“I deserved you,” I say before I can stop myself.
His eyes flash up to mine, and as we stare at each other, time seems to slow down around us, giving us this single moment to reflect on our regrets, on what we should have said but never had the courage, the strength to say when it mattered most.
I clear my throat and take a step back. “Well, that was in the past, I guess.”
“Yeah,” he says. “So then, why are you back here, Nola?”
Great question, and up until maybe a day ago, I might have had a different answer. But now, with the mysterious letters and the warmth of reminiscing, my answer has morphed into something else.
“At first, it was to get away from Chris, my ex, but now that I’m here, being with Grandma Louise, walking around town, even talking with Arden, it feels like I’m exactly where I want to be. Home.”
He stands from the ladder. “So that means you’ll be staying longer?”
I nod and wet my lips as the tension grows even thicker. “Yes. I’ll be staying longer. I’m thinking about settling down here. Even though New York was my dream, I quickly realized that I don’t think I was cut out for city life either. I miss this town, the people in it, and thecommunity. I was lacking the deep friendships in New York that I have here. There’s nothing left for me there, but a lot left for me here.”
“Well, good thing we had this day then, huh?”
“Yeah, good thing,” I answer as he takes a step closer.
In a flash, I’m transported back to what life was like with him, before I decided to leave for New York. I was happy, protected, comfortable, and sure, venturing out into a new world was a good life experience, but being back in Bright Harbor feels so right, like all the puzzle pieces in my life are connecting ... besides one.
One single piece that seems to be splitting in two.
Because even though I’m here with Caleb, so close that I can almost taste him, I can’t help thinking about those letters and the man who wrote them. If only ... ugh, if only they were the same man.
With a gentle hand to my chin, he angles my head so our eyes lock. My pulse picks up, his familiar scent wrapping around me like a blanket, spreading warmth through my limbs. “If things were different, if you left on different terms, I would have asked you out the moment you came back into town.”
“You ... you would have?” I ask, my heart beating so hard that I can barely hear Caleb over the roar of my pulse.
“I would have.” And then with a brush of his thumb over my cheek, he moves away and toward my front door. “Thanks for today, Nola. I had a really good time.”
He opens the door and then bends down. “You have a letter.” He holds up a green envelope.
Wow, the timing could not be any better, reminding me of a choice I may have to make.
“Oh, thank you.” I walk up to him and take it.
His eyes fall to my lips and then back up to my eyes. “You haven’t changed a bit, Nola. Still beautiful and funny as ever.” He offers me a soft smile. “See you around town.”
“Yeah, see you around.” I shut the door behind him and clutch the letter close to my chest. Just as I turn around, I come face to face with Grandma Louise.
“You’re still in love with him, aren’t you?”
Startled back into the door, I let out a small squeal. “My goodness, Grandma. You scared me.”
“Well, if you weren’t spouting heart eyes for the man, you might have heard me walking up with my cane.”
“I wasn’t spouting heart eyes,” I say, even though I know my cheeks are flushed. Crazy what a difference an afternoon can make. Starting the day, I didn’t even want to look at Caleb, let alone be near him, but now ... now I wish he hadn’t left. I wish we could talk more. I wish ... hell, I don’t know what I wish.
“Okay.” Grandma Louise pats my shoulder. “Just remember, sometimes people come back into your life for a reason.” She winks and then heads toward the kitchen. “I’m going to warm up a pot pie for dinner. Do you want one?”
“Maybe a little later,” I call out as I flip open the envelope and pull out the letter.
Dear Ho Ho No,
I would love nothing more than to meet up with you. How does tomorrow night at eight, in the gazebo on Main, sound?
Yes, it might be Christmas Eve, but I’m willing to take a chance on this holiday spirit if you are.
