Chapter 3
Three
Ellison
Sisters’ night looks different these days. Instead of the four of us being here together, acting silly, eating junk food, and watching our favorite rom-com for the one millionth time, we’re settled in front of a laptop screen so that Baylor can be here.
I miss her something fierce, but she’s living her dream, and I would never begrudge her that. Besides, we still act silly, eat too much junk food, and watch movies, but we’re just doing it with her through the screen. It’s not perfect, but I wouldn’t give up this time with my sisters for anything.
“So, what’s new?” Baylor asks, shoving a Twizzler into her mouth.
“Same old around here.” Courtlynn sighs. “Nothing exciting ever happens in this town; you know that, Bay.” She tips her head back to pour some Skittles into her mouth.
“You should come visit me in New York,” Baylor says.
“It’s been too long since all three of you have been here.
” Even through the screen, she’s giving us the look, the one that says we can’t argue with her.
And she’s right. We each take turns going to New York to visit, but it’s been years—since her first year living there—that we’ve all been there at the same time.
It’s just too much to leave the inn with Gram and Gramps these days.
“We can’t leave Gram and Gramps to look after the inn on their own,” Leighton tells her. It’s something we’ve spent a lot of time discussing, because Baylor not being here is like a piece of us is missing.
“It’s a well-oiled machine. You can take a long weekend to come and see me,” Baylor counters. “We have staff in place. Gram and Gramps won’t even notice you’re gone.”
“We miss you, too,” I tell Baylor, and she smiles.
“Fine, I’ll say it. I miss my sisters.” Baylor sticks out her tongue, making us all laugh.
“Come home,” Leighton says.
Baylor sighs. “I’ll come visit soon,” she assures us.
I hate that she’s the one who has to do all the traveling to get us all together, but that way she also gets to see Gram and Gramps. “We get it, Bay. You wanted more than Magnolia Ridge could give you. We support that, but we love you, and we miss you,” I tell her.
“I know. I love you guys, too. Soon. I know it’s easier for me to come to you than for all three of you to come to me. And I miss Gram and Gramps. We’ll make it happen soon,” she says again, as if she needs to put those words out into the universe to make them happen.
“How’s what’s his name?” Courtlynn asks her, and I have to stifle a laugh.
It’s no secret that none of us are a fan of Todd, Baylor’s boyfriend. He really doesn’t give her enough of his time. I get it. The guy has an intense job, but she’s my sister, and I worry about her spending so much time alone. That can’t be healthy, right?
“He’s great. Working on a couple of big cases. He’s still at the office,” she says.
A glance at the clock tells me it’s half past seven.
Not unheard of for an attorney to work that late, but it seems as though it’s every night.
I can’t remember the last time I talked to Baylor or video chatted with her and Todd was there in their New York City apartment, which they share.
Even when it’s later at night. I’ve mentioned it a few times, and it only upsets her, so I bite my tongue these days.
“Aren’t you lonely?” Leighton asks. Her tender heart can’t stand the thought of Baylor spending so much time alone in a city of millions.
“Nah, I’m usually working, too. Besides, it means I get to have me time.”
“What about together time?” Courtlynn asks. “Do you ever get that? I mean, you’re living together. You should be getting dicked down on the daily, and something tells me that’s not happening.”
“Court!” I scold. Well, I try to scold her, but I’m laughing too hard, so is Leighton, and to my surprise, Baylor.
“Stop.” Baylor chuckles. “I get plenty of the D, little sister. Don’t you worry.”
Courtlynn shrugs. “If you say so. I mean, that’s a perk of living with the guy, but he’s never there.”
“He lives here,” Baylor counters. “All’s good, Court. Trust me.”
“If you say so,” Courtlynn mumbles.
“What about the three of you? If we’re talking about sex lives, let’s dive into yours.” Baylor smirks.
“Dry as a popcorn fart over here,” Courtlynn blurts out.
“Really, Court?” I ask, my mouth hanging open.
“What?” She shrugs. “Would you prefer I say as dry as the Sahara Desert?”
Leighton’s face is red. She’s two years older than Courtlynn, but she’s always been the shy one out of the four of us. “Stop it.” She gently smacks at Courtlynn’s arm.
“We all know Ellie is a born-again virgin, and Lei, from the redness of her cheeks, is not getting any either,” Courtlynn says.
