Chapter 31: Chapter 31

WREN

I stretch and slide out of bed, wrapping a blanket around my partially clothed body. I make a pot of coffee and stand in front of the massive windows.

The golden sunlight crawls across the grounds below and everything feels still and quiet.

Suddenly, I feel arms wrap around me.

“Good morning,” Lance’s gruff voice makes my heart leap as he kisses the side of my neck. “We should still be in bed.”

“I just wanted a peek at the sunrise,” I say.

“What a coincidence,” he says as he spins me around and unwraps my blanket. I’m only wearing cheeky black panties. “I wanted a peek as well.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and he lifts me up to carry me back to bed.

We spend most of the day in the luxurious suite, including when a masseuse shows up to give me a massage.

Lance goes down to the gym to work out while I receive my first massage ever, then we hole back up in the room.

That evening, as we’re getting ready to go to dinner, I’m distracted trying to finish putting on some makeup as Lance can’t seem to keep his hands off me.

“Lance, if we are going to make your reservation, then you have to let me finish getting ready!”

“I know, I’m sorry, but I truly can’t help it. Have you seen you?”

I laugh. “Hey, this was your idea remember?”

“I do, and it’ll be worth it.”

After kicking him out of the bathroom, I finally have a chance to finish getting ready and slip into the dress Lance bought me. It’s beautiful, but I feel...out of place.

In fact, I feel out of place everywhere here.

The lodge and massage and everything Lance has planned fills me with gratitude, but it also makes me feel guilty or unworthy.

Like any second he’s going to realize I’m not the type of person who belongs in these types of spaces.

I do my best to push my gnawing impostor syndrome away and carry on.

After putting the finishing touches on my look (a simple low bun and minimal makeup), I leave the bathroom to tell Lance I’m ready.

Lance looks up from his phone and his jaw literally drops open.

“Wren, you— Wow,” he says.

I can feel myself blush. “You don’t think it’s too much? I...kinda feel silly,” I say, looking down.

Lance approaches me and lifts my chin so my eyes meet his.

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he says. “If you doubt that at all, just look at me, I’d be happy to reassure you.”

I just nod slightly, looking away and trying not to get emotional.

“Wren,” he says, and I make eye contact with him again. “What’s going on?”

I shrug, but he doesn’t let go of my chin.

“I just feel...out of place, and guilty.”

“For what?”

“Enjoying life, I guess.”

Lance’s eyes soften and he lets go of my chin.

“I miss Max, every day, that will never change,” I say, taking a shaky breath. “But I feel guilty for being... I dunno, happy? And with all this...stuff, I just feel like I’m living someone else’s life.”

Lance places his arms around me and pulls me to him. I rest my head on his chest and will myself not to cry.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks.

“Of course.”

“What would Max tell you? If he was here and you said you felt guilty for opening yourself up to happiness again?”

I sigh. “He’d say that’s ridiculous and that I make a terrible ugly-cry face.” I laugh. “And he’d tell me to quit second-guessing myself.

“I didn’t know Max but I think I kind of know you, and you’re a good person, Wren. How long do plan to punish yourself?”

We sit there holding each other for a few long seconds. Finally, I look up, put my hands on Lance’s face, and give him a soft kiss.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Of course. You ready?”

I nod and we leave for dinner.

Outside, we are picked up in a black sedan and driven about fifteen minutes away to an expensive-looking restaurant. It’s a large brick building with tall, pointed windows that emit a warm glow.

Our door is opened by an attendant in a suit. “Ma’am, sir, welcome to The Mountainview Garden. Do you have a reservation?”

“Yes, under Lance Teller,” Lance answers. “For the greenhouse.”

“Oh yes, I’ll have someone take you back right away.”

The man speaks to the hostess, and she calls for someone else to come lead us to the greenhouse, whatever that is.

As we walk through the restaurant, it becomes increasingly clear that this is the nicest establishment I’ve ever been in.

Wealth and status exude from the other patrons who sit around tables covered in white linens and bottles of French wine.

We exit the back of the building onto a beautiful terrace covered in white tents. Private parties eat at tables in the tents as a live string quartet plays in the corner.

Beyond that, a gorgeous garden is lit up with small outdoor lanterns. At the end of the terrace, a little walkway leads to the most breathtaking dinner table I’ve ever seen.

White curtains are pulled back on a large, all-glass greenhouse. Lush green plants are tucked into the corners, and small lanterns and little string lights make the whole scene glow.

A small table for two sits in the center with a bottle of wine.

I’m completely in awe of the entire scene as Lance guides me to a chair. He sits across from me and pours the wine with a giant grin on his face.

Finally, I find my voice again as I look around.

“Oh Lance, this is amazing, how’d you— When did...?”

He chuckles and grabs my hand. “That was the exact reaction I was hoping for.”

“You really don’t have to do all this, ya know. Like, really, I just—”

“Ha, you think I feel like I have to? Wren, I want to—you make me want to. I just want to see you happy,” he says, then holds up a glass. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

We clink glasses and take a sip.

Our server comes and tells us the specials. We order, then take another sip. I’m looking around the spectacular setting when Lance speaks again.

“So, have you thought any more about what you want to do when the season ends?” he asks.

I clear my throat. “Um, sorta, but I haven’t come to any conclusions,” I say.

