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“Oh…” Char clearly hesitated, and Matthew met Winnie’s gaze. “I…Um, yeah, I can do that.”

Matthew frowned. “Wait, what’s the matter? Are you busy?”

“No. Well, just a bit. I was about to leave on that date I told you about, but I can cancel.”

Winnie instantly shook her head in protest, but Matthew was already on it. “Oh, I forgot you’d mentioned that. No, don’t cancel. We’ll be fine. You should go on the date. Winnie agrees, too.”

“Your car has feelings about who I date?” Char asked.

“No, Winnie,” Matthew stated loudly.

Char’s voice hinted at her own smile. “I know. I was joking that time. Really, though, I’m sure I can reschedule.”

“No, please. We’ll be fine. I’ll just call Mum or Dad,” Matthew said.

“They’re in Manchester for the night, remember?”

Matthew grimaced. “That’s right. Well, we, uh…” He seemed to think for a minute. “I think there’s a small bed and breakfast in Littlethorpe. We can just stay for another night and have you pick us up in the morning.” He glanced at Winnie, clearly seeking her approval, which she gave with a ready nod.

Anything to get Char on the date. A single mother of two children deserved that at the very least.

“Are you guys sure?” Char asked. “I don’t want to put you out.”

“No, we’ll be right,” Matthew said with a reassuring nod, though Char couldn’t see.

“Right,” Char said, still hesitant. “Well, give me another call when you get sorted at the B&B, just so I know you made it.”

“Will do. Thanks, Char. Love you, bye.”

Winnie’s heart nearly exploded at his expression of love for his sister. She couldn’t remember the last time her siblings had shared their love for her—or she for them, for that matter.

He hung up the phone and faced Winnie with an expectant look.

“What?” she asked.

“Are you ready to walk in this downpour for ten minutes to the B&B?”

Ten minutes? Eesh. But what choice did they have? “Yep,” she stated with a smile. “Good thing I’ve got my wellies.”

He grinned, and together, the two of them left Minnie at the side of the road with their suitcases and umbrellas in hand, both of them praying the inn held some vacancies. Otherwise, they were in for a very long, very cold night in what little-to-no shelter with which Minnie would provide them.

Come on, B&B.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Winnie and Matthew reached the bed and breakfast after a cold, wet walk, both of them relieved to see the “Vacancies” sign bright at the front of the red-bricked, white-trimmed home.

Newly energized by the mere thought of a warm bed and dry clothes, they rushed forward. Matthew opened the door for Winnie as a bell jingled above, and instantly, they were greeted by the warmth of a crackling fire and by the smell of wet wood and brown sugar.

“It’s freezing out there,” Matthew said, closing the door behind them and giving his head a little shake as raindrops flew out to the side of him.

They looked around the small waiting area of the bed and breakfast where three claw-footed chairs were arranged before a modest fire that cast a glow across the wooden floor. A table sat in the middle of the chairs, holding a tray with clean, floral teacups and lace doilies beneath it.

At the other end of the room, a small front desk was situated with no one behind it, though a white cat sat on top, flicking its tail toward them. A vase of flowers was perched at one end, and a bell on the other, which Matthew moved forward to ring.

A few moments passed by, but no one responded.

“I guess we’ll try again,” he said, dinging the bell once more.