Making My Way to You

Chapter 3

Michael sat up watching her most of the night. She had thrown up and then cried herself to sleep. The pain she was in was horrible. It broke his heart to hear her sobs. Cole had really done a number on her. The next morning, she rolled over and squinted against the sunlight.

"Good morning."

"What are you doin here?" Her head felt like it was full of rocks and her mouth was made of cotton.

"Do you not remember anything from last night?"

"No. I remember being in the bar and that's it."

"Oh Lila..." Michael shook his head.

"I don't need your lecture, MC... I'm grown. I'm single and over 21."

"You don't get it do you?"

"What?"

"I know you're hurting but this isn't the way to cure that pain."

"You're not my keeper. I need a drink." She rolled from the bed.

"You don't need a drink."

"Fine... I need a shower. You wanna go now?" She crossed her arms.

When she stepped from the shower Luke was sitting on the edge of the bed. She could tell he was visibly upset.

"Let me guess, MC called you?"

"Yes."

"Seriously? I am a big girl, Luke."

"Get dressed and sit down. We need to talk."

She did as he asked and sat down in the chair. "Talk."

"You really don't know what happened last night?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Because, Delilah!" Luke exploded. "You could have been killed last night... something could have happened to you."

"What are you talkin about?"

"You tried to leave the bar with some guy. Mike, MC and Cole stopped you."

"What?" She stared at him like he had three heads.

"Yea. You tried to leave with this guy and Cole stepped in. You almost got him into a bar fight. All because he was trying to keep you safe. Michael called me and I sent security over. Michael nearly had to carry you out of the bar. You said some pretty mean stuff to Cole standing on the street."

The night started to come back in bits and pieces. She remembered telling Cole she hated him and wanted him to stay away from her.

She buried her face in her hands. "Oh my God."

"How long has this been goin on, Lila? The drinkin?"

"The past couple of weeks." She whispered.

"You can't keep goin on like this..... You don't eat, you haven't been sleepin...you're drinkin and its killin you. I know you're hurtin, Lila. I know Cole shattered you when he did what he did...but this isn't the way to get over him. I can't and I won't lose another sibling." His voice quivered.

She looked at her older brother with tears streaming down her face. "I've made a mess of this haven't I?"

"No." Luke shook his head. "You've lost your way but you can get it back. You can get back to you. But this... this isn't how you mend your broken heart. I You're headed down a dark road, Lila...I called mama."

"You did what?" Her mouth dropped open.

"Calm down. I didn't tell her anything. All I said was you needed a break. You've been under a lot of pressure and the break up has gotten to you. You needed to come home for a while."

She was quiet as she stared at her brother who had tears in his eyes. He was worried.

"I think you're right...." She forced a smile. "I need to go home. Get back to me. Figure out who I am again. Without Cole. And I can't do that in Nashville."

Luke hugged her tight. "Come on...Caroline's downstairs. Let's go have lunch."

"K."

Caroline smiled when she saw her sister in law come onto the patio with her brother. "Hey."

"Hi." Caroline hugged her. "You will get through this."

"I know. It's just gonna take some time."

"And we are here for you."

"I am sorry for everything the past couple of months. I know..." Her voice cracked.

"Stop." Caroline squeezed her hand. "You don't have anything to be sorry for. You had your heart broken. It's happened to all of us."

Lunch was spent with them talking about the line and her taking some time off.  Caroline would take over and they were opening a store now that the line was a success. Caroline would handle the final decisions and send them over to Delilah in Leesburg. The store was set to open in a few weeks and they had already hired a couple of girls. People they knew and trusted. Delilah had gone to college with Hannah. They had hired her to manage the place.

Her heart was heavy and she knew she needed to talk to Cole before she left.

She wiped her mouth and stood up. "Thanks for lunch, Luke. But there's someone I need to go see."

Luke shared a smile with Caroline and looked at his phone. "He should be getting ready for sound check."

"Thanks." She kissed her brother's cheek and hugged her sister in law. "See ya'll later."