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A guest? Ariel hadn’t been expecting anyone new in.
The bundle turned and removed a heavy wool hat and face scarf, revealing a mischievous smile and an impressive coif of mussed hair. Surprised, yet delighted, both women rose to greet him, their faces breaking into warm smiles.
"Oliver!" Ariel exclaimed, embracing her brother tightly. "What a wonderful surprise! We didn't expect you for a few days."
"Couldn't miss out on spending some time with my favorite sisters," he replied, his grin revealing the familiar mischievous twinkle in his eyes. As they settled back into their seats, Oliver claimed a spot on the couch next to Charlie, leaning forward eagerly to join in their conversation.
Charlie bopped his shoulder. “You have no other sisters,” she said.
“That we know of,” he said, grinning at his own joke. "Are we celebrating something?" he asked, noticing the wine glasses in their hands.
"Nothing in particular," Charlie answered, her voice tinged with amusement. "Just enjoying some sisterly bonding time."
"Ah, well, don't let me interrupt," Oliver said, his gaze shifting between his two older sisters. Then, he grinned wider. "But if you don't mind, I'd love to be part of it."
"Of course," Ariel assured him, her heart swelling with affection for her siblings. It was rare for the three of them to be together, and she intended to cherish every moment.
A sense of serenity enveloped the cozy living room as Ariel, Charlie, and Oliver settled back on the plush couch, the warm glow from the fireplace casting playful shadows on their faces. The flickering flames seemed to dance in tune with the laughter that filled the air, showing the genuine happiness they all felt at being reunited. The soft rustling of the wind outside provided a gentle reminder of the cold winter night they were sheltered from.
"Oliver, it's so good to have you here," Ariel said, her voice laced with warmth as she reached over to give her brother's arm a gentle squeeze. "We've missed you."
"Missed you too, sis," Oliver replied, his eyes twinkling with affection. "It feels like ages since we've all been together like this. In fact, I have barely spoken to anyone outside of my backpacking group and locals from our travels in months."
“Yes, tell us all about your trip,” Ariel said, getting up to get another bottle of wine. “Did you go to the top of a mountain in Tibet and receive enlightenment?”
As the evening wore on, the three siblings continued to share their joys and sorrows, their laughter and tears mingling with the flickering light of the fire. And while the world outside continued its wintry dance, the warmth within fostered a sense of peace – a gentle reminder that everything would, indeed, work out in the end. They moved from the couch to a semi-circle on the plush rug, wine glasses cradled in their hands, as they opened up about their lives – the good, the bad, and everything in between.
"Remember when we used to have sleepovers right here?" Charlie asked, her voice tinged with nostalgia. She swirled her wine glass gently, creating ripples in the crimson liquid before taking a slow sip.
"Of course," Ariel replied, her mind drifting back to their childhood, when they would build forts made of pillows and blankets and giggle until the wee hours of the morning. "Those were some of the best times of our lives."
"Definitely," Charlie agreed, a warm smile spreading across her face at the memories. "I miss those simpler days sometimes, you know? When our biggest worry was who got to pick the movie for the night."
A wistful sigh escaped Ariel's lips as she leaned back against the base of the couch, the firelight flickering across her features.
“I wish I had been here with you,” Oliver said, sadness filling his eyes. The reality—that their father had abandoned Ariel, Charlie, and their mother and later fallen for Oliver’s mother, only to abandon them—hung heavy and unsaid in the air.
The conversation shifted, as Charlie hesitated before speaking. "I've been thinking about Dad a lot lately," she admitted, her voice wavering. "I know he turned you down about the wedding, but there's still this part of me that wonders if we could have done something different to get him to come."
Ariel nodded solemnly, her own thoughts drifting back to the father, who had disappeared from their lives without a trace. "I was really upset about it at first, but he made his choice, even after I told him that no one here wants him to stay away. We can't dwell on the past. We have to focus on the future and do our best to heal."
"And he has to do his own healing," Oliver said, a determined glint in his eyes. "After my mom told me that she’d known all along where he was, I was angry—but now, seeing how stubborn he is even after you’ve tried so hard, Ari, I think she made the right choice. He needs to make an effort to reconnect with us. And I know it's been years, and the wounds run deep, but... he's still our father. I would be open if he made the effort."
"Maybe one day," Ariel murmured, her gaze distant as she considered the possibility. She knew that forgiveness would be a long journey.
A sense of contentment settled over the room. Oliver's surprise visit had turned an ordinary evening into something truly extraordinary. Ariel’s eyes fell on the two now-empty wine bottles on the fireplace hearth.
"We should open another bottle," Ariel suggested, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I don't think anything bad could come of such a perfect evening."
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
The wedding is in two days!
Ariel awoke with a start, disoriented and groggy, as the blurry outline of her bedroom swam into focus. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a muted gray hue over everything in the room. Her head felt heavy, like it was filled with damp sand, and a pounding headache pulsed behind her eyes. She winced as she attempted to sit up, her limbs feeling uncooperative and lethargic.
"Ugh," she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temples to try and alleviate the throbbing pain. Her mouth felt as dry as parchment paper and tasted like stale regret. It seemed the previous night's festivities had taken their toll on her both mentally and physically. She had allowed herself to indulge in one too many glasses of wine, and now she was paying the price.
As Ariel swung her legs over the side of the bed, the cold wooden floor beneath her bare feet sent shivers up her spine. Her muscles protested with each movement, her joints creaking like the old floorboards of the B&B itself. The fatigue that gripped her body made her want nothing more than to crawl back under the warmth of her duvet and sleep until the discomfort subsided.
