Then there was Paul, her newly minted fiancé. How could their relationship work if she was miles away when they should be using the time together to plan her nuptials?

  The sound of footsteps caused Nikki to look over her shoulder to see Trish approaching her with a steaming mug of coffee in her hand. The aroma tickled her nose. Without a word, Trish handed her the cup before leaning against the column beside her. Her gaze fixed on the horizon as Nikki brought the mug to her cold lips, relishing the steam that caressed her lips and cheeks as she took a sip of the beverage within.

  "So, who was that on the phone? Who’s got you looking like that?" Trish finally broke the silence, her casual tone belying her concerned gaze.

  Nikki’s eyes flickered with surprise at the abrupt question, and she momentarily paused before bringing the cup of coffee to her lips. “What do you mean?” she asked a moment later.

  “Come on, Nikki. You know what I mean. You’ve got that look,” Trish returned. She leaned forward, her eyes never leaving Nikki’s face. Her concern manifested in the furrowed lines on her forehead.

  Nikki averted her gaze as she asked, “How do I look?”

  “Like you’ve got a really tough decision to make, and you don’t know what to do. Like this,” Trish replied.

  Nikki turned to see her sister cover with subtle lines of worry across her face as her eyes took on a faraway look.

  “You’re being dramatic, Trish.” Nikki sighed.

  “Am I? “Trish returned, folding her arms across her chest as she tilted her head to the side and stared pointedly at Nikki.

  “Fine. You win.” Nikki smiled, impressed at how well her sister knew her after so many years. “There’s something I want to do but I’m not sure if now is the right time to do it,’ she revealed.

  Trish nudged her gently, a silent assurance of her support. “Want to talk about it?” she asked.

  Nikki’s lips parted as she prepared to tell her sister about the job offer, but she hesitated. Until she was sure about her decision, it was probably best not to mention it. “It’s not that important,” she brushed off, plastering a smile on her lips.

  Trish gave her a dubious look but didn’t press the matter. “I’m gonna head back inside before Kaylyn starts to malfunction from looking at so many numbers. She claims she hates math, yet when it comes to determining what we do have in numbers, nothing gets by her.”

  Nikki chuckled at her sister’s playful roll of her eyes as she described her managers love-hate relationship with math.

  When Trish disappeared inside, she turned her attention back to the panoramic view that stretched before her. Beyond the border of evergreens, her eyes traced the contours of the distant mountain ranges. Cloaked in misty veils, they stood tall and imposing, a reminder of nature's grandeur and untamed beauty. The peaks seemed to touch the heavens; their jagged silhouettes etched against the morning light. It was a sight that never failed to captivate Nikki, a reminder of both the vastness of the world and the insignificance of her own worries in comparison.

  “I’m going to head over to the house. I have some business to attend to and I need my purse,” she informed Trish and Kaylyn, who she found in the linen closet checking off items.

  “Okay. I’ll see you in a few,” Trish replied.

  “Bye, Nikki,” Kaylyn added.

  Nikki stepped out of the inn and walked down the two steps leading off the porch as she walked in the direction of the main house. Her breath formed a misty cloud in the crisp autumn air. She pulled her coat tighter around her, feeling the chill seep through the fabric, despite the warm glow of the sun.

  As she strolled along the path, her boots rustled against the fallen foliage. She couldn't help but admire the beauty of the season's transition. The deciduous trees, once vibrant with hues of red, orange, and gold, now stood tall and solemn, their naked branches reaching toward the sky. The ground beneath her feet was a patchwork of fallen leaves, painted in earthy shades, crackling softly with each step.

  Just as she rounded the corner toward the main house, her eyes landed on the familiar figure on the front porch. Paul was leaning against the wooden railing, his breaths creating tiny clouds in the cool air. The sight of him brought a gentle smile to her face, a silent testament to the love they shared.

  “Hey there,” she called out, her voice breaking through the stillness.

  Paul turned, a bright smile lighting up his face. “Hey yourself," he replied, opening his arms as she approached. He enveloped her in a warm embrace, their lips meeting in a sweet, lingering kiss.

