All Chapters of Bitter Love: Chapter 1 - Chapter 3

3 Chapters

Chapter One: Josie

BITTER LOVEBook One in the Dawson Family SeriesCopyright 2021Emily GoodwinChapter OneJosieFifteen years ago…A tear rolls down my cheek, but I don’t bother to wipe it away. Another will just take its place in only seconds anyway. I look at the paper in my hand: the corner of it crinkled from being gripped so hard. A voice in the back of my mind tells me I shouldn’t have done that, that I should have been more careful.Because this is the kind of paper Mom will hang on the fridge.But there’s no point. It doesn’t matter. And now more tears fall from my eyes, splashing onto the handwritten note, smearing the black ink.“Jo?” someone calls, their voice coming from the hall. I need to say something. Turn. React. But I can’t.“Jo?” my sister calls again and then knocks on my door. I still can’t move. It’s like deep roots have anchored me to the floor and they’re the only thing holding me steady right now. If I focus on this—on standing as still as I can be while silently crying—then

Chapter Two: Josie

Bitter Love/Emily Goodwin

Chapter TwoJosiePresent day…“Shit.” I jerk my hand back from the pan on the oven, shaking it in the air, which does nothing to stop the burning sensation on my fingers. I hadn’t realized the flames were up too high and heated up the pan handle.“Why are you allowed to swear and I’m not?” Everly slides my coffee cup across the counter and takes a big drink.“Because you’re fourteen and I’m your mother.” I turn the stovetop burner off, giving up on the gluten-free pancake, and grab a sugary granola bar from the pantry instead. So much for eating healthy, right? “Eat this and hurry up so you don’t miss the bus.”“I don’t want to go to school,” Everly laments, tossing her thick dark hair back. “Don’t make me go.”“Please don’t do this.” I get another coffee cup down from the cabinet, knowing I’m not going to get mine back. Everly drinks almost as much coffee as I do. “Not today.”“Fine. I’ll reschedule my rebellion for tomorrow.”“As long as I have advance notice.” I fill my mug and ad

Chapter Three: Jacob

Bitter Love/Emily Goodwin

Chapter ThreeJacobI slide the stall door shut and step back, wiping sweat from my brow. It’s an unusually warm day in early May and I still have two more farms to stop by before I can swing by my parents for a family dinner. I’m already going to be late, and there’s a good chance I’ll show up smelling like the animals I’ve been treating today. There’s an even better chance that I’ll have to rush out, but I’m promising myself now it’ll only be for dire emergencies.It’s a rare occurrence that all of my brothers and our sister are in Silver Ridge together. Mom will have my head if I skip out on a family dinner, and I miss my siblings, even if they do drive me crazy half of the time. And tonight isn’t just any old family reunion. We’re celebrating my older brother’s engagement.“Do we have time for a coffee run?” Crystal, one of my vet techs, asks.“As long as it’s iced, yes,” I reply, checking the time. We’re running late—as usual—and I’m going to need to ask Dr. Spencer to cover my n