“My grandparents mentioned you were engaged on the drive in.” The man left the sentence open-ended.
“Yes. I was.” She wasn’t surprised they’d heard. Though she hadn’t been in close touch with Sassy before last year, her aunt had kept tabs from afar, making sure all of her friends stayed up to date on news regarding her beloved nieces.
Rose stepped around a large log and led the way down to the water’s edge, grateful she’d opted to wear her casual tennis shoes with a nice pair of leggings and tunic today.
Marigold bounded over to meet them, bombarding poor Nolan with one of her signature hugs.
He simply laughed and hugged the dog back.
Once her dog calmed, Rose answered his earlier question. “The engagement wasn’t the right thing for me. I think I knew it before I came to Juniper Springs, but when I got here, I couldn’t pretend anymore. I knew this is where I belonged.” And her fiancé hadn’t wanted anything to do with the small town. “We were looking for different things in life.”
“I can relate.” Nolan raised the camera and seemed to test the lighting with a few shots, checking the screen on the back after each one. “My divorce was final six months ago.”
“I’m sorry.” His words weren’t particularly melancholy or anything, but she still knew how hard it was to walk away from a significant relationship. She could sympathize.
“Like you said, we wanted different things.” Nolan knelt down and angled the camera up to take another picture that likely captured the peaks in the distance. “She wanted luxury and city life. And I’m more of a wanderer.” The man stood back up and faced her. “I took a clue after she cheated on me with someone at work.”
Rose winced for him, but he shook his head. “I don’t blame her for the problems we had. We were young when we got married. Neither of us really knew who we were.”
“Sometimes it can take a while to figure out who you are.” She turned a slow circle, gazing around the property. “Coming back to this place helped me figure it out. I love it. The harsh changes in the weather, the stunning landscape, the small community that sticks together and gives everyone a place to belong. It’s not the perfect place to live, but it has made me stronger and tougher and open and more resourceful—” She stopped suddenly, catching a glimpse of someone farther up the hill.
It was Colt, and he seemed to be watching them.
“That’s exactly how I feel anytime I’m not in the city.” Nolan raised the camera in her direction. “Let me get a shot of you. The inn owner in her natural habitat.”
Rose nodded, but she kept peeking up the hill. Colt still stood a few feet away from his truck, his gaze aimed right at the pond.
How long had he been standing there? Should she go talk to him?
“All right, give me your best smile,” Nolan coaxed.
Rose tried, but her heart had started to drum again.
Nolan lowered his camera. “I said smile. You’re giving me the same look my grandmother gives me when she thinks I’m insulting her cooking.”
Rose laughed. “You should never insult your grandmother’s cooking.”
The man raised his arms in a dramatic surrender. “I added salt one time, and I’ll be doing penance forever.”
“I know all about penance,” she said through another laugh.
“That’s it. There we go. Turn to the side and look at the camera,” the man directed. “I promise I won’t insult your cooking.”
She did as she was told, finding it easier to smile and striking a few more poses before telling Nolan she was sure he had enough shots to thoroughly embarrass her.
As they moved away from the water’s edge she looked back up the hill again, but both Colt and his truck were gone. What was he thinking? Why did she never seem to know? The questions distracted her while she finished Nolan’s tour.
“I’m impressed,” Nolan said as they walked back to the welcome lodge. “I’d love to hear more about the process over a cup of coffee.”
Rose glanced at her watch. It had been a half hour since Colt had taken off, and she wouldn’t be able to think about anything else until she talked to him. “I’ll have to take a rain check on the coffee,” she told Nolan, already heading for her car. “I have something to take care of in town.”
“Sure.” He gave her a wave and then disappeared into the barn.
Rose wasted no time peeling out of the driveway. She sped through town and parked in front of Colt’s store. The man himself was right outside the door, stacking firewood bundles on a shelf.
He must’ve seen her pull up, but he didn’t look at her.
“Hey.” Rose approached him slowly, her heart flooding with every emotion that had threatened to carry her away when he’d kissed her.
