Chapter 17

Seventeen

Elena

When I pulled into Reflections on Monday afternoon, the parking lot was nearly empty. I sighed, grateful to be back but apprehensive about catching up after an unexpected weekend away.

Misty looked up from the front desk as I walked in, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. “Ellie! I didn’t expect to see you today. You know you cleared your schedule. No clients until tomorrow.”

“I know,” I said, giving her a sheepish smile. “I just thought I’d check in, see how things were going without me.”

“Running smoothly, as always,” Misty said with a wink. “You’ve got a packed day tomorrow, though. Better rest up tonight.”

I nodded, a flicker of relief passing through me. The salon was in good hands, as it always was. Misty and the others provided the kind of dependable presence every business owner dreamed of, and I couldn’t thank her enough for that.

As I made my way to the break room, I hoped for a quiet moment to catch my breath and check in with Sarah. Luckily, she was seated at the table, sipping coffee between clients. She perked up when she saw me and set her mug down.

“Look who’s back!” Sarah said with a grin. “How was your weekend?”

“Eventful,” I said, settling into a chair across from her. “Cory’s building was completely destroyed by the fire.”

“Oh, what a mess,” Sarah shook her head.

Eager to be on time to pick up my son at school, I changed the subject. “Jake didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”

“Not at all,” Sarah replied, leaning back with a knowing smile. “Though he did try calling you this morning to ask how you and Cory were doing.”

I froze for a moment, heat rising to my cheeks. “I must’ve been… busy. I slept in,” I said, my voice a little too casual.

Sarah gave me a look but didn’t press. “Luke poked his head in earlier, by the way. He said he’d like you to stop by the gym when you get a chance.”

I let out a breath, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll swing by before I pick up Jake.”

Her expression softened. “You okay, Ellie? You seem… distracted.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Just catching up on everything.”

“Well, take it easy,” she said, reaching for her mug. “You’ve had a lot going on.”

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. “Thanks, Sarah. And thank you for taking care of Jake. I owe you a girls' night out for sure.”

“Looking forward to it,” she said with a grin.

I stood, hugging Sarah’s neck. “I’d better get moving. School will be out soon, so I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks again, my friend.”

“Anytime,” Sarah called as I left the room.

As I stepped outside, the late afternoon air felt refreshing. I hoped the conversation with Luke wouldn’t be as nerve-wracking as I feared, but there was only one way to find out. For now, I focused on the fact that everything at Reflections was running smoothly—one less thing to worry about in an increasingly complicated week.

The gym was alive with energy as I pulled into the parking lot. Through the glass doors, I could see a few people working out. The rhythmic clatter of weights and the hum of treadmills reached me before I stepped inside. The familiar scent of rubber mats and faintly lingering sweat hit me as I pushed the door open.

Luke was by the counter, his arms crossed as he chatted with a trainer. When he saw me, his face lit up, and he waved me over. “Hey there, glad you could stop by.”

I managed a smile, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Sarah said you wanted to see me.”

“Yeah,” he said, motioning toward the lounge area near the juice bar. “Come on, let’s talk.”

As I followed him, the weight of anticipation settled in my chest. Now seated, Luke leaned back in his chair, a sheepish expression crossing his features.

“I’ve got a confession to make,” he started, rubbing the back of his neck. “While I was at my sister’s birthday party, I ran into someone. My ex, actually.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” he said, letting out a chuckle. “Turns out, she’s been thinking about reaching out to me, and… well, we talked. A lot. We’ve decided to give things another shot.”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Relief and surprise tangled together in my mind. “That’s… wow, Luke. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks,” he said, smiling. “I wanted to tell you in person because I respect you. You’re great, but I think we both know things weren’t really going anywhere between us.”

I nodded, relaxing a little. “You’re right. And, honestly, I’ve been reconnecting with someone from my past too.”

He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity evident. “Really?”

“Jake’s father,” I admitted, watching his reaction closely. “It’s been a lot to process, but… it feels right.”

Luke leaned back, letting out a low whistle. “Well, how about that? Looks like we both got our hands full with the past coming back around.”

I laughed softly, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie. “I guess so.”

He leaned forward, his expression warm. “Just so you know, I’m happy for you. And if you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks, Luke,” I said, standing up. “And good luck with your ex. I hope things work out.”

“Same to you,” he replied, his grin returning. “Oh, and don’t think you’re getting out of those workouts. I expect to see you here next week.”

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days. “You got it.”

