Chapter FOURTEEN

Ariel stood at the kitchen counter, kneading bread dough with practiced motions. The kitchen was warm and fragrant, the oven already preheating in anticipation of baking the loaves. She pressed the heels of her hands into the supple dough, the repetitive motion soothing.

Outside, snow swirled past the windows, an endless stream of fat flakes that muffled the world in white. She was glad Katie, Miles, and Ethan had gone out to play in it while they still could. Who knew when the power might go out with a storm like this? Better to enjoy it now.

She was so focused on her task that the sound of the kitchen door swinging open made her jump. She looked up to see Connie slipping inside, stamping snow from her boots.

"Connie! I didn"t realize you"d gone outside."

The older woman gave her a crinkly smile. "Miles coaxed me out to play with the kids. I miss Bradford being that young—old enough to have some staying power in the cold, but young enough to still love it. But I couldn"t resist the smell of something delicious baking." She nodded at the lump of dough. "Takes me back to the early days with Carl. We used to spend hours in the kitchen together, cooking up a storm. Bradford's told me about your cooking, back in college. Said you could whip up a four-course meal on a hotplate. He said the food on this visit would be second to none if you were cooking."

Ariel blinked in surprise. She hadn"t expected Connie to know about her history. A dozen questions sprang to mind, but she held them back for now. Bradford"s choice of Cliffside suddenly seemed less coincidental. What else had he told Connie about her?

She let Connie"s chatter about favorite recipes and winter meals wash over her as she finished kneading. Her hands worked automatically while her thoughts swirled. Snowed in at Cliffside, confronted with echoes of the past - was it fate that had brought Bradford and his group here? For the first time, she felt eager to unravel the mystery that lay before her.

Ariel nodded along as Connie reminisced, her thoughts racing. It was clear now that Bradford had chosen Cliffside intentionally, hoping to reconnect with the past. Connie"s presence confirmed she knew more of that history than Ariel had realized.

Part of her wanted to demand answers. Why had Bradford brought Jessica here, what had he told Connie, what did he expect from her? But she held back, sensing Connie"s good intentions. There would be time later to unravel the full truth.

For now, she focused on shaping the dough into round loaves. Connie leaned against the counter, sipping from a fresh mug of hot cider. "You know, I think this snowstorm is fate"s way of bringing everyone together," she said. "Like the universe wanted us to come to Cliffside at just this moment."

Ariel didn"t reply right away, considering. She"d never been one to trust in fate before. But the coincidence of the storm trapping them here gave her pause. "Maybe you"re right," she said finally. "Being snowed in has made me confront things I"ve been avoiding."

Connie smiled and gave Ariel"s arm a comforting pat. "If you need to talk, I"ll be here. I know a thing or two about love—its ups and downs." Connie looked toward the hallway and the stairs, and then back at Ariel.

Ariel met her earnest gaze. Bradford's mom had her own suspicions about her son's motives, it seemed. However uncertain she felt, Ariel knew she could trust Connie. "Thank you," she said softly. For now, that was enough.

"Where's Carl today?" Ariel asked, trying to steer the conversation away before it got too specific.

Connie harrumphed. "He's being a hermit. Doesn't like that we had to travel. Doesn't like being jostled out of his boring retirement routine. Doesn't like that mother nature doesn't bend to his whims."

Ariel nodded, returning her focus to the dough. "Maybe we can lure him out with chocolate souffle—that's on the dinner menu tonight."

Still, questions nagged at Ariel as she worked. Why had Bradford chosen Cliffside, of all places? She glanced at Connie, wondering just how much she knew about Ariel"s past with Bradford. She nearly asked outright, but held back. Patience, she reminded herself. In time, all would be revealed.

That certainty lasted all of about five minutes.

Taking a breath, Ariel decided to be direct. "Did Bradford ever...mention me? When we were in college?"

Connie hesitated, seeming to choose her words carefully. "He spoke very fondly of you, dear. I could tell you meant a great deal to him."

Ariel"s pulse quickened as her intuition was confirmed. Bradford had chosen this place intentionally, wanting to see her again. But why now, after all these years? What was his aim? A swirling vortex of emotion rose within her. Confusion, curiosity, uncertainty. Yet also, strangely, a faint glimmer of something she"d thought long buried - hope? Anticipation? Ariel wasn"t sure, and the not knowing left her off balance.

Ariel busied herself with placing the bread dough into covered dishes, and Connie appeared content to let her be, sipping cider with a knowing look. She set down her mug and said gently, "It"s alright to feel off-kilter, dear. I would, in your place."

Ariel paused her work, leaning against the counter. "I just don"t understand. Bradford and I were so long ago. Why would he want to dredge all that up now? There are a million B and Bs between Los Angeles and Maine."

Connie smiled. "Maybe it"s fate intervening. This storm has brought you two back together, just when you least expected it. Now, that might not be to reconnect romantically—Miles seems like the perfect fit for you, and we like Jessica well enough." She gestured at the falling snow. "But the timing can"t be an accident."

Ariel furrowed her brow. She had never put much stock in fate before. But the way they"d been snowed in here, the very place Bradford had chosen...it did seem uncanny.

Connie patted her hand reassuringly. "Don"t worry, I won"t say a word about your shared past. That"s for you and Bradford to work out." Her expression was kind. "But I believe there"s a reason you"re here. The heart works in mysterious ways. And you left things unsaid, maybe. I'd put money on the fact that he owes you some sort of apology."

Ariel nodded slowly. She would keep her own counsel for now, until she understood Bradford"s intentions. But it comforted her to know Connie could be trusted.

The older woman gave her a wink. "Now then, when's lunch?"

Ariel pointed to the pot of chili, still gently keeping warm on the stove. "Any time you'd like. Shall we call down the troops—Carl included?"

Connie nodded, though her eyes clouded with a little sadness. "We can certainly try."