Page 37 of When Forever Falls Apart

Elliot stands at the coffee machine, busy with orders from other customers who have unwittingly become spectators to this unfolding drama. An oppressive silence surrounds us as everyone in close proximity freezes, their eyes fixed on the confrontation.

Of all the places I could have encountered this woman, fate chose this moment. I swallow hard, fighting back the rising tide of tears, each heartbeat echoing in my ears as I strive to hold onto my composure. All the words I desperately wanted to say to Georgina are trapped beneath the surface, blanketed in fear like I’ve done something fatal.

“It was for the best,” I finally muster, though the words feel hollow against the weight of her disdain. “But I never once looked at anyone else.”

“And you expect me to believe you?” Georgina questions, each word echoing her passive aggression, as if she’s pointing a finger and branding me the villain. “Our family didn’t deserve the humiliation. The arrogant shamelessness you possess to return to town as if nothing ever happened!”

I bow my head, hands shaking as I try to muster up the courage to argue back.

“There’s a name for women like you.”

Elliot is quick to stand beside me, the sudden protectiveness easing my anxiety slightly.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” Elliot interjects as Georgina raises her brows, clearly offended by his authoritative tone. “I won’t tolerate disrespect toward my employees. Either treat Madelina with the respect she deserves, or you can leave. Your choice.”

“And exactlywhoare you?” she scoffs, dismissing him with a wave of her hand, her arrogance palpable.

“I’m her boss, and I reserve the right to remove any patron from these premises if necessary. Do you understand?” His voice is steady, a shield against her toxicity.

Georgina’s expression shifts. She finally turns her piercing stare away from me, relinquishing her hold for the moment. Nosy customers sit at the edge of their seats. All they’re missing is a bucket of popcorn. I bet it won’t take long before news spreads across town.

“I’m done here,” she declares, her voice cold.

The unwanted audience only makes this more humiliating. I never expected our encounter to play out in public. It’s like being a student, called out in the classroom and scolded for bad behavior.

Georgina strides out of the café, every step clipped and deliberate, anger simmering beneath her polished exterior.

I flee to the kitchen, the weight of humiliation crashing over me like a tidal wave. I force out the breath I’d been holding through the entire exchange, my chest rising and falling as I fight to steady myself.

Inside the sanctuary of the kitchen, Billie rushes to my side, quick to rub the small of my back to calm me down.

“She’s just a bitter old woman. Don’t let her get to you,” Billie comforts me, her voice a soothing balm against my frayed nerves. “And you know the truth. Don’t feed into her narcissistic gaslighting.”

My chest aches, the rhythm of my heart still erratic, rendering me unable to utter a word. I crouch down, burying my head in my hands, trying to shield myself from the world.

This was ten times worse than Ieverimagined. A nightmare come to life. I always knew it wouldn’t be easy to face his family, but this? This was downright awful.

“I need to take care of customers’ payments. Don’t move,” Billie instructs, hurrying to the register.

My moment of solitude is short-lived as Elliot leans against the kitchen door, his expression softening as he watches me take shaky breaths.

“Let me guess,” he begins, his voice calm. “The jilted mother-in-law?”

I nod, keeping my gaze downcast. “I always knew coming back wouldn’t be easy, though a foolish part of me hoped maybe everyone would understand, but now…” I trail off.

Elliot crosses his arms, his expression thoughtful as he absorbs my words. “You didn’t love him.”

“Not enough to give him forever,” I respond swiftly, almost defensively. “But apparently, I should have lied to everyone and pretended.”

No matter what choices I make, I can never escape opinions from others. So, if people are going to cast their own judgments, why bother worrying about them when the one person I should prioritize is myself? I exhale deeply, longing for a future in which Myles has found happiness with someone else, and where Georgina joyfully embraces her new daughter-in-law, and I am simply athing of the past.

“All right, we’re doing margarita night,” Elliot announces decisively, raising his brows and pointing his finger at me with a steady gaze. “And don’t even think about bailing on me, or I’ll look like a loser with girly drinks. Which won’t help me add to the body count you think I’m keeping.”

I glance up, disbelief etched on my face, but a smile tugsat my lips. “You? Organizing margarita night? Is this some kind of prank?”

“No, this is someone who recognizes that a good night out is exactly what you need. What else is there to do on a Tuesday night in Cinnamon Springs, anyway?”

“The drive-in movies?”