“And Bay, I’m calling bullshit because Todd is always ‘working.’” She does air quotes when she says working, and I know I need to step in and shift this conversation before sisters’ night becomes sisters’ fight night.
“Moving on,” I say, trying to change the subject.
“Good idea,” Leighton says. Her cheeks are getting redder by the second.
“What are we watching tonight?” I ask, just as headlights shine through the living room windows.
“Who’s that?” Courtlynn asks.
“I don’t know. We never get visitors.” It’s true. We live on the family’s land, which we call Magnolia Estates. It’s where the inn is and has been in our family for four generations. Guests never stop at our house, especially not this late at night.
“Does someone have a hot date you didn’t tell me about?” Baylor asks through the screen, just as a knock comes at the door.
“I’ll get it.” Courtlynn stands and bounces her way to the front door, not bothering to peer through the window next to it or the peephole before pulling it open. Magnolia Ridge is a safe town, but still. We’re three women alone in our pajamas. She should have looked.
“No dates,” Leighton says, answering Baylor as we watch the front door.
“Turn me so I can see,” Baylor says. Leighton does as she asks and moves the laptop to face the front door, just in time to see Chandler James enter through the front door. My three best guy friends from high school and my best friend, Kinzie, follow him inside.
My heart falls to my feet, and there’s an instant ringing in my ears.
Chandler is here.
That can only mean one thing.
My heart grinds to a halt and then starts back up at a heavy pace.
Copeland. Something has happened to Copeland.
I worry every single day about him, and this is my greatest fear.
He might not be mine, and it’s been years since I’ve seen him, but I need him to be okay.
A world without Copeland James, even from afar, is not something I want to think about.
But I might not have that option anymore.
Please, God, let him be okay, I silently pray.
Chandler is eight years older than me. We were never close growing up. Plus, he was gone—deployed—the entire time I was dating his brother. His younger brother was my whole world, until he left us all behind.
He joined the military like his big brother. The only difference is that Copeland never came home. He made a career out of it.
If Chandler’s here, standing in my living room, that can only mean one thing.
Tears instantly well in my eyes, and I swallow over the lump that’s formed in the back of my throat. It’s been seventeen years since I’ve laid eyes on him. I gave Copeland James my heart all those years ago, and today, he still owns it. Now, he’s about to break my heart all over again.
He might not be in my life, but I know that he’s out there somewhere. A world without Copeland… I shake my head. I don’t even want to think about that, but his brother being here is bad news.
“No.” I force the word past my lips, and my voice cracks.
“No,” I say again, losing my battle with the tears as they flood my eyes and race unchecked down my cheeks.
It’s bad. Chandler brought everyone with him.
All of my closest friends are standing behind him.
He wouldn’t have done that unless it was bad.
My heart feels as though it’s going to crack inside my chest.
No, this can’t be happening. Please God, no.
My sisters stand and stare. They know it’s always been Copeland for me.
They also know that if Chandler is here, it’s not to report good news.
I see him and his family around town. We’re cordial, and I still talk to his mom every week.
She’s the sweetest lady, and this is a small town. It’s not like I can ignore them.
Besides, I don’t want to.
His mom was always good to me, and when we lost our parents, she checked on us, made us countless dinners, and so much more. She was my rock during those first few months.
“Ellie,” Kinzie says, rushing past the guys to wrap me in a hug. “What’s wrong?” she asks.
I pull out of her hold and stare at her incredulously. “What’s wrong? Really, Kinz?” I ask, wiping at my eyes.
“Why are you crying?” she asks, her brow furrowing.
I ignore my best friend and my sisters as they gather around me. I ignore everyone but Chandler. “Just say it,” I demand.
Chandler tilts his head to the side. “Ellison—” he starts, but another sob falls from my lips.
Bowen is on the move. He steps around the guys, and within a few long strides, he’s standing in front of me. “Ellie, it’s not what you think,” he says, trying to calm me down.
“Oh, shit,” I hear Kinzie mutter.
“I can’t see,” Baylor announces. I can feel my sisters shift to give her a better view.
“It’s not,” Kinzie says, shaking her head.
“Then why?” I ask, wiping at my wet cheeks. “Why are all of you here if—” I can’t even bring myself to say the words. My chest feels tight. I’m thirty-two and in good health, but I might be having a heart attack, because the pain is too intense.
“Ellison, listen to me.” Bowen cups my cheeks in his hands. “He’s okay,” he assures me.
It takes a few heartbeats for his words to sink in. “What?” I ask.