It takes me about thirty minutes to change the tire. Then I go wash my hands in the falls and change back into my suit to resume my journey.

I’ve missed this little town. Maudlin Falls is a caricature, an anachronism, but a pleasant one.

A soul-level palette cleanser.

A place where I felt at peace for the first time in my life. I felt loved and wanted and welcomed and embraced not just by my guy, but by the community at large. Before I lived here, I thought it was too good to be true, or full of sappy small-town hicks I would soon convince my guy didn’t have his best interests at heart. Probably closet bigots, all of them.

I was wrong on all counts.

It’s no surprise that the love of my life grew up here. Which makes it even more confoundedly stupid that I walked away in the first place. I had a decent job working with a law firm in Webley, as well as taking on my own cases in Maudlin Falls and surrounding areas.

I reach the main road and continue my drive into town. The place time forgot, in many ways. Where the drive-in still shows double features every Friday and Saturday nights and hosts a weekly flea market on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Yes, maybe I have been stalking the local Maudlin Falls Gazette via their website.

Here, the whole town turns out for kids’ sporting events, even if they don’t have children playing in the game. They attend church functions, like ice cream socials and fall festivals and Christmas concerts, even if they don’t attend that particular church—or any church. It’s about community.

You also don’t have to wonder what the other person wants when they’re being nice to you, because they’re honestly just being nice.

Even the grouchy people are still good people, and their fellow townsfolk accept them for who they are, grouchiness and all.

Where even a guy like me who thought he was too good for this place soon found himself loving it here.

Leaving this sweet little oasis to return to Miami, and wasting three years between us, will forever be the biggest regret of my life. Not even all the trappings of a “successful” law career can make up for any of that, no matter what my mother thinks.

I’m still about ten minutes outside town when my cell rings. Groaning, I pull over to take the call. I’m already behind schedule today, thanks to the flat tire, but she’ll just keep calling until I talk to her. “Hey, Mom.”

“Desiderio, are you coming by this weekend, or are you up in the city?”

I’m glad she didn’t Facetime me to see I’m in the car and definitely not in Miami. “Next weekend, Mom. I’m working this weekend.”

“I couldn’t remember what you said. Don’t forget to bring Freddy with you. I want to introduce him to Uncle Roger. He’s looking for someone to take over his HR department, and—”

“Mom, I broke up with Freddy. I told you that.” I know I told her that even if she didn’t want to hear it. She’d been ready to start sending out wedding invites and planning the seating chart.

But she’s also friends with Freddy’s mother, so she’s known him since long before I did.

That declaration makes her pause. “I thought you said you were going to try to work things out with him?”

I remove my sunglasses and drop them in my lap so I can rub my eyes with my free hand. “No, you told me you thought I should work things out with him. I told you that wasn’t going to happen.”

“But he’s a very nice boy and he makes good money. His parents are nice, too. He could be making even better money working for your Uncle Roger.”

That is a very bad excuse. Usually she tries harder than this. Obviously, since she’s friends with Freddy’s parents, she can just talk to them. “Then pass Uncle Roger’s contact info to him and—”

“It’d be so much easier if you’d just bring him with you next weekend. And I wanted to talk to you about that vacation ranch trip we’re booking for next month. I need to find out your schedule, and Freddy’s, so I can finalize those plans.”

“Mom. Listen to me. I’m not bringing Freddy with me. I’m not taking any trips with him.”

Besides, the last thing I want to do is end up stuck rooming with Freddy on some freaking dude ranch where I have to pay for the privilege of doing a hard day’s work on horseback. My mom’s on this kick now though, because one of her friends did it and started raving about it.

“Freddy and I are too different in too many ways,” I add, and it’s not the first time I’ve told her any of this, either. “The only reason I didn’t break up with him sooner is because you wouldn’t stop bugging me about going out with him because he’s your friend’s son. I more than gave him a fair shot. I’m done. Now please get off my back about it.”

That shocks her into silence. I almost feel guilty for the brutal honesty when she speaks. “Well. Excuse me Desiderio Armand Keiser for giving a darn about your emotional health.”

Crap, she used my full name. And of freaking course she defaults to guilt. “Mom, I can’t do this right now. I’m in the car and need to get back on the road.”

“Where are you?”

Oh, no way am I telling her. She’ll immediately know I’m going to see Tomas and I wouldn’t put it past her to tell Freddy. “I’m working. I have to meet with a client. I’ll text you Freddy’s number as soon as I hang up. Love you and Dad. Bye.”

I hit the end button, cutting off what is no doubt a very familiar objection mid-word. I immediately pull up Freddy’s contact info and then send that to her, just like I said I would. Even though she doesn’t need it, because she can always get it from Freddy’s mom.

Let the two or three of them plan something together. I honestly don’t care anymore. I’ll likely cancel my visit next weekend anyway but I’m not dumb enough to do it this soon.

Mom will no doubt rope me into some sort of promise to reschedule my visit if I do.

I put my sunglasses back on and startle when I glance in my side mirror and spot a man standing there. He smiles, holding up a hand in a friendly wave.

I recognize him immediately, dang it. Herb Sanctum, whose farm is right around here. I only saw him a few times when I lived in town, and spoke to him maybe once or twice.

Hoping he doesn’t remember me, I roll down my window and drop into a decent imitation of my uncle’s thick Cuban accent. “Can I help you?”

“Saw you sitting here and just checking on you. You all right, son?”

I force a smile. “Yes, thank you. Had to take a phone call. Safety, you know.”

From his reaction, I’m reasonably certain he doesn’t remember me. “Ah! No worries, then. Sorry I startled you.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the consideration, though.”

With that, he smiles and walks back across the road, to where a tractor with a mower deck attached to the back sits idling just inside his fence.

I roll my window up and check for traffic before pulling out onto the road. Nearly anywhere else, I would’ve been worried about someone drawing a gun on me, and I dang sure wouldn’t have rolled the window all the way down.

But not here, of all places.

Welcome back to Maudlin Falls, pendejo.

I wonder how long before my luck runs out and someone recognizes me?

Hopefully not before I’ve had a chance to find out whether or not Tomas is still single.

And whether or not he hates my guts.