Chapter ELEVEN

The next morning, Ariel bustled around the kitchen, tying an apron around her waist as she reached for the French press. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, and she cast a glance over at the women who already sat at the dining room table. Ariel felt a little chagrined that her guest had beat her to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Jessica!" she called over her shoulder. "I"m so sorry, give me just a few minutes and I"ll have some coffee ready."

Jessica waved her hand dismissively as Ariel buzzed around the kitchen. "Oh please, don"t fuss over me. I"m always up at the crack of dawn. One of the hazards of being a constantly exposed to the blue light of a computer I suppose. My sleep patterns are like a crazy straw." She laughed, a light and airy sound.

Ariel smiled, her shoulders relaxing. She was still getting used to having guests at the Cliffside Bed and Breakfast. After so many years running a high-paced kitchen in Miami, playing hostess was an adjustment. But she loved making each guest feel welcome and cared for.

"Well, let me at least get you a cup of coffee while I start on breakfast." Ariel ground the beans, inhaling the rich aroma as the French press gurgled. She poured two mugs and slid one across the counter to Jessica.

"Thank you, dear. It smells heavenly." Jessica wrapped her hands around the warm mug.

Ariel nodded, thoughts already turning to the day"s menu. It was so nice having Jessica here. Her warm nature and easy smile had brought such life to the old house. She hoped the rest of Jessica"s stay would be just as lovely. Despite Ariel's past with Bradford, it didn't prevent her from actually liking what she'd seen of his fiancée.

Jessica sipped her coffee, sighing contentedly. "This is delicious. You truly have a gift, Ariel."

Ariel blushed at the praise. "Oh, it"s just coffee. But thank you."

"I"m serious!" Jessica insisted. "Everything you"ve made since I arrived has been absolutely wonderful. Those scones yesterday? To die for. Dinner? Fantastic, until my sister ruined it."

Jessica"s smile was so genuine that Ariel couldn"t help but grin in return. "Well, aren"t you sweet. I"m so glad you"ve been enjoying the food."

"Are you kidding? It"s incredible! You could open a restaurant in Los Angeles with skills like these. No wonder Bradford wanted to book the whole inn for the wedding party." Jessica shook her head in amazement.

Ariel"s cheeks grew warm at the mention of her ex. "Bradford always did have good taste," Ariel said lightly, busying herself with cracking eggs into a bowl. She wasn"t sure she was ready to examine whatever old feelings this reunion with Bradford had drudged up. And she wasn't sure what Bradford had told Jessica about their past. For now, she would focus on making breakfast, determined to impress her guests.

Jessica took another long sip of coffee, seeming to sense Ariel"s change in mood. The two women stood in a comfortable silence as the old house settled around them.

The peaceful moment was interrupted by the shrill ringing of the phone on the wall. Ariel wiped her hands on a dish towel and picked up.

"Cliffside Bed and Breakfast, this is Ariel speaking."

"Hey, boss, it"s Darcy. We"ve got a situation here." Darcy"s voice was tense, lacking its usual playful lilt.

Ariel frowned, gripping the phone tighter. "What"s going on?"

"We"re snowed in at my apartment. There"s gotta be at least three feet out there, and it"s still coming down hard. Power"s out too."

"What?" Ariel hurried over to the window and pulled back the curtain. Darcy was right - the front lawn of the inn was buried under a smooth blanket of snow. She had been so flustered at missing her alarm that she hadn't looked out. The cars belonging to the wedding guests were barely visible, just a few bumps under the heavy white drifts.

From the frosted window of Cliffside Bed and Breakfast, Ariel gazed out at the transformed landscape, the aftermath of the recent snowstorm evident in every corner of the scene before her. The front lawn, usually a lush green tapestry that welcomed visitors with its vibrant colors and meticulously maintained flower beds, lay dormant under a thick blanket of snow. It stretched out from the B and B"s front steps, a vast expanse of pristine white that glittered under the weak winter sun.

