Ethan stepped out of his truck holding a large bouquet of pale pink roses. After deciding to buy Diana flowers, it had taken more than fifteen minutes to choose the ones he’d give her.
The florist had been a lifesaver. She’d asked him questions about Diana, then picked four bouquets she thought she’d like. The pink roses were his favorite, but he was worried they were too much. The last time he’d bought anyone flowers was before he’d gone to Afghanistan. That relationship ended in disaster. Not that he blamed the roses, but the principle was the same. He’d fallen too deep, too fast, and the future he’d imagined had gone nowhere.
“If I invited you to dinner, would you buy me roses, too?” Penny asked.
Ethan jumped. He was in such a daze he hadn’t seen Diana’s sister standing beside the mailbox. He studied her face, not sure whether he should trust her grin. “If you’d found accommodation for a family of five, I might consider it.”
“Does it make any difference that it was my boyfriend who provided the bedrooms?”
Despite his sweaty palms, Ethan laughed. “Not really. Are you having dinner with us?”
“Not tonight. I’m having dinner with Wyatt and the family who’s staying with him.”
He followed Penny up the front steps of the inn. “Diana said you’re looking for business opportunities in Sapphire Bay. Have you found anything that looks interesting?”
“I found a few houses that will look incredible after some major remodeling. Have you seen the cottages on Anchor Lane?”
He’d walked past the houses Penny was talking about many times. “I’ve always assumed they were abandoned. I’ve never seen anyone go in or out of them.”
“The county bought them thirty-five years ago from the descendants of Steve LeNeau. He was a steamboat skipper between 1888 and 1892 and used them as vacation homes for his crew. Until now, renovating the cottages hasn’t been high on the county’s list of priorities.”
That surprised Ethan. Even with their cracked and peeling paint, and saggy front verandas, they would be worth a small fortune.
He knew Penny had been a property development manager in Seattle before coming to Sapphire Bay. She must have seen the potential in them, too. “Are you thinking of buying them?”
Penny opened the front door. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to, but it’s worth investigating. I’ll let Diana know you’re here.”
“It’s okay,” Diana said as she walked into the entranceway. “I heard Ethan’s truck.” She smiled when she saw the roses.
He held bouquet out to her. “These are for you. I thought it was…I thought you might like them. You know…because you like roses.” Heat rushed up his neck as Diana took the bouquet.
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Taking a deep breath, he prayed that he got a grip on his nerves before he ruined the entire evening. “Thanks for inviting me to dinner.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you could make it.”
After a few seconds of silence, Penny cleared her throat. “I don’t have to go to Wyatt’s for a few more minutes. How about I make everyone a drink in the kitchen? What would you like, Ethan?”
“Something cold would be great.”
Diana hurried ahead of them “I forgot to turn off the oven.”
Walking into the kitchen was like stepping back in time. The smell of garlic, herbs, and chicken tickled his nose and reminded him of the home-cooked meals his mom enjoyed baking. But that had nothing on the pie Diana took out of the oven.
“Thank goodness it didn’t burn.” She turned to Ethan and smiled. “I hope you like apple and huckleberry pie? I baked it for dessert.”
“I love any kind of pie, especially if it smells as delicious as this one.”
“Dessert is my favorite part of a meal, too.”
Penny handed Ethan a cold glass of lemonade. “When Diana was about ten years old, she won a pie contest at our school.”
“That’s because there were only four entries and one of them was a mud pie filled with worms.”
Ethan’s eyebrows rose. “A real mud pie?”
Diana laughed. “Tommy Barker had a thing for worms. He also liked making all the girls squeal.”
“But he underestimated my sister,” Penny said proudly as she handed Diana a glass of lemonade. “She didn’t even flinch when he threw one of the worms at her.”
“Why did he do that?”
“Because he didn’t win,” Penny explained. “I don’t think he ever forgave my sister for making a pie that was better than his. Do you know where Barbara’s gone, Diana?”
“She’s upstairs working on a marketing plan for a client.”
“I’ve just finished,” Barbara said from behind them. “Hi, Ethan.”
He smiled at Diana’s sister. “Hi. John wanted me to thank you for the work you did for The Welcome Center. He thinks it will make a big difference to their fundraising efforts.”
“I was happy to help. It isn’t easy using Facebook ads when you don’t use social media all the time.” Barbara sniffed the air. “Yum. Something smells amazing.”
Diana tapped Barbara’s fingers before she broke off a piece of pie crust. “That’s for later. If Ethan and I can wait, so can you.”
“You’re being bossy again. We’re not always this well-behaved,” she told Ethan.
Penny placed a large bowl of salad on the kitchen table. “Don’t tell Ethan that. He might not want to come for another meal.”
“I could always bake more pie,” Diana teased.
He sat on a stool and relaxed as the sisters’ banter erased some of the tension in his shoulders. After living on his own for so long, it was wonderful to be here, enjoying good company, and looking forward to a delicious home-cooked meal.
Charlie must have wondered what was going on. The Golden Lab lumbered into the room and nudged Ethan’s leg.
