Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The morning at the inn had been insanely busy, and Caroline found herself desperately in need of a break by the time the afternoon rolled around. She bundled up, deciding to go for a walk. It was sunny and cold outside, her favorite kind of winter day, and she thought she could use the fresh air.

As she headed outside, she found herself heading toward the tree where the notebook was stashed. This time, instead of feeling vaguely hopeful that it might be there, maybe with another entry, she felt like she was going there with purpose. After the date with Rhett, she felt like she had so many thoughts and feelings that she couldn’t quite express comfortably to her friends or even to Nora. She’d never been good at talking out loud about how she felt. But to her faceless, anonymous pen pal, she could express them in writing. She wouldn’t have to worry about being judged or seeing the expressions or hearing the reactions and wondering what they really thought about how she felt.

She could say whatever was in her mind and heart, and it would be okay. And she’d feel better afterward.

The day was beautiful, snowflakes tumbling down from the trees with the slight breeze, and after the happiness of her date, her heart felt full. She felt lighter and more carefree than she had in a long time, and as she arrived at the tree, she didn’t sit down on the bench quite yet. The sunlight was spilling over the snow, the sky blue and wide overhead, and as another breeze sent a flurry of snow fluttering off of the tree branches, she threw her arms out and spun in a circle as she tried to catch some of them on her tongue.

It was the kind of thing she hadn’t done since she was a very young girl. She could barely remember it, remember the last time she’d felt relaxed and free enough to just let loose like that, and not think about everything else that she needed to focus on. To forget about her responsibilities, just for a minute.

She spun and spun, until she felt faintly dizzy, coming to a stop with her eyes closed.

“Caroline?”

Rhett’s voice broke through her thoughts, and she opened her eyes with a small, startled yelp, her face flushing as she realized he’d caught her.

Despite her embarrassment, her heart leapt a little as she saw him there. He looked handsome and rugged, standing in the snow with his hands tucked into his leather jacket, some of the flakes caught in his dark hair.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice lightly teasing. “It looks like fun.”

“Nothing,” Caroline said quickly, still feeling embarrassed to have been caught spinning around in the snow. She thought of the notebook she’d been planning to find and write another entry in. She wasn’t going to sit and do that now, with Rhett here. But she wasn’t disappointed. Between writing to her mystery pen pal and spending time with Rhett, she thought, she’d choose Rhett any day.

“It looked nice.” Rhett walked over toward her as another gust of wind blew more flakes off of the tree, spinning in a circle and sticking his tongue out to catch them. Caroline let out a surprised laugh, her eyes widening.

He was so relaxed. So carefree. She didn’t think she’d ever met a man so unworried about what anyone else thought of him, so willing to just try things. It was so much the opposite of her that she couldn’t grasp why he liked her so much, but at the same time, she thought it was good for her. He was unwinding her, a little at a time. Teaching her to have fun again.

“I was just going for a walk,” Caroline said, shaking the snow out of her hair. “It’s a nice day, and it was a crazy morning at the inn. I needed some fresh air.”

“Well, I’ve got some time before I need to pick Jay up from school. Can I join you?” Rhett smiled. “Or we could grab a coffee.”

Take a risk, Caroline thought, and she nodded.

“I like the sound of that,” she said softly, and the two of them started to walk side by side, headed back toward town and laughing and joking as they went.

The next day, Caroline felt more lighthearted than she thought she ever had as she made her way through the inn, cleaning rooms and making beds, getting them ready for the next set of guests. She found herself humming as she worked, feeling cheerful and happy, and she didn’t see her mother walking in at first until Rhonda spoke up.

“You seem especially happy today,” Rhonda said, carrying a vase of fresh flowers into the room and setting them on the dresser. “It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the date you went on with that handsome firefighter, would it?” She smiled at her daughter, and Caroline flushed a little.

“The date was really nice,” she admitted, hesitating slightly as she looked at her mother. She didn’t talk about her feelings or worries or hopes very often. It felt like burdening others with things that were hers to deal with. But her mother was here, clearly opening up a conversation about it, and Caroline thought it might be good for her to talk about it. Maybe it was time she started opening up to the people in her life more, instead of just to a book.

“I’m a little afraid to get my hopes up,” she said, smoothing her hands over the bedspread as she finished making the bed. “He’s wonderful. Handsome and gentlemanly and exactly my type. But it hasn’t worked out in the past. And it’s hard for me to see why it would work out now. It worked for Nora, but—” Caroline frowned. “I just don’t know if that kind of happy ending is for me.”

Rhonda let out a small sigh, leaning back against the dresser.

“Your life has been very different from your sisters’,” she said slowly. “Margo took off, and so did Nora, and you stayed here. It’s been wonderful, having you so close all your life. I’m so glad that I’ve always had one of my daughters here with me. But your whole life has been this inn, and us, and Evergreen Hollow. Nora went and had her excitement, and then came back and settled down. Maybe it’s time for you to have a little of your own excitement. Even if it doesn’t work out, isn’t the experience worth it?”

“Maybe.” Caroline bit her lip, dusting off the side table. “But… it’s scary.”

“Of course it is,” Rhonda agreed. “Most things that can enrich your life are. All adventures are, really. But you deserve to have an opportunity at love. And Rhett seems amazing. Handsome and gentlemanly, just like you said.”

She crossed the room to Caroline, reaching out to gently embrace her daughter.

“You’ve always been responsible and looked after everyone else,” Rhonda said firmly, holding Caroline’s arms as she looked at her. “You should enjoy this. Give it a chance.”

As if the conversation had summoned him, Caroline saw her phone buzzing where she’d left it on the dresser, Rhett’s name on the screen. “I think his ears are burning,” she joked weakly, and Rhonda smiled, going to leave the room.

“You should invite him to dinner,” she said, just as she walked out and left Caroline to the phone call.

Caroline nodded, waving her off as she answered the phone with her heart fluttering in her chest.

“How are you feeling today?” Rhett asked, and Caroline sank down onto the edge of the freshly made bed. She felt thoroughly, blissfully happy at the sound of his voice, but she didn’t think she could exactly say that.

“I’m great,” she said instead. “I loved our date. It was perfect. And I’ve really enjoyed all our little meet-ups since.”

“So have I.” Rhett hesitated, and her heart flipped in her chest. “You know, Jay really likes you too. I was wondering if you might want to come over to the house tomorrow evening, for a little while. And then we’ll go to dinner after.”

She couldn’t stop the giddy smile that spread over her face at that. “Sure,” she agreed quickly. “What should I wear?”

“Something nice,” Rhett said. “I want to treat you, so no hiking this time.”

“That sounds wonderful. I’ll see you tomorrow night, then.”

She felt a flush of happiness wash over her as she hung up the phone, anticipating the following night. Her mother had been right, she thought.

She should give it a chance, and see where this could go.