“Come over,” Addy says immediately. “I’ll get some coffee brewing. Maybe something stronger.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m sitting on the paint-splattered couch she has in her studio while she hands me a mug that definitely contains more whiskey than coffee.
Paint smudges mark her overalls, and her wavy hair is tied up in a messy bun. She was clearly in the middle of working. “Sorry for interrupting your work,” I say, gesturing at her paint-covered clothes. “I know you’re probably in the middle of something.”
She waves off my apology with a familiar smile. “Please. After everything we’ve been through together, you really think I wouldn’t have time for you? You’re family, Nate. Always will be.”
“Thank you.”
“Tell me what happened,” she says, settling into the armchair across from me.
I take a long drink before answering, starting with the conversation I overheard at the Winter Wishes Festival. “I knew the twins wanted to tell him about being his brothers. I helped arrange it, but I didn’t tell Caspian beforehand. I just… I thought I was protecting him somehow, but instead, I betrayed his trust. I guess… I thought he would be happy to find out he had family. He always seems so sad when he talks about his mom, about being alone now. I wanted to help him connect with his brothers, but instead, I just hurt him.”
“Oh, Nate.” Her voice is gentle but firm. “Your heart was in the right place, but you should have told him.”
“I know that now.” I run a hand through my hair. “You should have seen his face, Addy. He looked so hurt.”
She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Give him some time to process. This isn’t only about you not telling him. He just found out he has brothers he never knew about. That’s huge.”
“But what if he doesn’t forgive me?”
“He will,” she says with certainty. “But you need to let him work through this at his own pace. Just…let him know you’ll be there when he’s ready to talk.” She studies my face for a moment, then asks softly, “How do you feel about him, Nate? Really feel about him?”
The question catches me off guard, though it shouldn’t. I stare into my coffee. “I…” The words stick in my throat as the reality of my feelings hits me like a punch to the gut. “Oh god, Addy. I’m in love with him.”
She smiles, but it’s gentle, knowing. “I figured as much. The way you look at him… It’s different from how you’ve looked at anyone else.”
“Different how?”
“I’ve always thought of you like a tree. You’re strong, Nate. You’re rooted in place. You know who you are, so you’re not afraid of what comes at you. I know I hurt you. Not because I came out or broke our engagement, but because I shook you to your core.” She leans back in her chair, regarding me thoughtfully. “When Caspian came along, it was like a precious bird perched on one of your branches, and you took it upon yourself to ensure he’s safe.” She laughs. “Sorry about the tree analogies.”
I smile. “You’re speaking my language. I appreciate that.”
She places a hand on my knee. “But does he know how you feel?”
I shake my head, feeling suddenly vulnerable. “I haven’t told him. Everything’s been so new, so good. I didn’t want to rush it, didn’t want to scare him away. And now…”
“And now you might lose him before you ever got the chance to tell him,” she finishes for me.
“Yeah,” I whisper, the word barely audible.
“I still think you need to give him space while he’s processing what happened,” she says, staring into my eyes with the same determination I saw when she came out to me. “But don’t leave it too long. Make sure he knows how you feel.”
CHAPTER 31
CASPIAN
Through my living room window, I watch Nate climb into his truck. He pauses, and for a moment, our eyes meet before I step back, letting the curtain fall. My chest aches, a physical pain that matches the emotional turmoil inside. How did everything change so fast? This morning, I woke up feeling like I was finally finding my footing in Maplewood, and now it’s like the ground has disappeared beneath my feet.
Nate knew. He knew and didn’t tell me. The betrayal stings, but what hurts more is knowing that my whole life has been built on secrets I never knew existed. I need answers, and the only person who could give them to me is gone.
I wipe away tears I didn’t realize were falling and turn toward the spare room. I stand in the doorway, staring at the stack of boxes I haven’t touched since moving to Maplewood.
Mom’s boxes. My chest tightens just looking at them, but I force myself to step inside. Even with the heat on, the room feels cold and empty, lifeless. Boxes line the walls like unwanted guests, and the bare windows let in harsh winter light. Maybe one day, I’ll turn it into a proper spare bedroom, make it feel warm and welcoming instead of this storage space of memories I’ve been too afraid to face.
“Okay,” I whisper, settling cross-legged on the floor beside the nearest box. “I can do this.”
My hands shake as I lift the lid. The moment I do, her scent hits me—that familiar mix of vanilla and jasmine she always wore. Tears spring to my eyes immediately, and I close them, overwhelmed by how viscerally her perfume brings her back to me.
