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“Huge. I think Carson is underestimating how big his business is going to blow up with this wedding being televised. He should hire Hope permanently.” Evie shrugs her scarf tighter. “Anyway, if you’ve really been thinking about her since this summer, I thought you might like a heads up.”
I huff a frustrated laugh and a cloud of breath hangs in the air. “I appreciate the information. Wish I knew what to do with it.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
We walk toward the front porch, but I stop before we get there and face her. “Why didn’t she tell me about Charly from the beginning?”
“So many reasons, Seb, and none of them really have to do with you.”
Ike, the director, yells from inside, and we continue our walk to the open doorway. I hold back the plastic sheeting and let Evie go through first.
“She didn’t tell anyone here,” she says. “I know it doesn’t feel that way, but I’m the reason the few people who did know knew at all.” Her eyes dart to the frozen ground, then back to me.
“You’ve got to understand how difficult it was for her to leave Charly for what she thought was going to be two months,” Evie goes on. “I think she didn’t want people to judge her for doing it, but it was too hard for her to even talk about Charly. You may be a small part of why she left. She didn’t want things to get complicated. But ultimately, she missed Charly too much to stay.”
I follow Evie into the construction zone that used to be a beach cottage, considering everything she tells me. I want to understand, but I’m still hurt. I get why Hope didn’t tell me, but I also don’t like the idea that I was a complication. Something to leave behind instead of to figure out.
“So she’ll bring Charly with her?” It seems like a dumb question after everything Evie just told me, but I think I want to meet this kid.
“Yes. That I know for sure. Even though it will make planning Yulefest and the wedding harder, she won’t leave her again.” Evie reaches the coffee station, and we find the Britta’s cups with our names on them.
One of the perks of being on set is free coffee from Breakfast at Britta’s. Adam’s construction crew is hard at work around us, as I slip off my coat and tuck it in a tote to keep it from getting covered in sawdust.
Georgia waves to us from across the room where she’s getting her makeup touched up by Amber. She motions for Evie to grab her coffee. I follow her to Georgia with the questions I still have.
“Why didn’t she bring her this summer?” I say over the sounds of nail guns and hammers.
But I don’t say it quiet enough, because as soon as Georgia reaches for the coffee Evie hands her, she says, “Are you talking about Hope?”
Evie nods and sips while she talks. “Charly has a ton of therapists and doctors she goes to. Her mom and our sister Ashley were willing to handle them this summer, and they’d do it again. At least, I hope they will, and that knowing she’ll only be here a little over three weeks before they can bring Charly will be enough to convince her to do it.”
“Charly can’t miss therapy for a few weeks?” I ask.
Georgia shakes her head in the middle of Amber patting her nose with something. “Charly could lose progress she’s made, even in that short amount of time.”
“Plus…” Evie’s sigh lets me know this is a problem she’s thought a lot about. “Charly’s got all these health problems too. Severe asthma. Something with her eyes where they worried the retina could detach, but she’s grown out of that. But other things that crop up out of nowhere. She needs to be close to doctors.”
Georgia smacks her freshly lipsticked lips. “Hope’s in a bind. She’s got to get something figured out before she can come here.”
“That’s a tough spot.” I stare at my coffee cup, wishing I could help.
“And it puts us all in a tough spot,” Evie says. “Carson can’t do everything here on his own. I’m worried he’ll have to hire someone else who can be in Paradise.”
“What kind of therapy does she need?” I take the lid off my coffee and sip slowly.
“Occupational and speech. She’s got developmental delays in those areas,” Evie answers.
I nod, like my pulse isn’t racing.
I think I might have an answer to this problem for Hope. I may still be mad she didn’t tell me about Charly, but she’s got an opportunity here with Carson that she can’t miss.
Ike calls for her and Georgia on set, and the conversation ends there. But my mind is turning with ideas.
I take another sip of my coffee, then wander toward the utility room where the electrical box is located.
I don’t want to have feelings for Hope, especially not when she’s got a kid to take care of. She deserves someone who knows how to take care of someone besides himself. Someone who has enough love for her and her daughter. Someone who’s had a father to teach him how to be a dad.
I’m not that guy.
