Chapter TWENTY TWO

Ariel lay awake in her bedroom, the soft cotton sheets tangled around her legs as she tossed and turned, struggling to find a comfortable position. Her mind was too consumed with racing thoughts to allow her any rest; it had been a long day, and the anticipation of what tomorrow held only fueled her restlessness.

The dimly lit bedroom was bathed in silver moonlight that seeped through the sheer curtains, casting an ethereal glow on the familiar surroundings. The antique dresser stood silently against the wall, its polished surface reflecting the faint light from outside. Beside it, the wooden rocking chair where Ariel"s mother used to sit and read her bedtime stories creaked ever so softly, as if in tune with the rhythm of her troubled thoughts.

A shadow of nostalgia hung in the air, the memories of her youth now intermingled with the challenges of her present life. As much as she tried to focus on the positive aspects – her successful career, her lifelong dream of owning a BB – the weight of recent events pressed down on her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her ability to think clearly.

One thought did keep breaking through—how harsh she had been to Miles. She understood that relationships were a delicate balance of giving and taking. It had been easy, too easy, for her expectations to soar, especially around a day so commercially charged with notions of romance and grandeur as Valentine"s Day. But as she lay there, a new understanding dawned on her.

They were both business owners, partners in life who navigated the ebb and flow of their responsibilities together. Miles, despite the demands of his work as a fisherman, had always been there for her, supporting her endeavors, lending a hand at the inn whenever he could. His acts of service, often quiet and unassuming, were his way of showing love, just as valid and meaningful as any grand gesture could ever be.

The realization struck Ariel with a profound clarity. In the midst of a blizzard, when the town itself seemed to hunker down under the weight of the snow, she had let her expectations of Valentine"s Day cloud her judgment. Yet, there she had been, caught up in what she had expected, rather than appreciating what was—Miles"s love and effort.

As Ariel stared up at the ceiling, the intricate patterns of the wallpaper swirling above her thoughts seemed to take on new shapes, each one reflecting a different aspect of her life – and Ariel"s thoughts seemed to take on a life of their own, building up inside her until the pressure threatened to burst forth like a dam. She knew that the only way to find peace would be to confront the challenges head-on and seek resolution – but first, she had to face the coming day and all it might bring.

In the midst of her racing thoughts, Ariel suddenly became aware of a faint sound that seemed to come from somewhere outside her bedroom. It was a gentle rustling, barely audible against the backdrop of the still night, but enough to pique her curiosity and momentarily distract her from the weight of her own emotions.

She sat up in bed, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room as she tried to pinpoint the source of the mysterious noise. The pale moonlight filtering through the curtains cast eerie shadows on the walls, giving the familiar surroundings an almost ethereal quality. As the sound persisted, Ariel couldn"t help but feel an odd sense of intrigue – what could be causing such a disturbance in the otherwise peaceful night?

With a mixture of reluctance and curiosity, she slid out of bed and tiptoed across the wooden floor, the cool planks creaking softly beneath her feet. As she drew closer to the window, the rustling grew louder, now accompanied by a series of soft taps. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the curtain, before finally gathering the courage to pull it aside and peer into the darkness beyond.

Just as she was about to dismiss the sounds as a figment of her imagination, a gust of wind blew a cluster of leaves against the windowpane, their delicate forms brushing against the glass before being carried away into the night. A sigh of relief escaped her lips – the mysterious presence was nothing more than nature playing its nocturnal symphony. With her heart rate slowly returning to normal, she let the curtain fall back into place and crawled back into bed, the lingering curiosity replaced by a renewed determination to face the challenges of the coming day.

***

As the first light of dawn crept into the room, Ariel stirred from her restless sleep, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal the familiar sight of her bedroom. The events of the previous day felt like a distant memory, their intensity softened by the morning light.

She turned her head to glance at the empty space beside her – a clear sign that Miles was already up and about. The realization settled in Ariel"s stomach like a stone, the weight of the impending conversation between them threatening to suffocate her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

"Good morning," she called out tentatively as she entered the kitchen, her eyes immediately drawn to Jessica, who stood by the stove, brewing coffee with a distant expression on her face. No Miles in sight.

"Morning," Jessica replied, her tone neutral but not unkind. She handed Ariel a steaming mug, their fingers brushing for a brief moment before they both retreated into their own thoughts, sipping the hot liquid in silence.

