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"Talk to me," I repeated.
"It dawned on me today that what we're rebuilding doesn't stem from negative emotions. It's not about processing an ugly breakup; it has nothing to do with anger or annoyance. It doesn't come from a place of deep sorrow inside me. What this person did out of spite, what he did to cause harm to me, is an opportunity for a fresh start. What is emerging now will reflect a positive, happy part of my life. Despite it being quite nerve-wracking and time-consuming, I could almost be thankful to him because it means that theWildwood Hideawaywill bear not only my signature but also that of the woman I love," he explained. "What bothers me is that everyone will think I'm crazy when they hear about this."
Halfway through his statement, I bit my tongue. This was his perspective. What he was describing, that's what defined this man. Even when he was down, he somehow managed to see the silver lining. I admired him for that, even if it was beyond me how he accomplished it.
A smile spread across my lips. "I love you too, Gray," I began, realizing it was indeed what warmed my heart. "The beautiful part is, you don't have to tell anyone but me. You can feel this way, and it doesn't concern anyone else. Are you really beating yourself up because you're not sinking into depression because that's what everyone expects of you?"
"A little, yes," he replied. I could hear the soft laughter in his voice and even feel it as I snuggled against his chest.
"Shall we agree that you take it easy over the next few days while I handle the important stuff?"
"Would you do that?"
I laughed. "Of course. You take care of me, and I take care of you. That's the deal. And since you just defended my honor, I owe you one."
The sarcasm in my last sentence was quite evident. "Should I apologize to that jerk?"
"No, not necessary," I replied, still grinning. "But you could at least kiss me after you just declared your love for me for the first time in those three clear words."
"Why don't you kiss me?"
I pulled away from him and looked up at him with a scrunched nose. "Well… you're right. For that heroic rescue, a kiss is definitely in order as a thank you."
Shaking his head, he moved toward me, and I continued to grin as I kissed him.
40
AMELIA
Afew weeks later, the world looked completely different. When I looked out the window, no longer did the battlefield from that fateful night greet me, but rather the promising view of the future.
The trees that had stood between the individual cabins had all been felled. The damage had been too severe, and it had been deemed safer to remove them rather than preserve something that no longer served a meaningful purpose.
The debris had been cleared in a matter of days, and the minimal damage to the two intact houses had been repaired. They had been thoroughly cleaned so that now, the helpers who traveled from afar could stay there.
Before more construction work could take place, the foundations of the burned-down cabins had been inspected. Then Gray had consulted an architect because, this time, the cabins would not be constructed over the course of years but instead, through communal work in a matter of weeks. The work on the foundations had finally begun yesterday morning. Gray had personally supervised it.
And although the fire had proved how quickly everything could be destroyed, he had once again opted to primarily use wood and glass. Admittedly, it was also the hallmark of thebed-and-breakfast as the cabins blended so perfectly into nature.
With the help of some assistants from town, I had already started weeks ago to replant the beds around the paths and the gardens. I might not have had the greenest thumb, but seeing everything slowly regreening and blooming made the frustrating work definitely worth it. I had spent countless hours researching plants to choose those that not only promoted biodiversity but also served a purpose without planting anything non-native.
It was certain that things were in motion. Thebed-and-breakfastwas being rebuilt and would reopen in a few months, just in time for the late fall season. In the meantime, to keep us from being forgotten, I had set up a social media account to report on the progress.
Of course, there were some things I couldn't report about. For instance, the details about the fire or the legal proceedings George now faced. The hospital had worked diligently for weeks on his recovery, but the journey seemed to have been a rocky one. Still, I couldn't muster any sympathy for him as Sergeant Williams had interrogated him multiple times, and the only reason he wasn't in pre-trial custody was that his injuries couldn't be adequately treated in prison.
At first, he had refused to admit anything. Then they had found more evidence—in his car and in the motel room he had rented in the next town over.
Apparently, his aim had been not just to destroy theWildwood Hideaway. He had wanted to cause so much damage that Gray would never recover, ultimately framing him for arson and insurance fraud. He had no regard for the lives at stake. And in my case, he had even hoped for an injury so that he could nurse me back to health in the hospital… after I had turned away from Gray.
Sergeant Williams had repeatedly emphasized to me that he seemed like a madman, at times acting as if he had lost every bit of his senses since I had silently left him. According to the appointed psychologist, the decisive reason was that I had chosen Gray instead of taking back his cheating self.
Despite the psychologist's report, it had been determined that George had acted fully aware of what he was doing. In court, therefore, he could expect no mercy once the trials started.
On one hand, I felt relieved. On the other, I actually felt some pity for him. He had gotten off on the wrong track and made a series of poor decisions. Who could have predicted that one would have to face the consequences of their actions?
For my part, I didn't regret a single moment of the past few months. Not the evening at the restaurant. Not my quiet disappearance. And certainly not the time spent with Gray. Speaking of which… it was time for lunch.
On my way down to the kitchen, I sent Manon a quick message. After the fire, she had stayed a few more days, then returned to Toronto, announcing she'd be back for the reopening ofWildwood Hideaway. Until then, we'd resumed our daily phone calls, only now, Gray occasionally chimed in, somehow never able to avoid overhearing our conversations.
