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I composed the text after I put two breakfast casseroles in the oven and quickly sent it before I could change my mind.
Something’s come up. I need to talk to you as soon as possible.
I wasn’t sure the last part of the second sentence was necessary, but I wanted answers before we left for Chapel Hill later in the afternoon.
David walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Is Becky okay with running the inn this weekend?”
I shoved my phone into my jeans pocket. “Yeah. She’s happy to do it. She really likes the added responsibility.”
He kissed me and then looked around the kitchen. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Nope. Got it under control. It’s not so humid this morning. If you want, you can take your coffee out to the front porch before you leave for work.”
His forehead wrinkled. “And leave you in here working? Not likely. Besides, I’ll have plenty of time outside today.” He sat on a stool in the corner and studied me for a moment. “I’ve been thinking about what Claire said. Have you called Myra yet to arrange a time to meet her?”
“No,” I murmured, not looking at him. “I haven’t had a chance.” But that wasn’t why I hadn’t called. Considering the way she’d been brushing me off lately, I was worried how she would react to a suggested visit. What if she’d decided she preferred her new life without me? I wasn’t sure I could bear it.
“And Claire said a lot of things,” I said, wiping a counter and avoiding eye contact. My guilt over texting Collin was already eating at me. “Especially after Drew joined us for dinner and she and I split a bottle of wine.”
“I really like Drew. He seems like a good bloke.”
“Yeah, I like him too. We’ve been friends for even longer than Claire and me. Did you know that Drew’s had a crush on Claire since she first moved to town in the third grade?”
“You’ve mentioned that about ten times, and I’m talking about when Claire said we should find somewhere else to live.” He quirked an eyebrow before taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m on to you, love. I know when you’re trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.”
I rested my butt against the counter to watch him. “She’s just being a protective best friend.”
“I know. But I can’t help wondering if she’s right.”
I released a heavy sigh. “David.”
“No, hear me out. I know you hate your bedroom, but we’re staying in there anyway since you refuse to invade Myra’s room. Let’s give the boarders notice, search the house from top to bottom again, then put the property up for sale.”
My muscles tensed. “You want me to give up on it just like that?”
He cringed. “I didn’t mean to put it so flippantly.”
“This house has belonged to my family for over one hundred years. My father did everything he could to save it. What would he think of me if I just left?”
“Ellie, the way I see it, you have two choices: you can either be an innkeeper or you can be the Curse Keeper. The inn is a distraction for you. You constantly worry about money and making sure the guests are happy. It’s draining you. You can’t deny it.”
I stayed silent.
“If your father were here right now, youknowwhich one he’d choose.”
I pushed away from the counter and moved to the sink. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
David got off his stool and pressed his chest against my back. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to push you. You don’t have to make any decisions now. In fact, let’s use this weekend to try to distance ourselves from all of this as much as possible.”
“While we go to Chapel Hill to talk to your colleague about a sword that kills demons,” I said dryly as I spun around to face him.
“Point taken.” He kissed my forehead but then drew back. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
My gaze lifted to study his face, my stomach knotting. “Conversations that start with ‘there’s something I need to tell you’ never lead to anything good. Should I be worried?”
A soft smile spread across his face. “Ellie, how can you doubt that I love you? I know I haven’t said it since—”
Since he had told me several times without any reciprocation. “Stop.” I put my fingers on his lips. “You don’t have to say it. It’s just that I’m not the easiest person to live with. If you decided—”
