Chapter 11

Tessa finally finished cleaning her little shop. She put her hands on her hips and let out a long, heavy sigh. It had been nearly two weeks since she left Clifford. She'd chosen to come to a small city, and the fresh air and slow pace here were exactly what she needed. As soon as she arrived, she wasted no time renting a storefront. It wasn't huge, but it was just the right size for her to open the cozy little cafe she'd always dreamed of. Everything was ready. She packed up her cleaning supplies and locked the door. Facing the glass door, she gave herself a big, bright smile. She wondered how long it had been since she smiled like that. The thought made her chest tighten, pain creeping into a heart she thought had long gone numb. She figured that Clifford, Tania, and their baby must be living happily now. "Clifford…" Tessa murmured, then quickly shook her head, trying to chase the name out of her mind. She had a new life now and couldn't keep letting the past drag her down. Lost