Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The knock at the door the following morning made Zoe’s stomach lurch. For one wild second, she thought—hoped—it might be John. Then she feared it might be him. Not because she feared him—never that—but because she still had no idea what she’d say to him.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled open the door with a hand that trembled.
A deliveryman stood there smiling, holding a tall glass vase filled with pale pink roses and white lilies. “Delivery for Zoe Goodhue.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the arrangement and carried it inside. The flowers were beautiful, fragrant and overwhelmed her small space. Tucked among the stems was a tiny white envelope.
Her fingers hovered before sliding it open.
I’m sorry. John.
Her throat cinched tight, the apology felt heavier than the vase in her hands.
Of course the flowers were from him. He was thoughtful. Quiet. Sweet.
Only this time, the gesture didn’t feel sweet. It felt like a plea. Like he thought roses and lilies could erase the ache of betrayal.
She set the vase on the counter, then pushed it back against the wall as if more distance might dull its presence.
Zoe wrapped her arms around herself and stared for a long moment. Part of her wanted to believe the apology, to believe him.
The other part remembered his silence.
She turned away, leaving the flowers where they stood—achingly beautiful and impossible to forget.
The Ding-A-Ling was quiet when John pushed through the door for his meeting with Sage.
Four men played cards in the far corner. Two tourist types were throwing darts, taking a swig every time a dart missed its mark.
The karaoke stage was dark, though its neon lights still blazed.
“Thanks for meeting with me, John.” The bar owner smiled and gestured to a table. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“A Coke.”
Sage nodded to the bartender. “Two Cokes, Ted.”
They’d barely sat before the burly man brought their drinks along with a basket of bar mix.
“You mentioned you thought Zoe might be joining us?” Sage asked, scooping up a handful of nuts and pretzels.
“I invited her.” John kept his tone even, even managing a slight smile. He’d told himself her acceptance would be a long shot. Still, he’d hoped, even without receiving a reply.
Business, he reminded himself. Stick to business. “You mentioned you were considering adding Ding-A-Ling merch.”
Sage nodded. “Ryder told me how excited he was about selling cups, shirts—all that good stuff.”
Cups. He pictured Zoe holding one up in Sturgeon Bay, pretending to be a mystery shopper, her grin wide with mischief.
“I know the sale of merchandise is a big revenue stream for my brother, Wyatt,” Sage continued.
Cherry Acres. A memory that wouldn’t let go—wandering the orchards, tossing around ideas, Zoe’s laughter threading through the crisp air.
John’s throat tightened. He took a sip of Coke. “I can give you names of companies that’ll treat you fairly, even if you start small.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
They talked through options for several minutes, but every time the door swung open, John’s head lifted.
Not her.
When the door opened yet again, and it still wasn’t her, John rubbed the back of his neck. He kept telling himself she’d come around, given time.
He wanted to be hopeful, but the hollow weight in his chest said otherwise. Time was all he had to offer. Deep down, he feared it wouldn’t be enough to bring her back to him.
The scent of grilling burgers hung in the late-afternoon air when Zoe slipped into Callum and Brynn’s backyard.
The string lights Daisy had draped along the fence flickered on as the sun dipped low, throwing a golden glow across both lawns.
Daisy was already perched at the picnic table, sipping a hard seltzer and chatting with Brynn while Callum manned the grill.
“Hey, stranger,” Daisy called, patting the bench beside her. “We were about to send out a search party.”
Zoe managed a small smile and slid onto the bench. “Sorry. It’s been a difficult couple of days.”
“Oh no.” Daisy set down her drink. “What happened? Where’s John?”
She looked around as if expecting him to magically appear.
“We broke up.” The two words were heavy enough to still the whole yard.
Daisy gasped.
“That isn’t all.” Zoe forced out the words, her voice barely above a whisper.
Wide-eyed, Daisy leaned forward.
Brynn searched her face. “You okay?”
Zoe hesitated, then shook her head. “Not really.”
The words were soft, but they loosened something in her chest. Zoe twisted the glass of iced tea Brynn had wordlessly pressed into her hand. “Erik was cheating on me. During the engagement. The whole time, apparently.”
Brynn’s expression didn’t shift, but sympathy filled her blue eyes.
Daisy cocked her head, intrigued.
“Zoe…” Brynn reached across the table, her hand warm and steady. “I’m so sorry.”
Zoe’s laugh came out hollow. “You know what’s especially awful? I keep replaying things in my head. Erik was always flirty, always just a little too friendly with other women. I noticed. I told myself that was just how he was, harmless. But it wasn’t harmless at all.”
Callum flipped burgers quietly, giving them privacy without intruding.
“How did you find out?” Daisy asked. “Did Erik tell you? What’s he doing, some kind of twelve-step program?”
The question made Zoe laugh, sharp and surprised. But it faded fast. “John told me. He was Erik’s friend, his best man. He thought I knew. But I didn’t.”
Neither woman spoke. It was as if they knew not to stop her until she’d gotten it all off her chest.
“Now I keep thinking,” Zoe went on, voice catching, “if John had come to me back then and told me the truth, would I have believed him? Or would I have defended Erik, made excuses…?”
She pressed a hand to her chest, as if trying to steady the ache. “Maybe I wouldn’t have listened. Maybe I would’ve. But at least I’d have known. And I can’t stop being angry at John for staying silent.”
Brynn squeezed her fingers. “He absolutely should have told you. But don’t blame yourself for not seeing it, for wanting to trust the man you loved.”
Daisy set down her can with a thud. “I’ll tell you one guy you don’t have to worry about, and that’s John. That man has eyes for no one but you.”
Zoe swallowed hard.
The laughter of neighbors drifted across the fence, mingling with the sizzle of the grill. Life went on, ordinary and bright. But inside, Zoe felt the weight of choices—past and present—pressing down.
She managed a nod, blinking fast. “Thanks for listening. I just needed to get that off my chest.”
Brynn’s thumb brushed her hand again, gentle.
Daisy, predictably, nudged her shoulder.
And as Zoe sat between them, her mother’s words echoed back. What would you do if you discovered Brynn was cheating on Callum?
The question lingered, uncomfortable and unshakable, reminding her that answers weren’t always simple—and neither was forgiveness.
John sat on the porch steps of his rental, a half-empty Coke sweating beside him. The night air was cool, laced with the scent of cut grass and the faint tang of the bay. Somewhere down the block, a dog barked and a screen door slammed.
He should have felt tired—Sage had run through a dozen ideas for merch, and his head was full of numbers and suppliers. But all he could think about was Zoe.
Every time the door at the Ding-A-Ling had swung open, he’d looked up, stupidly hoping she’d walk in. She hadn’t.
He dragged a hand through his hair and let out a low breath. Flowers, texts, invitations—none of it mattered if Zoe didn’t want to see him. And maybe she didn’t.
Her voice haunted him, sharp and trembling. You knew. And you didn’t tell me.
He tipped his head back against the railing and closed his eyes.
She was right. He’d told himself he was giving Erik the chance to do the right thing, but the truth was uglier.
He’d been afraid—afraid of blowing up her happiness, afraid of losing her friendship. And in the end, he’d lost her anyway.
The hollow weight in his chest pressed harder.
He wanted to believe time would help, that if he gave her space, she’d come back to him. But deep down, he feared this wasn’t something time could fix.
Because no matter how much he loved her—and, God, he did—love might not be enough if she thought she couldn’t trust him.
John stared out into the dark yard, the silence settling heavy around him. For the first time in years, he couldn’t see the road ahead. All he could see was Zoe’s face when she’d told him to leave.
And right now, he had no idea if he’d ever be allowed to come back.