Chapter 13 #3
“Sorry?” she said, her voice intentionally higher pitched and even toned to sound elegant and friendly.
It was all part of a good customer-service initiative to ensure that everyone who arrived at Donwell Cottage felt comfortable and at ease.
It sounded fake as shit to her own ears, but no one ever knew that. “I didn’t quite catch that.”
“I just said you have a lovely place.” The woman gave her a genuine smile that Julia couldn’t help but return. “I can’t wait to see more of it.”
“Well, allow me…”
She led them into the room where she had set up this morning’s breakfast assortment.
Sleep hadn’t come easily to her last night.
It had been late by the time she’d eventually succumbed to rest, despite the bone-deep weariness she’d felt.
Then, the same as always, she’d woken up with the first stirrings of the sunrise, in that minute shift from the darkest moment of the night to the burgeoning light of day.
She had baked, as she always did—scones, muffins, bread dough for a short rise—letting the familiar tasks settle her mind despite her exhaustion.
Anything to avoid thinking about the bed-and-breakfast’s finances or the smoldering mess of her relationship with Ethan.
But with the bread already mostly risen, the usual soothing rhythm of kneading hadn’t been there.
She’d focused on stirring muffin batter and pulsing scones in the food processor, but it had all felt off this morning.
Regardless, the breakfast setup, a source of pride, was ready—coffee in its carafe, a spread of baked goods.
She had taken extra care with it this morning, mindful of the arrival of their guests.
And if a small, hidden part of her was pleased that Ethan would also see it—well, she wouldn’t admit that, even to herself.
“Did you make all these?”
Katy’s words broke her from her melancholy thoughts. Julia turned to the pretty woman, registering the familiarity of her features as someone whose face was in the public eye.
It was an odd feeling, meeting a celebrity, especially under these circumstances.
Julia wasn’t usually one to care too much about media, shows, or movies, but there was something about coming face-to-face with someone who was on the covers of magazines at the grocery store that made her heart flutter a bit with excitement.
Even if she felt silly admitting it, despite the admission being only to herself.
“I did,” she responded with a smile, pushing any involuntary feelings of nervousness away.
“I like baking. But Maggie—” Belatedly, she realized Maggie was nowhere to be seen and certainly not in the room with them, so her gesturing arm fell slightly before giving a vague wave in the general direction of the kitchen.
“She’s our dinner chef. And she does an amazing job with the evening meal, which you guys will get to enjoy at some point. ”
“Absolutely,” Noah spoke up. Julia shifted her attention to him, finding herself awash with the same feelings she’d had when speaking to Katy, if not to a greater degree, as Noah’s movies were ones she’d actually seen.
Admittedly, if someone had said his name to her a few days ago, she would likely have still pictured him as the adolescent boy from his films, five or ten years back now.
The man currently sitting across from her was certainly not a boy anymore—dark, curly waves pushed back from his forehead, a golden umber complexion with strikingly hazel eyes.
The boy who could bring books to life had certainly grown up—and into quite a handsome man.
She processed the thought dispassionately. Yes, he was attractive, though she didn’t find herself attracted to him, but it was, admittedly, still nice to look at him. And when he was talking to her, it gave her the perfect excuse to do just that.
“That’s why we’re here,” Noah continued, white teeth flashing beneath full, smiling lips.
“We want the whole experience. And hopefully, between some adventures and some delicious meals, we’ll leave here in love.
” His final words took on a singsong tone as he nudged Katy, clasping his hand over hers.
She laughed, the sound melodic and sweet, and nudged him back. “Oh yes, absolutely. Totally and completely in love.”
Julia didn’t know why—well, she did, and it had something to do with a lack of self-control—but she looked over at Ethan at that moment.
He regarded the two younger people before them with a tight-lipped smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
She recognized his expression as calculating, the Ethan who was anticipating getting what he wanted but knowing it required something unsavory in order to get there.
She could see how he’d managed to be successful all these years—he took the parts of himself that she had always disdained and made them the focal point of his personality.
She couldn’t say she necessarily respected him for it, but it was objectively commendable, reaching one’s goals—even by whatever means necessary.
Before she could open her mouth to respond to either Noah or Katy, Ethan beat her to it.
“Perfect. Let’s talk about how we’re going to make that happen.”