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Katie raised her head, looking at Darcy askance. “How is this supposed to cheer me up?” She spotted the ice cream, and her eyes lit up.
“Because the moral of this old Irish tale is that love can come unexpectedly and can lead us on a journey that we never imagined. It can bring us great joy and happiness, but it can also require us to be brave and face difficult challenges. However, if we are true to our hearts and follow our love, we may find that it was worth all the risks and sacrifices.”
He ended with a flourish, bowing from his seated position.
“Not as good as ice cream,” Katie said, pulling a dish close to her. She accepted a spoon from Ariel, as did Darcy, and the three of them dug in. Ariel knew that she couldn't take away her daughter's pain—not even ice cream could do that—but she wanted to be there for her.
“I remember my own teenage romances," Ariel shared. "They were tough, but they helped me grow and learn about myself. I'm sure this experience will do the same for you.”
“Here, here—to loves that helps us grow and learn, and for others who don’t, I hope they get rashes that burn,” Darcy said.
Katie actually giggled.
“And I may not be any kind of warrior,” Ariel said, licking the chocolate from her own spoon, "but just know that I'm here for you, always. And if you need anything, just ask."
Katie managed a weak smile, but the pain from the breakup was still evident. Ariel could tell that she was still hurting. She wished there was more she could do to make things better. "Do you want to talk about it some more?" she asked, hoping to offer some comfort. “Or should the grown-ups just shut it and keep scooping?”
Katie shook her head. "I think I just need some time to process everything. But thank you for being here for me, Mom," she said.
Ariel reached across the table and took Katie's hand. "Always, sweetheart. Always," she said, squeezing her daughter's hand reassuringly.
Katie cut her eyes to Darcy. “And Darcy, your story wasokay.Did your grandma tell you any others?”
Darcy grinned, spooned up more ice cream, and winked at Katie.
EPILOGUE
Ariel and Miles were driving up the coast, taking in all of the beautiful scenery that Maine had to offer. They had the windows down, letting the salty sea air whip through their hair. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a warm, golden glow over everything.
Ariel sat in the passenger seat of the car as it made its way up the winding road. The sky was starting to lighten, and she watched the faint orange glow turn to shades of pink on the horizon. She leaned her head against the window, feeling the cool glass against her skin.
As they drove, Ariel could hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below. She gazed out at the ocean, watching as the water sparkled in the dim light. The air was chilly this time of morning, but she was bundled up in a warm jacket, and she felt content and peaceful.
The sky continued to brighten, and Ariel could make out more details of the landscape. She saw tall trees on one side of the road and quaint little houses on the other. The occasional lighthouse appeared in the distance, its bright beacon still shining despite the impending sunrise.
As they continued on, the clouds above turned red and bright orange, creating a breathtaking scene, reflecting warmth and light to the world around them. Ariel watched in awe as the sun rose higher and higher, casting long shadows over the landscape below. She felt a sense of wonder at the world around her, at the sheer scale and majesty of it all.
Ariel felt grateful for this moment, for the chance to see the dawn of a new day in such a stunning place. She knew she would always remember this time in her life—with this man.
It had been a few weeks since Emily’s departure and Katie’s breakup with Connor, and the construction noise next door had remained silent—as well as Richard Stanton. She had been granted her noise injunction, another small win, but Ariel didn’t know whether to be relieved or nervous, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Today, as she got a rare day off to spend with Miles, she chose the former, basking in the thought of having hours together.
Ariel gazed at Miles, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She had always been struck by how handsome he was, with his sun-kissed hair and rugged good looks.
His hair was a light shade of brown, with just a hint of gold that seemed to catch the light in just the right way. It was always slightly tousled, as if he had just come in from spending the day outside. Ariel loved the way it fell across his forehead, the way he would run his fingers through it absentmindedly when he was deep in thought.
And his eyes—Ariel could get lost in those hazel depths for hours. They were like the ocean, shifting and changing with the light. Sometimes they were a bright, sparkling blue-gold, and other times they were a deep, stormy green. Ariel loved the way they crinkled at the corners when he smiled, and the way they seemed to light up with joy when he was happy.
Miles had a strong jawline, with just a hint of stubble that gave him a rugged, outdoorsy look. Ariel was often caught by the way his lips curved up in a smile, the way his dimples would appear when he was particularly amused.
He had broad shoulders and a muscular build, the kind of physique that came from years of hard work and outdoor adventures. Ariel swooned inside at the way he moved, with an easy grace and fluidity that spoke of confidence and strength.
But it was more than just his looks that attracted Ariel to Miles. There was something about his energy, his spirit, which drew her to him. He had a kindness and a warmth that seemed to fill up any room he entered, and a sense of humor that never failed to make her laugh.
As they drove, Miles turned to Ariel with a serious look on his face. "You know, I've been thinking about that offer on my sailboat," he said. "It was a lot of money, and I could really use it to get my business up and running again instead.”
“The speed boats? You’d want to start doing that again?”
He shrugged. “The guy who sold me the sailboat was a speed boat racer—and all of the wealthy elite in Maine are starting to race. It’s trendy now, or again, I guess. I thought that maybe it’s a sign that I should give up the old boat and reinvest. I’m sure I could do things right this time, put safeguards in place so that I don’t get robbed like I did before.”
