Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
WILLOW
Crisp leaves fall apart under the soles of my boots as I walk down the main street sidewalk. The brisk air bites at my cheeks and blows my hair over my shoulder, a few strands whipping across my face.
It’s a fairly cool day for the Harvest Fest, but every store in town is open, which offers a bit of relief from the breeze outside. I spot Maggie and Natalie through the front window of the bakery, as they both finish getting things ready for the day, and give them a quick wave.
The festival is supposed to start in an hour and the town is already buzzing with life.
I pass by the coffee shop as Sofia drags two chairs across the sidewalk, setting a few tables and seats out front of the store. “Hey, do you need any help?”
Sofia lifts her head, a smile stretching across her face as she shakes her head. “No, I’m good, Willow. Thank you, though!” She pushes the chair to the table and stands upright, dusting her hands on the fronts of her jeans. “Are you ready for today?”
“As ready as I can be,” I admit, subtly shrugging my shoulders as a smile lifts my lips. “I’m not sure what to really expect. I’ve never been on this side of the festival.”
“It will be great,” she assures me, her eyes bright as she dips her chin. “I’ve heard quite a few people talking about how excited they are to check out your shop.” She walks closer to the door, pulling it open for a customer on the other side. “I have a really good feeling about this for you.”
“I hope so,” I say, nodding at her. I pull my gaze from hers when a voice I wasn’t expecting thanks her. My eyes widen in shock. “Dean?”
He lifts his gaze, his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. He arches a brow beneath his framed glasses. “Willow. How are you?”
“I’ll see you afterwards,” Sofia says, giving me a small smile before she ducks back into the coffee shop.
“I’m good,” I say, my eyebrows tugging closer as Dean steps in front of me. I’ve known Dean Landry for many years, as he’s my best friend Mia’s father. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re off this weekend, so I decided to come spend some time at the lake since I don’t get to the house much.” He finally takes a sip of his coffee. “I was helping at the Whitmore’s. You know them, right? The Christmas tree farm right across the river?”
Dean is the head coach for the Aston Archers and his lake house is on the east side of town. I slowly scan his face, taking in his striking features. He and his late wife had Mia when they were still in high school, so at 39, he looks damn good.
It’s never been like that, though. As much as I tease him and like to ruffle his feathers, that’s a line I would never cross with Mia’s dad. He’s just nice to look at and makes it easy to mess around with Mia.
“Oh, yes, I know them.”
Dean nods. “Jack and I go way back. He’s having surgery later this month, so I told him I’d come help him with some things this weekend.”
“That’s really nice of you.”
“I’m supposed to meet Mia, Caleb, and Tella here for the festival in a bit. She told me about your store.” He tips his head. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I say, bobbing my head as I smile back at him. “It’s been a labor of love.”
“Oh, I’m sure.” He smiles, slowly scanning the streets before looking back at me. “Mia told me that Jace Miller bought the rink here. I had forgotten he was from Sugar Hill.”
The sound of his name sends my heart into a spasm. “Yeah,” I say quickly, pausing as I swallow over the lump lodged in my throat. “He and his friend partnered on it.”
“Can you give him my number? We’ve spoken before, but that was years ago. I’d love to hear more about his plans for the rink.”
Forcing a smile onto my lips, I tuck my hands into the front pockets of my coat. “Yes, of course,” I say, then fill my lungs with a deep inhale. “I will make sure someone gets your number to him.”
His brow furrows. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he says in a rush, shaking his head. His eyes slowly search mine. “I must have misunderstood Mia. I thought she said the two of you were dating.”
Shifting my weight on my feet, I corkscrew my lips to the left and swiftly shake my head at him. “Not really.”
Dean arches an eyebrow, turning his body in the direction I was walking. “I’ll walk you to your shop and you can tell me all about it.” He pauses, motioning for me to walk with him. “Only if you want to. There’s no pressure.”
A sigh escapes me, my lungs deflating as I fall into step with him. He’s not a stranger, but he’s neutral enough. He knows Jace from hockey but I don’t think he knows him on a personal level… not like everyone else around here does.
“Things just got a bit messy and complicated.”
Dean glances at me from the corner of his eye as he walks, pursing his lips. “Don’t they always?”
“He’s best friends with my brother and dealing with some stuff and I just don’t think time is on our side right now.”
“What do you mean? Like right person, wrong time?”
“Kind of,” I say softly, shrugging my shoulders. “He has this image of himself in his mind that because his hockey career is over, he’s a failure. He has this fear of letting everyone down or failing them.”
