All Chapters of The Love Barn: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

167 Chapters

Chapter 151: Noemi

Noemi ROLLED ONTO HER back, phone pressed to her ear, listening to silence.Tuesday felt like it was a year ago. Her Wednesday wedding had gone off the rails Tuesday evening and she'd pushed appointments off until today to focus on her melt-down-bride. All she wanted to do was lounge in sweatpants and talk to Garth like they'd done the last few nights.The phone was a poor substitute for having him there with her, but she'd take what she could get. That was how far gone and pathetic she was.Whatever event Garth was hosting tonight sounded like a small, relaxed affair. At least until half an hour ago when he'd put her on mute the first time and told her he had to run out for something someone had forgotten.If only he could play hooky and come here tonight.Her mother's house was already packed full of neighbors. With Thanksgiving only a week away now, everyone had family in town. Kids were on break from college. Grandkids were visiting. Noemi was actually glad her brother an

Chapter 152: Garth

TWELVE HOURS LATER, Garth was still in the exact same mood he'd been when he left Noemi's. All the frustration, irritation, and yes, hurt, had the muscles in his shoulders knotting up.He took a tentative sip of the second batch of coffee. Somehow he'd ruined the first.How had things gone wrong so fast? How was there any doubt in Noemi's mind what she should tell that arrogant asshole?What Noemi hadn't told him, Scarlett had shared while fuming over the old stories. He knew about Ángel pressuring Noemi into crazy diets, the hair removal, the Botox, and even the surgery consultation she'd gone to. All because this dick-head wanted to control everything about how Noemi looked.It touched all those old feelings about Scarlett's ex.Garth refused to even think the asshole's name.Scarlett had desperately wanted to create the family she'd lost. When a smooth talking guy promised her a home she could fill with their babies, she'd signed on. And slowly the guy had cut her off fr

Chapter 153: Noemi

Noemi FIDGETED WITH THE edge of the linen napkin she'd draped over her legs.She shouldn't have worn the pink dress today, but it was the newest thing in her closet with a designer label. With how jumpy her nerves were, she was bound to spill something on it. She didn't expect this conversation to go well. The least she could do was wear things with brands Ángel would recognize if he grilled her.Noemi shook her head and mentally scolded herself.Ángel was not her boyfriend. His rules didn't apply to her. They weren't anything to each other.Her heart did a pirouette on the thin strand of memory that connected her to that moment last night. The one she'd daydreamed about during the months and years following Ángel's break-up.All she'd wanted was for him to realize what they'd had, that she was the best thing for him. Now here he was and she didn't have those feelings. There was no excitement, satisfaction or joy. Of course part of her preened. What woman wouldn't at the idea

Chapter 154: Garth

Garth DID HIS BEST impression of a tent pole as he watched the wedding party twirl and gyrate around the dance floor while Benji played his bastardized version of the B-52's Love Shack. A few years back Garth had finally given in and tossed some money at Benji to get him to shut up about making their own funny version of the song. He'd written it, got some guys together and recorded a pretty nice version titled Love Barn. It was quickly incorporated into Benji's set for when he played wedding DJ, like tonight.The evening was drawing to a close. Garth checked the time. Any minute now...As if on cue, a white 1961 Lincoln Continental pulled around.It took the couple another half hour to actually depart, but once they were gone, the party broke up fairly fast. Some guests who needed time to sober up found places to sit while the family and wedding planner crew began cleaning up. So long as the food all left with the catering company the rest would be safe overnight until it was pi

Chapter 155: Noemi

Noemi STARED AT THE exit sign racing toward her.Ransom was a good fifteen minutes away if she took that exit. Right now she couldn't go home. Mom was too nosey, wanting to know what Noemi and Ángel had talked about or how Garth was doing. Mom didn't seem to understand that being caught between these two men was not some thrilling experience. It had robbed Noemi of sleep. She could barely eat. Her mind kept drifting to the futures she could have with either man.Without consciously deciding, Noemi took the exit and pointed her car toward the sleepy little town of Ransom.For all she griped about how far out it was, in the fifteen minutes it really was conveniently located. Both I-35E and I-820 were close and from there it was an easy shot to shopping, stores, things to do. Eventually Fort Worth would grow out to encompass Ransom, but for now it was a charming, untouched place that went at its own pace.She slowed as she passed the city limit sign and turned onto Main Street.

