Chapter 16

Aria


“ He is ?” Cindy asked me.

“ Yes. He says it's time to deal with everything and I'm also assuming he misses you all and wants to see you” ,I said looking at Amanda .

“ Aren't you worried. The minute he returns She's going to start trouble. There will be social media posts and scandalous articles about Caleb and her” , Amanda said looking at me.

“ No. I trust him. I've only ever had One relationship in my life and he cheated on me at the worst possible time and that was while I was mourning the death of my mother and that was one year ago. I'm from a Small town. I grew up here and returned after my mother passed away. I don't know Who my father is . My mother tried to tell me Who he was, but I wasn't interested. She raised me all by herself. I'm a smart,kind and well raised Young woman Mrs Cross. I love Caleb, I'm not going to do anything that would hurt him in any way ” , I said.

She smiled

“ I believe you,dear . Hopefully we'll be able to meet you soon” , she said

“ I hope so too” ,she said . I saw the door open and he walked back in pulling me up and sitting down then putting me to sit on his lap.

“ Why's everyone smiling?” , he asked.

“ Doesn't concern you. I want a car” , Cindy said.

“ Umm okay. you finished baby? . Ryan is ready ”.he said.

“ Yep . I'm going to get my bag. Bye Mrs Cross ,bye Cindy ” , I said standing up.

“ Bye sweetie “ ,

“ Bye sis ” , I heard Cindy say.

Caleb

She walked out of the office. I looked at the laptop, I saw Cindy walking away. My mother was looking at me.

“ What?” , I asked her.

“ Normally you wouldn't tell anyone about Catherine. She's smart Also beautiful. She's respectful and considerate. She's also determined. Hurry up and Marry her. Get this settled and start a family. Wherever you are right now, that's where our entire family will settle. Caleb there's something about her”. My mother said,

“ What do you mean?” ,I asked her.

“ It's nothing bad but there is something about her that makes you feel at ease like everything will be fine. I can't explain it but only one person has ever made me feel like that and it was Cassandra Milton. She was my best friend.she just disappeared one day”. She said, shaking her head.

“ Want me to find her?.”, I asked

“ It's okay. I've tried but no luck.If you marry her It will be made public “ ,she said looking at me.

“ No it won't. I'll make sure it doesn't. I have to go now , I'll call you later in the week and update you” ,I said.

I saw Cindy running into the room

“ Bro, give me Aria's number “ ,she yelled.

“ I'll give her yours, she'll text you and Cindy you know it's between family. Not even the friend you trust the most” , I said sternly.

“ Caleb, you're my brother. I don't want anything happening to you and I sure as hell don't want anything happening to my new sister-in-law. You don't have to tell me again ”.,she said, rolling her eyes.

“ Yea whatever. Bye Mom, Later spoiled brat ” , I said ending the call before she could answer me.

I sat there for a minute. They approved of her. Thank you Lord for sending me to Payson Arizona. When I walked out of the office she and Ryan were discussing something.

“ No, of course not.” I heard her say. I walked over to them.

“ What's up?”., I asked

“ Nothing,he was just asking me if he could borrow Holly for a few hours, ” She said. I didn't say anything. I knew what It was about

We left in town cars and headed to town. The windows on both cars were tinted so there wasn't any chances of anyone seeing her. We headed to the construction site first then drove into town. We parked in front of the Cafe, minutes later Holly parked alongside my car. She came out of the car Once we made sure no one was around.

We walked into the Cafe. Shit they really Did a number on the cafe. The workers would be there soon. I already told them Ms Garcia asked me and I was doing it as a favour because it is where I conduct business daily and now it was destroyed and I didn't have anywhere else to go to relax. They said they'd be there soon.
We were there when one of the supervisors showed up.

“ Hello Josh ”,She said looking at him

“ Ahh , I'm sorry Aria. I remember doing this Cafe for Your mother a long time ago. Don't worry we'll get the cafe up and running in no time “ ,he said walking around and checking everything.

About half an hour later he came back.

“ There's not much to be done. Just some Holes in the Walls that need repairing. The glass cases need to be replaced, the glass on the front windows and a Oven in the kitchen. It's mostly cosmetics, nothing serious , it's all the broken glass and light fixtures, upturned tables,some are broken but it's just that , with the way it looks it seems like everything needs to be replaced but that's not the case.“he said.

“ How long, would it take?”.She asked him.

“ Well if Mr Cross can spare us for today and you can purchase the replacements we can have the cafe back to normal by tonight and tomorrow you're back in business “ ,He said.

“ Okay, I'll spare you for today to help out Ms Garcia" .I said looking at her.

“ Thank you Mr Cross. Josh, can you let me know what you need? And we'll get started ”. She said

“ Well I see you have everything settled Ms Garcia. I'll take your leave. Hopefully tomorrow I can have coffee as normal ” , I said walking out. Ryan and I left them and headed to town.

When we got into the car ,I noticed a car parked at the back. I drove off and headed towards the centre of town .

“ The car at the back?” , I said to Ryan

“ That's Lacy” ,he said.

I made a U-turn and headed in the West.
“ Where are you going?” , he asked me.

“ The police station. It's better to stop her Now than have her following us all day throughout town, especially If I'm going to get wedding rings” , I said.

Aria

Josh gave me a rundown of all that's needed so I wrote a check out for him and he left to get Materials. Holly and I were picking up the tables that were still good and tried cleaning up. After an hour,I told Holly to go into town and order everything. The oven and glass case.

I was distracted when I heard the crunching of glass.
“ So we told you to call us if you needed help but you didn't?” Grace said, staring at me with her hands on her hips ,With Mya standing beside her.

“ Oh god ,it completely slipped my mind. Holly and I came. Mr Cross said he could spare some workers for today to help me get my cafe up and running. Holly just left to order the glass displays” , I said.

They both walked in and dropped their stuff. They grabbed garbage bags and gloves. I looked at them.

“ Grace,Mya, wait . I fired Lacy ” , I said looking at them.

“ Good that Bitch deserves it” , Mya said. I looked at her.

“ She kept accusing me of being with Caleb Cross. She said some pretty downright shit and it pissed me off. I know she slept with Anthony also Cassy” ,I said looking at them.

Mya sat in one of the chairs. “ Oh thank God cause I don't know how long I could have kept that to myself ” ,She said letting out a breath.

“ Shit me too” , Grace said.

“ Wait you both knew?”., I asked them.

“ I found out accidentally and I wanted to tell you but I didn't know if It was my place then you found out and dumped him so I figured it was over” ,Grace said

“ Wait, you're talking about a year ago. I'm talking about now “ ,Mya said looking at me.

I was confused now . Both Grace and I were looking at her.

“ Shit you don't know. Dammit it . Remember the day before the fair , I took off?” , she asked.

“ Yes” ,we both answered.

“ Well , I had gone to the Hospital. The thing is Paul and I are trying to start a family. Well that day I saw Lacy at the hospital .I didn't Let her see me. She was in the corridor talking. She was angry as hell so I had Paul Walk around the corner and find out who it was and I stood listening to her rant. It was Anthony, apparently they're sleeping together still, she told him she had gotten pregnant and she had an abortion. She said that he can't keep doing that shit. He told her he was sorry. She called him all kinds of names”

“She asked him, Why was he still with her if he kept running after you like a dog, if you were better than her ? She told him to never go back to the cafe and that if he returns one more time she's going to tell everyone that they're together also she's done with him and that she and Mr Cross are together now”. Mya said, looking at me.