Chapter 24
Nora
It had been six weeks since the lawyer came to Cole’s house, and I still heard Cole’s words every day.
The worst part wasn’t even the anger. It was how quickly I had stopped being Nora and become another Adams to him.
Some days I could almost convince myself it had hurt less than I remembered.
Then I’d hear his voice again, and it hurt all over again.
I’d rented a month-to-month apartment in Williamsburg, Virginia, and found a temporary job at a small design firm.
The apartment was fine. Clean, decent light, enough room for what I’d brought.
I could make almost any space work, but I had no interest in making this one mine.
New York put me too close to my parents.
Misty Pines put me too close to Cole. Williamsburg was somewhere in between while I figured out what came next.
My period was late. I’d felt sick all week, so I stopped at the pharmacy on my way home and bought a pregnancy test.
I was on the pill and took it every day, but I couldn’t ignore it.
I stared at the box the whole ride up in the elevator.
It was such a small thing to be holding. A cardboard box, instructions printed on the side. Nothing about it looked big enough to change my whole life.
I wished Cole were here. When I imagined taking the test, he was beside me, nervous and probably pretending not to be. I hated that my mind still went there so easily when trusting him again felt anything but easy.
But I was doing this alone, and I didn’t want to.
With shaky hands, I picked up my phone and dialed Harper. She was the only friend I had—the only person I really had. I missed her so much, but I couldn’t go back to Misty Pines. Not yet.
“Hey, what’s up?” she answered, always in a good mood.
“Are you busy?” I croaked.
“No, I’m actually bored out of my mind. Are you okay?”
I sniffled. “I, um—I have a pregnancy test in my hand right now. I’m scared out of my mind,” I choked out.
“Oh my God, Nora. You told me you weren’t feeling well… Do you really think…?”
I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “I think so.”
“Do you want me to stay on?”
“Please.”
“Okay, well, you’re gonna be just fine. I’m here for you.”
My throat constricted. “Thanks, Harper.”
I went to the bathroom feeling like a nervous wreck, my heart going a mile a minute. Once I was done, I placed the test on the counter and paced the bathroom floor, waiting for the result.
My breath hitched when the lines appeared. It didn’t even take five minutes. I stared at the result, breathless, my knees suddenly weak.
“What does it say?” Harper asked.
I swallowed the huge lump in my throat. “It’s positive.”
I kept staring at the two lines. I was scared out of my mind, but I didn’t wish they’d disappear.
“That’s great news!” Harper laughed, squealing.
“You’re taking this better than I am.”
“That’s my job. You can freak out.”
“I don’t know how to feel. I wish it was better timing,” I said, making my way back to the living area.
“Timing can suck and it can still be good news.”
I sat down and rubbed my forehead. “What am I going to do?”
“What do you want to do?” she asked instead.
“I can’t keep avoiding him now. Cole apologized, but what happens the next time he gets scared? Does he throw my name at me again?”
“You really think he’d do that?”
“I don’t know. That’s what scares me.”
“He’s giving you the space you asked for.”
“I know.”
“Are you ready to talk to him?”
“Not yet. I’m still too hurt.”
“Then don’t. And if it makes you feel any better, he looks like hell,” Harper said.
“How bad?”
“Pretty bad. He gave me a letter for you about a month ago and didn’t ask where you were.”
“I read it.”
“And?”
“He apologized.”
“That isn’t all. Cole finished the inn. He hasn’t touched the business side because he says it’s your call.”
“I got the papers giving me first choice to run the inn, and the repair money came through. I know all of it matters. It still doesn’t erase what he said.”
That was the hard part. I knew he wasn’t trying to control me now. He’d fixed what he could and left the rest up to me. I was still hurt.
“I didn’t say it did. I’m just telling you what he’s been doing.”
“He made me feel like I’d always be my father to him.”
“I know.”
“You miss him,” Harper said.
“I miss him. I still don’t trust him.”
“He’s the father of your child. You can’t avoid him forever, Nora. It’s been six weeks, and you’ll have to tell him.”
“I know,” I said.
Harper sighed. “For what it’s worth, I still think you two have a shot.”
“That makes one of us.”
“You’re carrying his baby, and you still love him.”
“We’ll see. I liked you better when you were just nosy.”
“That was never an option.”
“Have you heard anything from your parents?”
“I changed my number, remember?”
“Oh yeah. Still no regrets?”
“About the number? None.”
I rubbed the nape of my neck. “Thanks for keeping my secret, Harper. You’ve been a great friend.”
“You make it easy for me to be. Most days.”
I smiled. “You’re such a liar.”
Harper laughed. “No kidding.”
“Will you come visit me sometime—before I return to Misty Pines?”
“Just say when. I miss you too, by the way.”
I pulled in a breath. “Okay. I’m gonna get something to eat and get some rest, okay? I’ll catch you later.”
“Sure thing. Take care.”
I ended the call and took a shower. Afterward, I made something to eat and then headed to bed. It was still early, but I didn’t have much to do, and lately, I’d been a lot more tired than usual. I guess I knew now what that was about.
I sighed softly, closing my eyes, but Cole’s face was the only thing I could see. Six weeks of telling myself I needed to get over him hadn’t worked. I still loved him. I still didn’t know if loving him meant I could trust him again.
Sitting up in bed, I reached over to my nightstand and pulled out the letter from Gran that the lawyer had given me. I’d read it so often that I had the words memorized, but I still couldn’t help myself.
I unfolded the paper and read it again.
My dearest Nora,
I put the house and inn in a ten-year trust so your father couldn’t talk you into selling them before you knew what you wanted.
You can live in the house, and it will be yours when the trust ends. I put Cole in charge of the inn because I trust him. He can ask you to run it if you both want that.
There is money in the trust for the necessary repairs. I never wanted the inn to empty your savings.
I hoped you and Cole might run it together and make each other happy too, but that was only your nosy grandmother hoping. Neither of you owes me that.
The city always made you look tired, and Misty Pines never did. Whatever happens with Cole, don’t give up the life you chose for yourself.
Love always,
Gran
My eyes stung as I read the letter again. Gran was right. I had chosen Misty Pines before Cole ever became part of it. The inn still mattered to me. Whatever happened with him, I wanted to go home.
I folded Gran’s letter and set it beside me. Cole had apologized and fixed what he could. Now he was waiting for my answer.
It was time to answer him.
I picked up my phone and sent Harper a message.
Tell Cole I’ll see him Saturday. You can give him my address.
After a moment, I sent one more.
I’m agreeing to a conversation. Nothing else.