Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

“What about the man from yesterday?” she began.

I shook my head sadly as tears clung to my lashes and smeared the lenses of my sunglasses. “Carter. His name was Carter Stanton.”

Gina appeared shocked. “Wasn’t he your boyfriend?”

“We dated for a couple of years, yes.”

“And now you have this loss on top of that of your uncle,” she said. Her sad expression was filled with empathy.

Once again, the urge to tell Gina every horrible thing about Carter surfaced, but I didn’t know her well enough to trust her. Not yet. She might come to the conclusion I’d killed him on purpose. As much as I wanted to believe she was my friend, I couldn’t take the risk. I couldn’t confess that Carter only pretended to love me, or that it was all a well-crafted act to convince first me, then Uncle Leonard, because he just wanted control of the business. I’d just been too stupid to realize it.

It was humiliating, yes, but I couldn’t let anyone know the truth. I was feeling thankful that the ranch house was about a half-mile in front of us and I’d finally be alone. This felt like torture when all I wanted to do was take a bath, and cry. I wanted to put this nightmare behind me and the less I had to speak about Carter, the better.

“Is Carter’s family from around here?”

Jackson Hole was a small town, and most folks knew everyone else.

I shook my head. “No. He moved to town and got a job at the shop while I was away at college.” I remembered one or two conversations where Carter had mentioned his family, but it wasn’t much. “I don’t remember him saying much, except he had followed his high school girlfriend to college in Seattle, and then when that ended, he’d been on his way back to Minnesota and passed through here, saw the help wanted sign Uncle Leonard had posted on the bulletin board in the diner, and then I guess, Uncle Leonard hired him.”

“You never met his family? In two years?” Gina was shocked.

I shook my head, feeling foolish and somehow ashamed that he’d never taken me home to meet them. “No. They never visited. Thinking back on it, it does seem odd.”

“I see. So, we should start looking in Minnesota?”

“Probably. I’ll see what I can find online, later tonight.”

Gina smiled gently, finally pulling into the long white fence-lined lane for the now short drive up to the house. Gem started to wiggle on my lap as familiar scents of the mixed wildflowers along the ditches and in the pastures, as well as the faint scent of horses in the early summer air. There was a warm, dry breeze blowing as I got out of Gina’s car and put Gem on the ground. “Go potty, sweet face,” I said encouragingly.

“She’s adorable,” Gina said, getting out of the car and leaning on the top. I could have invited her in, but the day and the past night was wearing on me.

“She’s been a Godsend,” I said, letting it slip before I caught myself. “Um, I’ll wash your clothes and bring them by the hospital tomorrow.”

The pretty redhead smiled. “Oh, just whenever you can, honey.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Listen, if you ever want to talk, I’m a good listener.”

“I appreciate that.” It was the truth. I could use a few friends, but I needed to get to know her better before I shared too much. It was better to keep to myself for a couple of months.

“If you need any help with arrangements, food, or whatever… please don’t hesitate. I lost my brother in a car accident a few years ago, so I know how hard times like this can be. If I can pick anyone up at the airport—”

“Thank you, Gina. I’ll let you know. Right now, I’m just going to rest for a while.” My eyes were tired, and I knew I wasn’t finished with the torrent of tears that were simmering just under the surface. In the distance, the charred remains of the shop sat as a gruesome reminder of what had occurred, and the faint smell of burning wood still wafted in the air.

She walked around and gave me a hug and I did my very best not to grimace in pain while I hugged her in return.

“Bat, bat!” Gem’s puppy barks rang out as she ran around happily chasing a couple of Monarch butterflies that had been feeding on the flowers in front of the house. “Bat, bat!”

“Okay, but if you need help cleaning, cooking, or anything, just call. Even if it’s just someone to be with you at the funeral; I’d like to help.”

She was so kind, I felt bad for my innate mistrust. “Thank you, again,” I said backing away from her car. “You’ve been so nice. I really appreciate it.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you soon, then.”

“Bye.”

Gina hesitated before she got into the car. “If you need help, please don’t hesitate to call me.”

I watched her back up the car and turn around before starting the return trip down the lane toward the road that would take her back into town.

We’d exchanged numbers earlier, and Gina was the first person that felt even a little like a new friend in a long time. I had no one to blame but myself. Since I’d come home, I’d been idiotically focused on Carter; brainwashed by his act. I sighed heavily and shook my head at my own stupidity. I’d even sacrificed time with my uncle in those last couple of years.

Fresh tears sprouted in my eyes. I closed my eyes against the pain and turned to sit down on the wooden steps leading up to the porch my uncle had built with his bare hands. I felt his loss so much more than Carter’s, but it was useless to wallow in self-pity. Though I knew it, I couldn’t help the tears that slipped from my eyes. I felt alone and helpless.

The unpleasant