Dean falls silent and the only sound that follows us is the crunching of leaves with each step we take. “Fear is a real thing, that can keep us from truly living.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “I haven’t been in a serious relationship since I lost my wife.”
Turning my head, I look up at him. I quickly try to do the math in my head. “That was over twenty-years ago, wasn’t it?”
Dean blows out a breath, dipping his chin. “I didn’t date anyone until Mia was ten. I have my own issues and my own fears.” He lifts his hand to adjust the scarf draped around his neck.
“What are they?” I swallow roughly, stopping as we reach the front of the store. “I—you don’t have to answer that. I’m sorry, that was such an invasive question.”
“It was, but I don’t mind answering,” he says after a moment as he stares down at me with an understanding look in his eyes.
“Sometimes hearing about other people’s issues can help provide solace when you’re dealing with your own shit.
” He shifts his weight on his feet. “For me, it’s easier if I don’t get overly involved with someone.
If I get close to someone and lose them…
” He adjusts his glasses. “I’m sure you get it. ”
“No, I do,” I say quietly, nodding my head. “I can’t even imagine how hard it must be. I feel so stupid, like the reason I walked away from Jace is so insignificant compared to that.”
Dean is quiet for a moment, his eyes slowly searching mine. “That’s not true. There’s no comparison between someone else’s situation and your own. The way each person perceives or experiences life is theirs, not yours.”
Mulling over his words, I drop my gaze down to my hands and pull my keys from my pocket, flipping through them until I find the one for the shop. “I suppose you have a point.”
“Jace’s fear makes sense,” Dean offers, his eyes meeting mine as I lift my head. “He dedicated his entire life to his hockey career and it’s impossible to keep that from becoming your identity.”
“You’re right.”
“He failed himself, Willow. Even though it was something out of his control, I would be willing to bet that he thinks he’s failed himself more than anyone else.”
His words hang around me as a heaviness settles on my chest. “He said he doesn’t want to fail me or let me down.”
“I’m sure he’s feeling a bit lost in this whole situation. If he truly cares about you, that thought of making you feel the way he’s felt is the last thing he wants to do.”
“He told me he needed to let me go.” I shake my head, focusing on my feet as the memory washes over me. “Would he really think that would feel better than him letting me down?”
Dean is quiet again. “I don’t know, Willow. I can’t speak for him, I can only speak for my thoughts on the situation.” He chews on the inside of his cheek. “I think he probably thought that was the safest option.”
I suck in a deep breath and swallow hard. “I was the one who ultimately walked away from him. At the last minute, after he hesitated, he told me he knows what he wants and it’s me. I told him I needed him to think about it to be sure.”
“He’ll come around, Willow.”
My eyebrows cinch together. “How can you be so sure?”
A smile cracks across Dean’s lips. “I’m not but I just have a feeling that he will. Him trying to push you away was to protect himself and you, but you flipped the script on him. You walked away instead.”
After a long moment of silence, Dean cocks his head. “Can I tell you what I’d tell Mia if she were in this situation?”
“Yes, please.”
“Keep your distance and let him realize what is truly at stake here.” A smirk tugs on his lips. “Us men, we aren’t always the smartest.”
A laugh escapes me and I raise my eyebrows at him. “I’m not going to agree with you, but I won’t disagree either.”
Dean chuckles, shaking his head. “He’ll come to his senses, Willow. I know nothing about this guy, but you’re an intelligent, beautiful woman and if he doesn’t know what he’s letting get away, then he’s not someone you want to be with.”
Staring back at him, I smile sheepishly and let his words sink in. His words are exactly something he would say to Mia and it’s exactly what I need to hear right now. I haven’t wanted to bother my own parents with my issues, so having it come from my friend’s father is helpful.
“Thank you for that, Dean.”
“Of course,” he says softly, dipping his chin. “Keep your head up, Willow. I need to go find my daughter, but we will be by the store later.”
“Okay,” I grin, nodding back at him as he slowly starts to back away. “See you then.”
Dean lifts his hand and gives me a small wave before heading down the street in the direction we had just come from. I watch him for a moment before I turn back to the shop, sliding my key into the hole with his words following after me into the warm and familiar space.
I never considered that Jace failed himself. Sometimes our egos can be our biggest downfall and right now, it seems like Jace’s is getting in his way.
I need to talk to him.
I need him to know that I’ve always believed in him, and that’s something that will never change, regardless of what happens between us.