The snow had settled in soft undulations, much like the waves of the sea beyond, mirroring the rhythm of nature in its frozen state. Here and there, the top edges of the taller shrubs poked through the snowy layer, like small islands in a vast, white ocean. The usually distinct pathway, which meandered from the front porch to the wrought-iron gate at the edge of the property, was now just a subtle indentation, its edges softened and blurred by the snow"s encompassing embrace.

Beyond the lawn, the land began to slope gently downwards towards the craggy bluffs, a natural boundary that marked the end of Ariel"s domain. The bluffs themselves, rugged and steadfast, were now capped with snow, softening their normally harsh lines. The contrast between the snow"s purity and the dark, jagged rocks created a breathtaking spectacle, a testament to the harsh beauty of Maine"s coastal winter.

The edge of the sea, where the bluffs met the tumultuous waters of the North Atlantic, was a frothy line of white against the deep blue of the ocean. The waves, relentless and unforgiving, crashed against the rocks, sending sprays of icy water into the air, which seemed to hang momentarily before being swept away by the biting wind. It was a dance of elements, wild and untamed, a reminder of nature"s power and beauty.

Ariel let her gaze linger on the horizon, where the sea met the sky in a hazy line of gray and blue. The sight of the ocean in winter always filled her with a sense of awe and a hint of melancholy. It was as if the sea, like her heart, was caught in a constant struggle between the tranquility of the known and the chaos of the unknown. Ariel pressed her forehead to the cold glass, a feeling of dread settling in the pit of her stomach. They were perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, miles from town. If the road was blocked...

"Darcy, please tell me the plows are out clearing the streets already." Even as she said it, Ariel knew it was a vain hope.

Darcy sighed. "Sorry boss. Jill's here, and she called Ralph at the Throwback Diner. He says there"s only two plows downtown right now. They"re starting on Main Street first. Might not make it out Cliffside way until day after tomorrow, at the earliest."

Ariel closed her eyes, leaning into the window pane. They were snowed in, no doubt about it. It was a disaster.

"I"ll figure something out Darcy. You stay put and stay safe."

"You got it. Good luck, Ariel."

She hung up the phone and turned to Jessica with a worried look. They were in for a long day.

Jessica gave Ariel a sympathetic smile. "I've already looked outside. Well, I guess we"re having ourselves a little winter adventure here at Cliffside!"

Despite the circumstances, Ariel couldn"t help but chuckle at her optimism. Leave it to Jessica to find the bright side.

"I suppose we are. Though I have to admit, I didn"t exactly have "get snowed in with wedding guests" on my vision board for this place."

They both laughed, and Ariel felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. She looked back out at the wintery scene. The sun was just peeking over the cliffs, making the snow sparkle. It was beautiful, she had to admit.

"Maybe it won"t be so bad," Jessica said. "Like a fun sleepover for the guests. We can build fires, drink hot cocoa, play games..."

"You"re right," Ariel smiled. No point in worrying now. She"d make the best of it. This was her home, after all, her family"s beloved inn. She would take care of everyone.

"Alright, no use crying over spilled milk, or rather, snowed in driveways," she said decisively. "Let"s start a bigger pot of coffee and I'll see about making a hot breakfast for us. I've started eggs—how about bacon? Waffles?"

Jessica clapped her hands together. "Now you"re talking! Nothing like waffles and bacon on a snowy morning. I"ll start the waffle batter if you want to fry up some bacon?"

Jessica was already rummaging the kitchen drawers for an apron.

"You're a guest."

"I'm a sleepover attendee," Jessica replied. "After all, I'm taking so many pictures of these waffles for my followers after we're done. Snowed in? They'll eat it up!"

"You're not just a guest—you're the bride!"

"And as such, you should agree to let me have my way, right?" Jessica's warm grin held no animosity, only playfulness.