Ariel knew that the time had come to confront the unresolved issues between them, to untangle the web of emotions that had ensnared them both. But first, they needed to navigate the treacherous waters of Valentine"s Day, a day meant for love and connection amidst a storm of uncertainty and doubt. As she looked around the cozy kitchen, the warm sun casting its golden glow over the familiar scene, she couldn"t help but wonder what the day would bring and how it would ultimately shape their futures.

Ariel took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she gathered her courage. "Jess, I...I need to tell you how sorry I am," she began, her voice trembling with the weight of her remorse. "For not speaking up sooner, for letting things go this far without telling you about Bradford and me."

Jessica walked to the kitchen window and stared out, not replying.

"Jessica?" Ariel said softly. "Can we talk?"

Jessica turned, her eyes brimming with tears. "Did you know? That he was bringing everyone here so that he could see you again? And you never said a word?"

Ariel sighed, sitting down on the cushioned bench beneath the window. "Honestly, it didn"t even occur to me that's why he was here. I was surprised when he showed up. Bradford and I were over so long ago. I can't say that Bradford showing up didn't stir up old questions and old feelings."

She placed a gentle hand on Jessica"s arm. "But I should have realized it might be upsetting for you to find out like that. I"m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

Jessica looked down, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I just feel so stupid. Like everyone knew this big secret except me."

"No, no, it wasn"t like that," Ariel insisted. "Bradford and I agreed not to make a big deal of our past. We didn"t tell anyone. Well, Randall knew, but he was around at the time."

She squeezed Jessica"s hand. "I swear, it kills me to see you upset like this. I really like you, Jess. And you have nothing to worry about—I'm crazy about Miles, and I would never jeopardize our marriage for some old flame."

Jessica wiped her eyes, starting to calm down. "I guess I overreacted. It was just a shock, you know? Why didn't he tell me—I understand it was nothing to you, but to Bradford? What went through his mind? He didn't even come to bed last night. I think he slept in the living room."

A habit for the Barlowe men, Ariel thought wryly.

Ariel nodded, relief flooding through her. "I completely understand. And I don't know. I"m still sorry I didn"t realize how it might affect you."

Jessica stared at her for a long moment, her eyes searching Ariel"s face as if seeking the truth in her words. A crease formed between her eyebrows, hinting at the turmoil within.

"Thank you for saying that," Jessica said finally, her voice tight with restrained emotion. "It means a lot to me that you"re being honest now. But it doesn"t change the fact that he kept it from me too. I can"t help but wonder what else he might be hiding."

"I know it"s hard to trust after something like this, but you have to believe me when I say that Bradford truly loves you. The past is just that – the past. We were both young and foolish, and we"ve grown since then."

Jessica shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. "I want to believe you, Ariel, but it"s so difficult. I feel like my whole world has been turned upside down, and I don"t know what"s real anymore." Her voice broke, revealing the raw ache in her heart.

"Hey," Ariel said softly, pulling Jess down to the bench and into a tender embrace. "We"ll get through this together, okay? I promise, no more secrets. Let"s just focus on today and making it special for you and Bradford. You deserve happiness, Jess, and I"ll do everything in my power to make sure you find it."

As Jessica leaned into the hug, allowing herself to be held, the tension in her body seemed to lessen ever so slightly.

"Okay," Jessica whispered, her voice barely audible as she pulled away and wiped her eyes. Jessica managed a small smile. "Apology accepted." She met Ariel"s gaze. "No more secrets between us, deal?"

"Deal. Now, go get dressed. I have a huge brunch planned, and you need to knock your husband-to-be off his feet."

Ariel"s heart swelled with determination as she watched Jessica retreat to her room, the weight of their conversation settling onto her shoulders. She knew that in order to truly make amends and mend the frayed edges of their relationship, she needed to confront Bradford and bring everything out into the open. The thought both excited and terrified her – but she owed it to Jessica, and to herself.

"Alright, Ariel," she whispered under her breath, her resolve firming. "You can do this."

***

With each step she took toward the living room where Bradford would likely be waiting, her pulse quickened, a mix of anxiety and anticipation coursing through her veins. She couldn"t predict how he would react, but she had to try.

