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The next morning, steam from Ariel's coffee curled up and disappeared into the air, much like her scattered thoughts. She had hoped for a quiet morning to gather herself before diving back into the hustle and bustle, but the second her feet had hit the ground—right after Miles’s had, both of them trying to take care of all of their work responsibilities before the fast-approaching wedding—things had been chaos.
Firstly, the coffee machine had chosen today to stage a caffeine rebellion. As Ariel had pressed the "brew" button, it had responded with an indignant sputter, spraying a fine mist of coffee grounds across the pristine kitchen counter—and her.
Next, the charming antique grandfather clock in the foyer had decided it wanted to be the star of the show. Instead of chiming the time discreetly, as it had for years, it had erupted into a cacophony of chimes that sounded more like a symphony orchestra gone rogue. Ariel had dashed from the kitchen to its side, fumbling with the pendulum, and offered a sheepish smile to the bemused guest who had been jolted awake.
And then there was Mr. Whiskers, the area’s feral little mischief-maker. This morning, he’d taken particular liking to the freshly baked scones cooling on the kitchen windowsill. Ariel, carrying a tray of them into the dining room, had gasped in horror as she’d discovered bites missing from each. Mr. Whiskers had even gotten into the main dining room, crumbs clinging to his whiskers, looking innocent as could be. She had chased him out the door, and he had run to whatever house he would decide to terrorize next.
Despite the morning's small hiccups, Ariel chalked these charming mishaps up to part of the bed and breakfast experience. She thought to herself that if every day started with a splash of coffee, a symphony of chimes, and a scone thief, it was bound to be a day filled with laughter and lighthearted moments for both her and her guests. And she could use that after the heaviness of the past few days.
On a break right after breakfast had been served, Ariel sat in the kitchen, the warmth from the ceramic mug comforting her hands in the chilly Endless Harbor morning. Katie was across from her at the kitchen table, and they both enjoyed a moment of silence as they nibbled on flaky chocolate croissants.
"Mom," Katie began hesitantly, her eyes meeting Ariel's. "Have you thought any more about that summer program I told you about?"
Ariel sighed, suppressing a twinge of annoyance. They had already discussed this matter before – she had asked Katie to wait until after the wedding for a decision. "Katie, I told you we'll talk about it once everything settles down," she said, offering her daughter a tight smile.
"But Mom," she persisted, her brow furrowing in frustration. "I really want to go. It's a great opportunity, and I think it would be good for me."
Ariel glanced out the window, watching as snowflakes danced upon the gentle breeze in the dawn light. The winter landscape was beautiful, but the serenity of the scene contrasted sharply with the whirlwind of emotions within her. She wanted to take a day to not be consumed by worries, and now the question of Katie's summer program added yet another layer of complexity.
"Sweetheart, I understand," Ariel replied, her voice softening. "But we have a lot going on right now, and I need to focus on one thing at a time. Can you please just be a little patient?"
Katie's shoulders slumped, the disappointment evident on her face. She pushed her unfinished croissant away and mumbled a half-hearted, "Fine." Standing, she snatched up her backpack and slung it over her shoulder, the weight of her disappointment clear in every movement.
"Have a good day at school," Ariel called out softly, trying to infuse her words with warmth. But the chill of winter seemed to have seeped into her very bones, leaving her feeling brittle and fragile as Katie rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," Katie replied, her voice grating as she walked toward the door. She put on her coat, and, with one last glance over her shoulder, she sighed heavily and stepped outside, leaving Ariel alone with her swirling thoughts.
Ariel stared down at her now cold coffee, unable to shake the sinking feeling in her chest. She watched the door shut behind Katie, her frustration simmering beneath the surface like a pot on the verge of boiling over. It was as if Katie couldn't see the chaos that had become Ariel's life; she should have understood why her mother needed more time to think about the summer program—aside from that fact that Ariel had flat-out explained it. Instead, she clung to it with a stubborn certainty that left Ariel feeling unheard and dismissed.
"Can't she see I have enough on my plate?" Ariel muttered under her breath, her tone betraying the annoyance she felt. Her gaze fell upon Katie's phone, abandoned on the kitchen counter in her haste to leave for school. A mischievous thought flitted through her mind, a curiosity that begged to be satisfied. She knew it was wrong, but the temptation was too great to resist.
With a furtive glance around the empty room, Ariel picked up the phone, her heart pounding in her chest. She told herself she was simply looking for clues to help her understand Katie's sudden attachment to the summer program, but deep down, she knew she was searching for something else: evidence of Ethan, the chat partner who had captured her daughter's heart.
As she navigated through the labyrinth of texts and emails, Ariel's initial curiosity morphed into concern. Messages between Katie and Ethan made it clear that Katie was committed to this boy and to the idea of attending the summer program together. But why did it ignite such a fierce protectiveness within Ariel? Was she being overprotective?
Ariel stared at the messages between Katie and Ethan on the screen, her heart pounding in her chest. Their words danced across the blue-lit display.
"Can't wait to meet you in person this summer," Ethan had written, his enthusiasm evident even through the digital medium. "I'm so excited for the program!"
"Me too!" Katie replied. "It'll be amazing to finally see each other face-to-face."
This was no mere flirtation; it seemed that Katie was truly committed to attending the summer program with Ethan, and that realization sent a shockwave coursing through Ariel’s veins.
She could picture her daughter boarding an airplane, her eyes filled with excitement and anticipation as she embarked on a journey to the other side of the country. It was a vision that both thrilled and frightened Ariel, filling her with a strange mixture of pride and fear.
"Is she really ready for this?" Ariel wondered, her mind racing with questions and doubts. She had always known that Katie would someday spread her wings and leave the nest, but the idea of her doing so now, so soon, filled her with an indescribable sense of trepidation. She was seventeen. That was a fine precipice between childhood and adulthood.
The cold air seeping in through the windowpanes seemed to mirror the icy tendrils of conflict that wound their way around Ariel's heart. She knew she couldn't avoid the issue any longer, but the thought of confronting Katie filled her with dread. How could she find the right words when it felt as though a winter storm raged within her very soul?
Ariel should just rip the band-aid off and tell Katie that she knew about Ethan, but she worried about what it meant for their relationship if she confronted her daughter now – would it drive her away even further? The ticking of the wall clock echoed in the silent kitchen, a reminder that time was running out for her to make a decision. The wedding, he self-imposed wall to deciding on the art trip, would come and go.
As she sat there, steeped in indecision, the doorbell chimed, piercing the quiet air. Ariel blinked, her heart skipping a beat as curiosity piqued within her. Who could be visiting at this hour? Was it Katie, coming back? There were no new guests checking in today.
"Coming!" she called out, rising from her chair and smoothing her apron nervously. With each step toward the door, her mind raced through possibilities. When Ariel opened the door, she found someone she hadn't expected at all – Dale, Miles's friend, standing on her doorstep with a hesitant smile. Snow clung to his coat, melting into droplets that slid to the ground.
"Hello, Dale," she replied, trying to mask her confusion with a warm smile. "What brings you here?"
"Uh, well..." He hesitated, averting his eyes and shifting his weight. "I was just in the area and thought I'd drop by. I hope that's all right."
