One of the Good Ones (Strawberry Inn Book #1)

Chapter 31

ANGELA

My feet were carrying my body faster than I could even think. It wasn’t until I shut the door behind me in the cottage that I finally let my pent-up feelings go. I kicked off my shoes, picking them up and chucking them across the house while I screamed at the top of my lungs.

How dare the two of them show up here like it was no big deal? Both of them were smiling and both all cheerful like we were friends. How could I put what they did to me behind me? Not only did it break up my marriage, but I had to fight for two years to get the money that I was owed and then had to move away to start my life fresh.

I put the two of them behind me, in the rearview mirror. I never thought I would see them again. Not only did I see them, but they were staying in my hotel. What if they did leave a bad review? The owners of the Cottonwood Bed and Breakfast spreading negative information about a new tourist destination could be devastating.

“Angela? What in the world is going on?” In my anger, I had totally forgotten that my mom was home still. Here I am throwing things around the house and screaming like a crazy lady. I guess I am a bit of a crazy lady.

“They’re here, Mom.”

“Who is here? You’re scaring me, Angie. You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“I feel like I have. A blast from my past that I wish would have stayed there. Leon is here, Mom.”

“What is that dirty dog doing here and why didn’t you throw that shoe at him instead of your poor sliding glass door?”

“Because I can’t and it isn’t fair.” The panic is setting in again and my breathing because erratic. The next thing I know, my mom is wrapping her arms around me and I’m crying into her shoulder like a child. “They’re staying in one of the suites.”

“They?”

I nod against her shoulders, “Yeah, Heather is here with him and she had their baby. They’re sweet little baby, the family that was supposed to be my family, they’re all here staying in my hotel.”

“Oh baby, what assholes.”

I chuckle through my sobbing, “Thanks for having my back, Mom.”

“I’ll always have your back, sweetheart.” She rubs my back in a circular motion, “I’m sorry that you have to deal with this. Can I do anything else for you?”

“No,” I pull away from her and wipe my eyes, “I guess I just needed to get that out. I’ll be okay in the end. I’m better than they are and I’m going to kill them with kindness.”

“Better than just killing them.”

“Mom!”

She laughs, “Oh I’m just trying to lighten the mood with a little dark humor. I’m proud of you for taking the high road, sweetie. You could easily boot them and ban them from the inn.”

“Trust me, I considered it. If Leon started any rumors about the hotel though, it could tank me, ya know? I’m sure he’d love to ruin what I have going on here.”

“Don’t let that fear rule you, Angela. I love you dearly, but you have to have a backbone where he is involved. Leon walked all over you for a long time, you don’t need to stay pinned under his thumb now.”

“It just doesn’t feel right, Mom. I get what you’re saying, I really do, but he knows people at HGTV and the Travel Channel. I’m just building something new and Leon Ford means something in the industry.”