Remi didn’t say anything, but he put the change she gave him in her tip jar then picked up the tray with the two coffees and scones. “I’m really not sure what’s going on here, Bailey. But this is not over. I’ll give you some space, but then we’re going to talk it out. I care about you. I’m not willing to just walk away.”
“Remi, I’m not angry with you. I’m just not a fool. I don’t like being made a fool of, and I certainly don’t want anyone that I have to compete for.”
“You’re my girl! You don’t have to compete with anyone.”
“It’s not my imagination, Remi. Others noticed it, too. And you know what? You owe me nothing. We aren’t married. We were just dating, and now there’s someone else that catches your attention. It’s fine.”
“It is not fine. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“If you want coffee, you’re always welcome here. If it’s just to see me, please don’t.”
“Bailey!” he said, watching her as she turned and went through the double doors and back into the kitchen.
He waited for a few seconds, but she didn’t come back out. “Bailey! Bailey, come out here!”
She didn’t answer, nor did she come back out front.
“I know you’re upset. I’ll be back tomorrow and we can talk then.” He waited to see if she’d answer, but there wasn’t even a sound to be heard. “Bailey?”
Frustrated, he took his coffees and scones and left. He sat in his car and watched through the windows of the coffee shop to see if she came back into the front of the shop, but she didn’t. Shaking his head in disbelief, he finally started his car and drove away. When he got home, instead of pulling into his own driveway, he pulled into Christian’s. He got out and knocked on the door, but no one answered. Too worked up to go home and just stew alone, he got back in his car and drove away. After making it back to the entrance of their land, he decided the only person that might make him feel better was his mother. He crossed the highway, then drove up the gravel drive toward the top of the hill. Once there, he slowed even more when he realized that there was still a vehicle or two there that weren’t usually, which indicated that some of the guests from Havoc and Analise’s wedding might not have left yet. Taking care to give the vehicles a wide berth so he didn’t spew gravel at them, he pulled up right in front of his parents’ house.
He opened the door, then leaned over to get the coffee and scones off the front floorboard and got out. He didn’t even look behind himself, all he wanted to do was talk to his mother. He stepped up onto the small porch and tapped on the door, opening it slightly and calling out. “Anybody home?”
“Remi?” Avaleigh asked, walking into the living room from the kitchen. “Well, this is a nice surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I just wanted to talk to you,” Remi said, pausing to hug her really tight.
“Where’s Dad and Angelle?” he asked, wondering suddenly if he should have gotten more scones.
“Angelle wanted to go fishing, so Dad took her for a few days. They’re camping. I don’t know where that girl got her outside gene from. She just loves nature.”
He didn’t smile. He just nodded ever so slightly. “It’d be hard not to growing up around here.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, picking up on his subdued mood.
“Nothing. Want to share some coffee with me?” he asked.
“Sure, if you have enough.”
He held up the cardboard tray. “I have about half a gallon.”
Avaleigh laughed. “Those are some seriously big to-go cups.”
“I have raspberry scones, too.”
“Ohhh, from Bailey’s? Those are so good!”
“Yeah. They’re my favorite.” He followed her into the kitchen, and placed the tray on the table. “You might want to grab some milk and sugar. I got the coffee black.”
“Your Daddy drinks it black, too. I’ve never been able to.” She busied herself getting out the milk and sugar, and then got a coffee mug so he could pour some of one of his cups into her mug rather than pouring milk into the whole huge to-go cup he’dbought. She put a couple of desert plates on the table for the scones, then sat down.
Remi filled her mug, then put one of the scones on her plate, and the other on his. He picked up his to-go cup and gulped down some of the coffee.
Avaleigh made her coffee, with lots of milk and sugar, then sipped it before taking a small bite of her scone. “This is really a treat. I’m so glad you came by this morning.”
“Me, too, Mom. I need to do it more often.”
“I’d love that.”
