Tears prickled her eyes as she lowered the note to her lap. While she slept and recovered, the others ensured not only her comfort, but also that she would have what she needed when she woke. For most of her adult life, she’d been the one looking after everyone else. From the drudgery of trying to anticipate Nate’s wants and desires, to stepping in every time Jess got overwhelmed with a work disaster, it had always fallen on her shoulders to fix things. Yet here, in this little town thousands of miles from home, she had met a group of people who were willing to step in when she needed them most.
Releasing a slow, measured breath, she lifted the cover that had been placed over the plate on the tray. Underneath, she found one of Edie’s scones, and her stomach instantly growled in response. Picking it up, she took a bite and savored the taste, reminding herself to thank Edie later for her thoughtfulness.
Riley rolled rather ungracefully so his feet were back on the floor, then stared up at her hopefully. She chuckled as she reached out to scratch behind his ears, and the dog grumbled in contentment.
“Sorry, buddy, I promise I’ll get you a treat later,” she told him, and he heaved a sigh like he understood she wasn’t planning toshare her scone. Standing up, she took another bite and then asked him, “Feel like being my guide?”
While she retrieved her duffel bag, Riley stood and then did a perfect downward dog that would have made her yoga instructor back in New York swoon. With his rear in the air, he yawned loudly, and she shook her head at his dramatics.
“Lead the way,” she told him when he was finished, and he seemed to understand perfectly as he padded toward the door.
The massive Irish wolfhound led her through the quiet house, up the staircase, and down a hallway lined with what looked like ancestral portraits. The guest room was exactly where Corbyn’s note had said it would be. It was a spacious chamber with a four-poster bed and windows overlooking the estate’s grounds. Sadie couldn’t help but feel it was a shame she hadn’t woken up earlier, so she could have sought refuge in the charming space.
In the adjoining bathroom, she found towels had been laid out along with various soaps to choose from. When Sadie caught sight of herself in the mirror, though, she froze. She looked… different somehow. The woman staring back had the same features, but there was a softness in her expression she hadn’t seen in years. There were no worry lines between her brows or dark circles of exhaustion under her eyes. She was content and cared for.
“Get it together,” she told her reflection as she turned away to start the shower, knowing exactly where her mind was going. “This is work. He’s a client.”
Stepping under the water, she closed her eyes, only to be greeted by the memory of bright blue ones staring back at her. Images of a winter in London, when she was seventeen, floated through her mind. The crowded Tube on New Year’s Eve, a brush of hands with a stranger, the electric connection that had left its mark on her young heart. Then, as was usually the case these days, the young man became Corbyn, his eyes sparkling inmuch the same way on the rare occasions she could elicit a smile or a laugh.
“Ridiculous,” Sadie muttered, trying to convince herself. “Thousands of men have blue eyes.”
A short time later, she descended the stairs toward the kitchen and pulled her damp hair into a ponytail. She was immediately hit with the scent of fresh bread and could hear someone moving about in the kitchen. Edie stood at the stove, stirring a pot as she looked over toward Sadie.
“There you are,” Edie said warmly, wooden spoon in hand. “Feeling better?”
“Much,” Sadie replied, moving to sit at the kitchen’s large island. “Thank you for everything. The guest room is lovely.”
“Glad to hear it,” Edie said, turning to stir whatever delicious concoction bubbled on the stove. “Porridge? You must be famished.”
“That sounds amazing,” Sadie admitted. Riley had disappeared during her shower, presumably through the dog door visible at the far end of the kitchen. “Is Corbyn around?” she asked, “I wanted to thank him for yesterday as well.”
“He went for his morning walk about an hour ago. Said he needed to clear his head,” Edie told her as she ladled a generous portion of porridge into a bowl and set it before Sadie. “Between you and me, he was up half the night checking on you.”
“He was?” Sadie couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Mmm,” Edie hummed, setting a honey pot within reach. “I haven’t seen him fuss like that since Ellie had a bad bout of flu a few winters back.” Her eyes were kind as she studied Sadie’s face. “You gave us a right fright.”
Sadie stirred honey into her porridge, unsure how to respond. The idea of Corbyn watching over her while she slept stirred something warm and unfamiliar in her chest.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said finally. “It’s been ages since I’ve had a migraine that bad.”
“No need to apologize, love,” Edie assured her, sitting with her cup of tea. “Those wretched things have been known to keep me in bed for days. That’s why Corbyn knew exactly what you needed to set you right.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments while Sadie ate. Through the kitchen window, she could see the frost still clinging to the grass, sparkling in the morning sunlight.
“He was unexpectedly kind,” Sadie admitted.
Edie’s expression softened, and she patted Sadie’s hand. “He’s a good man beneath all that grumbling he does. The accident changed him in many ways, but he still has a good heart.” She paused, looking at Sadie thoughtfully before adding, “Life’s hardships can either soften us or turn us brittle. Some scars don’t show on the outside, but that doesn’t make them any less real.”
Edie fixed her with a stare, and a lump formed in Sadie’s throat. Throughout their conversations, she had tried to keep the details of her relationship with Nate vague, but Edie often saw more than she let on.
“You know what might do you good after yesterday?” Edie asked, drawing Sadie from her thoughts. “A bit of fresh air. Corbyn and Riley usually walk down by the pond in the morning.”
“That sounds perfect, actually.”
Not only would the chance to stretch her legs help relieve the lingering stiffness in her muscles from sleeping on the sofa, but she also knew she needed a few quiet moments to speak with Corbyn before they started work for the day.
“Just follow the path past the old oak and take the right fork about five minutes in,” Edie instructed, motioning to a spotoutside through the window. “The morning light on the pond is quite beautiful.”