The tension I’d been carrying melted away as I left the gym. Luke’s confession had taken an unexpected turn, but I welcomed it. Now, I could focus on what really mattered—Jake and figuring out what the future held with Cory. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt like things were falling into place for the first time in a while, especially since he hadn’t really changed even with his billions.

When I arrived, the school parking lot was buzzing with activity. Kids streamed out of the doors, some rushing to meet waiting parents, others lingering with their friends, laughing and chatting. I spotted Jake near the basketball court, his backpack slung casually over one shoulder. He was deep in conversation with some of his friends, gesturing animatedly as he talked.

I honked lightly, catching his attention. His face lit up as he waved goodbye to his friends and jogged over to the car, sliding into the passenger seat.

“Hey, Mom!” he said, tossing his backpack into the backseat. “Guess what? I got an A on my math test. Mr. Parks says I’m doing better.”

“That’s great, Jake!” I said, grinning at his excitement. “Your hard work is paying off.”

As I pulled out of the parking lot, he leaned back in his seat, scrolling on his phone. “So… when’s Dad coming back?”

The question caught me off guard, but I was happy Jake was interested. “He’s working on some things in Dallas, but he should be back by the weekend.”

Jake nodded thoughtfully, his fingers idly swiping across the screen. “Cool.”

On our way home, we stopped at the deli to pick up sandwiches for dinner. The familiar smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air as we stepped inside. Jake knew exactly what he wanted, marching straight to the counter with the confidence of someone who had ordered the same thing a hundred times before.

“I’ll have a turkey and Swiss on wheat, with extra pickles, please,” he said with a grin. His excitement about the upcoming weekend was still evident in the way his eyes lit up.

I chuckled, placing my order for a light salad before joining him at the register. As we waited, Jake stood at the counter, talking about his day—how one of his friends showed him a new game on his phone at lunch break.

Once we had our food, we climbed back into the car, the aroma filling the space. Jake wasted no time unwrapping his sandwich, taking a big bite before settling back in his seat. “They always get it perfect here,” he said around a mouthful, his feet tapping against the floorboard in rhythm with whatever tune was playing in his head.

I smiled, watching him in the rearview mirror as I navigated the familiar streets back home. His energy was contagious. It was just a simple evening—a mom and her son sharing small joys on the way home. It was times like these that reminded me what really mattered.

“Mom,” he said between bites, “do you think Dad will ever live here, like… for good?”

The question made my heart skip a beat. “I don’t know, Jake. We’re still figuring things out. But no matter what, he’ll always be around for you.”

Jake nodded, accepting my answer, but I could see the wheels turning in his mind. His excitement about Cory’s return was evident; I couldn’t blame him. It was a lot for both of us to take in.

By the time we got home, Jake was buzzing with energy again, rushing to his room to do his homework. I watched him go with a heavy heart. His curiosity about Cory’s presence in our lives was only natural, but I still felt the weight of navigating this new chapter.

While Jake worked on his assignments, I spent the evening catching up with Cory on the phone. His soothing voice was a constant amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling through my mind. We talked about our day, sharing the little things that made us laugh. I told him about my conversation with Luke, and he chuckled, his warm laughter easing some of the tension that had been hanging over me.

“That’s good news,” Cory said. “It sounds like everything’s starting to align for all of us.”

“Maybe so,” I replied, feeling a flicker of hope. “It’s funny how life works sometimes.”

Cory hesitated before adding, “I wanted to let you know—I’m planning to stop by Beaver Creek before heading back to Cedar Cove. I need to see my folks, and my attorney will be helping me with the insurance claim on the Dallas building and contacting the real estate agent to put the house up for sale. It shouldn’t take too long, and I’ll be back by the weekend.”

I swallowed, surprised but understanding. “That makes sense… about the house, I mean. I don’t think it fits you, honestly.”

He chuckled, “Nope. It was just a short-lived fantasy.”

“They will be glad to see you,” I replied.

“They will be. And I want to tell them I’ve reconnected with you and that they have a new grandson,” Cory admitted. “And as much as I want to be back with you two, I must get this squared away.”

“I get it,” I said softly, appreciating his honesty. “Just keep me updated, okay?”

“Of course,” he replied, his tone warm. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

The conversation lingered in my mind even after we said goodnight. Something was grounding about how he worked to rebuild his life while balancing his time with Jake and me.”

Before I knew it, I heard Jake’s footfalls coming down the hall, and he stepped into my room. “Can you check this for me?” he asked, stifling a yawn.

I smiled, taking the notebook from him. “Of course.”

As I flipped through his homework, he rubbed his eyes and muttered, “Can’t wait ‘til the weekend.”

“Me neither, buddy,” I said softly.