Chapter 6

Ipromised myself I would take a break and spend my free time getting to know my family. But I was excited about the movie-theater project. It was the kind of thing I wanted to do in my regular job, but the hotels were too big and modern and lacked the historic details that Matthews Inn possessed.

When I called Daphne to see if she had time to hang out, she said she was spending the afternoon moving her things into their new house and could use the company.

When I arrived at her cottage, I joined her in Izzy's room. "I thought you were going to take things slow? See if Izzy was okay with moving in with Cole over time."

Daphne looked up from the box she was packing. "Izzy wants to live with Cole. She adores him. And he built that amazing kitchen for my business. It doesn't make sense to stay here anymore. Especially during the holiday season. I need the additional space."

"That makes sense." It felt like Daphne was moving on with her life in big ways, getting engaged to Cole, moving in together, and expanding her business while I was stuck. I was unhappy with my current job. I felt undervalued. Yet I didn't know what I should do.

"How are you feeling taking so much time off?" Daphne asked as we resumed packing Izzy's toys and books.

"It's an adjustment, but I've been busy."

"What have you been up to?"

I carefully stacked Izzy's books in a box. "This morning, Aiden brought me a tree and helped me decorate it."

Daphne stopped folding Izzy's clothes. "You know, when you didn't visit over the years, Teddy thought it had something to do with Aiden. That you'd dated in high school, and it ended badly. But you've never talked to me about it."

I shrugged. "There wasn't anything to talk about. We broke up when he enlisted. Then he was gone."

"You don't have any feelings about that?"

I chuckled without any humor. "I have lots of feelings about how we ended. None of them good."

Daphne resumed folding clothes and placing them in a suitcase. "You must be getting along if he decorated a tree with you."

"That's because I was the one who wanted more. We'd agreed that we'd move in together once I graduated. But he didn't wait. He enlisted. He said something about needing to prove himself, be a man. I don't know." I couldn't see past the pain.

Daphne's forehead wrinkled. "He was the one who broke things off?"

"It's worse than that. I was so young and immature. I proposed."

Daphne gasped, setting down the pants she'd been folding.

"I said I could move with him once he knew where he'd be stationed. But he didn't want a future with me. It was better to end things now."

Daphne touched my hand. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "It's okay. It was a long time ago."

"Still, that kind of rejection sticks with you."

I smiled to cover my pain. "It was a good learning experience. I didn't let myself get close to anyone else. It wasn't worth it. Not when I was so set to succeed in school and then my career."

"That's kind of sad. You let one moment dictate your future relationships."

I frowned, wondering if she was right. "I'm not ready to settle down, so there's no point in pursuing a relationship." I dated and had fun, but I never got serious. Work always came first. I made that clear to anyone I spent time with. Aiden's rejection was never far from my memory. Maybe that's why breaking up with Don wasn't even a blip on my radar. I wasn't emotionally invested in the relationship.

"Are you sure you're okay with spending time with him now?"

I flashed her a smile. "He was being nice bringing me a tree."

"Is that a service he provides to all his guests?" Daphne hadn't resumed packing, but I kept my gaze on the stack of books, rearranging them in the box.

"It's something Marley wants to do, but it's a lot of trees. I suggested making it a paid service. An add-on to the room."

"That's not a bad idea. But I don't understand why Aiden went out of his way to get you a tree. Especially if he didn't have any residual feelings for you."

"I think he feels guilty. That's the kind of guy he is. He feels badly he left Marley with their parents, and he feels regret over hurting me. But it's not necessary. I'm fine. I'm not that same girl." I wasn't that naive kid who thought I'd marry the love of my life, and that guy was Aiden. I wasn't sure I even believed in it anymore.

"I don't know."

"It doesn't mean anything." It couldn't. I wouldn't let it mean anything more than a nice gesture from an old friend. One who wanted to relieve his guilt over his part in the breakup.

"If you say so." Daphne resumed folding Izzy's clothes.

I wasn't used to sharing my feelings with anyone. I usually felt the need to put up walls, to keep people out. Mainly because I worked in a male-dominated field where emotion was frowned upon. Besides, I'd been vulnerable once, and it had bitten me in the ass. I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

"You have any boxes that can be taken to the truck?" Cole asked from the doorway.

"You're here," Daphne said as she stood and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He leaned down to give her a soft kiss.

I couldn't look away. The movement was so natural for them. As if they always greeted each other this way.

That was something I'd done when I was with Aiden. But we were teens and each other's first love. We felt things so deeply back then. I thought adult relationships were more practical, forged out of a friendship and a desire to be with one person the rest of your life. I hadn't expected the display of intimacy that Cole and Daphne were sharing.

Daphne stepped back and gestured at the few bags and boxes we'd managed to pack. "We have a few things ready, but we've been talking."

Cole crossed his arms over his chest. "About what?"

