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I wondered why that was. Did he still feel something for me, or was it merely regret over how he’d ended things?
My mother died, but I still had a loving father and siblings. I had the means to go to college even if it was on student loans. Aiden didn’t have any of that support. I just wished he’d realized that I was on his side.
“I usually man the front counter.” He looked around the room. “This is more Marley’s kind of thing.”
“Then why are you here tonight?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“I’m friends with the Monroes. I work with Heath in his contracting business, and Marley is close with them. But mainly I wanted to see you.”
“It’s good seeing you after all these years.” I wasn’t sure it was good for my mental health. I felt stronger when I wasn’t around him. Then I could put him and everything that happened out of my mind.
“I never thought we’d be together like this again.”
“Neither did I.” Not coming home often was self-preservation. It felt weird being in the house when my mother wasn’t there anymore. And I didn’t want to run into Aiden.
“Do you know how long you’ll be in town?”
I shrugged. “I have to go back after the New Year.”
When the notes of the song drifted off, Aiden asked, “Would you like a drink?”
I sighed. “I’m not really in the mood for a party or everything that comes with it.”
“Then can I show you the gardens? Marley had Knox add them when she renovated. I think it’s the best thing she did to the property.”
I smiled at his obvious excitement. “Then I’d love to see them.”
Aiden led me around the couples dancing, and into the hallway. “You’ll need a coat.” We stopped at my room to retrieve mine, then his at the front desk.
He opened the door, and I stepped into the crisp air.
“It’s a beautiful night.” When was the last time I’d spent any time admiring the sky or the stars? I usually worked long hours where I came home to eat takeout, then worked longer on my laptop.
Occasionally, I went out for drinks or a meal with friends or coworkers, but I didn’t feel like I had stopped to appreciate anything in a long time. Maybe this would be a good break for me.
He led me to the side of the inn where there was a line of Christmas trees wrapped in white lights.
“This is gorgeous.”
He flashed me a grin before he led me though a gap in the trees. “Just wait until you see the rest.”
When the trees led us through a path, I asked, “Is this a maze?”
Aiden squeezed my hand. “It is.”
A jolt of electricity traveled down my arm. “I wish this were here when we were kids. We would have had the best time running around.”
“You know why that never would have worked,” Aiden said tightly.
I spent time at the inn but managed to avoid his parents. Aiden didn’t want me to meet them. He said they’d just criticize me and him. He was protecting me from their vitriol. “Have you seen your parents since you’ve been back?”
I shook my head. “When Marley graduated, Gram told my parents they were no longer welcome on the property, and had the trailer removed. She tolerated my parents, and when Marley turned eighteen, she didn’t want them here anymore. It was for the best. I didn’t like leaving Marley here to deal with them. I just didn’t see any other way around it.”
Aiden had abandoned everyone he purported to love. But I’d moved on from him and was stronger for it.
I heard the trickle of water before I saw the source. When we reached a clearing, there was a tree in the center of a massive water fountain. At the base there were small spouts that made it look like the tiny cascades were chasing each other around the edge. “This is gorgeous.”
I loved that Marley had renovated the inn, and it was open again. It made me feel like anything could be repaired. It made me hope for something I shouldn’t want.
