Begin Again novel Chapter 34

Eden and Cassandra spent a few minutes outside the hair salon, making plans for the weekend. They parted ways soon after her friend got a call from her assistant. Something about a burst pipe.

"God, I'm not cut out for this business crap!" Cassandra grumbled as she snapped on her helmet and jumped on her bike.

"Thanks again for doing this," Eden called after her as she watched her pull away from the curb and race down the street, towards her studio not too far from the Civic Theatre.

Eden turned to her car and sighed as she touched her hair, wishing it was all a dream, and Franco hadn't gone crazy with the scissors. At least it's soft; she consoled herself as she unlocked her door. It smelled amazing too, so there's that.

She was about to slip in behind the wheel when her phone rang.

It was a private number, and despite common sense telling her not to—because whoever was on the other end was only calling to sell her insurance or other such services she couldn't possibly afford—she answered her phone.

"Eden, it's Gibby, do you have time today for a quick chat?"

Yeah, she had plenty of time now that she's unemployed again. But, she'd rather avoid any quick chats with Gibby or anyone else from Anderson Logistics.

She'd spent a large part of her night tossing and turning while her mind raced over her encounter with Liam. When she did manage to close her eyes, sometime after 3:00 AM finally, he'd haunted her dreams.

So chatting to anyone close to him, especially so soon after their Battle Royale, was bound to give her major anxiety.

"Are you still there?" Gibby sounded unsure and a little desperate, very different from the disapproving woman who'd worn a permanently annoyed scowl on her face throughout Eden's interview and orientation.

"If you're calling to ask me about the contract, don't worry, I've torn it up already," Eden said cooly as she played with the handbag strap on her shoulder.

"I was hoping you didn't," Gibby said. "Mr Anderson needs you at work ASAP."

Eden slapped her forehead with her palm, gobsmacked by this turn of events, unable to believe the other woman's announcement.

One of them was losing their minds, Eden thought, and it sure as hell wasn't her. There's no way she'd return to Anderson Logistics, not after the bashing her heart took. Liam had put her through the wringer.

"He needs you—" Gibby carried on, taking her silence as a moment of weakness, the perfect opportunity to launch her attack.

But Eden cut her off very quickly, seething at Liam's arrogance. He may be hot as fuck, and his dick may have done things to her she didn't think any other could. But she was not a masochist. She didn't get off on pain.

"No, thanks. I can do without the humiliation," Eden said sternly, hoping the ice in her voice was enough to put an end to the call.

"He regrets it, you know." Gibby pushed on, chipping away at her defences. "He wants to work things out."

"There's nothing to work out. I'll pass on the job. Thank you, though."

Eden hung up and slipped inside her car, pushing her seatbelt in place forcefully, seething at the call. She was so tempted to head home and take a nap with her son, but she still had tons of stuff to do.

Her first stop was the grocery store; her cupboards were bone dry.

She spent a crazy amount of time in the organic food aisle. But all the healthy food was ridiculously expensive.

"One day," she said longingly at a carton of organic milk. The last time she had some or anything organic was when she still lived under her parents' roof.

She moved along and mindlessly stuffed her trolley with stuff she knew wasn't good for her and Aiden, but was all her meagre weekly budget can afford.

The checkout queue was super long, and if she weren't so nervous about messing up, she would have tried the self-checkouts. She wasn't the only one afraid of them it seemed, they all stood idle, waiting for some brave soul to give them a try.

She left the store almost forty-five minutes later, after an argument with the cashier over the price of diapers. The shelve said they're on sale, but the cashier explained the promotion ended last night. Eden kicked up a fuss, insisting it's not her fault they hadn't updated their shelves. Eventually, Karen had to call her manager to take care of the problem.

Eden was still fuming when she stuffed her three grocery bags and her free diapers in the boot of her car.

Her mood improved at the Bathroom Place, where she spent ten minutes floating inside imaginary bubbles in her clawfoot tub.

She would have stayed longer if Eric, the sales rep, didn't decide to spoil her fun. He politely informed her unless she was planning to buy the tub she couldn't test drive it.

Not totally convinced with his argument, Eden reluctantly got out of her imaginary bubble bath and picked a nautical shower curtain and matching guest towels.

Her last stop was the hardware store, and she spent a long time trying to choose paint for her interior walls. There were so many different types, and she suddenly had a newfound appreciation for Lydia's Hot Connexions plan.

If she had a handyman, she wouldn't be going through all this anxiety.

She left the hardware store without buying anything, but she did grab a bunch of business cards for various home services. She'd try Lydia's plan first, but go the professional route if it failed.

Her phone rang again as she was driving home. This time Gibby wouldn't take no for an answer. If Eden couldn't come to her, she'd gladly make the trip to her place.

That's a very bad idea, she thought, especially since Brenda and Aiden were home.

Now that Gibby knew about her past with Liam, surely she'll take one look at Aiden and add things up. Eden couldn't have that. After her very volatile showdown with Liam and knowing how he feels about her, there's no way she'd tell him about Aiden now. Her son is her little secret she planned to hang on to forever if she can.

"I'll be there in an hour!" She said, despising Liam a little more.

Back home, she helped Brenda put the groceries away, replaced the shower curtain and had an outfit change for her meeting with Gibby.

An hour later she was at Anderson Logistics. Ted and Jim were thrilled to see her again; they spent a few minutes chatting about the day's canteen menu and the weather and the upcoming family day, still months away, though.

"Are you coming to the family day? The missus can't wait to meet you," Jim smiled sweetly, and Eden returned it with one of her own.

She was flattered she'd made an impression on the two gentlemen so much they mentioned her to their families. Well, Jim at least.

"Yeah, you should come. My eldest will still be at college, but my youngest will be there." Ted said. Like her, was a single parent. His wife died in a boating accident years ago while visiting her parents down at the coast.

Eden doubted she'd make it for the family day since she's not employed by Liam anymore, but she didn't have the heart to tell them this.

"See you later guys," she waved over her shoulder as she headed inside.

She was supposed to meet Gibby at Rise Coffee Shop on the first floor, directly across the staff canteen she'll never have the pleasure of trying out now.

She stood just inside the cafe's entrance and scanned the room, her eyes lighting up when she saw Gibby at a window table for two.

Liam's assistant looked up from the menu and caught her eye, a huge smile splitting her face as she waved her over.

Eden took a long shaky breath as she reluctantly weaved through the tables, convinced she'll regret making the trip.

She should be working on her children's book—The Boy Who Chased the Moon— instead of being here, opening herself up to more hurt again.