There’s a pause, followed by a dramatic sigh. “You should be thankful Lottie exists because, thanks to her craft projects and random collections, I happen to have an unreasonable amount of random supplies. Give me an hour.”
True to his word, Jasper shows up at my door sixty minutes later with two overflowing bags. “Lottie’s going through a princess phase,” he explains, pulling out strings of fairy lights and battery-operated candles. “These were for her next tea party, but your love life needs them more.”
Together, we transform my living room. By the time my phone buzzes with Marcus’s text, the warm glow from nearly a hundred fake candles fills the space, complemented by twinkling fairy lights draped along the walls.
“Good luck,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder before leaving. “Don’t waste my daughter’s princess supplies.”
As Jasper heads out, Caspian and Marcus are walking up the driveway. They pass each other at the bottom of my steps, and Caspian gives Jasper a friendly “hi.” But what catches my attention is the way Marcus suddenly stops in his tracks, his eyes following Jasper’s retreating form. When Jasper notices Marcus staring, he stumbles slightly, nearly missing the last step.
I bite back a laugh at their exchange, filing away this interesting development for later, and walk up to Caspian.
“Caspian?” I call out. “Can we talk?”
He hesitates, looking at Marcus, who gives him a gentle push in my direction. “Go on,” Marcus says. “I’ll be right next door if you need me.”
Caspian walks toward me slowly, and I step aside to let him in. He stops abruptly in the doorway, his mouth falling open as he takes in the scene before him. The soft glow from hundreds of candles reflects in his dark eyes, making them sparkle with wonder.
“Oh,” he breathes, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. His fingers reach out to trace one of the strings of twinkling fairy lights draped along the walls, a gentle smile spreading across his face. “This looks beautiful. Like the Winter Wishes Festival.”
My heart swells seeing him smile, the first real smile he’s given me in days. Maybe there’s hope for us after all.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“How about some hot chocolate?”
A small smile tugs at his lips. “Yes, please.”
I hurry to the kitchen, returning with his favorite. Hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and a sprinkle of cinnamon. We settle on the couch, and I take a deep breath.
“I know I already apologized, but I need you to understand why I helped your brothers,” I start, my voice wavering. “When I overheard their conversation, and they told me why they’re in Maplewood, they were desperate to connect with you. I could see how much they wanted to be part of your life. I couldn’t stand in the way of that, even if it meant risking everything between us. I should have told you, but I was trying to protect their chance to explain things their way.”
He looks up from his hot chocolate. “I talked to Tate and Tristan this morning.”
“You did?”
He nods. “They told me everything.” I listen as he recounts his brothers’ visit to the store today.
“How do you feel about it?”
Caspian’s face lights up. “I have a family, Nate. I’m an uncle! They showed me pictures of Sienna, and Bailey apparently loves the book he got from my shop the other day.”
His enthusiasm is contagious, and despite my fears, I can’t help but smile. “I’m really happy for you, Caspian. You deserve this.” I take a deep breath. “And I want you to know that…if you decide to move to Connecticut to be closer to them, I’ll understand. Family is important, and you shouldn’t feel tied down here just because?—”
He sets his mug down and turns to face me fully. “That’s insane. Why would I leave Maplewood?”
“Your fam?—”
“Not unless you were moving too,” he says, interrupting me. “Because I’m in love with you, you idiot.”
My heart stops, then starts racing double-time. “Say it again.”
“In love with you,” he repeats, his eyes shining in the candlelight. “I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone. You make me feel safe, understood, and cherished. Even when I was angry with you, I couldn’t stop loving you.”
I reach for him, cupping his face in my hands. “I love you too,” I whisper. “So much it terrifies me sometimes.”
“You know what I realized from talking to my brothers?” he asks softly.
