Chapter TEN

The snow fell in heavy, silent drifts outside the darkened windows of the old upstairs parlor. Inside, the room was still, shadows stretching across the creaking wooden floors.

Ariel tucked a thick wool blanket around Ethan on the sofa, fluffing the pillows behind his head. "There you go, all set for the night," she said softly. She picked up the empty plate that had been filled to overflowing with steak, salad, asparagus, and bread and smiled—at least he liked her food.

"Thanks, Ms. Hawthorne," Ethan said. "I really appreciate you letting me stay over with the storm and all."

"Of course, sweetie. I want you to be safe." Ariel paused, taking in the young man"s kind face. Her daughter had chosen well, even if Ariel had her misgivings about the situation. "Now get some rest," she said, squeezing his shoulder gently before heading to her own room. Katie's door, when she passed it, was firmly closed.

Alone in her room, Ariel changed into her pajamas, the old house groaning and settling around her. Miles, having finished helping Ariel clean up the remnants of the dinner disaster, quietly entered the room. He had changed into comfortable clothes, his hair still slightly damp from the snow. Seeing Ariel nestled under the covers, he gave a gentle smile and moved to his side of the bed.

"How"s Ethan?" Miles asked, climbing into bed beside her.

"He"s all tucked in for the night," Ariel replied, turning to face him. "He really appreciated the dinner, especially the steak."

Miles chuckled softly. "Well, I"m glad it didn"t go to waste. It was delicious, by the way. Thank you for saving some for me. And the three desserts. I forced Darcy and Jill to take a lot of leftovers—I think she's going to hang at his place tonight in case the snow gets as serious as they say. He seemed reluctant to leave—said you might need him."

Ariel reached out, her hand finding Miles"s in the darkness. "I'd rather they get stuck somewhere with less drama if the storm is bad. And thank you for helping me deal with everything tonight. I don"t know what I would do without you."

Miles squeezed her hand gently. "It"s been quite an evening."

They lay there in silence for a moment, the storm outside muffling the world beyond their room. Ariel let out a long sigh, feeling the events of the day weighing heavily on her.

"We were supposed to have our movie night," she said softly, a hint of regret in her voice.

Miles turned towards her, his eyes reflecting understanding. "Let"s do it another night. We"re both exhausted, and I think we could use some rest."

Ariel nodded, grateful for his understanding. "You"re right. Let"s just sleep."

Miles leaned over and turned off the bedside lamp, enveloping the room in a comforting darkness. "Goodnight, Ariel," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Miles," Ariel murmured back, closing her eyes.

The wind whistled outside, branches scratching against the windowpanes. Ethan would sleep peacefully, but Ariel"s mind churned. She thought of Katie, prayed she was making the right choices. Finally Ariel drifted off, the snow continuing to fall outside, shrouding the world in peaceful white.

***

Ariel woke with a start, her heart racing. She glanced at the clock - 3 AM. What had woken her? She strained to listen in the dark silence.

Then she heard it - the faint creak of floorboards from down the other end of the upstairs. Her breath caught. Was someone walking around in the house?

As quietly as she could, Ariel slipped out of bed. She crept to the door and eased it open, wincing as it squeaked on its hinges. She paused, listening again. More creaking, coming from down the hall.

With her pulse thudding, Ariel tiptoed down the hall. She had to check on Katie. Make sure whoever was walking around hadn"t gone into her daughter"s room. Was it Ethan, trying to sneak into Katie's?

Katie"s door was still shut, no sign of disturbance. Ariel breathed a sigh of relief. Then she steeled herself and moved toward the stairs. Step by slow step, Ariel moved to the other side of the upper landing, keeping close to the wall where the stairs were less likely to creak. She reached the parlor and peered around.

A dark figure lay on the couch. Ariel"s adrenaline spiked until she realized - it was just Ethan. The young man was fast asleep under the blankets she had laid out hours before. One arm dangled off the side, his fingers brushing the floor. His chest rose and fell in the steady rhythm of deep sleep.

Relief coursed through Ariel. Ethan hadn"t been sneaking anywhere - just shifting in his sleep. Ariel sagged against the wall, embarrassment flooding through her. Just her imagination getting the best of her, as usual. Katie was fine.

With a self-conscious glance at Ethan, Ariel crept back to her room. Safely in her room, she climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. She was being ridiculous, paranoid. Her life was good now. She needed to stop second-guessing everything and just embrace the happiness she"d found.

Tomorrow she would focus positive energy on Miles and Katie. No more lingering glances or wistful memories about Bradford, no more paranoia about Ethan. She was committed to this life and Miles. With that resolution, Ariel finally relaxed into the mattress. She had made her decision. The past could stay where it belonged. She needed rest—the engagement party would still be at Cliffside through Valentine's Day, and there was much to be done.

Ariel drifted off to sleep, the snow falling gently outside her window. A peaceful silence descended on the old house. The snow continued through the night, blanketing Endless Harbor in glistening white.