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said through pink lips. “Thank you.”
    “No problem,” I said.
    “How’s everything with Heidi?”
    “Not sure. She is taking a break from talking to me.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
    I shrugged. “I want the best for her. Whatever that is.”
    She stood there. Looking up at me. Analyzing my face as I blushed.
    “When you find the one for you, you’ll know,” she said.
    “Why does everyone say that? Like love is some kind of riddle to be figured out. I’m not so sure about that. I’ve been married before and my wife died. Now this. I think I go after people who are a challenge.” I put my hands in my pockets. “No idea why. I don’t even know if I know what love is anymore.”
    “Sure you do.”
    “No. I really have no idea. All this mumbo jumbo talk of soul-mates and one person being the only person for you. What’s that mean for people like me? Doomed to be single for life since I already married someone and she’s gone?”
    “I believe that most people only have one soul-mate, but some of us need more than one. So our hearts are broken and when they are put back together they are something new. A new heart for a new soul-mate.”
    “What about you?”
    She blushed. “What about me?”
    “Have you found your soul-mate?”
    “I think so, but it’s hard because I have to go back to the Philippines before I overstay my visa for school. I don’t know what we’re going to do.” She exhaled. “Do you remember Reese from Gavin’s party last year?”
    “I do. Nice guy.”
    “Very nice.”
    “Lucky too.”
    She smiled. “Follow your heart, but bring your mind. You will find your answers.”
      We said our goodbyes. Everyone seemed to know everything about love. Everyone but Heidi and me. Honestly, I thought everyone was tainted by Hollywood and Disney. Ella said it herself once. Except Ella had no room to talk. Her and Gavin had something better than the movies.
    Ugh, I’m not one to complain, but can a guy get a break?
    All I wanted was someone to share my life with. Heidi seemed so perfect. We fit together in ways we needed, not just ways we wanted. We were right for each other. How do you let go of someone when their heart is set on someone else?
     

Ch. 7 | Heidi
     
    I spent most days inside after I told Patrick I needed some space. Thankfully I worked mostly from home as an interior designer, so I didn’t need to go out if I didn’t want to. Unless I needed to go to a clients house or buy some things for their project, or for myself. Like food, which I now needed.
    I found a forum online for moms who delayed solid foods with their babies until after a year. With all of Riley’s soon-to-be surgeries I figured I would do anything I could to make her healthier. Coming up on her first birthday, I decided to let her try a few things, but needed a quick market visit first.
    A well-tinted vehicle pulled away from the house as I got into my car. I’m normally not a paranoid person, but since Andy uncovered that scandal at work I really did fear for my life. I hated that he discovered the truth in that mess, and I know it was good of him to insist on telling the truth and testifying in court, but I didn’t want him to. I didn’t want him to do half the things he did when we first got married. He said he needed to provide, to be a good husband. So I let him, wondering why he thought being a good husband meant making money. All I wanted was a hug and a kiss goodnight before bed, but that was too much to ask. He was always too tired, too burned out, too paranoid. I guess he had a good reason to be.
    Never in a million years did I think I’d have gang members after my husband. Or me. I swear it seemed like someone was still following me. I remember all the threats when Andy first offered to testify in court. One night we were lying in bed and Andy woke me up screaming, begging me to get in the car with him and hide. Confused, I followed him. We drove away and parked behind the