  “I was just about to call you,” he informed her as soon as they pulled apart.

  “I was at the inn doing inventory with Trish and Kaylyn,” she informed him. “Were you here long?”

  “Long enough. I missed you,” he pouted as his eyebrows arched upward, and his eyes became large and round.

  Nikki giggled before throwing her arms around his neck. “Oh, poor baby,” she cooed. “I’m here now to make it all better,” she continued, planting a kiss against his forehead, the corner of his mouth, and finally on his lips. Paul smiled against her lips. “Feel better?” she asked, staring up at him.

  “One-hundred-percent better,” Paul replied with a wide grin.

  “Good. I was preparing to pull out the big guns.” Nikki smiled innocently up at him.

  “Wait. I think I spoke too fast,” Paul replied, looking at her with a sad puppy expression once more.

  “You missed your chance, buddy,” she replied, patting his chest before her hands fell to her sides and she took a step back from him.

  “You don’t play fair,” Paul whined.

  “Come now, honey. You didn’t expect me to make it that easy for you, did you?” Nikki arched a brow.

  “No, ma’am,” Paul drawled, tipping an imaginary hat at her.

  “Wanna come inside? Amy made cookies before she left for school,” Nikki offered.

  “You know I could never refuse Amy’s cookies.” Paul chuckled.

  The two made their way inside and headed for the kitchen. Nikki placed two plates with cookies and two glasses of milk on the counter before they sat around the island—the aroma of the freshly baked cookies filled the air.

  “These cookies are so good. Amy really outdid herself this time,” Paul gushed.

  Nikki grinned. “She’s been experimenting with new recipes lately.”

  “I’m tasting a hint of something I can’t quite put my finger on,” he spoke, concentrating on the confection in his hand, as if the secret ingredient would just broadcast itself. “I hope you already asked her to bake the cake for our wedding.”

  “I considered it,” Nikki replied, her smile waning.

  Paul studied her with those keen green eyes of his. “Something's bothering you,” he noted, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. He reached across the counter for her hand lying there.

  Nikki sighed, her gaze dropping to their intertwined hands. “I got a call today,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “from the Arlington Journal.”

  “The newspaper you used to work for?” Paul asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “What did they want?”

  “My old boss, Veronica, offered me a job," Nikki confessed, “A big job, Paul. The editor-in-chief position.”

  Paul's eyes widened. "That's... that's huge, Nikki. I’m so proud of you.”

  "Yes, but..." Nikki's voice trailed off, her heart pounding in her chest. "It's in Arlington, Paul. What about the inn? And Trish and Amy? The life we’re trying to build here?"

  Paul was silent for a moment, tracing small circles on the back of her hand. “What makes you happiest, Nikki?” he finally asked, his gaze intense.

  “I love you, and I love our life here. But this... this is my dream job. I feel torn,” Nikki admitted, her eyes welling up.

  Paul stood and rounded the island. He pulled Nikki close, resting his forehead against hers. “Nikki,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, “No matter what you choose, I'll be right here, by your side. Your happiness is my happiness. We’ll make this work.”

  As Nikki looked into his eyes, she felt a comforting warmth spread through her, soothing the turmoil within. She knew she had a tough decision ahead but having Paul by her side made everything seem just a little bit easier.

  Chapter Five

  Nikki

  “Hi, Veronica. It’s Nikki.”

  “Nikki, hi. I didn’t expect to hear back from you so soon. Have you considered my offer?”

  “Yes, I did. I was thinking about coming back on a trial basis—say two weeks—to see if this is a good fit for me and the company.” Nikki paced the living room, the phone to her ear as she waited for Veronica to speak.

  “Nikki, I am confident you’re a good fit for this job. You were one of my best journalists and you’ve helped me out quite a bit while I was editor-in-chief,” Veronica spoke encouragingly. “I wouldn’t have offered you the job if I wasn’t confident in your skills. But if you want the two weeks, I’ll give that to you. In the end, it’s up to you if you want this job.”