As she reached the doorway, the sight of Bradford sitting on the couch, his hair sticking up at odd angles from a restless night, his guitar cradled in his lap, momentarily stole her breath away. The familiar sight stirred up a storm of emotions within her – nostalgia, sadness, even a flicker of unresolved attraction. But she pushed it all aside, focusing solely on her mission.

"Bradford," she said, her voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach. "We need to talk."

He looked up at her, surprise etched across his features. "Ariel, I—" he began, but she held up a hand, stopping him.

"Let me speak first, please." She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts as she sat at the end of the couch. "Jessica and I talked about our past—yours and mine. And while I understand why you might have wanted to keep it hidden, it has hurt her deeply. We need to clear the air, for her sake and for the sake of your future together."

Bradford"s eyes flickered with a mixture of guilt and defiance, his fingers tightening around the neck of his guitar. "I never meant to hurt her," he said quietly. "I just didn"t want our past to overshadow what Jess and I have now."

Ariel nodded, understanding his perspective but not allowing it to sway her. "I know, but secrets always have a way of coming to light. We can"t change the past, but we can be honest about it and try to make things right going forward."

For a moment, silence hung heavily in the air as they stared at one another, the tension between them palpable. Ariel took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say next.

"Bradford, I need you to promise me that from this moment on, there will be no more secrets between you and Jessica. Your relationship is built on love and trust – don"t let anything jeopardize that. Do you understand?"

His gaze held hers, the depth of emotion in his eyes almost overwhelming. But then he nodded slowly, a solemn vow passing between them. "I promise, Ariel. No more secrets."

"Good," she said softly, her heart aching with both relief and sorrow. She knew that her own feelings for Bradford would remain just that – her own. It was time for them all to move forward, together yet apart. And as she turned away, preparing herself for whatever the future might hold, she couldn"t help but feel that perhaps that was how it was always meant to be.

As Ariel looked into Bradford"s eyes, she felt a rush of memories flood her mind – moments that they had shared together, as well as the bitter pain of their parting.

"Bradford," she began hesitantly, her voice wavering slightly as she spoke. "Seeing you again after all these years... it"s brought up so many emotions I thought I had left behind. I can"t help but feel confused and unsure about everything that happened between us."

With a gentle nod, Bradford encouraged her to continue, his own eyes reflecting an understanding that seemed to say he"d been grappling with similar thoughts.

"Sometimes I wonder if things could have been different," Ariel confessed, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns woven into the fabric beneath them. "If we hadn"t let our dreams and ambitions pull us apart... would we still be together? What would our lives look like now?"

As she spoke, images of an alternate reality flickered through her mind – one where they had built a life together, perhaps even running a cozy little BB like the one they now found themselves in.

"I"ve thought about that too," Bradford admitted softly, his gaze never leaving hers. "In quiet moments, when the world fades away and it"s just me and my guitar, I find myself wondering what could have been. But, Ariel, we were young and full of dreams. We wanted to conquer the world, and sometimes that means making choices that break your heart."

Ariel sighed, her eyes filling with unshed tears as she acknowledged the truth in Bradford"s words. They had both been so determined to forge their own paths, to chase after the dreams they held dear – even if it meant leaving each other behind.

"Thank you for listening to me," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I needed to get these feelings off my chest, and I"m grateful we could have this honest conversation."

"Of course," Bradford replied, his hand reaching out to briefly squeeze hers in a gesture of comfort and understanding. "We may have moved on with our lives, but that doesn"t mean our past together doesn"t hold significance. It"s important to remember where we came from and the people who shaped us along the way. And to be honest, I don"t know what I came here expecting—I love Jess, but you"ve always been a what-might-have-been in my mind."

"And that's why you booked the inn?" she questioned.

"Yes—I mean, I wasn't trying to get you back. I think I just wanted to see if you had been successful after me. If you had found love, too. Maybe a part of me wanted to see that you were happy so that I wouldn't feel so bad about leaving you. Or about finding my own happiness."

"You could have called," she joked.

"That would have been the easy way. And you would have missed charades."

"Life is funny, isn"t it?" Ariel mused, laughing, her gaze drifting towards the horizon out the front window. "All those years ago, we thought we had everything figured out. But here we are now, living completely different lives."

