13. Chapter Thirteen
Following another delicious supper with the Harts, Katie packed her suitcase and carried it downstairs to the entryway, where they all waited for her.
Evelyn handed her a container of leftovers. “Remember, you can pop over any time, and you’re welcome at our table whenever you like—breakfast, lunch, and supper.”
Katie smiled at her. She wouldn’t have acted on the invitation with anyone else, but the Harts were different. “Thank you. I will.”
They hugged then, even though it wasn’t a true goodbye.
“Enjoy the cottage,” Evelyn said as they parted. “I know your grandma would want you to. She filled it with love for many years and wanted to leave that love for you.”
Katie had to blink away the stinging in her eyes. She didn’t know what the future looked like, but it was for that very reason she couldn’t imagine ever selling the cottage.
“If you need anything,” Tom told her, “you can call any one of us.”
Katie thanked him and said goodbye to him and Becca. When she turned to Ethan, he had already picked up her bag and waited by the door. They walked out to her car together, where he set the suitcase in the back seat. Shutting the door, he faced her.
“I’m glad watching you drive away this time only means you’re over at the cottage.”
“Me too.” She had a feeling she would have been a mess if she’d left for Elling yesterday. It would still be hard when the time came, but she did not have to face it today.
“Well, like Dad said, just call if there are any issues…or if anyone shows up. I’ll be right over.”
She knew he was concerned about her being alone after what had happened earlier, but she couldn’t let fear dictate her life anymore. Especially not fear of Grant. Chances were, they were already in Madison by now, and knowing Ethan was around would help deter another visit from them.
“I will.” She opened the driver’s door and slid in. After adjusting the seat back to her height, she looked out at Ethan and smiled. “Thanks for helping me with everything today. I really appreciate it.”
“Any time.”
He shut the door for her, and she started the ignition. Taking a deep breath, she drove away from the house. Though the cottage was right next door, there was significance in pulling up to it on her own for the first time. While she didn’t know what would happen in the future, she couldn’t deny this moment felt like coming home. The longer she stayed, the harder it would be to leave…if she left at all.
But a decision like that carried a lot of complications she didn’t want to think about tonight, so she put it out of her mind and got out of the car. Grabbing her suitcase, she let herself into the cottage. After setting the bag by the washer to wash her clothes, she looked around the quiet living room. What should she do now that she was here for the night? Back at her apartment, she would have turned the TV on and worked on some hand sewing. That, however, seemed like a waste in a place like this, plus she didn’t have any internet or TV service.
Well, she had something better than a TV. She had the lake. Turning back to her suitcase, she pulled out the coffee supplies Evelyn had given her and carried them over to Grandma’s coffeemaker. She brewed a small pot and fixed a mug before grabbing her coat and heading back outside to the dock. It creaked under her weight as she walked along it, but it seemed sturdy enough despite being warped. Sitting cross-legged at the end, she cradled her warm mug and stared at the still water. Peaceful quiet engulfed her. She could get used to enjoying time like this.
She sat there until the sun disappeared below the horizon, and the cold had worked through her jacket. By now, the little coffee left in her mug might as well have been iced coffee. So, she got up, stretched her legs, and returned to the cottage. Inside, she swapped her jeans for a comfy pair of fuzzy pajama pants. Still chilled, she opened the wood stove and grabbed the kindling Ethan had brought earlier.
It took a little bit to get a fire going, but eventually, she had a couple of pieces of wood crackling inside the stove. She reached for one of the throw pillows on the couch to sit on and scooted closer to the stove. Everything grew silent.
She didn’t mean to think about Grandma and get emotional, but it was hard not to while surrounded by all her things. The cottage just felt so empty without her. She should be used to being alone after all these years, but those few nights with the Harts had reacquainted her with a different way of life—a life where she wasn’t alone.
She thought little about marriage since it never seemed to be on Drew’s radar with his busy schedule. Still, in moments like these, she craved companionship—the kind of loving relationship Evelyn and Tom enjoyed. She released a long sigh as she stared at the fire, not bothering to reach up and wipe the tears that dribbled down her cheeks.
Becca had turned on one of the home improvement shows Ethan liked, but he couldn’t focus. Mom and Dad had gone to bed, so just he and Becca sat in the living room watching TV. It wasn’t any different from the other night they’d sat up together, but something was missing tonight.
