AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That assumption sent my mind reeling. “I’m not afraid of people leaving.”
Daphne ticked off on her fingers. “Mom died. Then Aiden left. You’re scared he’ll do it again.”
I shook my head. “Well, wouldn’t you be?”
“It’s been years, and you were so young then. You’re not the same people. Aiden’s grown up and gotten away from the crap he dealt with when he lived with his parents. And you’re different too. You’re just starting to see that there’s more to life than work. Don’t be so quick to dismiss what you have with Aiden. Give him a chance.”
“Mommy! Dinner’s ready,” Izzy called from the doorway.
“Think about what I said.” Daphne touched my shoulder as she stood and took Izzy’s hand.
I couldn’t help but think that despite Daphne’s optimism, history usually repeated itself.
CHAPTER 18
AIDEN
It was well after dinnertime by the time we had the concession stand looking better. Fiona cleaned the display case, the counters, and the cupboards. We’d replaced the popcorn machine and removed the old cash register. Now we just needed a tablet and point of purchase to take credit cards. It was so much simpler, and it took up a lot less room.
“You’re going to serve popcorn, candy, soda, and water?” Heath asked.
I looked around the space. “That’s the easiest. We’ll purchase a refrigerator case for the drinks. I don’t want to deal with fountain sodas.”
“I can create a storage room for you where you can keep extra supplies,” Heath offered.
“You’ve thought of everything.”
Heath leaned against the counter, crossing one foot over the other. “You forget I live with Marley. She has a running to-do list for everything.”
“I assume you’re the one that needs to cross everything off,” I said wryly.
“You got that right. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m blessed that she came back into my life, and she gave me another chance.” Heath had a good energy about him. He was content, happy.
I longed to have what he did.
Heath focused on me. “How are things going with you and Fiona?”
I thought about the night we’d spent together. It had been close to perfect. Fiona hadn’t said exactly how she felt, but I hoped they were similar to my feelings. Today, she’d been a little distant. But I figured it was just getting back into the swing of things now that the snow cleared. “Things are good.”
“Is she still planning on leaving when we’re done with the theater?” Heath grabbed a water bottle, twisted off the cap, and took a long pull.
“As far as I know. She hasn’t mentioned it one way or the other.” I wondered where her head was at. Had things changed for her like they had for me?
“Are you willing to move to her to make things work?” Heath asked.
That question threw me off. “Why would I move? Everything I want is here. The inn. Marley.”
Heath gave me a pointed look. “Fiona might not be.”
“We can do long distance.” My throat tightened because I wasn’t so sure that was the case. We hadn’t even tried last time. I’d been certain that I didn’t want her to leave school for me. Now I’d be asking her to quit her job, the only career she’d ever known. It was tough for me to retire from the military. I didn’t want to force her into a decision.
Heath raised a brow. “Is that what you want?”
I leaned on the counter with my elbow. “In an ideal world, she’d be here with me. I just don’t know what she wants. Marley would love if Fiona helped with the rest of the renovation, but what then?”
“That’s what you need to find out. You can’t pretend the end date isn’t quickly approaching.”
“It’s not until after the New Year.” I just wasn’t sure of the exact date. “And she said she’d visit often to see her family.”
