The Quietest Shop on Main (Shops on Main #3)

Chapter 25

25

S kyla closed her eyes and blew out a long, slow breath. She needed to calm down. The heart monitor was showing the rise in her pulse, and eventually someone would come check on her.

And that meant they weren’t checking on her grandfather.

Anger, an unfamiliar and unpleasant level of it, was pushing against Skyla’s chest, choking the air from her lungs.

The machine attached to her beeped, and Skyla held back a sob.

How had everything gone from so wonderful to so awful so quickly?

And Dalton…another sob heaved her chest, and her head ached.

Dear, sweet, knight in shining armor, Dalton, had come rushing to Skyla’s side only for her to push him away with her fears about her grandfather.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Skyla said thickly, scolding herself since there was no one else there to do it. “He’ll never come back after this.” She’d turned down his help and compassion, instead, focusing on her ailing guardian.

But couldn’t he see just how much Grandfather meant to her? Dalton loved his sister, why couldn’t he see how this would hurt Skyla? Why didn’t anyone seem to understand her situation?

The door quietly opened and shut, and Skyla opened her tear-filled eyes, a bright shot of hope that immediately dissipated.

Analiese stood at the door, her lips twisting from side to side as she nodded, seemingly to herself.

“Analiese?” Skyla asked. “What’s wrong?”

Analiese’s eyebrows shot up. “What’s wrong?” she asked softly, taking another couple of steps into the room. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

Skyla leaned back into her pillows at the harshness in Analiese’s tone. “I-I’m sorry,” Skyla whispered.

“Sorry?” Analiese scoffed. “For what? For breaking my brother’s heart? Or for being like everyone else?”

Skyla’s eyes widened. “I didn’t…”

Analiese lunged forward. “Don’t you dare,” she hissed, her own eyes filling with tears. “Don’t you dare say you didn’t hurt him.” Analiese sniffed and wiped her nose on the back of the massive sweater she was wearing.

It looked like one of Dalton’s, and Skyla’s guilt gained momentum.

“I wasn’t trying to hurt him,” Skyla whispered.

Analiese closed her eyes, her shoulder slumping. “Of course, you didn’t,” she said, shaking her head. Opening her eyes, she stared at the wall. “Why do we all do this?” Spreading her arms, she turned back to Skyla. “Why is it, every time someone gets hurt or scared, we do hurtful things to those who want to take away that fear or pain?”

Skyla stopped trying to wipe the tears pouring down her cheeks. There was no stopping them, nor keeping up with them at this point. Let the blanket take care of it.

“My parents did it,” Analiese continued. “When things went crazy with my wedding, they didn’t know how to respond, so they did things to hurt me.”

Skyla sunk lower.

“When I got hurt, I lashed out at anything and everything that moved.” Analiese began to walk in circles. “Your grandfather does the same, only he uses Shakespearean insults to accomplish the task. Insulting without truly insulting.” She paused to look at Skyla. “He hides his fear behind grumpy humor. It fits.”

Skyla pinched her lips between her teeth, but still couldn’t bring herself to speak.

“And you…” Analiese shook her head and laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I thought you were different.” She glared. “I thought Dalton had finally found someone like him. Someone pure and good.” Analiese looked away again. “He’s almost too good and perfect,” she murmured. “I wasn’t sure anyone would ever be enough.”

The guilt was so heavy now that Skyla began to pray that she would simply disappear. What had she done?

“After meeting you, after your easy acceptance of my angry self, after the way you looked after your grandfather…” Analiese paused and put her hands on her hips. “After all that, I thought maybe Dalton had done the impossible.” She looked up at Skyla. “Until tonight.”

“I was just worried about Grandpa,” Skyla whispered, though she knew it wasn’t enough. She hadn’t just been worried. She’d gotten angry, just like Analiese was talking about.

Analiese shook her head. “Dalton called me,” she stated bluntly. “He’s with John now. I was already on my way to the hospital, but Dalton called and asked me to come up here with you because you, and I quote, ‘wouldn’t want to see him right now.’” Analiese scoffed. “He doesn’t want you alone, but he’s afraid you won’t let him come.”