Daphne looked at me. "Fiona was telling me how she's spending some time with Aiden."

In an effort to stop her from telling the story about the tree, I interjected, "He wants to renovate the old movie theater in the basement of the inn. He asked if I'd help with the project."

Daphne dropped to her knees to put the last of the clothes in the suitcase. "Are you going to?"

"It's the kind of project I'd love to be involved with. But he's thinking about renovating the entire basement, and I won't be around long enough for that." It was probably best that I go back to my job in Chicago and look for a new one. I couldn't stay even if I wanted to see my family more often. Not with Aiden living here full time.

He may have moved on, but it was clear I had unresolved feelings when it came to him.

"Aiden mentioned that you'd dated when you were younger," Cole said.

I knew he'd talked to Aiden, and I wasn't sure what he'd told him. "We were young, and we went in two different directions. I was at college, and he enlisted. We wouldn't have worked."

Daphne's brow furrowed. "It sounded like you wanted a future with him. That you were willing to—"

"I don't want to talk about it. It's over. There's no point in rehashing what happened. We were young and stupid." I was an idiot to think that Aiden would want to stay with me. I was going through so much back then. My mom had died; I'd decided to stay in school. I wasn't willing to give it all up to go home and be another mother to my siblings, even though Teddy had done something similar.

Selfishly, I thought Aiden would join me, and we could rent an apartment together. That he could get a job doing something. I wasn't sure what.

"Sometimes, you only get that one chance at love," Cole said.

I waved a hand at the two of them. "You think that everyone can have what you share, but that's not realistic."

Cole took the filled bag of stuffed animals from Daphne. "Why not?"

"Because it doesn't always work out. People want different things, or they're in different stages of their lives. Or one person likes one more than the other."

Daphne frowned. "Is that what you think happened? You liked him more than he liked you."

"I was willing to follow him anywhere, and he obviously wasn't." He'd been very clear that day. There was no convincing him to do something different. He was determined to enlist and go it alone. He didn't want me following him.

"I don't want to break anyone's trust, but there're two sides to every story," Cole finally said.

I huffed a sigh of frustration. "If he doesn't tell me his side, how will I ever know? I'll just assume that we weren't right for each other." That he didn't want me. That was the truth that was the hardest to deal with.

My mother died, and he'd enlisted. I'd never felt so alone. I'd intentionally separated myself from my family so I didn't have them for comfort, and they were all dealing with their own issues.

"I was over him a long time ago. We can work together without any of that coming up." We'd already spent time together, and there wasn't any awkwardness. There was that one moment in the kitchen when I thought he was going to move closer and touch me, but he hadn't. I needed to stop looking for things that weren't there.

There was some saying about believing people when they told you who they were. Aiden hadn't wanted me, and nothing he said now would change that reality. He couldn't go back and change the past.

"I think we need to pick up the pace if we want Izzy to sleep in her new bedroom tonight," Cole said.

Daphne smiled softly at Cole. "I love that you allowed her to decorate it any way she wanted."

"Why wouldn't I? It's her home now."

I felt like I was intruding on a private moment. It was clear that Daphne was excited to move in with Cole. That this was a big step for their relationship, and she couldn't wait to live with him.

"I for one, can't wait to see how she decorated it. Let's get a move on." I moved quicker now that we weren't talking about my love life.

I focused on packing and vowed to be a better big sister. I'd be there for my siblings. I'd just have to find a way to keep in touch with them when I was back at work.

I helped Cole carry out the boxes and bags to his truck, and Daphne went to her room to pack her clothes and toiletries.

I carried a box outside.

Cole took it from me and threw it in the bed of his truck. "We'll need to make a few more trips. But this should be enough to have them settled for tonight."

I leaned against the side of the truck. "I'm happy you're in Daphne's and Izzy's lives. They obviously love you."

He threw the last of the bags into the back. "I love them too."

He'd defied his family's wishes when he dated Daphne, since their families had an ongoing rivalry. But he'd stood by his love for Daphne and Izzy. I admired that.

He cleared his throat. "I don't want you to think that love isn't available for you. That you can't have it if you want it."

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm not looking for love." And most likely never would be. I'd bury myself in work. That had always been effective in keeping my mind off my personal life.

Cole opened his mouth as if to say something, but Daphne came outside with a suitcase and a duffle bag.

He pushed off the truck and took the bags from her. "Did you get everything you need?"

Daphne's shoulders lowered. "We can come back and get the rest another day."

Cole carried her bags to the truck, and Daphne stopped in front of me. "We're having dinner tonight at Cole's. I want to show everyone the house and my new kitchen. I'd like for you to come."

"I'll be there." I didn't expect that Aiden would need me to work on the movie theater today. It might take a few days for Heath to check out the space and write up an estimate.