  A smile of appreciation graced Nikki’s lips, though the woman on the other end of line couldn’t see it. “Thanks, Veronica. I appreciate your vote of confidence and for accepting my suggestion.”

  “Of course,” Veronica replied. “So, when can I expect you at Arlington Journal?”

  “Um, just give me a few days to wrap up some things, go over it with my sister and fiancé and then I’ll be there,” Nikki expressed.

  “Great. I’ll see you in a few days. I’m happy to have you back, Nikki,” Veronica replied with satisfaction.

  “Thanks, Veronica,” Nikki smiled. “Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Ending the call, Nikki walked over to the window and gazed out at the serene landscape. The sky was overcast, and a crisp breeze rustled through the evergreens. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. The past day had been a whirlwind of uncertainty, even after her talk with Paul. But in the wee hours of the night, while she lay in bed staring up at the ceiling, she had finally come up with the best solution she thought she could, and she was happy Veronica was on board with it. Now, all she had to do was tell Trish and Amy about her plans.

  “Nikki?”

  “Hmm?” Nikki responded, turning from the window to look at her sister, who had just walked through the door. ‘What’s up?”

  Trish didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her perceptive blue eyes studied Nikki for a moment, which left Nikki feeling uneasy. “What’s going on?” she finally asked.

  “What do you mean?” Nikki asked, feigning ignorance.

  “You’ve been on edge since yesterday. We might not have been close for quite some time, but I can tell that something’s bothering you,” Trish said, as her eyes continued to assess her sister.

  “Trish,” Nikki breathed out. “Nothing’s wrong,” she tried to reassure her.

  Trish’s expression indicated she didn’t believe her.

  “Hey. What’s going on in here?” Amy walked in just then, interrupting their tension-filled stare-off. Nikki’s eyes averted to her niece. “Are you guys having an intervention without me?” Amy joked. This got the other two women to chuckle, some of the tension dissipating with her presence.

  Amy had become such a stabilizing force in both her and Trish’s life these few months. Nikki was going to miss that.

  “No, we’re not. Any intervention we’d be having is to tell you that your cookies and cakes are making us too rotund because they are just that irresistible,” Trish jested, her eyes twinkling with affection as she gazed at her daughter. A smile graced Nikki’s lips as warmth spread through her chest at how tender the moment was.

  “Hey, don’t blame the baker,” Amy threw her hands up with a grin. “Blame your lack of self-control.”

  “That’s not fair. You know we have no control when it comes to your baking. No one does,” Trish reasoned. “Nikki, back me up here.” Trish’s gaze swung to her, twinkling.

  A chuckle slipped through Nikki’s lips. “Trish is right, Amy. Your pastries are too good to resist. In fact, why don’t we head to the kitchen and have some? I can smell the scent of freshly baked muffins from here.”

  Amy grinned. “I just took them out of the oven.”

  “Great. I like eating them warm,” Nikki replied, already walking toward the door.

  Less than a minute later, Nikki and Trish were seated around the island while Amy placed a muffin and coffee before them.

  Nikki lifted the muffin to her lips, the buttery aroma wafting up into her nose. As she took a bite, the warm, crumbly texture melted in her mouth. The first taste was a heavenly combination of moist blueberries and a hint of vanilla, mingling with the delicate sweetness of the muffin batter.

  “Mmm,” Nikki hummed, her eyes closing in bliss. “These muffins are incredible. I don’t know how you do it, Amy. Every time I taste your treats, it’s like they keep getting better,” she complimented.

  “Thanks, Aunt Nikki.” Amy smiled.

  “See what I mean?” Trish interjected, her eyes playful. “So, how’s Gabriel doing?”

  “Gabriel’s great,” Amy replied, but Nikki could hear the hesitancy in her voice. She exchanged a concerned glance with Trish. “I’ve only spoken to him a few times since he left last week, but I understand he’s busy.”

  Trish touched Amy’s arm, rubbing it comfortingly. “I’m sure he misses you a lot,” she reasoned.

