Bitter Truth by C. J. Carmichael

Author:C. J. Carmichael
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2018-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Tiff left the Lazy S determined to prove to her mother—and herself—she was serious about staying in Lost Trail. She needed her mom, and her aunt, to know they could count on her.

First step was building her accountancy business. The bookkeeping at Raven Farms took up twenty percent of her time at most. She needed more clients and she was going to begin by approaching the biggest industry in town.

Luckily, Sparks Construction was owned and operated by a guy she’d gone to school with. Derick Sparks had been a popular athlete back then, while her status as a brainiac had been decidedly lower. A genuine friendship had developed between them though when she’d been asked to tutor Derick so his marks would be high enough for him to stay on the team.

Throughout the years she’d spent in college and working in Seattle they’d stayed in touch, mostly by Facebook. She’d been genuinely thrilled for him when he fell in love with and then married a local girl, Aubrey Jenkins. And even happier when they successfully adopted a baby boy after years of frustrating infertility.

Derick’s perfect life had fallen apart in November, though, and Tiff wasn’t sure if enough time had passed that he’d gone back to work. The only way to find out for sure was to call. So she did, and Derick answered on the first ring, assuring her he’d be glad to talk to her.

The last time Tiff had gone to see Derick at his office just outside of town limits, he’d been avoiding her. She’d had to brazen her way past the receptionist, Nora Morgan, to get to his office. Today, though, Tiff was here by invitation. Nora was friendly as she waved her through.

Derick’s office was in the second-floor loft area created by the building’s vaulted ceiling. He hadn’t moved into the larger room adjacent that had been his father’s. Will Sparks’s nameplate was still in place on the closed door, a symbolic token from a loyal son.

Derick’s door was open but Tiff still rapped on it to announce her presence. When he stood she thought he looked smaller. Part of it was weight. He’d lost a few pounds. But it was his defeated posture and his dull eyes that most diminished him. He smiled though and seemed pleased to see her.

“You’re still in town. Must be a new record.”

The teasing stung a bit, especially after witnessing Vanessa’s pain and imagining how much it mirrored her mother’s.

“I’m here for good this time.” If she said it enough times, maybe everyone, including herself, would believe it. “How are you doing?”

“Honestly? Crappy. I’m living with Mom for the time being. She’s just back from a mini-vacation with Vanessa Stillman. The break was good for her, but she’s pretty down, too.”

“It’ll take time.” Tiff felt like a fraud as she trotted out the phrase that had been said to her so many times, with the best of intentions. Time did heal raw pain, but some losses could never be overcome.

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