Daphne exchanged a concerned look with Cole. "It's just that Cole invited Aiden. They're friends."

"I can hang out with Aiden. I told you we're working together on the movie-theater project."

"Yeah, but this is different. It's more of a relaxed setting. I just wanted to be careful of your feelings."

I flashed her a smile. "I told you; Aiden and I were over a long time ago. Looking back, we were never anything. Everyone has that first love. It doesn't mean you're supposed to be together forever. We can hang out together as friends."

Daphne placed her arm around me as she walked me to my rental car. "I'm starting to think you're protesting too much."

Her arm fell away when we reached my driver's side door. "We hung out this morning, and there was zero awkwardness."

Daphne scrutinized my face. "I'm just worried about you."

If my heart held out hope that we could reconnect while I was in town, my brain would overrule it. There was no way I'd let Aiden hurt me again. But I was safe because he was unaffected by my presence. "You don't need to worry about me. I've always been the strong one."

Daphne narrowed her eyes on me. "Dad said you're strong on the outside but soft on the inside."

I laughed. "I'm going to have a conversation with him, because I'm tough. We had to be growing up with five brothers."

Daphne hugged me. "I'm so glad you're home. I wish you could stay."

"Me too." I swallowed over the lump in my throat. It wouldn't be a good idea to stick around. I needed to cut ties and to go back where I was safe. Where my heart was protected.

I followed Cole's truck to his new house. I'd only seen pictures of it before. The house itself was hidden from the road by tall trees. A tire swing hung from one in the front yard, and there was a swing on the porch.

Inside, we immediately got to work setting up Izzy's things so it would be ready for her when she got home. Her bedroom had white furniture, a pink canopy, and a full-length mirror with flowers on the edges.

Fiona touched the details on the frame of the mirror. "She's still a little girl, but she's going to want big girl things soon too."

"I think she's going to love the cozy chairs." There was a round one and one that hung from the ceiling.

"I wanted her to be comfortable here. I know it's a transition moving. We lived with Dad for the first few years. Although I don't know if she remembers it," Daphne said.

Cole poked his head in. "The bus is dropping her off here?"

Fiona nodded. "I double-checked with the school this morning."

"Is Dad going to be upset that you're moving off the farm?" I asked her.

"He understands, and I think he wants Izzy to have a father figure. He wants her to have everything, and he knows this is what's best for us." Then she smiled wide. "If you're so worried about him, you could stay in my cottage."

"I might do that. Although I'm kind of enjoying the service at the hotel." I had a decorated tree and breakfast downstairs waiting for me. And Aiden. As much as my brain knew it wasn't a good idea to be around him, my body and heart felt differently.

Daphne winked at me. "I bet you are."

"Ugh. I didn't mean that." I couldn't help but think about what it would be like if Aiden snuck into my room at night and serviced me. Now I was hot and bothered in front of my sister and future brother-in-law.

"You think she'll like the lights?" Cole turned on the string of lights he'd hung on the ceiling.

"She's going to love it." What little girl wouldn't? I was so happy for Daphne and Izzy. They were getting everything they'd ever wanted. If I felt a pang of loneliness, that was to be expected. It wouldn't be the first time I felt these emotions if I was going to continue to dedicate myself to my career.

Daphne glanced at her phone. "Speaking of the bus. It's due any minute."

Both of them hurried out of the room as if they couldn't wait to see Izzy and show her to her new space. It was heartwarming to see Cole want to meet Izzy at the bus stop. I couldn't have asked for a better man for my sister.

I took a few pictures of the room. Then sent one to Aiden. I wasn't sure why I did it. We'd spent a good portion of the morning together, and I wanted to share this with him too. He was friends with Cole, so hopefully he wouldn't think it meant anything more than it was—a friend sharing her day with him.

Her room looks great. Make sure you get a good picture of her reaction when she sees it.

I heard the front door open and close and voices getting closer.

I typed out a quick response so I could get in position to take Izzy's picture.

On it.

I was very aware that this was a private moment with a new family, and I should have left them alone, but at the same time, I wanted to document the moment. I started the video when Izzy ran into the room and skidded to a stop.

"There're lights."

Cole moved close to her. "You picked out the furniture, and we chose a few other things you might like. I hung the lights, and your mom picked out the mirror."

"You might not need it now, but when you're a teenager—"

Izzy stood in front of the mirror with her hands on her hips. "Is it a magical mirror? Can I step through it and into another land?"

We all chuckled at her question, and Daphne said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's just a regular mirror."

"I think it's magical," Izzy said as she turned and jumped into Cole's arms. He seemed to anticipate her movement and crouched at the exact moment so he easily caught her. The video was still rolling, and I didn't want to stop. Daphne hugged both of them.

Sensing it was time for me to leave. I turned off the video and quietly snuck out. I was happy for them, but the sensation of loneliness persisted.