hear Binx’s protests. She ran for the steps. She nearly collided with Reed, who had just come upstairs. “Sorry.”

“Where’s the fire?” Then the color drained from his face. “Oops. Too early for that one?”

She nodded. “It’s Binx. He made a mess. I need to get some paper towels. I’ll be right back.”

She felt really awkward when she explained to Kate what had happened.

Of course, Kate waved off her apologies, but Sadie couldn’t help thinking she never had this hard of a time leaving before.

And Binx did not like his new home. She could only hope he’d get accustomed to it.

Kate and Wes were great. Sadie was certain they’d spoil Binx rotten… if he’d let them.

After Reed helped her clean up the mess, Sadie’s phone vibrated. She checked it and found a message from Abby, asking her to stop by her tent before she went to work at the maze.

She glanced up at Reed. “Do you need anything before I go?”

“Go?”

She nodded. “Since I’m still in town, I told them I’d work at the maze today.”

“Oh. Okay. Just give me a second to get changed, and I’ll go with you.”

She shook her head. “You need to rest.”

“I can rest tonight.”

“No, Reed. I’m serious. You inhaled a lot of smoke last night.”

“That’s why I need some fresh air.” He sent her a big smile. “I’m fine.”

She wasn’t convinced. “And if I leave without you?”

“I’ll drive myself.” He grinned at her.

She groaned. “Has anyone ever told you how frustrating you can be?”

He pursed his lips. “I think you have once or twice.”

“And you’ve proved me right.” She stopped to consider if he was serious about walking to the Pumpkin Festival if she left without him.

“Fine. You can come. But you’re just going to sit around.

You get ready. I’m going to run to my parents’ house, grab a quick shower, and I’ll be back to pick you up. Okay?”

“See you soon.”

Secretly, she was thrilled to spend more time with him, but she was really worried about him. She would keep a really close eye on him. Nothing could happen to him.

This was it.

The end had arrived.

Sadie wasn’t ready for the day to end. The hours at the maze had sped by. They’d laughed. They’d talked. They’d shared lingering glances.

She wanted to find some way to drag out their last moments together, but when she looked into Reed’s face, she saw the exhaustion in his eyes and the lines bracketing them. And he’d started yawning a bit ago.

She felt guilty for bringing him along. Even though he’d insisted, she should have refused. After all, he’d just been in the hospital. He didn’t even have a doctor’s release to travel yet.

Still, she’d made him take it easy at the festival. She even got him a folding chair to sit on. Was it wrong that she wanted just a few more hours with him?

As she drove him back to Kate and Wes’s house, her heart ached. She wasn’t ready to say one final goodbye. And yet that was all they were left with.

Her car pulled to a stop at the curb. She got out of the car at the same time as he did. When she met him on the sidewalk, Reed sent her a look that she couldn’t quite decipher.

“You didn’t have to get out,” he said.

“But I wanted to.”

He looked into her eyes. “You do know that sooner or later we’re going to have to say goodbye and mean it?”

She lowered her gaze to the sidewalk as his words caused a pang in her heart. “I know.”

He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I’m going to miss you.”

Her gaze rose to meet his. “You are?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

“Good. Because I’m going to miss you too.”

They made their way up the walk to the front door. He turned and looked at her. “You’re coming in, aren’t you?”

She shook her head. “I need to be going.”

“But it’s still early.” There was a pleading tone in his voice.

She wanted to go inside and talk the rest of the evening, but she knew she would never want to leave—never want to end this thing between them.

Before she had a chance to change her mind, she said, “And you need your rest.”

“I’m fine.” He smiled, but it didn’t hide the tiredness that was so obvious on his handsome face.

“Uh-huh. Is that why you’ve been yawning for the past hour.” When he yawned again, she said, “See. I’m right.”

“I know. Let’s go to Mel’s Grille. I can get some coffee, and we can get an order of fries to share.”

“You don’t know how tempting the offer is, but you know that eventually we have to say goodbye and mean it.” She’d turned his own words back on him. And then before she changed her mind, she stepped forward and hugged him.

Her head came to rest on his broad chest. And for a moment, she could hear the steady beat of his heart. She inhaled the light scent of his spicy cologne. She tried to memorize everything about this moment because it was all she would have left of him.

And then she peeled herself away from him. Her gaze met his, and tears stung the backs of her eyes. She wanted to say something—anything—but a ball of emotions clogged the back of her throat.

She turned and fled. Reed called out behind her, but she didn’t stop until she reached her car. Once she was in the driver’s seat, she fumbled around in her purse until she found her keys. Her hands trembled as she tried to start the car. Tears threatened to splash onto her cheeks.

With nothing but raw determination, she drove off into the night. Her mind and heart were at odds. Her mind said this was the way it had to be. Her heart begged her to turn around and go back to him.

She kept driving…