I take a deep breath as I see Alex walk into my bakery. My best friend was finally back. This was the day I had been counting down to for the last year but I was supposed to be meeting him for dinner at his parent's farm. He stops 10 feet from the counter and takes off his cowboy hat showing his sandy blonde hair that had been lightened from the sun where he was stationed down in Florida. He smiles at me and this kicks me into high gear. I march around the counter and jump into his awaiting arms. As I hug him warmth spreads throughout my body and I breathe in his scent of pine cologne. The tears start rolling down my face, man had I missed him. I step out of the hug and I hold him at an arm's length taking him in. He had changed in the last year, he didn't look like the young boy he did when he had left.

 

"What are you doing here? I wanted to clean up a little before I saw you tonight. I'm a mess." And I was at that, my curly ginger hair was pulled back into a top knot and I looked at my jeans and shirt and found them covered in flour. I then looked at his clothing to make sure I didn't get any on him.

 

He wipes a tear off my face, "Come on Georgia, you know I couldn't wait to see you till tonight. And what are you talking about? You look amazing! Aren't you happy to see me?" He asks me with an eyebrow raised. I feel my face heat up at him saying I look good. And instead of telling him how happy I am, I wrap my arms around him one more time. I show him around the bakery that didn't exist when he had left. I was so proud to show him what I created. I hope he likes it as much as I did.

 

"Red I am so proud of you!!" He says when we stop in the front, I smile up at him and thank him. We stand there for a few more moments talking and then he leaves telling me he'll see me later tonight. I turn to see Margaret, a 75-year-old regular watching me. I smile at her and turn to walk back to the counter.

 

"Who was that honey?" She asks in her southern drawl

"That's Alex, my best friend."

"Is he the guy you've told me about? The one you have feelings for?"

I didn't want to admit it but if I could tell anyone it would be Margaret. I slowly nod my head. She chuckles, "I can't believe you think he doesn't like you in that same way. You should see the way he looks at you. He is head over heels for you." And with that she turns back to her knitting.

 

I think of the interactions we've had over the past year and decipher everything he said to me, maybe Margaret was right. No, she couldn't be, he didn't like me like that. He could have told me many times if he did.

A few hours later I step out into the scorching heat to lock up the bakery. I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I turn and my eyes immediately lock in on a red Mustang. As soon as my eyes connect with the driver they speed away. Strange things like this had been happening to me since I had been hired to clean out the old Hanson place. I hadn't been making a lot of money at the bakery so I did odd jobs on the side to make ends meet.

 

As I walk down Main Street to my little home I keep my head on a swivel noticing anything that isn't normally around. I bound up the stairs two at a time to my front porch and before I unlock the front door I grab the mail out of the mailbox. Not even bothering to look at it, I stuff it in my purse.

 

I take a quick shower getting all the smell of baked goods off my skin. I pull on my favorite gauzy olive green dress and pair it with brown sandals. I don't bother doing anything to my already frizzy hair because the humid 90-degree Alabama air would make it worse. I grab the cake I made for dinner tonight out of the fridge and hop in my 1969 Ford F250. As I drive 20 minutes out of town to the Granby farm I roll down the windows and blare music but that doesn't distract me from noticing the red Mustang I saw earlier following me. I make a few more turns to try and get him off my tail but it doesn't help. I press on the gas gunning it towards the farm. He must realize I notice him once again because a few seconds later he pulls off towards the right. I let out a sigh of relief. I make the turn fast into the farm and my purse goes flying off the bench and scatters my mail everywhere. I pull to a stop and see Alex bound down the stairs greeting me at the driver's door. He pulls open my door and grabs my hand dragging me out of the cab. When I'm finally out he pulls me closer.

 

"Hey, Red where's the fire at?" He asks concern etching across his face
"Long story. Would you mind grabbing my purse and all my mail, while I grab the cake?"
"Of course. Is it your strawberry shortcake?"
"Would I bring anything else for you?" I say with a chuckle

The minute I step inside I'm greeted by Mr and Mrs. Granby. They are like the parents I've never had, especially since I grew up bouncing around the foster care system starting at the age of five. I sit and talk with them noticing that Alex didn't follow me in. A few moments later the screen door slams shut and I see Alex with a worried look. I immediately hop off the barstool I am sitting on walk up and grab the letter he has extended out towards me. I read it and my hands become shaky causing it to drop to the floor. The letter read,

 

"Meet me at the Hanson house at 9 and come alone. If someone follows you there will be consequences."

 

I can immediately tell what Alex is going to say. He's not going to let me go, but I need to know who's been following me around. This has to be the same person. Before he says anything I tell him everything that's been going on which was probably a mistake. That makes his answer even more set in stone.

 

"I'm going with you if you insist on going." I agree with him because that's the only way he'll let me go.

Before dinner, he takes me out to the barn letting me see the new horses. He looks nervous shifting from one foot to the other. My stomach starts to twist, something is wrong and it's not good.

 

"So I've had some time to think on this, and I think it's finally time I tell you the truth. I have feelings for you. And if you are willing I would like to date you." I didn't expect him to say that and I stand there chin to the floor in shock. He leans forward looking for my answer.

"Is that a no?"

"Oh my goodness it took you long enough." These are the first words out of my mouth and I'm guessing they are okay with Alex because he starts chuckling and wraps me in a hug.

 

As we walk back to the house I have an extra spring in my step not letting the note take away the newfound joy I have. We get back inside and you can tell the Granby's are waiting to see what I said. When Alex nods his head they rush us both wrapping us in big hugs. I finally had a family and nothing could mess with that, or so I thought. Dinner went by quickly and a few hours later Alex and I were rolling up to the Hanson house. I was about to make him stay in the car but I knew that wouldn't work so I let him follow me in. We flip on the lights and they flicker before a soft glow aluminates the living room, we stand closer to the back door so if things go south we can quickly exit. I tap my foot as I watch the clock tick closer and closer to 9. At 5 minutes after 9, we are about to leave. Until we hear the screen door creep open. We both stop in our tracks and look at each other. My mouth feels dry and as I am about to run, I hear my name.

 

"Georgia Samantha Atkins, is that you?" The voice sounds eerily familiar. I turn around to see my same green eyes looking back at me

 

"Dad? What are you doing here?" I ask with my breath catching as I say the words I haven't spoken in the last 15 years

"There's something important I need to tell you."

 

Before he can finish that sentence he's cut off by police sirens. I look out the window and see police surrounding the house. What mess had my father just brought into town with him?