“It’s okay, boy,” he whispered. “You can sit with me while Diana and her sisters disagree with each other.”
After settling on the floor, Charlie let out a heartfelt doggy sigh.
Ethan smiled. He wasn’t the only one happy to enjoy the Terry sisters’ company.
Diana placed another dirty plate in the dishwasher. Dinner with Ethan and Barbara had been fun. And when her sister left to finish her report, Diana had enjoyed Ethan’s company even more.
For some reason, her sister was determined to play matchmaker. It didn’t matter what Diana said or the looks she’d sent Barbara, her sister wanted to make sure this wasn’t the last dinner he enjoyed with them.
“Here’s another cup,” Ethan said as he placed it in the dishwasher. “I met three of your guests on the veranda.”
“Did they tell you about our adventure on Main Street?”
Ethan smiled. “It was the first thing they mentioned. Your parents will be happy you visited the general store. It sounds as though the Taylors bought every flavor of apple cider your dad makes.”
“That wasn’t all they bought. Mom had created a display of local arts and crafts. The Taylors loved everything they saw. They’ve bought another suitcase to take everything home.”
All the stores they’d visited had been wonderful. Each owner had patiently answered the Taylors’ questions about life in Montana and about the way each of their products was made. It had taken twice as long to finish the tour, but everyone was happy.
Diana glanced through the kitchen window and saw Wyatt’s lights blazing from the next-door living room. “The family staying with Wyatt seems nice. I can’t imagine moving to another town without having a job or somewhere to stay.”
Ethan wiped down the counter. “Neither can I, but we don’t know what brought them here. Sometimes desperation makes you do things you wouldn’t normally consider.”
Diana studied the serious expression on his face. “Have you ever been in a desperate situation?”
“Once or twice.”
She waited for Ethan to tell her more about his life, but he di
dn’t. “You don’t talk about yourself very much.”
He leaned against the kitchen counter. “I guess it’s a bad habit. I’ve been living on my own since I was eighteen.”
“Is that when you went to college?”
Ethan nodded. “After I finished my degree, I joined the Navy. My grandfather was in the military and he used to tell me stories about what he did. Serving my country and seeing the world seemed like a great career choice.”
“Was it?”
It took a long time for him to answer. “It taught me a lot about myself and what I want out of life. By the time I was discharged, I knew what I wanted to do next. I went back to college and started a new career as a counselor. When I came to Sapphire Bay to visit my friend Zac, he convinced me that I needed to work with him.”
“Where were you living before you came here?”
“Chicago. I worked at the Rush University Medical Center in the PTSD clinic. That was the first time I felt as though I was making a difference in people’s lives.”
“It couldn’t have been easy leaving your friends behind.”
“I was lucky that I already had friends here.”
She knew how important that was. When she’d moved to Cincinnati, the only person she’d known was Derek. Making new friends was hard. “You know I was married. Have you lived with someone or been married?”
“There was someone I thought I loved, but it didn’t work out. By the time I was ready for another relationship, most of the women my age were already with other men. The worst thing is that, the older I get, the more difficult it is to meet anyone who’s single.”
Diana smiled. “I know what you mean. Katie moans about the shortage of single men in Los Angeles, but it’s nothing compared to Montana. Barbara told her to use a dating app, but she’s determined to meet someone the old-fashioned way.”
“What about you?”
Her smile dimmed. “Just thinking about dating someone makes me nervous.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to make the same mistakes I did with my ex-husband.”
“I don’t blame you. It must have been difficult ending your marriage.”
Diana bit her bottom lip. “In some ways it was, but I couldn’t stay married to Derek. He had been having affairs throughout our marriage.”
“That must have been devastating.”
“It was. I just wish I’d confronted him when I first thought something was wrong.” For years she’d second-guessed herself. She was being neurotic, losing sleep over something that was all in her imagination. But it wasn’t, and knowing she’d stayed with him, believed the lies he’d told her, had shattered her self-confidence.
Ethan picked up the dishtowel. “How do you feel now?”
“Apart from being worried that I’ll see Derek again, I’m much happier than I was in Cincinnati. My sisters and I have created something special. Our grandparents would be proud of what we’ve done.”
“They aren’t the only ones. I saw Cassidy this morning. She couldn’t stop talking about the inn.”
“I’m glad. She’s a lovely person.”
Barbara walked into the kitchen and handed Diana her phone. “You left this in the entranceway. Someone’s trying to call you.”
When she saw the phone number, her heart pounded.
“Are you all right?” Ethan asked.
She lifted her gaze to his and sighed. “It was my ex-husband.”
Barbara groaned. “I swear that man is as thick as two blocks of wood. You’d think that after three years he would have gotten the message that you don’t want to see him.”
Diana wished it were that simple. She sent Ethan a worried frown. “If I don’t return his call, he won’t stop.”
“You don’t have to call him.”
“Yes, I do. I need to stand up for myself and not let him harass me.”
Ethan tilted his head to the side. “Do you want me to stay with you while you talk to him?”
