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I took a deep breath and gave Officer Dugas a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Not sure I did much, but you’re welcome.”
Observing him more closely, I realized he may be a little older than I’d initially thought. He wasn’t classically handsome like Bennett. Few men were. But he had that rugged beauty and confident swagger. And eyes that could see right through you.
There was also something in his words that rang of a truth he had learned the hard way, from life experience. I checked his left hand, but he wore no ring.
“You got a wife or girlfriend?”
Those blue eyes widened with surprise.
“Not for me,” I told him. “I’m taken. Even if my boyfriend hates me right now. I was thinking I could introduce you to my sister. She’s about to graduate college.”
One side of his mouth barely tipped up into a semblance of a smile. “I appreciate that, but I’m not looking. Least of all, someone so young with the world in front of them.”
“You can’t be that old.”
“Old enough.” He sighed, staring out across the cane field. “Feel like ninety some days.”
Then another police unit swung into the lot right in front of Mr. Guillory’s truck pulling a big trailer.
“Well, thank you, officer.” I handed him back his handkerchief, which he shoved in his back pocket.
“It’s Griffin. And you’re welcome, Miss Mouton. Now, why don’t you come step out of the way so we can see Marigold home?”
“Oh.” I hurried far off to the side but refused to leave.
A tow truck arrived with a pulley system of straps that lifted a squealing Marigold out of the muck.
“This is what happens when you wander away,” said Mr. Guillory from his position close to the ditch, speaking in soft but harsh tones to Marigold. Though his voice was somewhat scornful, worry knitted his brow.
He loved Marigold just like I loved Bennett. Well, not exactly the same way. I hoped. I snapped a few pictures and shot a video of them pulling her out of the mud for Lily.
Swallowing the nauseous feeling that Bennett might not forgive me, I opened my texts, trying to figure out what to say. It was Tuesday night. He’d be working late at the store with inventory. But I’d see him tomorrow at the theater for our next performance. We had a Family and Friends Night to kick off the last weekend of the show.
I’d hurt him. Badly.
I squeezed my eyes shut tight against the awful words I’d told him last Sunday. God, he had to forgive me. He had to.
Once Mr. Guillory and Marigold were on their way, I waved to Officer Dugas. It wasn’t until I pulled into my driveway and walked into my dark, empty house that my smile slipped and fell away, that my heart pinched in a grieving sort of pain.
It wasn’t that I was alone. I’d been living alone for a long time now. It was that I now knew what it felt like to have someone to come home to, to have love warming every corner of my house. Of my heart.
It was the absence of something beautiful that gouged me in the chest. A sense of loss that made my whole body ache, right down to my soul.
Sighing heavily, I tossed my phone and purse aside, poured myself a glass of wine, and planned what I could possibly say to make Bennett forgive me and take me back.
Chapter Thirty
~BENNETT~
Knock,knock.
“They’re ready for mic check, Bennett,” said Brittany through the closed door.
I opened it, keeping the door shut since I’d gotten to the theater. I couldn’t handle even looking at her right now, couldn’t handle her ignoring me right in front of my fucking face.
“Thanks, Brittany.”