  Amy’s lips lifted slightly, but there was a hint of doubt in her blue eyes.

  Nikki bit her lip, her gaze going to the coffee mug between her palms. “I... I need to talk to you both about something important.”

  Trish brought the cup down from her lips and turned her full attention to Nikki. “Okay. Finally. Spill it. You're making me nervous.”

  Nikki took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. “I'm going to Arlington for about two weeks.”

  Trish's brow furrowed. “Arlington? What for?”

  Nikki hesitated, her mind racing for a believable explanation. “I... I need to tie up some loose ends there. You know, take care of some personal matters.”

  Amy looked over at Nikki, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Loose ends? What kind of loose ends, Aunt Nikki?”

  “Yeah. I thought you had packed up your apartment and moved all your stuff to storage,” Trish jumped in.

  Nikki avoided Amy’s gaze, her fingers nervously tracing circles on her thigh. “I did do that, but…I still have a few things I need to sort out. It’s nothing major, really.”

  “But two weeks? Where will you stay?” Trish asked with skepticism.

  “I had a life back in Arlington, Trish. It takes more than just packing up and moving here to have everything sorted out back there,” Nikki spoke defensively.

  Trish’s eyes widened with surprise. “You’re right. I’m sorry,” Trish apologized.

  Nikki sighed, fidgeting with her coffee mug. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped like that,” she in turn apologized.

  “It’s okay.” Trish smiled reassuringly, and Nikki smiled back.

  “I’ll be staying with Ava,” she answered the second part of the question.

  “Are you going to be back in time for us to decorate the Christmas tree, Aunt Nikki?” Amy interrupted.

  Nikki turned her attention to her niece, her heart aching at the thought of missing something they had planned to do as a family. She smiled, trying to reassure her. “Of course, Amy. I promise.”

  Amy grinned, her eyes lighting up. “Great. I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to start a family tradition.”

  Nikki smiled to hide the turmoil within. She glanced over at Trish to see her sporting an unreadable expression while staring back at her.

  Later that day, the smell of freshly baked cookies brought Nikki back to the kitchen.

  Nikki leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her niece remove the tray of cookies from the oven.

  “Who are the cookies for?” she asked as she watched her niece place them in a jar before tying a bow at the neck.

  “I baked them for Sarah. She is going to love these cookies,” Amy replied.

  “I know she will,” Nikki affirmed.

  Amy grinned; her cheeks flushed from the heat of the oven. “I hope so. I wanted to do something special for her and the baby.”

  “She will definitely appreciate it,” Nikki assured her. “I’m heading into town. Do you want anything?”

  “Yeah. Could you get me a bag of icing sugar and some vanilla? I ran out,” Amy requested.

  “Of course,” Nikki agreed. “Catch you later.”

  “Bye,” Amy replied.

  Nikki left before slipping into the driver’s seat of her car and pulling away from the house, the car’s wheels crunching against the graveled driveway.

  Nikki navigated her car through the bustling streets of downtown Camano Island, the crisp air tinged with excitement and anticipation. The town was alive with activity, as people hurriedly went about their business, their breaths visible in the cool late November air. The early shoppers were already immersed in the holiday spirit, eager to get a head start on their Christmas preparations.

  As Nikki parked her car, she couldn't help but notice the storefronts had transformed into festive wonderlands. Strings of sparkling lights adorned the eaves, casting a warm and inviting glow onto the sidewalks. The air was filled with the scent of fresh pine emanating from the fir decorations that adorned the shop windows. Some of the more enthusiastic shop owners had gone the extra mile and displayed miniature Christmas trees, their branches adorned with delicate ornaments and shimmering tinsel.

  Entering the first shop on her list, Nikki was greeted by the cheerful jingle of bells above the door. As she stepped inside, the warmth of the store enveloped her, a stark contrast to the chilly air outside. The shelves were stocked with an array of colorful holiday-themed items, from sparkling ornaments to cozy blankets and festive candles. Nikki made her way through the aisles, her eyes scanning the neatly arranged merchandise.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20