Caroline’s eyes sparkled with pride as she glanced around the bustling gallery. “And from the looks of it, the gallery is a huge success,” she said, her voice full of admiration.
“Thank you,” I replied, feeling a little more at ease. “It’s been a whirlwind, but I’m so happy with how everything’s turned out.”
I glanced around the room, suddenly realizing someone was missing. “Where’s Lily?”
Caroline chuckled, nodding toward a corner of the gallery where Lily was darting from painting to painting, her face alight with excitement. “She’s been running around looking at everything. I think she’s decided she wants to be an artist like you.”
As if on cue, Lily spotted me from across the room and came barrelling toward me, her small arms wrapping around my legs in an enthusiastic hug. She’d styled her blonde hair in two adorable space buns,each one slightly askew, adding to her charm. Her outfit consisted of a wild combination of colors and patterns that only a six-year-old could pull off—striped leggings, a tutu skirt, and a T-shirt emblazoned with a glittery unicorn.
I laughed, squeezing her back. “I thought you wanted to be a detective or a famous singer?”
Lily tilted her head up at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I can do it all! I’ll solve mysteries during the day, sing at night, and paint on weekends!”
I chuckled at her determination. “A triple threat, huh? I like it. But don’t forget, we’ll need to make some space in your schedule for our art lessons.”
She grinned up at me. “Deal! But only if you promise to paint with me and let me use all the glitter.”
“Glitter?” I pretended to wince. “You drive a hard bargain. But for you, I think we can make that work.”
Lily’s eyes lit up, and she squeezed my legs even tighter before dashing off to explore more of the gallery. Caroline and Robert watched her with fond smiles, and Ethan slipped his hand into mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Caroline then turned to me, a hint of excitement in her eyes. “By the way, Vinnie, we’re having a family bonfire next Wednesday. Some of our family is visiting for Halloween, and we’d love for you to join us. It would mean a lot to us—and to Ethan.”
I looked up at Ethan, who was watching me with a hopeful expression, as if he was unsure how I’d respond. The idea of spending more time with his family felt right, like the next step in whatever we were building together.
“I’d love to,” I said, smiling warmly. “Thank you for inviting me.”
Caroline and Robert beamed, happy with my response. As they moved on to mingle with other guests, Ethan turned to me. Without a word, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my lips, a tender moment that conveyedall the relief and happiness he felt. The gentle brush of his lips against mine made my heart flutter.
As the gallery continued to fill with people, I found myself chatting with a couple of tourists who were drawn to one of the newer pieces—a painting I had created after that memorable day when Ethan took me to the lake. The piece was softer, yet still full of emotion, with hues of blues and greens that reflected the serenity and connection I’d felt in that moment. I realized how much that painting symbolized my journey—not just as an artist, but as a person finding her way, healing, and opening up to new possibilities. It wasn’t just about the lake, it was about the peace I had found in Hallow’s End.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Robert and Ethan standing together, deep in conversation. Every now and then, they glanced my way, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about. The way Robert looked at his son, then at me, with a proud smile, made my heart skip a beat, and I quickly looked away, blushing at the thought that they might be talking about me.
Everything had felt perfect. The gallery was humming with life, and my heart was light and full of joy. But that sense of peace shattered the moment I saw Emily walk through the door. She wore a stunning red dress that accentuated every curve, her blonde hair cascading down her back in soft waves. There was an effortless confidence in the way she moved, and for a brief moment, I couldn’t help but feel that familiar pang of insecurity. I glanced down at my simple blue dress, modest and soft, far from the striking image Emily presented. I wished I’d had more time that morning to do something with my hair, or pick out something that made me feel more . . . powerful.
Emily’s gaze zeroed in on Ethan, her intentions clear as day, and my stomach tightened with dread. I’d hoped that after our run-in at quiznight, she would have backed off. I’d managed to avoid her since then, thinking maybe she’d gotten the hint. But clearly, that hadn’t lasted long. Here she was again, making her presence known, her moves bolder and more calculated than ever.
As she made her way toward us, I saw her flash a smile—one that was all too practiced, and dripping with a saccharine sweetness that didn’t fool me for a second. Just as I braced myself for whatever she was about to pull, Ethan found his way back to my side, his presence instantly grounding me.
“Ethan, there you are!” Emily reached us, her voice laced with false cheer. Her eyes sparkled with a determination that made my skin crawl. “I’ve been looking for you. I wanted to talk about the upcoming volunteer program at the library. I figured you might want to lend me a hand with the reading sessions for kids.”
Ethan’s grip on my waist tightened, a subtle but clear signal of his discomfort. “Emily, this isn’t the time,” he said, his voice polite but firm.
“Oh, come on,” she persisted, completely ignoring the tension in the air. She stepped closer, her attention focused solely on Ethan. “It’ll only take a minute.”
I felt a wave of irritation rising, my chest tightening with the effort to keep calm. Emily’s blatant disregard for my presence, and the way she so easily dismissed me, was infuriating. But before I could say anything, Ivy smoothly intervened, her tone sharp beneath the veneer of politeness.
“Emily, why don’t you grab a drink and enjoy the event? There’s plenty of time to discuss that later,” Ivy suggested, her eyes narrowing as she stepped.
Emily’s smile faltered, a flicker of annoyance flashing in her eyes before she quickly masked it, and she shot Ivy a pointed look but forced her lips back into a smile. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to interrupt thebig day,” she said, her voice dripping with insincerity. She turned on her heel, hermovements graceful as she sauntered off into the crowd, but not before casting one last lingering look over her shoulder at Ethan.
I let out a sigh, my heart still racing from the tension, and Ivy met my gaze, her eyes full of understanding. “Don’t let her get to you,” she said softly. “Emily’s just trying to stir things up.”
Ethan turned to me, concern etched on his face. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice gentle.
I nodded, though the knot in my stomach hadn’t completely unwound. “I’m fine,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Thanks for stepping in, Ivy.”
She waved it off, but her expression remained serious. “Anytime. And remember, Vinnie, you’re the one here with Ethan, not her.”