“How can I help?”

I wave my hand dismissively. “I don’t need to lean on you or your family, I’ll figure something out.”

“If I had my way, you’d work and live at the farm, but I don’t want to pressure you,” he says.

“I don’t want a job just because you want me to stay.”

“I know you don’t, but there is work to be done in the offseason as well. What if we worked on training you in the next month or two?”

I pause. “Maybe. What would I do?”

“Care for animals, farm maintenance. Of course, we still have to do upkeep on vehicles.”

“What would you do?” I ask, folding my hands under my chin.

“I’m going to go back to my old job of general farm manager. Grant is moving toward livestock sales and purchasing, which requires more travel, and he’ll need someone at the farm to manage his role.”

“That’s great. Is he happy about that transition?”

“Yeah, I think so. It was kind of always the plan. Mom and Dad want to pull back more and more, and I don’t blame them. They’ve been working long hours for a long time,” he says.

“Also, I think you should keep renting the apartment as long as you want, but I want you to feel like my place is your place too. You’re always welcome there.”

He pulls something out of his pocket and slides a small gold key across the table.

“Here’s your key. Use it any time, okay?”

I smile and pick up the key.

“Wow, a key? So we’re pretty official, huh?”

“As official as you want to be, babe,” he says with a smirk.

I laugh.

“I really care about you, Wren. I don’t want to scare you off, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”

My heart clenches. The weird part is, I have felt this way about someone, and I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with him.

But do I love Lance? I always assumed love was something that developed over time, not in a few months.

Perhaps looking death in the eye changes how quickly we can fall in, and out, of love?

I snap back to the present.

“I care about you too, and I’m grateful for all you’ve done for me,” I say.

I want to say more, but what else is there besides “I love you?” Even though we’re in this beautiful place, it doesn’t seem like the right time to say it.

Our food arrives and we shift the conversation to his family and their history in Bryxton.

The food is absolutely incredible, and after they clear our plates we sit in comfortable silence, marveling at our beautiful evening.

“Lance Teller!”

We both look up to see a beautiful woman dressed in an expensive-looking white skirt suit walking toward us in towering heels.

“I saw your name on the list and had to come say hi. How are you?”

Lance smiles and stands up to hug the woman. She kisses each of his cheeks.

“Hi Delia, how are you?”

“Doing wonderful, how are you? Looks like you’re feeling better!” she says jubilantly as she squeezes his arm.

“I am, thank you. Working helps, as does spending time with this beautiful creature,” he says, then sits back down and gestures to me.

“Delia, this is Wren. Wren, this is Delia, she manages the restaurant.”

Delia turns her heavily lashed eyes to me and briefly looks me up and down but her smile stays warm.

“Wren, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Are you from Whitefish?”

“Hi, you too. Uh, no, I’m from all over,” I say, waving my hand a little too wildly.

“Oh, wonderful, so you’re just visiting then,” she says.

“No, she’s staying here for now, Delia. At least, I think I’ve convinced her to,” Lance says with a smile, and grabs my hand.

“Oh,” she says, her eyebrows going up. “Well, good for you, sweetheart. It’s nice to see you so happy again.”

A server approaches Delia and whispers in her ear.

“I’ve got to go, kids, but please enjoy the rest of your evening, okay?”

“Thank you, we will,” Lance says as Delia turns and strides off toward the building.

“She seems nice. How do you know her?” I ask.

“She’s...an old family friend.” He stands up as the server returns his credit card. He lays several bills on the table and grabs my hand.

“Ready to head back?”

“Yes, please.”

Just as we’re leaving the restaurant, a familiar voice calls out to Lance.

“Well, well, look who we have here.”

We turn to see Emma walking toward us in a short, purple bodycon dress and strappy black heels. She’s holding the arm of a clean-cut man in his mid-thirties wearing a suit.

My blood turns to ice, and I feel Lance’s body stiffen beside me.

“Hello, Emma,” he says.

She approaches him and wraps him in a quick-yet-intimate hug.

“It’s great to see you, how are you?”

“We’re fine,” he says, wrapping a hand around my waist. “You remember Wren?”

“Of course,” she says brightly as she flashes me a dazzling smile. “And this is Thomas. He’s an investment banker who came to a conference at the resort.”

Thomas gives us a polite smile as he checks his phone.

“Did you just come from The Mountainview Garden? I haven’t been here since our engagement party,” she says.

My stomach flip-flops.

“Uh, yeah, I reserved the greenhouse.”

Emma flinches. At first, I thought it was anger, but then it makes me feel like she’s...sad.

“Um, Thomas, can you head inside and ask them to get our table ready?”

Thomas waves politely again, kisses Emma on the cheek, and enters the restaurant. Emma turns back to us.

“Um, I’m actually really glad I ran into you two,” Emma says. I see her eyes turn down a little bit as she fidgets with her purse.

“I’m really sorry for my behavior last month. It was rude of me. I’ve been meaning to call, but...”

Lance softens slightly and I feel my stomach unclench. This is not what I expected at all.

“Oh, uh, no problem,” Lance says. “Well, I hope you have a good evening.”

“Thanks, Lance, you too,” she says. “Take care of yourself.”

Emma gives us a little wave then disappears into the restaurant. Lance and I are left on the sidewalk, feeling completely stunned.