CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Becca
Once back in the city, I didn’t think about the little inn tucked away on its mountain or the man who had broken my heart who owned it. When fall began to come to New York City, I found my thoughts drifting back to that place, though. The leaves in Central Park began to change, but they didn’t hold the same power over me as the ones that floated down over that little red bridge near the inn. Still, I pushed those thoughts down and focused on my work, getting more done daily than I had thought was humanly possible.
“You miss him, huh?” Amy asked me one day as I held the door open for her to leave for the night.
I locked the door behind us and shook my head. “Not really. I mean, there were some really good times, but I think I miss that inn more than anything. Now that he’s sold it, I don’t even really connect the two together in my mind anymore.”
Amy gave me a look that told me she knew I was lying but being the great friend that she was, she didn’t say anything more. That’s how it went for the most part. I’d go to work, get everything done, go home, and fall asleep to the glow of the television as I wondered how much longer I would even get to live in my perfect little townhouse. Dustin’s lawyer turned out to be as relentless as her reputation claimed, and she slowly had worn me down.
One crisp autumn day, I got home from work and wrapped myself in a warm blanket to thumb through the day’s mail. That was when I saw it.
The postcard.
Similar to the campaign I’d designed, it featured a photograph of the beautiful fall leaves in all their colorful glory and the words, “We hope you and your family will join ours and enjoy autumn with us at The Gilford House Inn.”
As I sat alone in my townhouse, I recalled how much I loved going up to Vermont in the fall. Before I knew it, I had packed my bags and I was making the familiar trek up there. As I drove, I realized I probably wouldn’t be able to get a room on such short notice, but that didn’t change my mind about going. I just wanted to see what the new owners had decided to do with the place.
When I got there, I saw things looked mostly the same, though they’d given the outside of the building a fresh coat of white paint. It looked as welcoming as it ever did, standing proudly atop its mountain. I decided to take a stroll around the grounds before finding out if I could get a room, happy to just enjoy the beauty the area offered.
As I explored the grounds, I naturally thought of Zane. He was probably enjoying the California coast and all the fun and sun at the beach. I didn’t feel any bitterness towards him at that moment, though. Only a sadness for the times that we’d had and lost. It didn’t hurt anymore to admit that I missed him, and I even smiled as I looked out to where I knew we’d had our last little picnic together.
It had been such a marvelous time, but that’s how it was with us. Things were great when they were good between us. I found myself back on that little red bridge, which also seemed to have been given a fresh coat of paint. That made me happy. The new owners cared about the little things.
As I walked to the other side of the bridge, I heard footsteps join me on it from behind and I instantly recognized the voice that said, “I remember having quite an argument on this bridge.”
Shocked, I turned around to see Zane smiling at me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, not even trying to mask my confusion.
Zane looked better than ever with a fresh haircut and shave and wearing a dark blue button down shirt that showed off his muscles. Crossing the bridge to stand on my side, he said, “I didn’t sell the place after all.”
“Why?”
He looked around and smiled, his eyes lingering on our spot under the tree I’d been thinking about just moments before. “It seemed like the right thing to do.”
“The right thing, huh?” I said as he took another step closer to me. “What about doing the year and then going as you planned? I thought you didn’t like it here.”
He nodded, and with a shrug said, “I didn’t until you became a part of this place. When the time came, I couldn’t give it up, even if I’d lost you.”
“I’m glad you didn’t, Zane. What about the staff? Are they all still here?”
“Yep. Mandy’s still at the front desk, and those two diva chefs are still making my life difficult in the kitchen.”
“You look good here. Happy.”
Our conversation felt awkward, like there was so much more to say and neither one of us knew how to say it.
“I guess I grew to love the place. My mother is probably looking down and laughing at the irony. I spent all my life wanting to get away from here, and now that I can go anywhere in the world, I’m staying right here.”
I looked around and smiled. “I can’t think of a better place to be than right here. I bet she’s not laughing. I bet she’s happy. You did this place right, Zane.”
“Thanks.”
We stood there staring at one another, and as much as I wanted to say more, I didn’t. “Well, I think I’m going to go. Good luck with everything, Zane.”
I turned to walk back to my car, but he touched my arm and said, “Don’t go. You belong here. You belong with me.”
Nothing sounded better, but after all we’d been through, was it even possible?
“I love it here, and if I’m being completely honest, I still love you. But I don’t know. I just don’t know, Zane.”
He stepped toward me and slid his arm around my waist. Instantly, my body melded to his, and I loved the feel of his strong arm holding me.
“I’m guessing you didn’t think you were going to see me, but since we both feel the same way as we did, can’t we try again?”
I looked away, too much emotion welling up inside me to keep staring into those deep brown eyes of his. “I secretly wished I would see you, even though I was pretty sure you had left for California and never looked back.”
Gently, he placed his fingers on my chin to turn my face back towards him. Placing a kiss on my forehead before pressing his own to mine, he said, “I missed you, Becca. Give me another chance to show you I am the man you hoped I was. Give me a chance to show you I love you.”