Page 235 of The Reason I Married Him
THE SIBLINGS
Hattie:Meet me at the farmhouse immediately after school lets out. Hayes is grabbing Mac and taking her to our house. It’s Aubree, she needs us.
Ryland:Wait . . . what? What’s going on?
Hattie:I haven’t been able to figure out much. She hasn’t said anything. But she came into The Almond Store and burst into tears. She’s up in the apartment, on the bed until I can have someone cover me at the store.
Ryland:Did something happen with Wyatt?
Hattie:That’s my guess. I texted Ethel and asked her if she heard anything. She said there was some awkwardness at The Cliffs, but she doesn’t know the whole story.
Ryland:If he fucking hurt her, he’s a dead man.
Hattie:How could he hurt her, though? They just got married.
Ryland:I don’t know, but he’ll find out quickly not to mess with the Rowleys.
Hattie:Okay, before you get all heated, let’s focus on Aubree first. We can’t have you chasing down Wyatt. Not when you have a job that keeps you from being violent and a four-year-old depending on you.
Ryland:Then I’ll have Hayes take care of it.
Hattie:Love that you think you can lean on him for that because he’d take care of it, but like I said, let’s figure out what’s going on first.
Ryland:I’ll book it out of here once school is out. Was she really crying?
Hattie:Uncontrollably. I’ve never seen her like this. It’s actually scaring me.
Ryland:Aubree doesn’t cry. Have you seen Wyatt?
Hattie:I looked out the window but didn’t see any trace of him. This was after I got Aubree settled upstairs, so he might have taken off.
Ryland:Should I text him?
Hattie:No. We need to hear from Aubree first.
Ryland:You’re right.
Hattie:Try to keep your cool. I’ll see you in a few.
Ryland:If he hurt her . . . he will never step foot in this town again.
Hattie:Agreed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
WYATT
Fuck.
FUCK!
I push my hand through my hair as I slowly back away from the road, Aubree disappearing into The Almond Store. Do I go after her again?
Do I obey her wishes?
I’m so conflicted that I feel paralyzed.
Paralyzed in thought and paralyzed in movement.