Skyla tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling as the tears rolled down the side of her face.

Nausea churned, and she swallowed several times, trying to keep from causing the nurses another mess.

This had to be the worst night of her life. So many disasters, so many wrong choices, so many?—

“Did you know John didn’t even want to go fishing?”

Skyla jerked upright, ignoring the sharp pain in her head. “What?” she gasped.

Analiese chuckled darkly again and sat down in a chair, crossing one leg over the other. “He admitted it once we were out there, and the weather was less than pleasant.”

“What do you mean he didn’t want to go fishing?” Skyla said slower.

“I mean, he wanted to see Dalton in his element,” Analiese said just as slowly. “He wanted to see how his crew reacted to him. In other words, it was some weird sort of test.”

“That can’t be.”

Analiese snorted. “He admitted it himself.”

“Why would Grandpa need to give Dalton a test?” Skyla asked, the nausea rising higher.

“He wanted to see if Dalton was capable of taking care of you.”

Skyla closed her eyes and tipped her head back again. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “I’m sorry for everything. That’s not…I never wanted…” She blew out a long breath. “On behalf of my grandfather and myself, I’m sorry to both you and Dalton. Please tell him I said that.”

Skyla’s nearly perfect life had just shattered, and her heart along with it.

Her hero had been treated horribly from both her and Grandpa, and there was no way she could possibly make it up to him. Analiese was right. Why did people treat those they loved the most the worst?

“Thank you for coming,” Skyla said, unable to look at Analiese any more. The poor family had been through enough at the Bowen’s hands. “Please tell Dalton thank you for me.” She wiped at her face. “I appreciate all you’ve done. Truly.”

There was quiet for a moment before Analiese sighed. “So that’s where this is going? You’re just going to let it all go? A thank you and goodbye?”

Skyla had no words for Analiese. Nothing could make this better. Her head was pounding, her stomach was sick, and she could barely think straight. Skyla hadn’t even let herself think about what had happened at the shop. Her mind simply couldn’t handle it.

When footsteps stomped across the room and the door slammed shut, Skyla began to pray for sleep. A coma. Anything that would relieve her of the pain in her chest.

A pain that no amount of heavy medications could ever fix.

And Skyla had no one to blame but herself.

“It’s past visiting time,” a nurse said. “You need to let Mr. Bowen rest.”

Dalton hesitated, but when Grady put his hand on Dalton’s shoulder, they both headed out into the hall.

He pushed a hand through his hair, cringing at the crusty, salty strands he found. He must have looked terrible, running to Skyla like a monster in the night.

Montoya grunted. “I’m going back to the precinct.” He stretched and yawned. “If they kicked us out of here, I’m sure they won’t let me talk to Skyla either.”

Dalton’s heart lurched at the name.

He wanted to see her. Needed to see her.

But she was so angry. Her grandfather had been hurt, and that was a deal breaker for her. She’d pushed him out, and he couldn’t bring himself to go crawling back now.

He’d apologize…when she let him…but tonight, he needed to lick his own wounds.

“Come on, man,” Grady said, slapping Dalton’s shoulder and guiding him toward the doors. “Are you awake enough to drive home? Or should I drop you off?”

Dalton took a deep breath. “I can drive.”

Grady nodded. “Fine. Just don’t end up in the bed down the hall, huh? I don’t know if Skyla would ever forgive me if something happened to you.”

Dalton opened his mouth, ready to argue. But he snapped it shut. What did it really matter at this point?

Was it only a couple of hours ago that he’d been telling John that he wanted to marry Skyla? All that time getting to know her. All the courage it had taken to leap across the shy barrier between them.

All the nights wishing she would confide in him or let him help carry her burdens.

Then in one swift moment, it was all gone.

Dreams were like waves on an unmerciful ocean. They broke without care of who was riding them. A lucky few managed to ride while many were drowned in the very same waters.

Tonight, Dalton was drowning.

“Dalt!”

Both men spun and Dalton didn’t miss how Montoya straightened his shoulders at Analiese’s approach.

