Unbridled Passion: A Friends to Lovers Romance (Wild Hearts of Yellowstone Creek Ranch: A Contemporary Cowboy Romance Series Book 3) by J. P. Comeau

Author:J. P. Comeau [Comeau, J. P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Unraveling Threads

Lizzie

The road stretched out in front of me, each mile a thread unwinding from the spool of the last few tumultuous weeks. Dropping Sophie off at school had become a ritual tinged with the bittersweet tang of normalcy. Today, Sandy was busy with Eli's monthly doctor visit and routine tests, leaving me free to meet Bella's mom and hopefully get some pointers for planning Sophie's birthday party.

As I drove to Kady's Corner Café, the silence of the car was a canvas for my thoughts, a mix of sepia-toned memories and the stark reality of the present. I found myself smiling at the thought of Sophie's laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her new friends, her life blooming in Cody like spring after a harsh winter.

The empty passenger seat beside me was a stark reminder of the spaces Robert used to fill, his absence a silent ghost that followed me. Sometimes, in the quiet hours after Clay and I had our good night chat when we were apart, I'd pull the old photos from the top drawer in my closet. The edges were worn, fingerprints smudged over happier times, the memories of a past life where I was someone's wife, not just Sophie's mom or Sandy's sister.

Then there was Clay. Sweet, steady, sexy Clay, whose patience with my fragmented heart was nothing short of saintly. He was the calm in my storm, his voice a beacon cutting through the fog that had enveloped my life. Yet, I could feel the delicate threads that tethered us, beginning to stretch and strain.

I missed him—missed the 'us' we could be. But the distance creeping in wasn't his doing; he was nearby, present and wanting, while I was caught in a labyrinth of questions, each turn taking me further away from the man offering his hand in the here and now.

In those moments before sleep claimed me, I'd catch myself wondering about the 'us' that might have been if Robert had never left. Would Clay have even been a chapter in my story then? It wasn't fair to him, this emotional tug-of-war. He deserved someone whole, not someone who loved him with a heart still nursing old wounds.

The café sign came into view, promising warmth and companionship. Laura had texted she had arrived—a glimpse of the normalcy I craved shimmered on the horizon. I parked and sat for a moment, hands gripping the wheel as if it were the only thing keeping me grounded. Taking a deep breath, I rehearsed a smile that said, 'I'm fine, really,' and stepped out into the crisp morning air. It was a new day, another chance to heal, to maybe even laugh without the weight of guilt.

The bell above the café door chimed, a quaint herald to my entrance. Laura was tucked away in a corner booth, and her smile was as inviting as the steaming mug of coffee she cradled between her hands.

"Hey, Lizzie!" she greeted, her voice cutting through the fog of my apprehension.

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