With a pin between two of my teeth, I pull back the fabric with my free hand until I'm sure it's tight enough, instructing the model on the makeshift platform to stand up straight.

I've been working day and night trying to get these designs just right, and now that I finally have models, I can see my vision coming to life. It helps to be holed up in this incredible sewing room Loretta created when my heart feels like it's hanging on by a string.

All thoughts of Wyatt have been banished from existence.

Knowing he wanted to go back to being friends was painful, and I begged and pleaded with Loretta to give me a couple of nights off from The Starlighter with the excuse that I needed time to work on these pieces for the fashion show. She can see through bullshit better than anyone, so she could tell I was lying, but she allowed me to take the time off, anyway.

Maybe it was because Parker being back in town circulated everywhere already, unsurprisingly. The fight of the century is what people were calling it, or so I've been told from my model Delilah. I haven't left this house in an entire week, and after hearing that, I'm glad I didn't. Apparently, the whole town already thinks I packed up and left for the second time, and at this point, I'll let them think what they want. I don't care anymore.

"Does that feel good?" I ask.

Delilah nods, twirling around in front of the floor-length mirror. "It's beautiful. Will the pieces be available to purchase? If so, I'm buyin' this one."

My eyes meet hers in the mirror. "Really? You'd buy it?"

"Are you kiddin'? This is gorgeous, Macey. You outdid yourself." The yellow sundress fits her figure perfectly, tight in the bodice with chiffon flaring at the waist. It was inspired by the town's Sunday best, but to hear that Delilah wants to buy it... Would others want to buy it as well?

"I'll think about it," I tell her. "I haven't decided if they'll be available for purchase yet."

She nods and then heads into the bathroom to change back into her clothes. She was my sixth model today, and tomorrow I'll do the other six. The fashion show is next weekend, and I'm stressing the hell out. Everything needs to be perfect.

But, despite everything, I'm proud of myself. Even heartbroken, I've managed to get these outfits together for charity and it feels really damn good.

Loretta knocks on the door, interrupting my thoughts. "Can I come in?"

"Yes, ma'am." I wave her into the room, watching her take a seat in one of the chairs. She narrows her eyes, the wrinkles around them creasing. "Do you need anything?"

"No, but I have a feelin' you need someone to talk to."

I shake my head, plastering a fake smile on my face. "I don't. I'm fine."

"Macey Taylor, please stop the damn lyin'. You haven't said a lick about what happened last week at the bar, and I've been tryin' to give you space, but enough is enough. What the hell is goin' on?"

Delilah thankfully interrupts us. "Am I good to go?" She asks.

"All set," I reply. "Thanks again, Delilah. Your final fitting will be next Friday!"

With a short wave, her heels clack down the hall, but Loretta is still fixing me with a glare. "Start talkin'."

She's never going to leave without me telling her something, and since her bullshit detector is scarily accurate, I let my facade come down, my bottom lip trembling slightly. "I'm still processing," I admit. "I finally got him back and lost him all over again because Parker showed up, but I don't even have the right to be angry because it all stems back to me. Everything is my fault." I'm rolling up the measuring tape hastily, itching to get out of the room when Loretta reaches across the space between us to squeeze my hand.

"You have the right to be upset, Macey. You're entitled to whatever emotions you've got, regardless of the mistake you made. Losin' Wyatt again is a tough pill to swallow, and havin' Parker show up last weekend probably brought up a lot of guilt."

I nod, fighting the tears poking the backs of my eyes.

"But I'm proud of ya' for stayin'. Yer' a tough cookie, and regardless of what comes out of this, you're standin' tall, and that's what really matters. Don't worry about Parker. He's supposed to be released from the hospital tomorrow. Fully healed."

I force a weak smile. "Thanks, Loretta, and thank you for everything you've done for me since I've come back into town. Letting me live here, giving me a job... It all feels like too much. I don't deserve it."

She pats my knee, rising again to her feet. "Sometimes, all we need is a little hope to push us in the right direction. I was happy to give it to ya. Oh, and Macey? Don't give up on Wyatt just yet, either. Between you and me, he looks like a lost puppy without ya. It won't be long before that truck of his is pullin' in the driveway."

I shake my head. "I don't know, I think it'll take longer than that. What I did isn't something to easily get over, nor would I expect it. If he doesn't want to be with me I'm going to respect that."