“Miss Saunders,” Grady said with a gentle smile. “What brings you here this evening?”

Analiese couldn’t seem to keep eye contact with Grady. Glancing at him for a moment before coming back to Dalton, only to glance again. “I was with Skyla.”

“Is she still awake?” Montoya took a step forward. “Maybe I can get that report tonight.”

Analiese folded her arms over her chest. Dalton knew that look. His sister was brewing for a fight.

Just what he needed.

“Come on.” Dalton jerked his head toward the elevators. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“I don’t think you should bother Skyla tonight.”

Dalton was too late. Shoot. He rubbed his forehead. “Liese, it’s none of our business.”

“She’s not really in the mood for visitors.”

Dalton glanced at Montoya, positive he’d see the officer scowling. Instead, an amused chuckle slipped out.

“The police aren’t exactly visitors,” Grady argued, one side of his mouth twitching in amusement.

Oooh…Analiese did not like being laughed at. This was getting worse by the second.

“Whatever,” Analiese said, scrunching her nose. She stormed forward, past the officer and grabbed Dalton’s arm. “Let’s go home.”

Dalton threw a chin nod over his shoulder to the still amused Montoya, then pulled his arm from Analiese’s hold and walked by her side without coercion. “That wasn’t exactly nice,” he whispered as they stepped into the elevator.

“Yeah, well, neither was what Skyla said to you.”

Dalton froze, his finger hovering near the buttons. “What did you do?”

Analiese folded her arms over her chest. “What do you mean?”

“Liese…” Dalton growled.

“What?” She threw her arms out. “I came and checked on her, just like you asked me to.” Analiese’s jaw set. “How’s John?”

“Grumpy and bruised, but fine,” Dalton huffed. “They want to make sure he can walk, but figure he’ll be released in the morning.”

The doors opened, and the siblings walked out of the elevator, turning toward the doors that led into a cold, icy night.

Dalton pulled up the collar on his coat. “What did you say to her?” he asked in a low tone as they walked into the parking lot.

Analiese sighed, which only sent Dalton’s worry even higher.

“I asked you to check on her, not hurt her.”

Analiese spun. “Hurt her? Really? After the way she treated you?”

Dalton clamped his jaw. So many words were tumbling through his head right now, and his heart was in the process of trying to still beat. It felt sore and bruised and a few minutes ago he’d been hoping it wasn’t a permanent situation, but now Analiese’s indignation had Dalton thinking he’d made a serious mistake in trusting her to check in on Skyla.

“What about the way she treated me?” he asked, forcing a calm he definitely didn’t feel.

“She shoved you aside!” Analiese cried.

Dalton glanced around, grateful it was too late for there to be people walking about. “She was worried about her grandfather.”

“After all you’ve done for her!” Analiese continued.

Dalton scoffed, losing the battle to stay in control. “And what about what she’s done for us, Liese? Hm? All the dinners? The time spent on her feet when she was working two jobs and taking care of an elderly guardian? Do you think she enjoyed being sleep deprived and being on her feet all day?” He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Even so,” Analiese continued. “She shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

Something broke inside of him, and Dalton spoke the words before he could stop them. “And how have you treated me, Analiese?”

His sister jerked back.

“I left med school for you. I changed my entire trajectory when you were dumped. Everything! And can you honestly stand there and tell me that you’ve treated me with as much kindness and love as Skyla has?”

Analiese’s bottom lip trembled, and Dalton hung his head.

Twice. Twice in one night he’d made his two favorite women cry. That had to be some kind of record.

“I’m so?—”

“You’re right,” Analiese whispered hoarsely.

Dalton looked up sharply.

“You’re right.” She sniffed. “She’s behaving just like I would.” Analiese took a couple of small steps back. “I guess…I had hoped for better for you than someone like me.”

With that, she spun and ran, and Dalton let her go.

His world had imploded tonight, but there were too many pieces and too much heartache to try and figure out if it was salvageable.

With one last glance toward the hospital, he shuffled to his truck. They say the night always ends, but tonight, for the first time ever…Dalton wasn’t positive the dawn would come.