Cole’s gaze went over Ben’s shoulder, and then he smiled. “I wasn’t sure she was actually going to come.”
Ben turned to see that Amelia had arrived. Annie and the kids flocked to her, and she gave each of them a hug. It was a bit weird to think that the same people who were his sister and his nieces and nephews were Amelia’s aunt and cousins, because of her relationship to Cole.
While she’d once lived in leggings and sweatshirts off the ice, that day, Amelia wore a white denim skirt that reached her knees and a flowing floral blouse with loose sleeves that ended past her elbows.
Her light brown hair was down, flowing around her shoulders in loose waves. She looked beautiful, though different from the girl he'd once known. Ben found himself watching her as she interacted with Annie and the kids, noting how she smiled warmly at them but still maintained a certain distance, as if holding part of herself back.
"Are you going to go talk to her?" Cole asked, flipping a steak.
Ben glanced at his brother-in-law. "I don't know. She doesn't seem interested in rekindling a friendship."
“I’m sure that’s true. She’s always kept herself aloof from people, but she’s been even more reserved since she stopped skating. She’s even distanced herself from people who’ve always been in her life. Like Lexi, who was more than just her coach.”
Ben remembered the sadness in Lexi’s gaze when she’d talked about how her relationship with Amelia had becomealmost non-existent once skating wasn’t there to hold them together. He had no idea what had made Amelia pull away from her support system the way she had, but it hurt him to know she was isolating herself.
Without even realizing what he was doing, Ben moved in Amelia’s direction. The kids had run off again, so it was just Annie standing near her.
“Hey, Ben,” Annie said as he neared them.
“Hey.” He gave Annie a quick smile before turning his attention to Amelia. “It’s good you could make it.”
Amelia crossed her arms, glancing around before meeting Ben’s gaze. “I said I’d come, so here I am.”
“It’s a beautiful evening,” Annie said. “Perfect for a barbecue. We’ll be ready to eat soon.” She reached out and touched Amelia’s arm. “I’ll talk to you more later.”
When Annie walked away, silence settled between them, as awkward as ever. Ben shifted his weight, uncertain how to proceed. He hadn't planned what to say beyond his initial greeting.
"Can I get you something to drink?" he offered, gesturing toward the cooler. "They've got water, soda, and I think some lemonade."
"Water would be fine," Amelia said, her voice soft.
Ben nodded and walked with her to the cooler. He bent down to retrieve a bottle of water, the ice inside clinking as he rummaged through the drinks. Their fingers brushed as he handed her the bottle of water he’d found.
Amelia pulled her hand away quickly, as if his touch had startled her.
"Thanks," she murmured, twisting the cap off the water bottle.
"Do you want to sit down somewhere?" Ben gestured toward one of the empty tables.
She hesitated, glancing around the yard as if looking for an escape route before giving a small nod. "Sure."
They made their way to the picnic table, which was set apart from the others. Ben waited for Amelia to sit down before settling on the bench opposite her. The distance between them felt both physical and metaphorical. He couldn't help but notice how tightly she held herself, her shoulders stiff, her hands wrapped firmly around the water bottle as if it might provide some protection.
"So, how are you enjoying working at the church?" Ben asked, searching for neutral ground.
Amelia took a sip of water before answering. "It's good. The hours work well for me, and I like the people there."
"Miss Marian seems like a character," Ben said with a chuckle, remembering his interaction with the older woman.
"She is," Amelia agreed, a small smile playing on her lips.
“She tried to set me up with her granddaughter,” Ben said with a chuckle. “When I said no, she moved on to Luca. Do you know her granddaughter?”
Amelia nodded. “She’s very nice, and she’s beautiful as well. The full package.”
“So why does Marian feel like the woman needs her help to get a boyfriend?”
“Her last relationship didn’t turn out so well,” Amelia said. “So Miss Marian thinks she can do a better job of choosing someone for her.”