“Hey.” Still, the man didn’t turn around. He kept right on working, methodically stocking the shelf.
He certainly didn’t seem happy to see her, but with Colt it could be hard to tell. She cleared her throat. “That man I was with at the resort…that’s Nolan Cleary. He’s an old family friend.”
Colt snatched another bundle of firewood out of the crate and shoved it onto the shelf. “Why would I care who he is?”
That tone…it was the same one he’d used when they’d first gotten reacquainted last Christmas. Back when he’d thought she was a snob. Rose shuffled her feet, trying to get him to look at her. If he would just look at her. “I didn’t want…I mean, nothing is happening between Nolan and me. He was only taking pictures for the website.”
Colt stepped around her to the other side of the shelf. “Like I said, why would it matter to me who you spend your time with?”
What did he mean why would it matter? “We kissed, and it was—” Amazing. Meaningful. Impactful…
“Pointless.” He finally stopped stacking the wood and faced her.
The indifference on his face pushed her back a step.
“Like you said, the kiss shouldn’t have happened.” His tone had a razor-sharp edge. “I’ve never been good enough for anyone in this town. After all, I’m the son of a felon. Now that I’m leaving, I can finally put all of that behind and start over in a place where no one knows about my past.”
This. This is why he’d said he couldn’t stay in Juniper Springs anymore. “Colt…” She wanted to let him know his past had never mattered to her. But what did she know about how he’d felt growing up here, where everyone knew what his dad had done? He needed to start over. She had to let him go.
“I have to check on my customers.” The man left her standing there and pulled open the door, ready to walk away.
But she had one more thing to say. “You’re good enough for me.” That was all she wanted him to know.
He paused like he was going to turn around but, after a few seconds, Colt stepped inside the store without looking back.
Chapter Sixteen
Dahlia
Dahlia filled up a vase with water and arranged the bouquet of daisies she’d picked up at the store on her way home from dropping Maya and Ollie off at camp.
There. That ought to bring a cheerful vibe to the table she’d set for lunch with Rose and their mother. Nothing said behave yourselves like a cluster of perky white daisies sitting between adversaries.
Instead of pouring their iced tea into real glasses, she found her stylish heavy-duty plastic outdoor ware. You couldn’t be too careful when Lillian and Rose both had their hackles up. They hadn’t spoken since their fight earlier that week, and Dahlia didn’t want any glass shattered on the floor of her kitchen.
“What can I do to help?” Lillian shuffled into the kitchen, holding her shoulders in a sulky posture. At least she’d gotten dressed in something other than her velour tracksuit. The lovely coral-colored button-up blouse and pristine white slacks were a sure sign her pouting was almost over.
“Thanks, but I’ve got everything under control.” Dahlia brought the bowl of chicken salad she’d made earlier to the table and then took the butter lettuce leaves
she’d washed from the colander and arranged them on a platter. “Remember, you promised to be civil to Rose during lunch.”
“I am always civil.” Her mother sat at the table in a huff. “She’s the one who attacked me.”
“She only wants you and Sassy to have the chance to be a family again.” Dahlia set the iced tea pitcher next to the chicken salad. They might be sitting here a while, and they’d need refills. “She wants what’s best for you both. We all do.”
She didn’t give her mother the chance to launch into a defense for why she could never reconcile with Sassy. Dahlia had already heard every excuse. “I think I heard Rose’s car pull up. I’ll be right back.”
She rushed out of the kitchen and through the living room, picking up Ollie’s soccer ball, pogo stick, and lightsaber on the way. After stashing her son’s treasures into the front closet, she stepped out onto the porch to warn her sister. “Mom is still pouting.” She tried to keep it down so her voice wouldn’t carry through the open window. “Try to be patient. Okay? I know it’s not easy, but we have to try.”
“I’m always patient,” Rose grumbled, stomping up the steps.
Great. Her sister already seemed to be in a mood. “What’s wrong?” Dahlia moved to block the door. If Rose went in there with a scowl already in place, a full-on war would break out.
