Page 47 of Pinch of Love
“That’s an interesting perspective,” Bonnie said, walking over to get a cup of coffee, which seemed like a great idea.
I set my book on my chair, walked over to the table, and filled up a cup for myself too. Had the plastic wrap been taken off all the breakfast goodies, I would have piled up a plate.
“The real question is will Anastasia save herself, or will she roll over and blindly trust the man?” Grandma Millie sighed. “That’s what I worry about.”
“I think the character development has shown that Anastasia is a strong lady. She won’t roll over. She’ll fight,” my sister assured Grandma Millie.
I took a sip of the hot coffee and listened as several other women gave their two cents about the character development, but my mind wandered to Cash.
He was quite the distraction from everything back home. He was a great listener and an even better kisser.
Sure, he had the occasional grumpy streak, but I wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine. Well, I had been until recently, which was what got me into this predicament in the first place. I always pretended it would get better and forced myself to forget the bad and remember the good.
“How’d that work out?” I muttered, and all eyes turned to me. “I meant for Anastasia.”
Grace’s brows rose as I sat back down.
“Okay, let’s grab some food, and we can get back to discussions,” Bonnie exclaimed, eyeing Grandma Millie.
I leaned over to my sister. “What’s that all about?”
Grace’s puzzled expression was phony, or I was getting paranoid.
Like Cash.
“What’s what all about?” she asked, standing. “Want any food?”
My phone buzzed, and I saw a call had come in from my law firm. Setting the coffee down, I attempted to scroll to the voicemail and accidentally hit okay on speaker.
“Rob has locked the employees out,” the man’s voice boomed into the room. “Maya, if you could call us back, that would be great. We will get this handled, but we need a call back. I think he’s about to lose his counsel between the texts he’s sending you and the emails—”
My fingers finally found the right button to quiet the message, but my hands were shaking as I put my phone down.
Of course, he’d do something to make a scene, create a reason to get me back to North Carolina, to control me and the situation.
My only saving grace was that no one except my project coordinator knew that I was in Wisconsin.
I glanced at the huge pile of pastries Grace had on her plate as she came over.
“What was that all about? It didn’t sound good.”
I shook my head. “It’s not, but I need to duck out and call my attorney back.”
She tried to hand me the plate, but I was suddenly not hungry.
“I can take you back to your house,” she offered as Grandma Millie scurried over.
“You need to crush that man like the little cockroach he is,” my grandma nearly hissed. “No one treats a Bailey girl like that and gets away with it.”
I let out a defeated sigh and stood. “I hope you’re right, but I’m going to step out and make some calls.”
My sister and grandma nodded their heads as I made my way out of the room and into the main hall of the community center.
My entire body felt hollow and broken. I shook my head as I pushed open the door leading outside.
Maybe it wasn’t the sensation of feeling broken. I’d say more beat down, and the fight hadn’t even begun.
I found a nice birch tree to sit under that offered the perfect amount of shade as I dialed my attorney’s number.