“Of course,” Nora took her bag and walked her to her car.
Ella exhaled.She could cry.She hadn’t seen her friend in months.
And why?
Because she was caught up in her life.
Because she was trying to make everything good for Zee.
And when the plan to see Nora fell through, she stayed in her rut, didn’t open her mouth and rolled with it.
Nora squeezed Ella’s hand.
It’s okay, Ella.We’re here.”
Inside the little clapboard house by the water, the kitchen walls glowed in soft yellows, making everything feel calm.
‘I’m going to pour the wine and grab the cheese plate.Or if you need a nap?”Nora’s voice lifted at the end, uncertainty flickering in her eyes before she quickly turned away, busying herself with taking down the dishes.
“The hot tub sounds perfect.Just let me get changed.”
“Take the room at the end, I just had the walls repainted.”
“Thanks, Nora.”
In the guest room with the soft blue walls and the double white iron bed with a purple duvet and fluffy pillows, Ella unzipped her bag and quickly put her things away in the dresser.
Her shoulder gave an ache but the pain wasn’t any worst, somehow her injury came through the being snatched from the garden just fine but she still had a while to go until that was healed.
This charming room is exactly the kind of style she’d decorate the bed-and-breakfast in, if they had one.
Her stomach twisted, that had once been a dream she’d told herself but now it seemed foreign to her, as if it didn’t fit in her life any more.
She changed into her swimsuit and strolled outside to meet her friend.
“Thanks for taking me in.”
Nora waved her comment off.
“Like you’re some stray I picked up?Ella, you know you are always welcome here.”Nora climbed in the hot tub, closing her eyes as she submersed herself.
“I know.”Ella climbed in, exhaling as the water immediately soothed her aches.
“We have a hot tub.We rarely use it.”
“I suggest taking advantage of it.”Nora’s lips twitched and she splashed a cup full of water at Ella.“Have you come to your senses?You’re going to leave Zee and run off with the hotel piano player?”
“Nora!”Ella splashed her friend back.“That piano player was awful, horrible.He messed up Prelude in C Major.”
Talking about that weekend when they were barely adults, the weekend she met Zee made her smile at the memories made her swoon with the heat of the sweet memory.
“You corrected him though, Ella.”
“Only because you pushed me to do it.”
The next day, Ella met Zee and her whole life changed.
“Sometimes we need a push,” Nora shrugged, amusement glinting in her eyes.