“What’s wrong?” Her sister posted her hands on her hips. “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. The Clearys have an extra-hot grandson named Nolan, and Mrs. Cleary and Sassy talked me into taking him for a tour of the property.”
“Nolan came?” Dahlia couldn’t help a giggle. “He had the hugest crush on you.”
“So I’ve heard.” Rose’s eyes darkened. “Anyway, there we were wandering around the property while he took pictures of me for the website, and who do I catch watching us from the main house?”
That was an easy one. “Colt?”
“Yes, Colt.” Rose leaned against the door and sighed. “The man I kissed yesterday.”
“You kissed him?” Forget about keeping her voice down. This was huge! “I thought he sold the store?”
“He did,” her sister said miserably.
“Then why do you care if he saw you with Nolan?” Seriously, her sister had to be the only person who would lament having two wonderful, good-looking guys prowling around her. “Sounds like it might not be a bad thing for you to hang out with Nolan if Colt is skipping town anyway.”
Rose stood upright again and frowned at Dahlia. “Would you want to hang out with anyone besides Ike right now?”
The reminder of what she was missing stung. “No.”
“That’s how I feel,” Rose murmured. “I went to see Colt at the store after he saw me with Nolan, and he was upset. He said he couldn’t wait to leave this place behind. I know I won’t see him anymore. But I lo—”
Her sister snapped her mouth shut with a surprised look that made Dahlia gasp.
“You what?” she demanded. “Love? Were you going to say you’re in love with Colt?” Because that’s sure as heck what it sounded like she’d been about to say.
“I don’t—”
“Dahlia?” Lillian peered through the window. “The oven timer went off,” she said without acknowledging Rose.
“Right.” She had a tray of scones in the oven. “We’ll finish this discussion later,” she whispered to her sister before opening the door for her.
Rose trudged inside the house with an air of irritation that made Dahlia regret calling this little meeting. Maybe she should’ve let them continue giving each other the silent treatment. That would’ve made her life a lot easier.
When they walked back into the kitchen, Lillian had retreated to her seat again. Rose sat directly across from her.
“Hello, Mom.” It sounded like her sister had already gritted her teeth.
“Rose.” Lillian carefully smoothed her napkin over her lap.
Shaking her head, Dahlia sat next to her sister. Since they all knew why they were there, they might as well jump right into the discussion. “You two need to apologize to each other,” she announced, selecting a few lettuce leaves before she passed the platter to Rose. “So we can all move on and enjoy being together.” Maybe enjoy was a stretch. She should’ve gone with tolerate…
“Apologize?” Their mother snatched the platter of lettuce leaves out of Rose’s hands. “Okay. Fine. I’m sorry you think I’m such a horrible person, Rose. I’m sorry you hate me.”
“Oh, please,” her sister fired back. “You know I don’t hate you. I simply can’t understand why you choose to punish your sister for falling in love.”
Dahlia relaxed a little. At least Rose was controlling her tone.
“Of course you don’t understand.” Their mother scooped some chicken salad onto her lettuce with frantic movements. “You don’t understand anything.”
Dahlia shared a look with Rose, silently admonishing her to breathe, to think first instead of retaliating right away. Patience, she mouthed.
Her sister closed her eyes for a few seconds, as though it took everything in her to hold back. “Then please tell me.” Her tone had quieted. “Please tell me why you were so angry that Aunt Sassy chose to let Robert and his son stay when it hardly affected us at all.”
“That’s a good point,” Dahlia added gently. “We lived thousands of miles away from Juniper Springs. We only came out here to visit once in the summer and once in the winter. You might not have liked Robert, but we wouldn’t have been spending much time with him.”
Seeing her mother’s shoulders rise and fall with furious breaths, she decided to stop there. Lillian’s face had reddened too.
Here we go…
“We have a right to know.” Rose had never had a problem pushing their mother. “There must be another reason you cut her out of your life.”