Bradford chuckled softly, his eyes meeting hers. "That"s true. But I think that"s what makes life so interesting – the unpredictability of it all. And even though we"ve taken different paths, I believe we"ve both ended up where we"re meant to be. I see that now. You have a good life."

Ariel nodded, feeling the truth in his words. She glanced at her hands, remembering the warmth of his touch in the past. Their connection was undeniable, yet deep down, she knew they belonged with others.

"Remember that time we skipped class to watch the sunrise at the beach?" Bradford asked, his voice filled with nostalgia. "We stayed there all day, talking about our dreams and what we hoped to achieve."

A small smile graced Ariel"s lips as the memory flooded back to her. "Yes, I remember. We were so young and full of ambition. It"s amazing how much we"ve grown since then."

"Indeed," he agreed, his expression softening. "And while our dreams may have changed, I"m glad to see you"ve followed your passion for food. You always had such a talent for creating culinary masterpieces—even when you only had a hotplate."

"Thank you," she replied, touched by his compliment. "And you – your music career has truly taken off. I"ve heard some of your songs. They"re beautiful, just like the ones you used to write for me."

"Those were special times," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But I think we can both agree that we"ve found happiness with other people. Our love was wonderful while it lasted, but it was just one chapter in our lives."

Ariel looked into Bradford"s eyes, feeling a bittersweet ache in her heart. She knew he was right. As much as their past held a special place in her heart, she had moved on and built a life without him. And so had he.

"Here"s to the memories," she raised an imaginary glass, and Bradford did the same, their eyes locked in mutual understanding.

"Cheers," he echoed, and they shared a silent toast to their past, acknowledging the depth of their connection while accepting that they had moved on.

"I think it"s important that we acknowledge the happiness we"ve found in our current relationships. Just so you know, I would never leave Miles,"

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You"re right. I"m incredibly grateful for the love and support my fiancée has given me throughout the years. She"s been my rock, especially during the more challenging times in my career."

Ariel smiled, happy to hear the genuine affection in his voice as he spoke of Jessica. She folded her hands in her lap, feeling the comforting weight of her own wedding ring. "And I"ve found true happiness with Miles. We share the same passions and dreams, and he"s helped me realize that I can achieve any goal, no matter the hurdles."

"See? We"ve both found the people who are right for us," Bradford said, his warm smile reflecting the relief both felt knowing they had made the correct choices in their lives. "Our paths have taken us to different places, but they"ve led us to the love and happiness we deserve."

"Exactly," Ariel agreed, feeling a mix of emotions wash over her – sadness for what could have been, but also joy and contentment for the lives they had built apart from each other. "We could have been a great match, but life had other plans for us. And that"s okay."

"More than okay," Bradford echoed, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It"s brought us to where we are now – on the brink of new chapters with the people we love."

"Thank you, Bradford," Ariel said, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "This conversation has meant more to me than I can express. I needed this closure, and I"m so grateful we could share it together."

"Me too, Ariel," he replied, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze before releasing it. "I wish you all the happiness in the world."

He pulled her off the arm of the couch and into a hug, and Ariel laughed and returned the embrace, smiling.

Bradford stood up, a look of resolve on his face. "I should go find Jessica and apologize," he said. "I"ve been so caught up in my own emotions, I haven"t been there for her the way I should have."

Ariel nodded, understanding the importance of mending bridges. "That sounds like a good idea. She"ll appreciate it, Bradford."

He gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ariel. And thank you for this talk. It"s helped clear a lot of things for me."

Ariel watched him leave, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. The conversation had brought closure and understanding, a balm to old wounds. She turned and made her way to the kitchen, ready to start on brunch. As she walked, she thought about the events of the past day. Fixing things with Bradford and helping Jessica felt good, but there were still unresolved issues closer to home.

Katie was mad at her, understandably so. Ariel knew she had to find a way to reconnect with her daughter, to explain her concerns without infringing on her growing independence. And then there was Miles. Their argument still hung heavily in the air, a barrier that needed to be addressed.

As she entered the kitchen, the familiar scents and sounds enveloped her, offering a sense of comfort and control in the midst of emotional chaos. She busied herself with the preparations, her mind working through the best ways to approach Katie and Miles. She knew it wouldn"t be easy, but the conversations needed to happen. They were a family, after all, and families worked through things together.