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“I’dlike you to go take a hot shower.It’sthe fastest way to warm up,” he said.Thestairs were off to the side, acting as a divider of sorts between the open living room and kitchen spaces. “Mybedroom’s on the right, and there’s an ensuite in there.Takeyour time, use whatever you need.Okay?”
Shenodded, her eyes still roving over the space.Framedfamily photos sat on top of the mantle.Jackwith his siblings,Jackwith who she assumed were his parents,JackandChloe,Chloeas a baby,Chloeas a little girl with pigtails on a pink bicycle.Somethingin her chest opened up at the sight of those photos, and she realized after a moment that the pain crawling through her was grief.Griefover her father leaving, over feeling as though she hadn’t been worthy of his love.He’dmoved on, made a new family, and hadn’t looked back.Hehadn’t loved her the wayJackclearly lovedChloe.
Shewalked up the stairs, the muscles in her legs stiff and sore from kicking so hard under the cold water, and she paused on the landing.Tothe right, she could see intoJack’sbedroom.Tothe left, there was an open door leading toChloe’s.Thelanding itself was another living space, with more soaring windows, a beamed ceiling and an area that clearly belonged toChloe, with a large keyboard, a desk with a pink chair, a large bookcase, and two huge white beanbag chairs.
Unbidden, she found herself crossing the space to lean on the door jamb and peer intoChloe’sroom.Thefloors throughout the house were hardwood, andChloe’sroom was no exception, but a large pink and blue area rug covered most of the floor.Adouble bed sat in the middle of the space, covered in a white duvet with large pink polka dots and a couple of feathery throw pillows.Arattan swing hung from the ceiling in the corner, surrounded by dangling fairy lights.Thefar wall was windowless and taken up entirely withCarrieClarkposters.Rosalie’slips twitched in a grin.Knowingwhat a superfanChloewas, she was glad she’d been able to arrange for the meet and greet.Agirly chandelier hung from the slanted ceiling, and a table sat tucked into the other corner, laden with various crafting supplies.
Witha sigh,Rosaliepadded intoJack’sbedroom, which was more sparsely decorated thanChloe’s, but no less cozy.Afluffy gray rug covered the hardwood, and a king-sized bed sat in the middle of the space.Thewall behind it was covered in aged, gray pine, while the far wall was nothing but windows that looked out onto all those pines.Agray and white duvet sat rumpled on the unmade bed, the only untidy thing she’d spotted in the whole house.Anightstand sat beside the bed, with another family photo—this one of a much younger, shirtlessJackholding a newborn babyChloe, a heart-twisting grin on his face—and a small stack of books.Sheeyed the titles on the spines.Onewas a health and fitness book, which made her smile, the second was a non-fiction book aboutWorldWarII, and the last was a book about parenting through puberty.
Oh, poorJack.Shepressed her fingers to her lips, a smile twitching there.
Thebathroom was a long, narrow room, with a large, walk-in shower at the far end.Shereached in and turned it on, pulling her borrowed clothes off as she waited for the water to heat up.
Shetook her time in the shower, standing under the soothing spray until she was able to forget just how cold she’d been.Theicy water had taken her breath away, had been like needles on her skin.Itwasn’t something she ever wanted to experience again.
Onceshe was warm, she stepped out of the shower, dried off, and instead of putting on her borrowed clothes again, slipped onJack’sblue robe, which hung from a hook on the back of the door.Itwas soft and worn, and it smelled like him, so she wrapped it around herself and buried her nose inside it, inhaling deeply.Ahint of pine, something fresh and clean and crisp.Sherealized that it reminded her of smelling snow withIndythat first day in town.Jacksmelled like snow falling.
Quitehonestly, he smelled like home.
Shemade her way back down the stairs in the robe, her hair wet and unbrushed.ShesawJackin the kitchen, his back to her as he poured two cups of steaming hot tea.Afire now crackled in the fireplace, spreading a glowing warmth through the space.
“Iowe you an apology,” he said simply, and she sat down on the couch.Hiseyes flared as he spotted her in his robe, but then he swallowed thickly and brought the two mugs of tea over to the living room, handing one to her.Shesipped tentatively, the hot liquid warming her from the inside.
“Yes,Ithink you do,” she said, cradling the mug in her hands.
“I’msorryIdidn’t tell you aboutChloe.Ishould’ve.AndImeant to.Youdidn’t deserve to be blindsided with it.”
“Iwas pretty shocked, given how muchI’dopened up to you, that you hadn’t done the same.Itmade me feel like…”Shetrailed off and took another sip of her tea. “Weweren’t on the same page.Aboutthis.Us.”
“Iknow.Whenyou told me you had to work after meetingChloe,IknewI’dfucked up.”
“I’msorry thatIcanceled our plans instead of talking to you.Ipanicked.Iwas stunned, honestly.”
“It’sokay.Iget it.”Hetook her free hand, sliding his much larger fingers through hers. “Ishould’ve told you.I’msorry thatIdidn’t.”
“Whydidn’t you?”
Hestared into the crackling fire. “Ihave a rule thatIdon’t discussChloewith…with…”Hetrailed off, and she arched an eyebrow.
“Yourhookups?”
Hegrimaced slightly and then nodded. “Yeah.Butthen, when it became clear that you were more than that,Iwanted to tell you.Ijust never found the time or the words.It’sa lame excuse,Iknow.”
“Wereyou scared thatI’dreject you ifIknew you had a kid?”
Hetilted his head. “Yeah.Partly.Especiallybecause of everything you’d said about your dad leaving…Ididn’t want you to thinkIwas like him.”
Herheart squeezed in her chest. “Idon’t think that.Everysituation is different, and you’re clearly very involved with your daughter’s life.”Shesighed, sipping her tea. “Iget it, but you still should’ve told me.”
“Iknow.I’msorry,Rosalie.Ipromise,Iwon’t keep anything from you again.I’m…not good at this stuff,” he said quietly, his thumb tracing over the back of her knuckles. “Dating, relationships.Idon’t know whatI’mdoing.”
Shelaughed softly. “AndIdo?”
“Maybewe could figure it out, together?Ifthat’s something you want.”
Aninvisible weight lifted fromRosalie’schest, and she felt that same sense of peace she’d felt at the falls.Apeace based on hope and connection and knowing that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
“Itis.Ido want that,Jack.”
