Change of Tides by Ashley Farley

Author:Ashley Farley [Farley, Ashley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ashley Farley

Birdie moves through the day with a mix of emotions. She’s elated after a night of exquisite sex, but she feels guilty for scaring Hannah and remorseful for lying to Stan about Cary. Why didn’t she tell him the truth? She had plenty of opportunity between lovemaking when, snuggled in each other’s arms, they shared their deepest secrets and dreams for the future. Because she’s afraid he will question her judgement for allowing Cary back into their lives. And there is no sane explanation as to why Cary is living in her apartment. Except that, in a moment of weakness, she felt sorry for him. Birdie remembers her conversation with Hannah from earlier. Can we get rid of Dad? He’s driving me crazy. He’s always hovering over me. Cary is always hovering. And he’s driving Birdie crazy too.

Stan invited Birdie to dinner tonight. She’ll use the opportunity to tell him about Cary. She’ll explain whey she lied and pray he forgives her.

Around three o’clock that afternoon, during a lull in business, Birdie is replenishing baked goods in the showcase when Stan enters the cafe with a large bouquet of wild flowers. When he sees her, he smiles and waves the flowers. Her immediate thought is getting Stan out of the cafe before he sees Cary, but before she can make it around the counter, Cary comes through the swinging door from the kitchen with a tray of doughnuts.

“Birdie,” Cary says, “we’re almost out of the cherry almond donuts. Do you—”

Stan stops dead in his tracks as his gaze shifts from Cary to Birdie and back to Cary. Spinning around, he tosses the flowers on the ground and burst through the door.

Birdie hurries after him. “Stan! Wait! I can explain.” She catches up with him in the parking lot behind the bakery. “I’m sorry. I was going to tell you tonight.”

“Tonight?” Stan says with one hand on the door handle of his pickup truck. “Why not last night when I asked you about him. You lied. You said you hadn’t heard a word from Cary, yet here he is working behind the counter in your cafe. Are the two of you back together?”

“What? No! Never! I’m just helping him out until he gets back on his feet.”

“I don’t believe you. How can I trust anything you say?” He opens the door wider. “I’m a private man, Birdie. I keep to myself, and I rarely let people get close to me. I thought you were different.” He climbs behind the wheel and starts the engine.

Birdie tugs on his arm. “Please, Stan! Can’t we talk about this?”

“There is nothing left to say.” He pries her fingers from his arm and slams the door shut.

When he puts the truck in reverse, Birdie steps out of the way as he backs out of the space and speeds off down the alley toward The Avenue.

Fighting back tears, she returns to the cafe. She finally found happiness, and she ruined it.

She enters the cafe to find Cary

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