Page 31 of A Chance Fall

Tears streamed down her face as she walked aimlessly through the streets. April walked and walked, the wind whipping her hair around her face. Her mind was racing, trying to process what she had just seen and heard.

When she finally reached her car, her hand on the handle, Nigel called out behind her. "Wait! April, please," he cried.

April turned around, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice breaking. "What could you possibly have to say to me?"

Nigel approached her, his expression pleading. "Please, let me explain. That wasn't what it looked like."

"That's the best you've got?" April replied, trying not to scream it out for the entire town to hear.

When Nigel didn't continue pleading, she slid into her car and slammed the door shut. Nothing else he could say in that moment would have made her feel better.

Instead of answering her call, he was off with his ex-girlfriend doing God knows what. Just thinking about it made her want to sob.

April drove around town, not knowing where she was going. The scenery passed her by in a blur, her thoughts lost in a sea of confusion and pain. She couldn't believe that Nigel, someone she trusted, would betray her like this.

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she thought of Lily and Nigel together. The thought made her sick to her stomach.

She drove until she reached a quiet beach, where the waves crashed against the shore. April parked the car and got out, taking off her shoes and walking towards the water.

The sand was warm beneath her feet, and the water was cold and refreshing. April walked until the water reached her ankles, then stood there, watching the waves come and go.

She knew that she was heading to the town hall next, but she needed to think.

Everything felt like it was falling apart. She wanted to give herself one moment where she could wipe her tears away and pull it together.

Because once she walked into that hall, she was going to give them a piece of her mind. And she needed her frustration to do that.

The devastation of the news of Lily and Nigel wasn't fueling her fire, but dampening it. It made her want to cry and scream instead of fight.

And right now, April needed to fight.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The only sound in the town hall was April's steps echoing off the empty walls.

The town hall was an old building built in the early 1900s.

The wooden floor creaked softly under her weight, but didn't give way, and the grey walls were dirty from years of grime. The hall was a bit dusty and smelled like old books.

What surprised her the most was the lack of signs pointing to the different departments and conference rooms. She got lost more than once on her way to the receptionist's desk for the town council.

"Is this where I might find council woman Trisha?" April asked as she approached the small woman with glasses.

She was a small woman with curly brown hair and glittering green eyes. Her smile was warm and welcoming as she looked up to greet April.

"Yes, you're in the right place. How may I help you today, hun?"

With adrenaline in her veins, April's words tumbled out of her mouth. "I need to speak with her or another member of the council immediately."

"What is this regarding?" the woman said, clicking away on her keyboard with a smile.

April was almost annoyed with the optimism of the receptionist. "It's regarding my property. Trisha gave me a visit yesterday, so she should know what I'm talking about."

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked with a smile, taking a break from her keyboard to look up at April.

"No, but I need information regarding permits, fees and inspections."

The woman's smile faltered slightly at April's tone, but she quickly recovered. "I see. Well, let me see if I can schedule a meeting for you."