Maybe it doesn’t have to end. Maybe we could stay in touch, she thought. But what would be the point? She didn’t want a pen pal—she didn’t want anotherpalat all. But she didn’t want a romantic relationship with Shane, either… did she?
Almost as soon as she asked herself the question, she decided the answer didn’t matter. Even if she wanted a romantic relationship with him, and even if they didn’t live 2,000 miles apart, she knew she couldn’t have one: because she hadn’t opened up to him about Nicole. And she was afraid if she told him what happened, he’d judge her for it. But if she didn’t tell him, they’d never have a very deep relationship anyway.
Enough moping and ruminating, she scolded herself.I came here to accomplish a specific goal. Now that the remodel is almost finished, I need to focus on researching real estate agencies so I can put the cottage on the market as soon as possible, just like I planned from the beginning.
“Are you ready for the grand unveiling?” asked Shane the following Tuesday afternoon.
Caitlin had just returned from walking to the market and she hadn’t had a chance to put away her perishable groceries, but Shane seemed so exuberant she immediately declared, “Absolutely!”
He grinned. “I know you wanted to be surprised by the final results, so close your eyes and I’ll take you to the sunroom. That way, you’ll get the full effect of seeing the windmill as you enter it from inside.” His hands were warm on Caitlin’s shoulders as he guided her through the living room, stopping when they reached the entrance to the sunroom. “Okay, on the count of three you can?—”
But she was too impatient to wait another second. Her eyes flew open, and she exclaimed, “Wow, you were sure right about taking down that wall!” The sunroom appeared much bigger now, and the flow between it and the windmill was fantastic; the rooms seemed connected, yet separate, and the transition from one space to another felt seamless.
“I love being able to see all the other cottages on the green,” said Caitlin, entering the windmill and peering out the oversized picture window. “And I can’t believe how bright it is in here.”
“Yeah, the new window lets in a lot of natural light. Otherwise, the flooring might have seemed too dark.”
“It doesn’t, though, not at all. The reclaimed wood looks perfect, as if it’s always been here—except it’s so smooth,” she said, recalling that she never would’ve crossed the old floor without wearing shoes, for fear of snagging her socks or getting a splinter in her foot. Caitlin kept circling the room, uttering how beautiful everything was until Shane told her she was making him dizzy.
“Let’s take a look at the loft,” he suggested. “I’ll go first to block your view until you’re at the top step, so you can be surprised.”
Holding on to the sturdy, polished wooden handrail, Caitlin followed him up the semi-spiral staircase, which curved gently as it followed the windmill’s rounded shape. When she crested the top landing, Shane stepped out of her way and she was greeted by the sight of the gleaming walls and floor, and the warmth of the electric fireplace. Even without furniture, the remodeled loft was stunning, but it was outshone by the sweeping view provided by the triple windows.
From this angle, the bay appeared to be a neat, navy-blue ribbon of water not more than two inches wide, while the sky was a boundless disarray of billowy white clouds. Astonished, Caitlin opened her mouth but she couldn’t say a word.
“What’s wrong?” asked Shane. “It didn’t turn out like you expected?”
“N-no,” she uttered. “It’s evenbetter!”
Deep lines fanned out from the corner of his eyes when he smiled. “Phew! You had me worried. For a second I thought you were going to cry.”
“I still might,” she said. “But only tears of joy. My aunt Lydia would’ve… she would’ve…” Overcome by emotion and not trusting herself to speak, Caitlin could only gesture toward the windows.
Shane seemed to understand what she meant. “I wish she could be here to see it, but I’m happy you’re pleased with it, too.”
“I’m not just pleased, Shane. Iloveit.” Caitlin added something she never anticipated she’d feel. “I could stay up here all day.”
He laughed. “In that case, you’ll need something to sit on. I’ll carry up a couple of chairs if you want me to?”
“That would be great, especially since I want to invite Marion over to see the remodel,” she said. “How about the chairs from the sunroom?”
“Sure. It’ll be a tight squeeze up the staircase, but I’ll make it work.”
“You need a hand?” Caitlin asked, but she was planted in front of the windows and made no motion to move; she barely even blinked as she gazed at the view.
“Nope, I got it,” he answered, chuckling. “You stay where you are.”
He managed to angle the chairs through the narrow opening. But instead of bringing up the long, heavy, glass-topped coffee table, he brought in a wooden storage crate from the shed, carried it up to the loft and flipped it over. “It kinda spoils the atmosphere, but at least you’ll have a flat surface to put your cups on.”
“That’s a great idea. Would you like tea and a peppermint mocha muffin?” she offered.
“Wish I could, but I told my cousin I’d pick her up from the ferry in about twenty minutes, so after I gather my tools and the tarps, I’ve got to run.”
“Aw, too bad,” said Caitlin. “I really hoped you’d get a chance to enjoy the view.”
He grinned. “I’ve been looking out that window for weeks.”
But that’s not the same as enjoying it with me, she thought. Without him there, the completion of the remodel suddenly seemed anticlimactic. “Oh, okay, I understand… but I was going to give you a speech about how much I appreciate your hard work—and Sammy’s, too. It was going to be epic.”
