Free Back to Texas by Amanda Renee

between me and my daughter.” Darren remained firmly rooted to the floor. “I spoke to Abby and—”
    “Exactly.” Bridgett pushed past Maggie. “You spoke to Abby and that’s the only reason why you’ve acknowledged me. If Abby hadn’t come to town and your affair with my mother hadn’t been exposed, I still wouldn’t know you were my mother’s sperm donor.”
    Darren physically recoiled at her choice of words. “A little vulgar, don’t you think?” He adjusted his tie as if Bridgett had physically roughed him up, and it suited her just fine, considering she was way past offended at this stage.
    “If the sperm fits.” Bridgett stormed past Lark, who looked ready to throw knives at the man herself. The other waitress might be new in town, but she’d witnessed almost every encounter Bridgett had had with Darren. She hadn’t hidden her opinions on the situation, either. Something in Lark’s past must have triggered her reactions because she’d defended Bridgett as if it were personal.
    Running up the back staircase, Bridgett paced the length of the catering kitchen. She couldn’t hide out all day, but a few minutes to calm her anger were necessary or else she would break down crying. And she refused to give any of them the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She’d head back down shortly, and if Darren still lurked she’d call the police. She despised the hatred building inside her. It wasn’t her nature to stay so angry, but she couldn’t seem to work past the feelings.
    Tired of the daily drama, Bridgett wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to control her fury in front of people. By now, half the town would already know she’d almost thrown a sugar shaker at the mayor. It only reconfirmed her desire to escape Ramblewood.
    Leaving led her back to Adam. A small part of her wondered if she was only using him as a distraction, and it wasn’t fair to either of them. How do you know when your feelings are real? She had the indescribable urge to ask Abby how she’d known her feelings for Clay were true, but Abby wouldn’t be able to leave it at that. She’d read too much into it and start grilling her about Adam. It was too much.
    In a way, she found herself jealous of Adam. He had the fresh start she desperately wanted. She’d get hers. Until then, she needed to remain focused and patient.
    Darren had offered her and Abby money to compensate them for not being around when they were growing up, but both women had refused. Bridgett’s shoulders still tensed at the casualness of his offer. As far as she was concerned, Darren had been around the entire time, yet he had actively chosen not to participate in her life. While his money would help her realize her restaurant dream faster, she’d rather work twenty-four hours a day than take one cent from him.
    The only problem she foresaw with getting the job that would take her one step closer to that dream was not having a reliable ride to an interview. One of the mechanics from the garage had looked at her car for free last week and told her it wouldn’t be much longer before it died. Not what she wanted to hear. He’d promised to look out for a cheap, dependable replacement. Cheap being the operative word. She didn’t want to blow any more of her savings than she had to.
    Bridgett hated to admit how much she held herself back. She had blamed everyone else, but the truth began to stare her in the face. She had chosen to stay at The Magpie when she could have worked in any of the countless places along restaurant row. Maybe if she had, she’d have more money in savings. And instead of working for someone else, she’d be working for herself by now. But she’d never taken the time to find out.
    Bridgett admired Abby’s gumption to pick up and move on a whim. She’d chastised her sister for moving because of a man, despite Abby’s protest that she’d done it to be near her newfound family. Now Bridgett imagined herself doing the same thing with