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“Okay...thank you.” The young woman had really been a godsend that season and Carly wasn’t sure what she’d do without her in the fall. She’d gotten used to having help around the store and Melissa seemed to really enjoy the position as well. “I’ll just be upstairs, if you need me.”
Moments later, she entered her apartment and couldn’t decide what she craved most—a long hot bath or a nap. She yawned as she made her way into her bedroom, but before she could decide on either, a knock sounded on her door.
Making her way toward it, she was surprised to see Oliver standing on the other side. Surprised, but also relieved. They hadn’t spoken or seen one another in days. He was dealing with so much and she sensed he and Tess needed some time and space. She was trying to be okay with that, but with every passing day away from him, with things left uncertain, things left undiscussed, the harder it was.
“Hey, you,” she said, standing back to let him enter.
He looked as tired and emotionally spent as she was. And there was something else about his mood, but she couldn’t quite decipher what it was. “Hi,” he said awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.
Her heart pounded in her chest. “Everything okay?”
He stared at the floor. Then when his gaze met hers, she knew nothing was okay. “You agree with Sebastian’s plans for the lighthouse?” he asked, solemnly.
Shit. She’d been wanting to talk to him about this but the time hadn’t been right. Now it seemed the opportunity to bring it up on her terms, when it was most convenient, had been stolen from her.Damn, Sebastian.She hadn’t expected the man to submit his proposal so quickly.
But then, there really wasn’t any reason to wait.
She swallowed hard and nodded slowly. “I don’t not agree with them,” she said gently. Her own personal feelings aside, the plans were the best thing for the town. Even if that wasn’t what Oliver wanted to hear. “Have you looked at it?” she asked. Maybe he was reacting before reviewing. Without knowing all the details.
He nodded. “Cover to cover,” he said, his voice hard.
“Well, can’t you see the merits in the idea?”
“All I see is some city slicker trying to steal my home out from under me for profit.”
Carly sighed and fought to control her patience. Oliver’s prejudice about Sebastian was clouding his judgment. Carly didn’t think for a second that he’d be this stubbornly opposed if it were anyone else proposing the idea. “You were thinking that maybe it might be time to move on as well,” she reminded him. “You know that the lighthouse keeper position is more of an honorary job. It was just a matter of time—”
“But the decision should be mine,” he said. “Or at least, I should have a say in it.” He ran a hand through his disheveled hair in frustration.
“You do.”
“Right. Along with the rest of the community and the tourism board.”
She took a step toward him and reached out to touch his arm, but he moved back slightly. His actions shocked her...and hurt her. Was he really this upset with her about something she was only partially in control of as well? Anyone in town could pitch these ideas to the mayor’s office for consideration at any time. The fact that no one had challenged Oliver’s position at the lighthouse up until now was almost a miracle. And the lighthouse wasn’t bringing in the revenue it could for the town.
It had taken a newcomer like Sebastian to present the idea, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t the right one. Still, she could understand Oliver’s resistance and inability to consider the idea.
What she couldn’t understand, however, was his attitude toward her right now. “Oliver, I’m only one voice...”
“An opposing one,” he said coldly. “And what hurts the most is that you didn’t even tell me.”
Her mouth gaped. “When was I supposed to bring this up? There have been more important things going on.” She hadn’t even found the courage or the right time to talk to him about them yet. Their relationship had been at a standstill these last few days and she was desperate to figure that out, discuss where they were now... This lighthouse issue had been put on the bottom of her priority list, especially since it wasn’t something she could even control.
“You should have mentioned something. Given me a heads-up that Sebastian was going to drop this bomb,” he said, folding his arms across his body.
Was he seriously acting as though she and Sebastian were conspiring against him? After so many years of friendship and, more recently, their growing connection, he should know better than to think she’d be on anyone’s side but his.
“Um, why didn’tyousay anything to me?” she countered. “Sebastian said he mentioned this idea to you weeks ago.” Oliver couldn’t claim to have just heard about this. She knew he’d been approached. He’d kept this from her as well. At least she had good reason for not bringing it up. It would have been insensitive in light of recent events. But he’d had plenty of time to talk to her about how he was feeling about this.
Though, would anything really change her perspective?
Maybe this was one thing she and Oliver would never agree on, maybe even the one thing that could drive them apart? She refused to believe that. This was a disagreement. They’d figure it out.
“I didn’t say anything because he told me I wasn’t at liberty to,” Oliver said.
Carly scoffed. “I’m your best friend. You could have told me. We could have discussed the option and—”
“And you’d convince me it was the right thing? Pressure me into it?” he asked.