Almost like the universe is granting my wishes, loud bangs sound on the door downstairs, Wyatt's voice frantic as it echoes up the staircase. "Macey!" he shouts. "Macey, are you home?"

Loretta's lips twitch, threatening a smile. "Well, would ya look at that?"

If she wasn't so old, and if she wasn't feared by the entire town, I would have elbowed her in the side, but instead, I dart out of the sewing room and thud down the steps just in sweatpants and a cropped hoodie. My hair is piled on top of my head in a messy bun, and I'm certain I probably have food smeared somewhere on my face, but when I see Wyatt's face through the screen door...

"What's wrong?" I choke out.

His cheeks are puffy, and his eyes are bloodshot. It seems like he hasn't slept in days, and I know we're going through a breakup, but I've learned all sides of Wyatt, and this isn't one I'm familiar with. This is more than heartbreak.

"Wyatt," I urge. "What's going on?"

He's out of breath, gripping the side of the screen door when he says, "It's Dolly. I think she's dyin'."

***

Wyatt drives like a madman back to the farm, and I'm sobbing the entire time.

On the way, he tells me she's been sick for the past couple of days. She hasn't been eating, and now she isn't standing up anymore. I knew she was old, so it's not like this came out of nowhere, but we didn't have enough time. We had a bond she didn't have with anyone else and I left her. I missed out on the majority of her life.

I'll never forgive myself.

When he parks in the gravel across from the barn, I jump out and race for her stable, my legs not pushing me fast enough. If I miss saying goodbye... If I never get the chance to love on her again...

A hand flies to my chest when I see her body curled up in the corner nestled in some hay, a strangled sob escaping when her eyes meet mine. I can't get in there fast enough, and as soon as I lift the latch, I collapse down beside her in the hay, letting my tears stain her coat. "Oh, Dolly," I sob. "My sweet, sweet girl. I'm so sorry."

Wyatt lingers by the entrance, but when he sees that I'm almost hyperventilating, he sinks down onto the hay beside me, rubbing gentle strokes down my back in an effort to calm me down.

But it's impossible. Dolly is more than just a horse. Not only did she capture my heart, but she was a bridge between Wyatt and me. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would always hold a piece of Wyatt as long as she was here, and now that she's gone... It's like I'm not only saying goodbye to her, but to Wyatt and I's entire relationship as well.

And I'm not ready to say goodbye.

I'm not ready to let go.

"Please don't go," I whisper. "Please, Dolly. I love you so much."

She huffs as if she's protesting with me, and when I glance up, finally examining her eyes, I can see it. The exhaustion. She's giving up, and my heart is being shredded apart piece by piece.

"I think she was waiting to see you," Wyatt says gently.

"No, no, no." I shake my head profusely, refusing to accept it. She will not die. "I-I don't want to say goodbye. I can't fucking do this. I can't."

Realization falls upon Wyatt's face, his eyes softening as he scans my eyes. "It's okay," he whispers through the tears. "It's time, darlin'."

Darlin'.

This is the first time he's called me that again since the breakup, and it's what collapses the dam I've been holding back. I collapse into his arms, allowing him to hold me, and I sob into his shirt, clutching Dolly's coat simultaneously.

She whimpers, and the sound is like a gut punch. As much as I want her to stay, I can't be selfish. She's clearly in pain, and if she truly needs my acceptance to pass, I'm going to give it to her.

"It's okay," I whisper through my tears, nuzzling against her mane. "I-If you need to go, it's okay." I kiss her mane over and over again. "You were such a good horse, Dolly. Thank you for showing me how beautiful the country is. Thank you for making this my home, and I am so sorry I wasn't here to love you as much as you loved me. I'm so sorry I left you."

I continue to sob, my body raking against Wyatt's chest, and when Dolly's eyes finally shut, when she's no longer breathing, Wyatt has to forcefully pull me off of her. "She's gone, darlin'. She's gone."

I can't even see from how puffy and swollen my eyes are, and I don't pay attention to where he's taking me until we're suddenly back in his house. He lays me down on the couch, and knowing he no longer feels comfortable putting me in his bed makes me sob even harder.

He throws a crocheted blanket over me, and when I've got no tears left to give, he brings a steaming mug of tea over and sits down beside me.

 I crawl into his lap, not asking permission, but he doesn't seem to mind. He sets the mug down on the coffee table and holds me against his chest, kissing the top of my head repeatedly. "It's okay, darlin'," he whispers into my ear. "I've got you. I'm right here."