Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

“Can we get some popcorn, Aunt Elle?” Emily pointed at the old-fashioned popcorn cart in front of the Foghorn Deli.

“Why not?” The words had barely left Elle’s lips before her niece was tugging them across the town square.

Opening day of the Christmas Bazaar had dawned bright and sunny, with a promised high of a balmy sixty degrees. Perfect weather to attract a throng of tourists to downtown Chances Inlet. The merchants throughout the town greeted Elle with a warm smile and a wave. They’d been showering her with gratitude all week as though she’d somehow single-handedly lured customers into their shops.

“Don’t be surprised if they give you the key to the city next,” Hayden joked as he kept pace next to her.

“I didn’t do anything other than post a few videos and blogs,” she argued.

The owner of the deli handed Emily a bag of popcorn. “This one is on the house. Payback for your aunt’s help with getting my social media some traction.” He beamed at Elle. “Don’t discount your talents, young lady. We wouldn’t have gotten this kind of boon in business without you.”

Elle offered him a gracious smile. “I would argue that Mother Nature played a bigger hand in this than I did, but thank you. I’m glad people are finding our town.”

Emily scampered ahead toward the toy store.

“Did you hear what you just said?” Hayden asked as they walked behind Emily. “You called it ‘our town’.”

The hope in his voice wasn’t hard to miss. They’d both been avoiding any talk about their future. It came as no surprise that he wanted her to find her way back to their hometown permanently. Especially since he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in leaving Chances Inlet.

She got it. This quirky little town was his safety net. His comfort zone. Hayden no longer had to prove himself to anyone. He’d faced down several of life’s greatest challenges and won. Accomplishments met and exceeded.

Too bad Elle couldn’t say the same.

“This is my town, too,” she told him. “In case you forgot, I was born here.” Linking her arm through his, she rested her cheek against his shoulder. “No matter where I live, Chances Inlet will always be home. After all, the most important people in my life live here.”

He heaved a weary sigh.

“Timothy Hayden Lovell.”

Claire Lovell’s voice had Elle shrugging her arm out from under Hayden’s in order to put some distance between their bodies.

“No need to be so formal, Mom.” Hayden reached out an arm and gave his mother a side-hug. “Wow. This looks great.” He gestured to the rows of tables displaying the various crafts Knotical’s knitting club was offering for sale.

Elle reached for one of the Santa Claus knit doorknob covers. “We had some of these growing up. I always loved them. I wonder what my mom did with them when she moved to the inn? Maybe I should get some new ones of my own.”

Hayden’s mother made a sound of disgust before snatching up the remaining four Santas and slipping them into a plastic bag. “This is my last set, and Livi mentioned she’d enjoy having them. I’ve invited her to dinner next week. You can give them to her then, Hayden.”

The glare she aimed at Elle said “checkmate.” Elle bit back her gasp. For the past ten years, Claire Lovell made no secret of her loathing. One would have thought she’d be used to the other woman’s animosity by now.

Except she wasn’t. The woman standing before her was once like a second mother to Elle. Hayden’s mother’s hatred cut deeply every time their paths crossed. If Elle needed another reason why she and Hayden weren’t meant for the long haul, Claire Lovell was it.

“Mother,” Hayden snapped.

Elle pressed a hand to his arm. “It’s fine. I didn’t realize Livi wanted them, too. Of course she should have them. I’m sure my mom has her set somewhere. I’ll ask her about them later.” She’d never endured a more painful smile than the one she gave to Claire. “I hope you have a successful bazaar,” she managed to say before turning and taking Emily’s hand. “Come on, Ems. Let’s go get our picture taken with Kringle.”

She didn’t bother waiting for Hayden to finish his whispered, heated exchange with his mother.

Kate suddenly appeared by her side. “Honestly, that woman needs to get a serious grip.”

Elle tried to shrug it off, but her sister was having none of it.

“I’m serious, Elle. Don’t you dare let that woman get to you. She has no right to treat you that way.”

“I run into her once or twice a year. It’s easy to let it roll off me,” she lied.

Kate stepped in front of Elle, halting their progress. “Emily, Daddy is over at the Bed and Biscuit helping with Kringle’s photo booth. You go ahead, and we’ll meet you there in a minute.”

With a cheery “Okay,” Emily dropped Elle’s hand and skipped away.

“It’s fine, Kate. Really,” Elle insisted.

Of course, Kate ignored her. “Once or twice a year? What you’re saying then is that whatever is going on between you and Hayden is a simple case of friends with benefits?”

Elle took the easy out her sister was unintentionally offering. “Yeah, sure.”

It wasn’t technically a lie. She and Hayden had been dancing around the relationship status discussion for over a week. Yet, given all the obstacles in their relationship, friends with benefits might be the only option that worked for them.

The very thought made Elle’s throat tight, though.

“Bullshit.” Kate glared at her from behind her glasses. “This”—she gestured at Elle and presumably toward Hayden somewhere behind them— “has been building for a very long time. It’s not some casual fling. You are each other’s destiny. And don’t you dare insult me—or yourself—by pretending it’s anything else.” Her sister’s voice cracked. “If that woman is the reason you two aren’t going to make a go of this, I swear, I’ll?—”

Elle stopped her sister’s tirade with a hug. Her throat was so clogged with emotion, it hurt to speak. “If only it were that simple,” she managed to say.

“Love is supposed to be simple,” Kate murmured against Elle’s hair. “I wish it could be that way for you. I want you to have everything you’ve always dreamed of.”

Her sister’s words hit Elle square in the chest. How could she explain that she wasn’t like Kate? That she’d never really “dreamed” of a specific future? That her only goal was to live up to the family name, except she had no idea how to accomplish that? Kate would think she was being ridiculous.

