“Don’t even start, Rick. Jeremy, go inside. I need to talk with your father.”
“But—”
Bella interrupted him with a no-nonsense stare and he shuffled into the house. She turned to glare at Rick.
“Rick, I’m finished with your threats. I’m finished with your attempts to control my life. Got it? Things are changing. Right now.”
“Don’t threaten me, Bella.” His voice held a menacing tone.
“This is not a threat. It’s the way things are going to be now. I don’t know why I let myself get sucked back into doing what you wanted me to do. To break up with Owen—as if that was any of your business anyway.”
“I was just protecting my boys.”
“You knew Jeremy was lying all along, didn’t you?”
Rick bristled at the accusation. “Of course not.” But his eyes told the truth. He had known.
“I’m finished, Rick. I’m going to live my life as I want. You’re going to stop interfering. And Jeremy is grounded. It would be nice if you’d back me on that, but I’m not going to tell you what to do at your own house. But when he’s at mine, he’s grounded. And he’s not coming over here for extra time with you to escape being grounded. Got that?” Bella sucked in a deep breath, trying to rein in her anger. Oh what the heck. A little bit of justified anger never hurt anyone. “Just leave me alone. Got it?”
Rick stood there looking a bit stunned. Good. He was going to have to get used to Bella Version Two. The one who didn’t let Rick push her around.
She whirled around and headed back to the front of the house. To her car. Away from Rick. She was going to have to sit down and have a long talk with Jeremy when he came home. But for now, she was going to calm down, find Jenny and Becky Lee, and apologize for being such a fool.
~ * ~
Jenny looked out the window of the Magnolia Cafe. She’d been so happy to get the text from Izzy asking to meet her here after the dinner rush so Becky Lee could join them, too. She’d run into Izzy a few times since their argument about breaking up with Owen, but they had only exchanged a few strained words in greeting.
Izzy pulled up in a parking spot in front of the cafe, and Jenny watched her friend climb out the car. A grin crossed her face when she saw Izzy’s determined strides. Ah, it looked like the strong don’t-push-me-around Izzy was back.
“Jenny. Glad you could meet me.” Bella slid into the seat next to Jenny.
Becky Lee came up with a tray with three slices of pie and three cups of coffee. “Here we go. I told Keely I’m taking a break. What’s up, Izzy?” She slid into a seat and quickly sorted the pie and coffee between the three of them.
“First, I want to apologize. I was such a scaredy cat when Rick threatened me again. I fell back into the do-what-Rick-says routine. I’m sorry.”
“You know we always just want what’s best for you.” Jenny reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. Relief washed over her that they were working things out. She hated being on the outs with her.
“I know. I was just so frustrated and you both were right. And, to top it off, Jeremy admitted he lied that Owen pushed him. Not that I really believed Owen did push him. I mean, he’s not the type, right?”
“No, he’s not the type.” Jenny agreed with her friend. “How did you find all this out?”
“I went to go talk to Rick, and I heard Jeremy and Rick talking about it. So I grounded Jeremy—probably for life—and I told Rick that I was no longer going to give into any of his threats. That my life was mine to live. It felt so good to just… stand up to him.”
“I’m so proud of you.” Becky Lee raised a fork full of peach pie. “Here’s to our Izzy. Long may she stand strong.”
Jenny laughed and scooped up a bite of pie. “To Izzy.”
“Now I have to see if I can work things out with Owen. If he ever comes back into town.”
“You’re in luck, then.” Becky Lee smiled. “I ran into Jake earlier today and he said that Owen was back in town for the weekend. Staying at the Sweet Tea.”
Bella’s eyes lit up with hope and she sprang to her feet. “Do you guys mind if I run over there now?”
“Not at all.” Jenny stood and gave her friend a hug. “Go. See if you can work things out with him.”
“You guys are the best. I love you.” Bella hurried out the door of the cafe and off in the direction of the Sweet Tea.
“Now everything is right in my world again.” Jenny smiled at Becky Lee.
“It is, my friend, it is.”
~ * ~
Bella waited impatiently on the front porch of the Sweet Tea while Larry went to get Owen. She wanted to talk to him in private and the porch held such good memories for her. Like when she and Owen had worked out their differences about him buying out the building that held her shop, and giving the building to Sylvia. All that had happened right here. Maybe the porch held some magic for them.