Healing Her Soul (Mayflower Series #2)

Chapter 8

Julia remained silent as she mindlessly swept broken glass into the dust pan in her hand. There was so much glass everywhere that it seemed endless. As she watched the tiny shards travel onto the dustpan, she was reminded of her own situation.

Her life was like the glass before her. She had built a nice quaint life here in Mayflower, only for it to be shattered into pieces from a single brick. It was ‘him’ and she knew it deep in her very bones.

She hadn’t said much to Ryder after he had told her about the note, and neither did he press her about it. The fear had rolled out in full force when the words had left his lips, and she could hardly remember the rest of their breakfast other than it was quick. As soon as Ryder had walked her back to the bakery, he left for work without a word. For that, she was grateful, because she was too lost in her own head to deal with him.

It couldn’t be a coincidence. She was sure as day. She would never forget those same words that had been sent to her almost two years ago.

She was lying on her bed in her room in the Smiths' house, eavesdropping on Maddie and Max’s conversation on the front porch that was right under her bedroom window. They had just gotten their freedom away from their father, and she felt lighter. In fact, at that point, it had been so long since she had felt any ounce of freedom that it felt amazing. The worst was over. Or so she thought. She had been so caught up in freeing her sister that she had forgotten the demon who resided in her past, waiting for the right time to pounce.

She had heard Max leave and began reminiscing about a time when she had been in love just like them. She had been lost in her thoughts when she heard her phone beep. Thinking nothing of it, she slid it out of her pocket and unlocked it.

It took her a moment to read through the words, yet the moment had felt like an eternity as she reread the words. The message had made her blood run ice cold.

“Soon, my love. Soon I will have my fingers around your neck, squeezing the life out of you.”

Her throat had closed up as a familiar chill ran down her spine. Only one person had ever called her ‘my love’ in her life. She could already hear his voice sneering at her.

She had bolted up from her bed, eyes frantically searching the room for signs of someone else in it. Her eyes zeroed in on every darkened spot in the room, only to move to the next spot and back just to be sure. It had taken her several minutes of eyes darting from left to right before she felt assured that she was alone.

She felt the cold seep in as she recalled that very day. It was definitely the same person, and it was her fault the bakery had lost its front door and windows. How long more could she pretend that everything was fine?

“You okay?” Came Maddie’s voice.

News of the incident had gotten around town in no time, and Maddie, Noah and Max came to offer their help after work. Max and Noah had contacts for repairs and were under repair duty while Maddie, Ellen and Julia were in charge of cleaning up. Maria had left awhile ago to settle Louise’s big order which, thankfully, was left unaffected by the incident.

“Yeah. Just…still processing what happened,” Julia replied.

“Yeah I can’t believe this happened either,” Maddie looked around at the place, sadness swept across her expression. Julia knew that Maddie, too, considered this place a sanctuary.

“Max says to trust Henry and Luke to solve the case,” Maddie continued, “He offered to come by more often to watch over the place if you need him too.”

“Thanks, Mads, but I’ll be fine,” Julia declined. Maddie turned back to face Julia, a knowing smirk grazed her lips.

“I know. I told him you already have your own guardian angel.”

“What are you talking…..?” Julia was about to ask when she heard it, the voice she was hoping to catch a long break from.

“I brought dinner from the Three Little Pigs. Katelyn decided on the menu, so rest assured, I’m just the delivery boy,” Ryder announced as he strolled into the bakery with Maria close beside him looking even more exhausted than when she was this morning.

“Come, now, eat up! There is lots to do if we want to be open by tomorrow,” she announced, making everyone pause.

“Keep this up, lover boy, and I might just help you get a date with our dear Julia,” Ellen exclaimed as she took the bags of food from him. Julia glared at her colleague, only to receive a wink from Ellen as she headed to the counter.

“It’s dinner time everyone!!” Ellen practically squealed as she dug through the bags. “Katelyn is the bestest of the best!”

Maddie nudged Julia’s shoulder, and gave her a knowing look. Without waiting for Julia to respond, she headed toward the counter like everyone else. The only people who stayed in their spots were Julia and Ryder.

She looked across the room, eyes locking with Ryder’s. She narrowed her eyes, giving him a silent warning to stay away. But since when did Ryder Cooper ever listen? He kept his eyes fixed on her as he made his way to the counter. She watched him whisper something to Ellen, who giggled and eagerly handed him two boxes of food from the pile at the counter.

Julia rolled her eyes. Not once did he look away as he approached her.

“Come have dinner with me,” Ryder gestured toward the table at the back. Julia glanced behind her at the secluded table and turned back, frowning at Ryder before she shook her head. He remained unmoving at her response, his annoying signature grin etched on his lips.

