Winter Can Wait: A Novella (Seasons of Summer Novella Series Book 2)

by Melissa Baldwin

  I’m washing my hands while she reapplies her lipstick.

  “Summer, I want to apologize for earlier,” she says sincerely. “I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable by bringing up Helena.”

  I open my clutch to find my makeup.

  “Not at all,” I lie. “Honestly, I was worried how you were going to feel about me. You know as the ‘new’ girlfriend. I know you were very close with Helena and Alexander.”

  She has a very somber look on her face. “We still are, even if they aren’t together. Helena is also seeing someone else. As difficult as this is for all of us, we want them both to be happy.”

  Okay, I’m not sure how to take that. Who is this difficult for? I take out my gloss and slowly apply it on my lips.

  Caroline leans up against the counter and faces me. “Helena is my best friend. I tried to talk to her about making the marriage work, but they came to the mutual decision to end things. I think they will regret it someday. I’ve never in my life seen two people more connected than those two; their chemistry is so overwhelming that other people can feel it.”

  I stare straight ahead in the mirror. How am I supposed to respond to this?

  “Please don’t take any offense to this. I’m not trying to upset you,” she pleads. “You’re an absolute doll, but I truly believe Alexander and Helena are soul mates who will find their way back to one another. I promise this has nothing to do with you.”

  Mrs. Rothera was right again.

  A few minutes later, we return to our table. I stay pretty quiet through dessert other than discussing the opening of the restaurant. Alexander keeps giving me looks and asking me if I’m okay. We go out for drinks after dinner where we finally have a few minutes alone.

  “Are you going to tell me why you seem so distracted?” he asks, wrapping his arms around me. “I can tell so don’t try to pretend.”

  I shrug my shoulders. “It’s not a big deal.”

  He frowns.

  “Okay, one more toast,” Nick exclaims, interrupting us. He holds up his drink and we all follow his lead.

  “Cheers to new friends and partnerships.” He puts his arms around both Alexander and me, pulling us into him along with Caroline. We stand in a small huddle for a few seconds. When we separate, Alexander reaches for my hand again. I know he’s trying to reassure me, but unfortunately, it’s not working. There’s no way I can compete with possible soul mates. It’s my own fault for letting myself get in so deep this soon. I knew better.

  Chapter Four

  The ride back to Connecticut is quiet, at least for me. Alexander is chatting about anything and everything. He really is trying hard and I’m probably just being a pain in the ass. In my defense, the whole day has been a bit frustrating. It all started with Melanie telling me about his upcoming travel plans. Believe it or not, I’m definitely not an obnoxiously clingy and controlling girlfriend. I just can’t help but feel like I come last, as in I’m the last to know about anything that’s happening in his life.

  Nick and Caroline were fine at dinner, but of course I keep thinking about what Caroline said to me on our little trip to the ladies’ room. I don’t blame her for wanting to see her best friends get back together. And just because she believes Alexander and Helena are soul mates doesn’t mean they are.

  “Babe?” Alexander calls, snapping me out of my daydream. He keeps shooting me worried glances.

  “You ready to tell me what’s bothering you?” he asks. I want to tell him because I believe that honesty is always best, but I also don’t want to be the cause of a rift with his best friends.

  “I don’t know if I should.” I hesitate. He reaches over and puts his hand on my leg. “Please tell me. I hate seeing you worry; whatever it is, we will get through it.”

  I let out a loud sigh. “When Caroline and I were in the bathroom we were talking . . .”

  “Did she do something to upset you?” he interrupts.

  I put my hand on his hand. “No . . . I mean, not exactly. She was very nice, both of them were. I just know that you and Helena have a very strong bond with them. From the way it sounds, the four of you were pretty inseparable.”

  He shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t really have anything to say except yes, we have a history with each other, but I promise you that’s in the past. Helena is in a new relationship and I’m with you. We have wished each other well and are both moving on with our lives.”

  We pull into the driveway and Alexander turns toward me.

  “Caroline told me that Helena was seeing someone,” I say, looking straight ahead. “She also said that she believed you two were soul mates and that no two people have ever had a more powerful connection. She believes that someday you will find your way back to each other.”

  I turn my whole body to look at him. “And if that’s what is meant to be, I would never stand in your way. I would want you to do whatever is going to make you happy.”

  He turns off the car but doesn’t say anything. I don’t know how to take his silence.

  “I should probably head home,” I say as I open the door and get out of the car into the cold air. Ugh. I really hate the cold.

  As I fumble inside my bag for my keys, Alexander joins me and pulls me toward him. “Will you come inside with me?” he whispers. “Just for a few minutes so we can talk.”

  He engulfs me in his arms and I immediately forget about leaving. “Okay.”