Ariel sighed and then nodded agreeably and went to the fridge to grab a pack of thick-cut bacon. She pointed Jessica to the pantry, and the other woman was soon measuring out flour and sugar, whisking eggs into the batter.

As they worked, her phone rang loudly, the jaunty ringtone cutting through the comforting kitchen sounds. Wiping her hands on a towel, Ariel answered.

"Darcy?" she said, hoping he had better news about the plow—but it was only an automated recording, confirming that county schools were well and officially closed. As she hung up, Ariel's gaze drifted to the window, taking in the wintry scene outside. The previously picturesque, snow-dusted lawn was now buried under a smooth blanket of white that stretched to the tree line. It was beautiful, but also isolating.

Ariel sighed, turning back to Jessica. "I"d better start figuring out a plan. We have a full house right now, so keeping everyone fed is no problem, but staying entertained won"t be easy."

Jessica nodded, her expression sympathetic. "If you have wine, Victoria will be fine. Just keeping her and Randall apart will be best for all. Maybe we can get creative with activities to keep people busy. Cards? Games? We can play in the snow. Bradford can clear the firepit, if you have one, and we can have a day outside."

"That would be great, thanks," Ariel replied, genuinely relieved to have Jessica"s support. She paused, considering their options. "I"ll take stock of the pantry and freezer, let you all know what's on the menu for the next few days. We have plenty."

Jessica smiled warmly. "We"ll make it work."

Despite the challenges ahead, Ariel felt a glimmer of optimism return. She nodded, buoyed by Jessica"s reassurance. Still, her brows knitted together as she contemplated the logistics ahead.

"I should check on the whole-house generator too, make sure we have enough fuel if the power goes out," she mused. The aged generator rattled to life on command during most storms, but Ariel wasn"t sure it could withstand days of heavy use.

Jessica tilted her head thoughtfully. "There's a fireplace in every room, practically." She paused, gazing out at the wintry vista. The snow showed no signs of stopping, the fat flakes continuing to swirl past the window pane. "And I did see you have a ton of wood stacked up right outside the cellar. You have it under control, and there's no point in worrying about what we can"t control."

Ariel felt a swell of gratitude for this unexpected friendship.

"Thank you, Jessica," Ariel said, her voice tinged with genuine appreciation. "You"re right. We"ll make the most of it. A snowed-in adventure, as you said."

Jessica"s smile brightened the room. "Exactly! And hey, you should definitely market this place for buyouts like we booked. It's so perfect. If you need any help with social media or anything, let me know. My online channel"s not just beauty and lifestyle. There"s a lot of behind-the-scenes work, managing partnerships and negotiations. It"s quite the juggling act."

Ariel raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "You do all that yourself?"

"Mostly, yes. I have a small team, but I like to be hands-on. It keeps me grounded." Jessica poured some batter into the waffle iron, closing it with a practiced flick of the wrist. "Actually, that"s how Bradford and I met. He wanted me to be in one of his music videos, but I was in the middle of brokering a high-dollar partnership with a beauty brand. I didn"t have time for his little video."

Ariel chuckled, watching Jessica with new respect. "That"s impressive. You"re more than just a pretty face, aren"t you?"

Jessica laughed, a hint of pride in her eyes. "I like to think so. It takes brains and a bit of savvy to run a successful channel. But you know what it takes to be a woman in charge—enough about me, tell me about this place. Cliffside has such charm."

As they chatted, Ariel found herself warming up to Jessica. Her initial impression of the young woman as just a blonde bombshell had been completely overturned. Jessica was not only kind but smart and savvy, successfully managing her own online presence with apparent ease.

Together, as they cooked breakfast for the snowbound guests, their conversation flowing easily. Ariel felt a sense of camaraderie with Jessica, a connection she hadn"t anticipated. It was a reminder that people could always surprise you, often in the most delightful ways.

But the thought lingered in Ariel's mind, becoming more apparent as the morning ticked by—there was no way that Jessica knew about Bradford and Ariel's having actually dated. What had he told her about their past?