With a sigh of frustration, she reached for a food box in his hand, only for him to pull back at the last minute. She glanced behind him, silently seeking help from any of the girls. Her face fell as she watched Maria busily muttering away orders to Ellen before they both disappeared into the kitchen with their food boxes in their hands. Her eyes shifted to the other side of the room, hoping that Maddie could be her saving grace, but she was busy, distracted in conversation with Max and Noah about the farm.

“Wasn’t really a question there, firecracker,” Ryder broke her concentration whilst holding the box far from her reach. “Besides, it’s the least you could do since I bought you breakfast.”

Out of options, Julia narrowed her eyes at him. She crossed her arms and said in a tight tone, “Fine.”

Julia wanted very much to wipe the victorious smirk off his face, but she had to keep her cool. Her dinner was still in his hands. They moved to the table and sat down.

The aroma of freshly cooked garlic with a hint of chilli hit her the moment she opened her box, making her stomach growl uncontrollably.

Ryder threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. Her cheeks instantly flushed bright red, as red as the creamy tomato sauce in Ryder’s lasagna. Dammit, why couldn’t her stomach behave at a time like this?

She looked up at his laughing form and dared not admit that the low baritone of his laughter sent a tingling sensation right from her stomach down to her very core. How could this man sound so sexy just by laughing? He needed to stop, but somehow she didn’t want him to. She was enjoying this unguarded side to him.

She sat there, patiently waiting for Ryder to be done. Yes, he took awhile. She might have found him attractive, but this whole laughing at her thing was taking it a tad bit too long for her liking. Her glare grew deadlier as each second ticked by. Christ, when would he stop? As if sensing his impending doom, Ryder stole a glance at her and coughed as he attempted to stop. Good. He knows he’s as good as dead.

Wiping an invisible stray tear from his eyes, Ryder tried his best to speak calmly in between chuckles, “I didn’t expect that, firecracker. Please don’t mind me and eat! You must be starving.”

“Ha. Ha.” Julia spoke sarcastically. “Eat your food.”

“Yes ma’am,” Ryder responded before digging in. She watched him for a moment, the tiniest of grins escaping her lips. She felt at ease in his company as she took a bite of her food.

“So how’re you holding up?”

The peace was just too good to be true. Julia narrowed her eyes as she replied, “Really? We’re back at interrogating?”

“All I asked there, firecracker, was how are you,” Ryder held his hands up in surrender.

She folded her arms and stared at him from across the table, unconvinced.

“Look, I get that there are things you’re uncomfortable talking about,” he sighed, “And I’m trying not to push, but hell, when you get so defensive over every single question it makes me wonder why is that your default go-to?”

Julia held onto her poker face as best she could, because he was right. She was being a little too suspicious without realising it. Ryder paused, eyes scanning her for an answer. She prayed hard at that moment that no one else had noticed their interaction.

Ryder leaned in closer and spoke softly, “If the burden on your shoulders is great, don’t carry it alone. We are all here for you, with you.”

His eyes never left her in that moment of silence that seemed to drag on, as if he needed her assurance that she understood him. She did, but how could she ever burden anyone with a past like hers? She could not do it. She tore her eyes away from him.

Ryder leaned back in his chair as he spoke, “You don’t want to talk about it. I get it. You don’t have to tell me exactly what’s going on in that head of yours, but at least tell me if you’re holding up okay.”

“Yeah…” Julia responded with shaky breath. “I’m okay.”

She said it more to herself than to him. Here was a man who was offering her a hand, and she wanted too much to take it, but if she did, more people could be in danger.

“Okay… Then how about we talk about something else? Like, do you think the bakery will be ready to open shop tomorrow?” Ryder asked, changing the subject to something more light hearted.

“I should think so. When Maria is determined, nothing can stop her,” Julia smiled at the thought of Maria and her antics.

The rest of the meal was easier. Ryder kept the conversation light and asked her several times for a date, which she declined as per usual. Even though her heart weighed a ton, Julia felt lighter at that dinner than she had the entire day. This was… nice.

When dinner was over, everyone got back to work. Ryder stayed to help the men put the finishing touches to the windows.

Julia cleaned up the counter area and watched as everyone did their part. Maddie was busy vacuuming the unseen shards of glass while Ellen moved in and out of the kitchen, tired from dealing with Maria and the next day’s pastries. It touched her heart to watch everyone work together and Julia couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. She couldn’t put any one of them in danger. They meant too much to her.

Although it was impossible for the culprit to be ‘him’ because he was still behind bars, she could not risk the people closest to her. She knew then what needed to be done. She needed to stop living in a dream. She needed to face reality. It was time to contact Judy Hopkins.