This was what a long-distance relations meant, she’d simply have to get used to it.
It was Monday, Christmas was in two days.Everyone knew she couldn’t cook so she was never asked to make anything, but the table decoration was usually her responsibility.It was something she always enjoyed doing, but how to get in the Christmas spirit when all she could think of was missing Hunter, she had no idea.
Well, she was an independent modern woman.Being on her own was something she was used to.Of course she would’ve loved to stay with Hunter, but he had a ranch to run and there wasn’t really anything for her to do over there.Next time she visited him, she’d take her art supplies with her.
Fortunately, she had more than enough to keep her busy.Apart from commissions she’d received after the Seattle exhibition, it was also time to start thinking what she wanted to do for an exhibition in New York in the new year, when the works of Montana artists would be on display.She’d known about it for a while but had been focusing on paintings for the Seattle gallery.Now she was back in her own place, she had all the time in the world to paint.
A knock on her front door was followed by Laura’s voice.“Willow?”
“I’m here!”she called, hurrying out of her room, happy to see her sister-in-law.
“We’re here too!”Rose called out laughing as all three her sisters-in-law entered her house.
“Oh, it’s so good to see all of you!”Willow cried out, hugging all of them.“Come, I can do with a cup of tea.”
“I’ve brought cookies,” Laura said carrying a plate in her hand.
As Willow put on the kettle, Ellie and Rose found chairs at the table.
“Let me get the cups and plates,” Laura said.
“We’re dying to know what happened in Colorado and what’s going to happen now,” Ellie said.
“Last we heard, Hunter was on his way back to Colorado,” Laura said.“And then we received a message to say you’re on your way to see him, he’s been hurt.”
“Okay, I have a question,” Rose said.“Where did things go wrong?Why did you send him away again when he showed up in Seattle?”
Chuckling, Willow finished making the tea before she joined them.“The ring was sort of the reason why I ended up going to see Hunter.By last Monday I was still struggling to get the blasted thing off my finger…” Quickly she told them about her trip to Bozeman, her conversation with the sales lady and her frantic rush to get to Hunter when she realized something had happened to him.
“So what?”Ellie asked.“Are you back together again?”
Willow nodded.“We’re going to see if the long-distance thing can work for us.”
Rose was frowning.“So, you’re engaged again?”
“Well, actually I’mstillengaged to Hunter, I couldn’t get the ring off my finger!”Willow smiled and held up her hand.
“But you still don’t want to get married?”Rose asked again.
“It’s just not possible.He’s in Colorado and I’m here,” Willow said.“It’s going to be challenging, but we’re going to try.”
“What did you tell his parents?”Laura asked.
“The same thing.They’ve been very kind to me.Hunter will be visiting at the end of December and then we’ll see what our schedules look like next year.”
“But don’t you want to be with him all the time?”Ellie asked.
“Of course I do, but there isn’t much we can do about the situation.”
“You could move to Colorado,” Ellie said, picking up her cup.
Willow moved restlessly in her chair.“My life is here.My family is here.Mom is getting older, she’s just given us a huge scare.I can’t just pack up and follow a guy I barely know.”
Ellie’s eyebrows rose.“I thought you loved him.”
“I do, but…”
“Sounds to me you’re still keeping a backdoor open,” Laura said.“Just in case things don’t work out between you two.”