“I needed her, damn it!” Their mother slammed her palms down to the surface of the table, making the dishes tremble. “I needed her, and she chose him instead.”
Dahlia cautiously moved the chicken salad and platter out of Lillian’s reach. This was getting ugly fast.
“Why did you need her?” Rose pushed again.
Tears started to stream down their mother’s cheeks, and she pushed her plate away, leaving her food untouched. “I was going to bring you girls out for a whole summer that year so I could have some space, a break from my life.” A sob wobbled out. “Sassy knew I needed that. She knew what I was going through. And she still wouldn’t kick that criminal out. I didn’t feel safe staying at the inn with him there, but she didn’t care.”
Dahlia stared at her mother in complete shock. The anger seemed to have receded, but the tears gained momentum. “Why did you need a break?”
Lillian’s chin lifted stubbornly, and she stared over their heads for a few long silent seconds.
“Mom, what was going on?” This time Dahlia was the one to push. She had to. Memories had started to come back to her. She remembered that summer. Something had shifted in their house. Their dad had spent a lot of time away, traveling for work, staying at the office late. “Did it have to do with why you and Dad had been arguing so much?”
Lillian continued to stare over them, as though she could see the past playing out on the wall behind them. “He had an affair,” she finally said.
Something inside of Dahlia clicked—a missing puzzle piece. Rose gasped in horror.
“Daddy?” Her sister’s head shook. “No. He wouldn’t have—”
“He cheated on me with one of his patients.” Lillian’s voice steadied.
“I don’t believe you.” Rose turned to Dahlia as though looking for an agreement, but she couldn’t offer one.
She believed what their mother said. On some level she knew. Because she remembered more. She remembered the wedge that seemed to drive her parents apart that year. She’d simply thought her parents were busier, consumed with their own lives, but there had been much more to their unhappiness.
“I wanted to leave h
im and move out here for the summer so I could figure out what to do,” their mother went on. “Sassy said we could come and stay, but she refused to tell Robert to leave.”
That’s why Lillian had been so angry. Because everything had to be on her terms, and Sassy had stood up to her. “She didn’t tell us that part of the story.” Likely because their aunt hadn’t wanted to ruin their image of their father.
“I needed a break,” their mother said, getting weepy again. “And I didn’t get one. I had nowhere to go. So I stayed with him. I moved forward. And every day I lived with the reminders of his betrayal.”
Rose was quiet, staring at her hands.
Dahlia couldn’t seem to find any words to fill the silence either. She thought about all those years her parents had been distant and cold with each other. She’d noticed. Especially when she would go to a friend’s house and see a married couple who actually smiled and laughed and went on dates together. On some level she’d been aware that her parents were pretending. Maybe that was why Lillian had always obsessed over making everything look perfect—to hide the mess that hid underneath.
But what had ignoring the problems offered any of them?
At breakfast with Maya earlier that week, her daughter had asked her if Dahlia knew what it was like to survive a divorce. She didn’t. But she’d known what it was like to live with two people who didn’t love each other.
When she met Jeff, she didn’t know how to love him, how he should love her. So she’d basically built the same façade her parents had. And maybe…just maybe her kids would be better off having seen their parents acknowledge the lie—showing them that was not how things were supposed to be.
“Why have you never said anything?” Rose finally asked their mother. “All this time. I don’t even know what to think.”
“What does it matter now?” Lillian used her napkin to blot the tears from her cheeks as though it were that easy to move on. “He’s gone. Everyone I care about is gone. You girls left and moved away. I have no one.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t know.” She genuinely meant the apology. She might’ve offered her more grace if she’d understood where her bitterness had come from. “But Sassy didn’t abandon you.” Dahlia gentled her voice. The years of her mother’s bitterness all made sense now. She wasn’t angry at Sassy for abandoning her. She was angry at their father. “We could’ve come to spend that summer here. There was plenty of room at the inn. Robert wasn’t a horrible person. Sassy would never kick out anyone who needed a place, no matter what the ultimatum.”
The Summer Sisters (Juniper Springs Book 2) Page 17