  ~*~*~

  Alexander sure is making it really difficult for me to want to go home. Especially giving me a cozy velour blanket and a cup of peppermint hot chocolate. If he turns on Grease 2, I may never leave. (That’s our favorite movie.)

  “I promise I’m not trying to overcompensate here.” He pauses. “I know you don’t like the cold. And selfishly, I don’t want you to leave yet.”

  I give him a grateful smile. “I appreciate all of this but you don’t have to.” He’s always very attentive so this is not unusual behavior.

  When he sits down next to me on the couch, I push my cold feet under his leg.

  “I want to give you a little background so you can understand where Caroline is coming from,” he says as he puts one leg under the other. “She was in our wedding, and we did take most of our vacations with Nick and her even before we were married. She made every effort to try to keep Helena and me together, but honestly, it was over. We had such a whirlwind, intense courtship but eventually that wears off. Even though Helena and I were ready to move on, I suppose our friends weren’t.”

  I’d rather not hear about how intense they were in the beginning of their courtship again. When Alexander first told me about Helena, that’s all he kept referring to. It’s kind of hard to try to live up to a relationship that’s described in that manner.

  He leans in and puts his forehead to mine. “I need you to believe that I want to be with you and only you.”

  I chew on my lower lip. “Mrs. Rothera predicted it would be a rough night. She told me not to be disappointed if tonight didn’t go well. I asked her if they were going to hate me.”

  He leans his head back on the couch. “They definitely didn’t hate you. You need to stop listening to everything she says because it really stresses you out.” He pauses. “It may be a good idea that you’re moving after all.”

  As soon as he mentions the move, I think about Melanie. He must read my mind. “And about Melanie, I’m going to have a talk with her about her conversation with Mrs. Rothera. She should not have disclosed that information.”

  Yes! Finally.

  “Things aren’t better with her. I’m really trying, though,” I tell him.

  He nods slowly. “I know you are, that’s why I plan to talk to her again.”

  I snort. “You know she really loves to get under my skin. She couldn’t wait to brag that she knew all about your travel plans and I didn’t.”

  He frowns.

  “Ugh. I’m sorry,” I say, putting my face in my hands. “I sound like an annoying, jealous
girlfriend.”

  He rubs my back. “No, you don’t. I should have told you about my trip. Honestly, I just didn’t think about it because when I’m with you I don’t want to talk about work.”

  I smile. “Me neither.”

  I crawl into his lap and start to kiss his neck. I’m not going to waste any more of our evening worrying about other people. I need to put them out of my mind and enjoy our time together.

  When I pull away, he clasps his hands around my waist. “Want to come with me?”

  I raise my eyebrows. “On your business trip?”

  He smiles. “Yeah. Have you ever been to any of those cities?”

  Oh my gosh! He’s just asked me to join him on a trip. I’m trying to hide my excitement. I can only imagine what Melanie would think of this, and if I was to accept, her head may explode.

  “I would love to, but I don’t think I can leave with so many projects coming up.”

  He gives me a thoughtful look. “How about joining me on the weekend?”

  As much as I would love to travel with him, it’s not necessary. Just the fact that he asked me makes me happy.

  I take his face in my hands. “I don’t want to interrupt your work trip, but I love that you invited me.”

  He runs his hands up and down my arms. “I just want you to know how important you are to me. I know it doesn’t always seem that way.”

  I shake my head. “That’s not true. I’m sorry for overreacting. I just know how important Nick and Caroline are to you also.”

  He runs his fingers through my hair. “Yes, we’ve been friends for a long time. But, both Helena and I made the choice to end our marriage. We’ve both moved on with our lives and our friends need to accept that.”

  Chapter Five

  Why do Mondays have to be so hard? My weekend turned out to be pretty good after all. Alexander assured me not to worry about what Caroline said and that she would come around eventually. So, of course I’m not completely surprised when I receive an email from Caroline inviting me to lunch. I’m sure her sudden invitation is only because Alexander said something to her, but I send her a response accepting the invitation anyway. I’m not sure I want to go but I know I need to make every effort to build a relationship with Alexander’s best friends.

  I’m drinking a cup of coffee, reading emails when Angie randomly shows up to my apartment like she does at least once a week. I immediately show her the invitation from Caroline.

  “You really want to hang out with her after what she said to you?” Angie yells as she’s scrolling through her phone. “She made her agenda very clear when she told you she wants Alexander to get back with his wife. She might be up to something.”

  I cringe. I probably shouldn’t have said anything to her because I knew she would make a big deal out of it, but I needed to tell someone.

  “I want to have a relationship with Alexander’s friends. Caroline wasn’t intentionally being mean; she was just explaining her feelings. Maybe she’s trying to make up for it with this. And for Alexander’s sake I need to meet her halfway, even if she has another

  agenda.”

