Tired

Tired
Serena went straight to the tea shop after leaving the Worthington home. She barely greeted the staff as she entered and walked straight to the office, locking herself inside. She had planned to go in and get the tedious paperwork done but when it was time to close shop, Serena realized she had gotten absolutely nothing done.

She couldn't stop thinking about Iris's accusation and although it sounded ridiculous, Serena couldn't help thinking that maybe Iris was right. If she had convinced Paul to board a plane and go see Ellen the moment she ran into him, maybe that would have soothed her heart enough to keep it from failing.

Shaking herself out of the sad thoughts and regret, accepting the day had been wasted Serena decided to head home. She left her purse and her luggage had been left in Paul's car. He may have been across the street at the Apple Bay Inn but she didn't care. She didn't think she could face him tonight. Thankfully she kept spare keys to home and office in each building so getting inside her home wouldn't be a problem.

She figured she could use the walk in the cool night air.

After bidding goodnight to the staff that was closing the register and preparing the tea shop for the next day, Serena walked outside and began walking in the direction of her home. She was completely lost in thought, she hadn't noticed Wes standing outside the shop until he called her name.

She sighed when she saw him and began to shake her head.

"No, Wes," she immediately said as she resumed her walk. "I don't know why you're here and I don't care. It's over and that's how it's going to stay."

She heard falling steps behind her. "Where have you been?" He asked her. "I've been coming by every day looking for you and every day I was told you were out of town."

She felt him reach for her arm but she pulled away and quickened her pace. "You have no right to know anything about my life anymore. We are not together."

"But why?" He asked keeping up with her. "I deserve to know why you broke up with me again."

Serena kept walking. Did he really not know?

"Serena, please talk to me," he said. "Darlin', I'm following you like a lovesick puppy begging for a cuddle."

His tone must have had an effect on her because she felt compelled to halt. She took a deep breath before turning to him, shrugging her shoulders. "Nothing changed from the last time we were together, Wes. I made all the sacrifices for the sake of our relationship and all you did was feed me empty promises once more."

Wes shook his head. "I came to show you support on the day of your grand opening."

"But we weren't back together then," she countered. "That was you trying to get back in my good graces so that we could get back together. That doesn't count."

Wes stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. "I wanted to give you the world, Serena, but the business had needs. Don't good intentions hold any value for you?"

Serena scoffed. "Good intentions don't prove anything." Her eyes scaled the length of his muscular body. "If anything, it's the little things that go a long way."

He released a bitter laugh. "The little things," he mocked.

Serena took offense to his tone. She crossed her arms and stared at him with pain written in her eyes. "All you had to do was show up to that double date." She whispered. "If you had come and stayed for just one drink you and I would be having a completely different conversation right now."

"Well, what about Iris's brother?" He asked in a distasteful tone. "I see the way your eyes soften when he's mentioned, even right now."

Serena stared at Wes blinking a few times. She wanted to make sure the words she was about to speak were true and once she knew in her heart they were, she spoke, "I was ready to give up the dream of Paul MacKenzie for you Wes, but you proved unworthy. I hope that gives you the closure you sought tonight." Serena unfolded her arms and spun to resume her walk.

By the silence in the trail behind her, she understood that Wes finally got the answer he was looking for. She walked the remainder of the way in heavy silence and grateful for Wes's invasion. His appearance severed the perpetual guilt that had been weighing her down all day.

She was on her block in a matter of minutes. As she looked toward her home, she noticed lights were on inside. The closer she got she was also able to see two distinct shapes on her porch.

The closer she got the easier it became to decipher the characteristics and the identities of her visitors.

Paul MacKenzie and Heather Lindley.