He picked up his phone and looked at the screen. All it showed was the time and the picture of Joel’s kids and Harper in their Easter outfits he’d set as his wallpaper. The same thing it had shown the last half-dozen times he’d checked it. Not that he wouldn’t have heard the ding if a text came in with it sitting on the armrest right beside him. He set it back down and tried to concentrate on the show.
“You keep checking your phone.” His attention snapped to Becca, who gave him a pointed look. “You could just text her, you know.”
Was he that obvious? “I don’t want to bother her, especially if she’s already in bed.” He sighed. “I’m just worried how she’s feeling after earlier and being in the cottage without Grandma Ruby. I know she wants to be there, but it has to feel strange. What do you think?”
Becca gave it a moment of thought. “Well, if it was me, I’d be emotional and wrung out. And I’d appreciate someone checking on me.”
Ethan stared at his phone again. Sure, he could text, but texts lacked context. Even if she texted back that she was fine, she might not be. He was probably going overboard with this, but he turned back to Becca. “So, you want to go check on her with me? At least see if the lights are still on?”
A slow smile rose to Becca’s face. “Yes.” They both pushed up from the couch, and she nudged him toward the kitchen. “But let’s not go empty-handed.”
Katie jumped when her phone chimed, shattering the silence she’d been wallowing in. She grabbed it from where it lay on the floor and read the text from Ethan.
I didn’t want to knock and scare you, but Becca and I are at the door if you’re still up.
Immediately, her heart lifted. She dashed away any remnants of tears with her sleeves and pushed to her feet. At the door, she flipped on the porch light. Ethan and Becca stood illuminated just on the other side. Ethan smiled when she opened it, though the briefest shadow crossed his face as if he had noticed the tears she’d tried to hide.
“Hey, I know it’s getting late, so feel free to send us on our way, but Bec and I just raided the pantry. Turns out we still had some kid wine left from New Year’s.” He held up a green bottle of sparkling grape juice. “We also have a bag of Mom’s favorite white cheddar popcorn she probably won’t mind us taking. You know, if you felt like company.”
Katie thought she might laugh and cry at the same time. How did they know just what she needed? A smile broke out instead. “That sounds great.”
She stepped back to let them into the cottage, and Ethan set the juice bottle on the island. “It’s not champagne, but this seemed appropriate to celebrate. After all, this is your very first house. Moments like this should be celebrated. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it earlier.”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of it like that, but you’re right.” Katie started opening the cabinets. If they were going to do this, they might as well do it right. “Grandma must have wine glasses around here somewhere.”
She spotted them up on the top shelf in the third cabinet. “Ethan, can you get those?”
He reached up from behind her to grab three and set them on the island. Katie wiped the dust off with a towel, and then Ethan opened the bottle to pour them each a glass. He raised his to Katie.
“To your new house and all the love Grandma Ruby’s legacy stands for.”
They clinked the glasses, and Katie sipped the bubbly grape juice. Her throat tightened around it, but the moment was too special to let the emotion overwhelm her. She tipped her head toward the living room.
“Want to sit by the fire?”
Ethan grabbed the popcorn and gestured for her to lead the way. They arranged themselves around the wood stove, passing the popcorn and grabbing handfuls. It reminded Katie so much of when they were kids, and they soon began recounting memories and telling stories. The later the hour, the funnier everything became. They laughed so hard Katie’s stomach hurt, and tears wet her face, this time out of happiness instead of misery.
Sometime after midnight, the conversation wound down. The popcorn bag sat empty, and the fire had almost gone out. They all fell quiet for a minute or two before Ethan looked at Becca.
“I guess we should head back and call it a night.”
She nodded, and they got up from the pillows and blankets they’d been using for cushions. They carried their glasses to the sink, and then Katie followed them to the door.
“Thanks for coming over. I had a wonderful time.”
Ethan looked pleased. “Good.”
Becca stepped out first, and then he did, though he paused to look back at Katie. “See you in the morning?”
She smiled. “See you in the morning.”
She stood in the doorway as they walked off, a flashlight bobbing in the darkness before disappearing around the cottage. Katie turned to go back inside, but a meow stopped her. Looking out the screen door, she spotted Mr. Ginger walking toward the porch. When he reached it, he stood up on his hind legs to look in through the screen at her. He meowed again rather pitifully.
She stared at him for a moment, debating, and then opened the door. Maybe she didn’t need another person to dispel her loneliness—just another living creature to share her space with.