Chapter 14
POPPY
The snow stopped at some point during the night, and today, the sun is shining, making it shimmer in the light. Although a fresh blanket of white is covering the town, the trees heavy and weighed down, the streets were clear enough that I could make the drive back to Heartwood this morning.
Good thing, because if this wedding is going ahead next week, I’ll need to make some arrangements. It’s not just our engagement, or the wedding festivities that will take me away from the café; Brooke wants me to show up for Jett at his next event shortly after.
It’ll be my first public appearance as his wife, and we only have a few more opportunities to use our relationship to change the media’s perception of Jett before the World Cup, so every moment counts.
A pang of sadness takes the air out of my lungs as I open the door to Thistle + Thorne, the familiar tinkle of the bell above the door making my heart clench. All I want is to stay here, to work behind the counter and serve customers until my cheeks hurt from smiling.
The sound causes Ethan to look up from behind the till, and he waves at me over the short line of people waiting to put in their order. For a moment, the dull ache of regret radiates through me.
This isn’t how I thought I’d be spending the new year. Being dragged around to events that I never in a million years would have chosen to attend on my own. Marrying a notorious playboy and flaunting our entire relationship for the press.
I stand at the door watching Ethan with the customers for a few minutes.
He’s efficient, punching in the orders and preparing their drinks while they pay.
He rarely makes a mistake, and when he does, he fixes it quickly and with an unwavering smile on his face.
The customers love him, and I’m grateful I can rely on him to keep the place running while I’m gone.
I just wish I could be here, too.
Making my way up the stairs in the back corner, I see Wren standing at the top by my apartment door, Cordelia nestled into her arms.
I wrap an arm around her neck and pull her in for a hug. “Thanks for meeting me here.”
“I needed to see you in person so I could confirm that you haven’t been abducted by aliens and some creepy clone is wandering around making foolish decisions,” Wren says, setting down Cordelia on the floor once I’ve opened the door.
“Trust me, I’m still not too sure myself,” I retort.
Wren follows me into my room, and flops down on my bed as I pull out my overnight bag and start packing.
I don’t know what a professional skiers wife wears, but to be on the safe side, I throw a variety of clothing in the bag. A mix of leggings, jeans, some comfy sweaters, a dress or two, just to be sure I have something for whatever Brooke decides we’re doing next.
“So big night tonight?” Wren asks.
I nod. If I think about it too much, I might get cold feet and decide it’s not worth it. Jett and I get engaged tonight.
“What are you going to wear?”
“Brooke picked something out for me, so I’ll find out when I get back to Jett’s.” I look down at the bag full of leggings and the hand-knit sweaters I spend my life in. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be fancier than anything I have.”
I finish stuffing my underwear and socks into the bag, and zip it up, then I start putting together some things for Cordelia. The little rainbow striped sweater I knit her, her bed, and a few of her favourite toys.
“Isn’t Jett allergic to cats?” Wren asks once we’re back out in the kitchen, and I’m getting Cordelia ready to put in her travel carrier.
“He says he is, but I think it’s an excuse, and he just doesn’t like them. He was over here a couple weeks ago, and he didn’t sneeze once,” I point out. “Besides, his house is big enough, he can avoid her if he wants. I can’t leave Cordelia for that long.”
“This is so wild,” Wren laughs, and I tilt my head, waiting for more. “This whole thing, thinking about you and Jett pretending to be a couple. Living in the same house. Isn’t it strange for you?”
I shrug. It took me a hot minute to wrap my head around it. But truthfully, I don’t really mind being around Jett.
“We don’t act like a couple in private,” I say, which somehow gives me a strange sensation in my gut, almost like it’s not entirely truthful.
Because there’s something about the way he smiles at me, how his dark brown eyes light up …
He makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world that matters to him.
“I would hope not.”
I quickly check the apartment to make sure it’s okay to leave for a few days, weeks, I’m not sure when I’ll be back for any length of time.
“I know he has redeeming qualities, and we love him because he’s a Landry,” Wren says. “But that man is heartbreak waiting to happen.”
Wren helps by bringing my bags out to my car and loading Cordelia up in the back seat.
She’s been giving us the death stare from behind the mesh of the carrier since I put her in there, but she’ll just have to suck it up.
Then, I give Wren a hug goodbye, and head back into the café to make sure Ethan has everything he needs before I go.
“I hate leaving you all alone here to manage,” I say.
The lineup from before is gone, so I help Ethan restock some milk jugs into the small fridges below the counter while we talk. Once I put the last one in, I rub my wrist where it has started to throb. I love the café, but my joints sure won’t mind a bit of time off.
“I’m not all alone.” Ethan wipes down some spilled milk and coffee from the counter. “I have Jaime.”
“I know, and you both do such a great job…”
“Look, I’ve been wanting to take on more responsibility around here.
With the way your arthritis has been, it’s probably time for you to cut back and focus on the business end of things.
” Ethan throws his rag into the laundry pail and picks up a fresh one to replace it.
“Just enjoy your time off with your boyfriend.”
Guilt nabs at me. Because I can’t tell Ethan why I’m really going to be away, just that I need some time off and want to spend a few weeks with Jett in Banff.
I don’t want to stress him out with the predicament the café is in. He hasn’t asked many questions about it, which I’m grateful for. But lying is not my strong suit.
Even though Jett and I agreed only Wren and Hudson could be in on the ruse, it kills me inside to keep the truth from anyone. I can see Jett’s point though, it’s too risky otherwise. The secret could easily get out.
“Thanks,” I say, heading back toward the door. “I’ll still be taking care of all the back-end stuff while I’m gone, and I’ll be available for anything you need, just say the word.”