Chapter 156: Garth

Garth ESCAPED UP TO his room for a bit of privacy after they'd closed up the barn for their last wedding before the town festival that coming Wednesday.He needed time to himself.It was Sunday.He and Noemi had discussed her coming for dinner tonight. It was the night they were supposed to tell the others they were dating. At least that'd been the plan before everything was eclipsed by the proposal.Fucking Ángel.Garth closed his eyes and drew in a breath. He had always lived by his daddy's logic, that hate was a disease that only affected those who chose to hate. Garth didn't hate Ángel. He just didn't like him much.Garth changed into jeans and instead of one of his familiar polos he opted for a plain, light blue T-shirt.It made him think of the dress Noemi had worn to Scarlett's wedding. How perfectly she meshed with his family.They might not be an obvious match, but they fit. She belonged.His phone vibrated on the nightstand.Garth mentally chided himself f

Chapter 157: Noemi

Noemi'S HANDS WORKED WITHOUT conscious thought. She'd peeled potatoes at the kitchen table so many times it was automatic.Tomorrow was Wednesday.She hadn't spoken to Garth in days. He'd respected her insistence that they do this break and hadn't reached out once. She wasn't sure why that surprised her, but it did. Maybe some part of her had hoped he'd push on through, demand to be part of her life.Maybe she'd finally pushed him too far? But wasn't this what she wanted?"Why the long face, mija?" Mom sat down with a bowl full of green beans that needed to be trimmed."Stressful month. Glad for a break in it all."Her mother sat there, paring knife in hand, and studied Noemi."What?" she asked after a moment had gone by."Where's that nice boyfriend of yours?" Mom's tone was too cheerful, too careful. She must have picked up on the fact that not all was right."We broke up." Noemi sighed. "I broke up with him."Mom frowned. "What? Why?"Noemi shrugged. "It was ne

Chapter 158: Garth

Garth COULD HEAR THE festival in full swing outside now. They'd barely managed to get everything set up before the official start time. The crew had scrambled to get equipment out of the way before the townsfolk started showing up.He wasn't terribly keen on being around the throngs of people today. If he could hole up in the house and let everyone else have a good time, that would be fine by him. But he couldn't, both because this was a good chance to get out and shake hands but also because Scarlett and the others wouldn't let him.They hadn't pressed him for more information once he'd said things were over with his mystery girlfriend. Scarlett had dropped a few hints about this other woman she wanted to introduce to him, but he'd hopefully put her off that.Garth just wasn't ready to consider anyone else.He finished dressing in a maroon flannel, jeans and his worn boots. No sense in dressing up when he'd likely end up over at the kid's crafting station. That meant paint, gl

Chapter 159: Noemi

Noemi PARKED HER CAR out on the grass along with all the other cars.She could do this.Hopefully Garth wasn't angry with her. Well, he could be a little angry. She'd deserve that much. She just hoped he'd hear her.Noemi began walking with the crowd, toward the festival clustered around the barn. Her heart gave a twinge as she got closer to the houses.She hadn't told anyone she was showing up, partly because she was nervous and feared she'd chicken out. Through all the jumble of thoughts, the one thing she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that she loved Garth.As the crowd folded her into their midst, Noemi realized there were a lot more people there than she anticipated. How was she going to find Garth in all this?"Noemi?" a familiar voice called out.She turned and saw Scarlett standing with a basket of something hanging from one arm and a toddler perched on her hip looking at Noemi with wide eyes."Hey." Noemi fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt.Scarlett gr

Chapter 160: Garth

Garth STARED DOWN AT where he'd thought he'd seen Noemi.Except Noemi didn't wear flannel. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen her wearing jeans and have fingers leftover. But he was fairly certain that had been her."Garth?" Adeline's voice brought him back to the moment.He blinked down at this funny, sweet woman, but she didn't stir anything in him. Not like Noemi."Adeline?" He took her hand in his. "It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we see you around. Scarlett's intentions introducing us were good, but..."She smiled a knowing smile and turned her hand in his so she could give it a friendly shake. "I can tell. She's a special woman. I appreciate the history lesson.""Thanks, Adeline."If he'd met her at another point in his life, he'd have been interested. But it wasn't the burning connection he'd had with Noemi. Nothing could compare to that.Garth headed for the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. He skirted the tables between

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