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“You cheated on me with my nemesis. How about that?”
“But in the middle, before Rob, did I treat you poorly?”
It was obviously something that bothered her. She wanted absolution so she could walk away, back to her new shiny life, without feeling like a bad person. “You were fine,” I said. “Don’t worry about it. Marry Rob and have the life you wanted. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah, okay. By the way, Rob was kind of an ass last night. If you could see him like I do, you might understand why. He’s jealous of you, and his solution is to try to cut you down.”
“Jealous of me? Why?”
“He always has been. The way you are with people, how they flock to you and worship you. He wishes he had that quality. Even if he’d never admit it, I know that’s what it is. You remind him of all the things he hates about himself.”
Interesting theory. Was she right? Perhaps, but regardless, she obviously knew Rob better than I ever had. “I hope you’ll be happy,” I said. “Truly. You don’t have to feel bad about me anymore.”
“I can see you’ve made a good life here. And Jamie seems good for you. The girl’s feisty and wicked loyal. That much was evident last night. She’d defend you to the death. That’s the kind of love you need, Darby.”
“Isn’t that what we all need?”
“Some of us need it more than others, I think.” She gazed down at her tan pants tucked into brown riding boots. “That was the thing about us. I couldn’t ever be that person for you. You deserve to be with someone who can be.”
I nodded and left it at that. “I’ve got to run. Jamie’s expecting me.”
“Sure, go. Thanks for all your hard work on this.” She gestured toward the gazebo, which now had posts all the way around. I’d put on the roof tomorrow.
Out of nowhere, Arianna thrust herself against me. I stumbled backward as my arms instinctively wrapped around her. She reached up to kiss me, but I moved my face just in time and it landed on my ear.
I put my hands on her upper arms and physically moved her aside. “What are you doing?”
“Saying goodbye?”
“That shouldn’t be a question. You said it a long time ago. Go find Rob. There’s nothing for you here. I’m madly in love with Jamie. There’s a real chance for us to be happy together. Can’t you leave it alone? Leave me alone? Haven’t you done enough to hurt me?”
I got in the truck and started the engine, expecting her to walk back inside. Instead, she stood watching my truck head out to the road. The slump of her shoulders made me curious. Was she really as happy as she claimed to be?
You know what, I thought.It’s not my problem. Whatever she does is her business. I have my own life.One that included really good friends and the possibility for real love with an amazing woman. Books and students, too. Life was good. For the first time since the disastrous proposal, I realized how truly rich my life had become, regardless of what was in my bank account.
The only emotion left was one of indifference. She could do whatever she wished to do. I was free. With that came a tremendous burst of energy. I could not wait to see Jamie. I’d splurge and stop for flowers. They were overpriced at the market, but what the heck? Jamie deserved something pretty, something frivolous. We were at the beginning of something wonderful. There was no way I was letting that spoiled, lying woman ruin it. She was a narcissist through and through. I hadn’t seen it before. How could I not have? It was so obvious, the way she’d come out there to quash whatever good had come into my life. She didn’t want me, but she couldn’t just let me be happy. I didn’t get it, but I could see it.
Roses or mums? That was the more important question.
18
JAMIE
From the great room of the inn, while my guests mingled over their wine and cheese, I’d watched the interaction between Darby and Arianna. I’d felt like a voyeur and knew I was invading their privacy, but I couldn’t look away.Trust, I’d thought.I need to show some trust.But then Arianna had thrown herself into his arms. From my angle, I hadn’t been able to see if they’d kissed on the mouth.Oh, God, if he kissed her I might die.
Seething with distrust and insecurity, I moved from the window as Arianna headed across the lawn toward the back entrance. Soon, she would step foot in my sanctuary and my dream come true. Somehow, knowing she and Darby had exchanged words made me wish I could send her back to California, regardless of the extra money she’d brought into my life. She was poison.
But what of Darby? Was he truly over her? What had passed between them? Was there a part of him that still wished for her to be his wife? Had she seen the error in her own judgment when she chose that idiot Rob over Darby? And if so, how would that knowledge change Darby’s feelings for me? Was I second best until first place presented itself?
I turned from the window and walked over to a clump of my guests to offer them a refill on their wine, pretending that my insides were not a quiver of nerves.
“Another of the merlot, please?” Mrs. Hennings, who had checked in with her two adult daughters that afternoon, asked me. She was a slim woman in her late fifties and smelled of expensive perfume. They’d come from Washington state and would stay a week. Their annual “girls’” vacation was the highlight of her year, she’d told me when they checked in. This was their first time at my inn. They planned on coming last autumn but unfortunately, the inn was nothing but charred wood by then.
My employee John had left to grab more crackers and another bottle of white. We weren’t accustomed to so many guests and had not put out enough. Normally, my nearly full inn would have made me giddy with relief and joy, but I couldn’t shake my dark thoughts about Darby. Was he like my dad, ready to leave whenever a shiny object presented itself?
Glad for something to do, I went over to the bar and poured Mrs. Hennings another glass of the Merlot. After delivering it to her, I looked around to see if anyone else needed a refill. The daughters, beautiful young ladies in their early twenties, were curled up together on the couch looking through one of my coffee-table books on historic inns across the world. They were almost finished with their glasses of rosé. I picked that bottle up to give them a refill.
Gerald’s piano playing lent a perfect soundtrack to the evening with his achingly beautiful music. Outside, the setting sun’s orange glow blanketed the grass and trees. The sprinklers over the grass spurted to life, sending cascading drops of water into the air that sparkled in the silky twilight.