“I’ll be okay.” With her cell phone in her hand, she walked to the office and closed the door. She didn’t know what was worse: being paranoid that she’d see Derek again or having him call her. Either way, this wouldn’t be an easy conversation.
Chapter 8
Diana sat behind the desk and dropped her chin to her chest. Apart from seeing Derek at the opening of the inn, the last time she had spoken to him was a few weeks after she’d signed their divorce papers. After the angry encounter, she’d told him not to contact her again.
Now here he was, doing the same thing again. She didn’t know why she was so surprised. He’d never listened to her while they were married and it was no different now.
With a heavy heart, she tapped his number into her phone. It didn’t take long for him to answer.
“I didn’t know if you’d return my call,” Derek said.
Diana frowned. “I told you I don’t want you contacting me.”
“I need your help and I don’t have anyone else I can talk to. If I don’t find a way of repaying the bank, I’ll lose everything.”
She rubbed her hand across her forehead. Maybe if she listened to what he had to say, he wouldn’t contact her again. If that didn’t work, she’d block his number on her phone, change her email address, and call her lawyer.
“How much money do you owe?”
“More than half a million dollars.”
Her mouth dropped open. He’d left their marriage with more than enough money to start again. “What happened to all the money you received from our divorce settlement?”
“It’s gone.”
For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. Derek had fought her for half of everything she’d saved. He was never good with money, but going through that much was ridiculous. “What about your parents? Can they help?”
“Mom and Dad don’t know what’s been going on.”
“Maybe you should tell them.” The silence on the end of the phone was deafening. Diana had been the center of Derek’s parents’ scorn since the day she married their son. They didn’t like her and didn’t want to get to know her. After she left him, they’d spread untrue rumors about her to their family and friends, making her life impossible.
“Mom and Dad won’t understand.”
Diana looked up as Barbara joined her in the office. “I have to go, Derek. Apart from your parents, I don’t know what else you can do. Good luck with finding someone who can help.”
“Wait! What if I come and see you again? I’ve made a plan of how I can—”
“I’m not your wife anymore, Derek. If you come here, I’ll call my lawyer. Goodbye.” Diana ended the call and dropped the phone onto the desk.
“Hard conversation?”
“You could say that. Derek has money problems.”
Barbara’s eyebrows rose. “And he wants you to bail him out?”
“I told him I couldn’t.”
“Thank goodness for that.” Her sister frowned. “What else did he say?”
“Nothing much.” Diana shook away the feeling of impending doom. Derek wouldn’t come here again. Even he knew not to annoy her lawyer. “Where’s Ethan?”
“He’s in the living room talking to the Taylors.”
Diana slid her phone into her pocket. “I’ll see if Ethan wants dessert.”
Barbara held her arm as she walked past. “I know I have some strong views when it comes to Derek but, if you want to talk, I’m here for you.”
Diana kissed her sister’s cheek. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. Talk to me.”
“I will.” She walked into the hallway and leaned against the wall. Why did Derek have to turn up in her life now? If he had money problems, they were his responsibility to fix, not hers. For three years, she’d carefully rebuilt her life, trying to put her marriage behind her. Now, without inviting him back into her life, Derek was trying to do what he always did—using her when it suited him.
The sound of laughter coming from the living roo
m lifted her spirits. Determined to put the phone call out of her mind, she walked into the living room.
Penny was sitting on the sofa, eating dessert while Ethan sat on the floor, rubbing Charlie’s tummy. The Golden Labrador was as content as he’d ever been, basking in the attention from another person at the inn.
When Ethan looked up and smiled, the knot in her stomach unraveled. After everything that had happened, she was glad she’d met him. He was kind and caring, and a good friend. And, right now, that was worth more than all the money in the world.
Three days later, Ethan stacked the last of The Welcome Center’s plastic chairs against the wall. The art therapy class had gone well and everyone went home with a project to complete before their next session.
He smiled as he picked up Cassidy’s sculpture. It was a gift for her mom; a mother and daughter wrapped in a hug. She’d spent a lot of time trying to make it perfect, but she’d become frustrated when she couldn’t get their faces right. It wasn’t until one of the other students told her it was a great example of abstract art that she’d felt better about it.
“I was hoping to catch you before you went back to the clinic.”
Ethan turned and smiled at John. “I wanted to see you, too. Do you know what happened to Paul? He wasn’t here.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you. Paul’s grandmother was taken to the hospital in Polson early this morning. She had a heart attack.”
“Is Paul and his mom okay?”
“It’s hard to tell. I tried talking to them a few hours ago, but they didn’t say much.”
Ethan frowned. Paul’s way of dealing with any emotional issue was to retreat into himself. It was his coping mechanism, a way of protecting himself from years of emotional abuse. “Where are they now?”
“They’re on their way back to Sapphire Bay. I asked Paul’s mom to give me a call when they arrive home.”
“How sick is his grandmother?”
“She’s in the intensive care unit.”
Ethan placed Cassidy’s sculpture in a box. His personal opinion of Paul’s grandmother shouldn’t color his professional judgment. But knowing what the teenager had gone through, he had trouble empathizing with where she was today.
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