down the aisle.
“Well,” Sissy huffed. “That woman always
was rude.” She grumbled as she headed in the
opposite direction. Clearly time away from
town hadn’t improved Melissa Peter’s social
graces.
Sissy smiled. Shane Chandler was going to
be oh, so surprised to learn his old flame was
back in town. Sissy couldn’t wait to tell him.
As it happens, Sissy got her chance that
very evening. She was sitting at the local café
when she spotted Shane Chandler entering the
pharmacy. “Frank, come on. We need to go.”
Frank looked up and gave Sissy a confused
look. “What’s the rush? I haven’t finished my
coke.”
“Come on.” Sissy said, standing. “You
have coke at home.” She waited impatiently as
Frank threw enough money on the table to
cover the bill and a generous tip then followed
her out the door. They barely made it in time.
Sissy was pulling Frank down the sidewalk as
Shane exited the building. They almost
collided.
“Oh, Shane. I didn’t see you there.” Sissy
lied.
Frank rolled his eyes. He knew what his
wife was up to. She’d been going on nonstop
about Melissa Peters all day.
Shane tipped his hat in greeting and
started to move passed them. He needed to get
home. Meg was doing better, but she still had a
slight fever and they were out of children’s
Tylenol. He wanted to get home before she fell
asleep so he wouldn’t have to wake her just to
give her the medication.
“I’m glad we ran into you.” Sissy said,
following Shane toward his car. “You’ll never
guess who I ran into today at the grocery
store.” She paused, waiting for Shane to
inquire but when he continued toward his
truck she blurted it out. “Melissa Peters.” She
was so happy to be sharing the news she didn’t
noticed Shane’s slight misstep.
Shane didn’t have time for the town busy
body. Did she really think he cared who she’d
gossiped with in the grocery store? He was
almost to the truck when the words hit him like
a freight train. Melissa was in town? He
wondered why. Her parents had moved to
Florida, some retirement community that
would give Jake the rest he needed to get well.
“She said she bought her parents’ place
and will be living here permanently.” Sissy
continued, oblivious to the turmoil that was
churning inside Shane’s very soul.
“Those
were her words...permanently. Did you know
she was coming back, Shane? I never heard a
word about it. You can imagine my surprise
when we practically collided in the frozen food
section. She was buying ice cream of all things.
You know, that woman better be careful. She
might still be small and petite now, but a habit
of indulging that way will ruin her figure
quicker than spit. None of us are in our prime
anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Sissy, Frank.” Shane said,
trying to breathe. “My daughter isn’t feeling
well. I need to get home to give her this
medication before she falls asleep.”
“Of course.” Frank said, pulling his wife
away from Shane. He could tell the man was
upset and with good reason. Everyone knew
Melissa Peters had broken the guy’s heart.
Shane climbed in his truck, started the
engine and pulled onto the highway. He had to
get away from here. He was on autopilot, habit
the only thing leading him in the right direction
as he traveled away from the small town
toward his ranch. The instant he saw old
man Stewart’s cornfield, he pulled his truck to
the side of the road and parked. He needed to
get a grip. He shouldn’t have been rattled so
innately by the news that Melissa was back in
town. But Sissy had been so smug, reveling in
the fact that Melissa was here permanently. It
was the situation, the messenger, as much as
the message that had thrown him. But why the
secrecy?
Connie hadn’t mentioned her
daughter’s return to anyone. He knew that, it
was a small enough town that if Connie had
told a living soul the news would have been
everywhere.
Shane lowered his forehead to the steering
wheel. He’d never gotten over Melissa, he was
pretty sure he never would. Unfortunately, he
was just as sure that she would never forgive
him for his betrayal. How were they going to
live in the same town, run into each other at the
grocery store or the hardware store and not
cause a scene? Him out of frustration because
he couldn’t have her and her out of anger
because she hated him. He knew he deserved
her anger and her hatred. He had no one to