“Elle?” Hayden came up beside them.

Kate brushed back a piece of Elle’s hair as she stepped out of their embrace. She offered up a wane smile. “At the risk of repeating myself, I’m here whenever you need to talk.” With a nod to Hayden, she wandered off in the direction Emily had taken.

“I’m so sorry, Elle. I don’t understand why my mom continues to behave the way she does.”

She waved his apology away. “It’s okay.” The lies just kept on coming.

He opened his mouth to say more, but a call came over his radio. Something about someone burning trash without a permit.

Hayden groaned. “Guess my lunch break is over early.”

Elle patted him on the chest. “Go protect and serve.”

“See you tonight?”

“Of course.” She was like a moth to a flame.

He made a move as if he were going to kiss her, but Elle stepped back and shook her head.

Hayden let out another one of those weary sighs of his. “Yeah. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Save it for tonight, Deputy.” She hoped the words came out more playful than she felt right now. Her head swam with so many conflicting emotions that maintaining her composure proved difficult. Without waiting on his response, she turned on her heel and headed for the Bed and Biscuit.

You are each other’s destiny.

Why did Kate have to be so dramatic? She was a woman of science, for crying out loud. Besides, hadn’t everyone once thought Jeremy was her destiny? Look how that turned out.

Except losing Jeremy hadn’t hurt the way she knew losing Hayden would. The misery she’d gone through this past year wasn’t brought on by her boyfriend cheating on her. It was because she thought she’d messed up her relationship with her best friend.

It’s not some casual fling.

Her sister’s words made her dizzy. Mainly because Kate was right. Nothing about her relationship with Hayden was casual. And now they’d gone and complicated it with sex. Losing him was not an option. Elle just needed to find another way for them to make this work. And soon. The end of the year—and her stay in Chances Inlet—was two and a half weeks away.

Everett took a sip of his coffee while covertly watching Elle march toward the photo booth constructed for the little white dog everyone seemed to be fixated on.

“Claire must have said something to rain on her parade,” Kitty remarked beside him.

Kitty was handling the knit shop while her sister worked the tables on the sidewalk. Everett snuck in the back door, bringing with him coffee and a passionate kiss for her. Unfortunately, the store was overrun with customers, and both had to wait. The situation would have normally made him testy with impatience. Yet, after a couple of weeks in this town—and with Kitty in his bed—more and more things that used to irritate him seemed to roll off his back now.

He wasn’t na?ve enough to think he still didn’t have a long way to go to shed the anger shadowing him. Thankfully, his session with the veteran’s group earlier in the week went better than expected. After a few tense minutes, the men and women accepted him without the malice he likely deserved. Since the meeting, he’d enjoyed several lunches with the sheriff and a former Navy SEAL who founded the group. He was right in thinking he and Lamar Hollister could become friends if Everett could just get rid of the devil on his shoulder.

One step at a time.

Now, though, he had a roadmap for how to get on with the rest of his life. And if all his plans fell into place, it began right here in Chances Inlet.

“Your sister will have to learn to deal with it because those two are mad about each other.” He took another sip of his coffee.

Kitty’s sigh sounded desolate. When he glanced over, her expression matched.

“What?” he demanded.

She shook her head. “They are both on different paths. Hayden enjoys the comfort and stability of this small town. He’s had enough excitement to last a lifetime. Elle is still chasing her dream.” She shrugged. “Maybe she’ll find her way back. Maybe she won’t.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Why can’t her dream be a cozy place to live with a man who obviously adores her? Why risk everything just to feel like she’s done something important?” he snapped.

Kitty eyed him curiously. “Are we still talking about Elle and Hayden here? Or you and your late wife?”

He slammed his eyes shut and practiced the breathing his shrink had taught him two years ago. It never worked before, but he needed to master it now. The last thing he wanted to do was snipe at Kitty.

Especially when she was right.

She tentatively placed her hand on his back and began rubbing in circles. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.”

“No. I’m sorry,” he murmured. “Your words were spot-on.” Sucking in a deep breath, he opened his eyes. “I just hate to see little Gidget make a similar mistake.”

“Mm. Well, you are her Ghost of Christmas Future.”

“What do you mean?”

“You really don’t know?”

Everett could feel the little devil on his shoulder waking up. “No.”

Kitty sighed. “Hayden told me that Elle’s been promised a big promotion at Vantage when she gets back to New York.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised. She’s a fabulous writer.” He shot her a guilty grin. “Bernice hinted that Donald McAlister kept a file with his daughter’s freelance work. I was curious, so I took a look. The kid wrote some terrific pieces when she was first out of college. She’ll be an asset to the magazine.”

“If she gets the chance. The promotion hinges on you turning your book in on time.”

Kitty’s revelation had him swaying on his feet. It all made sense to him now. This little sojourn to the Tide Me Over Inn with Gidget as his taskmaster. No wonder she’d been so dogmatic about him finishing his memoir.

“That bitch,” he grumbled.

Kitty’s eyes went wide before her expression grew defensive.

“Helen Keneally. Our mutual publisher,” he explained. “She can’t help pretending she’s an omnipotent chess master toying with her minions’ livelihoods. Helen was always pulling Keeley’s strings. She’s the one who lured Keeley back to Afghanistan to rescue the interpreters. Helen is all about selling magazines no matter what the risk.”

“Wow. Maybe you shouldn’t finish your book. I’m not sure I like the idea of Elle being in that woman’s clutches.”

Everett swallowed around the sour taste in his mouth. He didn’t like it, either. Not one bit.