  Angie rolls her eyes. “I guess. Just remember what Mrs. Rothera said about this situation needing time. It seems like this Caroline girl got over things awfully quick.”

  I’m not surprised by Angie’s warnings. She’s all about Mrs. Rothera and the advice she gives.

  “I’m not sure she is over it. Like I said, I think she only sent this because Alexander asked her to make me feel comfortable. I think this is a bit overboard, but at least she’s making an effort.”

  Angie gets a wicked smile on her face. “Well, then maybe I should join you?”

  I give her a confused look. “Join me where? You mean at lunch?”

  She shrugs her shoulders. “Yeah, why not? She’s one of Alexander’s best friends and I’m your best friend. I think it’s a great idea.” She leans back in her chair proudly. You would think she just came up with the cleverest plan ever.

  “Maybe next time,” I reply. “I mean . . . if there is a next time.”

  The truth is, I would love Angie to come with us because she always knows exactly what to say. However, this is the time I need to get to know Caroline and give her a chance to get to know me without any distractions, and Angie is a definite distraction.

  “I appreciate it, Ang, but I think I got this,” I say finally.

  Thankfully, she doesn’t argue.

  “What are you doing today?” she asks, taking a sip of her coffee. “How about we go house hunting. Unless, you’re secretly hoping that Alexander will ask you to move in? I’m betting he will before too long.”

  I roll my eyes. Here we go again.

  “Seriously, what do you think I’m doing? It’s Monday morning and I have a business to run.” I pause. “And no, I’m not secretly hoping Alexander asks me to move in with him.”

  She waves her hand at me. “First of all, the beauty of having your own business is that you can make your own schedule. Just look at me.”

  I start to laugh. I guess you could call Angie an entrepreneur of sorts. She’s been involved in many different ventures including Friendship Travel, an online travel planning company we started together.

  Come to think of it, I don’t know when she actually works or if she does.

  “What’s so funny?” she asks defensively.

  I try to hide my smile. “Nothing. Don’t get defensive. I really wish I could house hunt today, but I really can’t. Let’s plan it for another day.”

  After what seems like forever, I finally convince Angie to leave so I can get to work. I send Alexander a text letting him know about my lunch plans with Caroline. Hopefully he appreciates me taking one for the team here, because that’s exactly what it is. I’m convinced Caroline has no interest in having lunch with me, and other than me making an effort for Alexander, I’m not too thrilled with it either.

  ~*~*~

  My conversation with Brad Cooper, aka Jake’s boss, goes really well. Thankfully, Jake doesn’t come up in our conversation and I’m praying it stays that way throughout the project. I set up a meeting to tour his son’s new home and (hopefully) sign a contract.

  I keep reminding myself that I built a professional relationship with Mr. Cooper that was separate from Jake, but should he ever come up, I will be honest and let him know that Jake left me in tears on a beach in the Hamptons. I’m kidding, if he asks I will do the politically correct thing and site irreconcilable differences.

  Anyway, the day has finally come. Today is my lunch with Caroline. Last night she sent me a very nice message letting me know she was looking forward to it, to which I responded the same.

  The fact that I’m decorating Nick’s restaurant is the perfect icebreaker for our lunch. I admit I’ve been spending a lot of time reviewing the plans just in case we run out of things to talk about. I’d rather talk about the restaurant than have to hear about all the amazing trips, life experiences, and unforgettable moments the fabulous foursome (Caroline, Nick, Alexander, and Helena) have shared. I’m usually not a jealous person, but it sure does feel like I have a lot to measure up to.

  I take my time getting ready, carefully selecting my outfit and accessories. I finally decide on a navy shift dress, which looks terrific against my auburn hair, and tan suede over-the-knee boots. I will probably freeze but sometimes we have to make sacrifices. It’s not that I’m trying to impress her, but I want to make it clear that I’m confident in myself and in my relationship with Alexander. No matter what, I’m not going to let the past interfere with our future.

  We made plans to meet at the restaurant since I have to be there for a delivery anyway. I’m sure Caroline has selected a perfectly pretentious location for us to dine at. Ugh. I don’t know why I’m being so negative. I’m trying not to take everything she said so personal.

  I arrive just in time for my delivery, and I’m busy looking through boxes, making sure everything is accounted for when I hear a v
oice.

  “Hello.”

  When I look up from the box I’m buried in, I see a stunning tall blonde woman standing next to me. When I stand up, she’s still towering over me. I glance down to see she’s wearing three-inch-heel boots. However, even without the boots, she would still have several inches on me.

  “I’m looking for Caroline,” the tall woman says. She has a strong accent, it almost sounds like . . .

  “I’m here, I’m here,” Caroline calls, she practically jumps down the four steps that lead into the restaurant.