I know I’m asking a lot and I understand that you might just tear this letter up, sign off your rights to half the building, and go back to Connecticut. I’m sure I’d do that because sometimes I think I’ve lived scared my entire life. When I became pregnant with you, your father and I had run away from this small town and returned shortly after the adoption. I’ve tried to tell Clara as she grew older, but I could never bring myself to see what she would think of me after I told her. I’m a chicken. There you have it. You come from chicken genes. Well, not your father, he wasn’t a chicken at all, but that resulted in his death.
I’m losing track now. I do hope you stay and give life here a shot, but I understand if you don’t.
I can’t change how you feel, but please know, there was never a morning I didn’t wake up and you weren’t in my thoughts. A constant reminder of your biggest regret is painful to live with. Please don’t ever be like me. Don’t live with the what-ifs—go find the answers.
Love,
Denise Harrison
P.S. Clara can be hard to warm up. Give her a chance.
I drop the letter in my lap, annoyed that I’m supposed to somehow cater to Clara’s feelings. But as I read her line about the what-ifs, something resonated inside me. I already have enough what-ifs in my life. What if I would have majored in English rather than business? I might be happier. What if I would’ve stayed with Lincoln? I could be married right now. What if I hadn’t been given up for adoption? I look around. This could have been my town. I would’ve just lost the woman who raised me.
There’s nothing promising for me in Connecticut, but staying in Sunrise Bay and opening a business with a sister who didn’t even know I existed until today? I’d have to be crazy to consider it.
I stuff the letter in my purse and walk back to Sunrise Bay’s small downtown area. I head past the brewery to the sewing storefront. It’s small but nestled between a brewery and a butcher. The town is cute, like something you’d see in those cheesy Christmas movies where singers carol down the streets, everyone knows everyone, and people have your back. Is that such a bad place to live?
“You again.” Cade walks out of the brewery. He’s putting on a jacket over his dark plaid shirt. He really is sexy. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
I have to admit, for whatever reason, I feel as if Cade could be another “what if” should I decide to leave.
“Here I am,” I say, holding my arms out to my sides as though I’m inviting him to look at me.
And he does look his fill while I try not to let my entire body shiver under his attention. Then he looks back at the brewery before giving me his full attention. “Are you free for dinner tonight?”
I blink a couple of times. “Dinner?”
“Yeah, you name the place. I can give you a few references who will vouch for me not being a creep or an asshole.”
I giggle. It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed and that’s saying something. “Sure. I’m staying in Lake Starlight. Glacier Point Resort?”
His head rears back a bit as though I’ve surprised him. Glacier Point is fancy, but it’s not my money, it’s my parents’. “Perfect. There’s a restaurant in town there called Terra and Mare. I’ll call and make a reservation.”
“Great.” After a bit of awkward silence, I speak again. “I guess we should exchange phone numbers then.”
We pull out our phones and enter our information in the other’s.
“I’ll text you as soon as I know what time.” He walks backward toward the brewery.
“Sounds good. Look forward to hearing from you.”
“I can’t wait.” He smiles one more time and dips back into the brewery.
A loud “woohoo” echoes into the street from the brewery, and I feel a blush rush up to my cheeks. Is it really this easy to get a date here? Maybe what they say about Alaska having all the men is true.
“Way to go, man.” Jed slaps me on the back and lets out a howl so loud I’m sure Presley heard him outside.
I can’t stop smiling because she was so quick to accept my offer for dinner. “I gotta call Terra and Mare.”
“Oh, you’re not skimping, huh?” Jed says as I head over to the other side of the bar.
“Not everyone takes their dates to a food truck,” Molly jokes.
I laugh while I listen to the phone ring. Someone answers, then puts me on hold.
“I’ve never gotten any complaints,” Jed says, drawing a sketch of what he wants to do with the space next door. Looks like it’s to scale this time. He’s truly talented, and I always wonder why he came back here after college and isn’t designing high-rises somewhere.
“Who said anything about complaints? I mean, a meal takes up a lot of time when you could be doing other things.” She winks.
Jed laughs and glances my way. I slide my finger over my throat. Molly is way too flirtatious, and I already told Jed when she was hired on part-time that he couldn’t egg on her antics like he has all the years she’s been Nikki’s best friend. He clears his throat and concentrates back on the drawing.
The doors open and Xavier walks in with Clara. Gone is the heartbroken girl I last saw. Now she looks pissed as she stalks up to the bar. Xavier looks at Jed and me with a cringe. I know she was talking to the lawyer today.
“Give me the hardest stuff you have.” Clara slams her purse on the bar.
Molly’s gaze shoots up, but she grabs a bottle of whiskey and pours her a shot glass. Clara downs it, her brown hair thrown up in a ponytail, and slams the glass down.
“Do not tell Nikki anything about this,” Xavier whispers.
Like I would. I don’t agree with her morning radio show shit.
Since we just opened, they’re the only ones in here, so whatever is going on will only be between us.
“Don’t tell her that the town librarian is getting plastered this early in the day?” Jed asks.
“Turns out Clara isn’t the only Harrison left,” Xavier says in a quiet voice.
My eyebrows come together. “What?”
Xavier nods and his eyes widen in an “I’m just as shocked as you but trying to be a good friend and not tell her how fucked-up this is” look. “The blonde. She’s her sister.”
My phone slips from my hand, dropping on the bar then down to the floor, cracking my screen. “Fuck!”
“That’s why she looked familiar. I wondered if I’d banged her,” Jed says.
We both shake our heads at him.
“Good for you that’s not true.” Jed smacks me on the back with a grin.
“Why’s that good for Cade?” Xavier asks.
“He has a date with her tonight.” Jed sounds like a proud father and I want to punch him for it.
“With who?” Xavier asks, not getting it.
“Presley,” I say.
“The blonde,” Jed chimes in.
“Oh, and Cade…” Clara raises her hand. “I’m going to need that key back.” She pushes the empty shot glass toward Molly, who refills it.
“What’s she talking about?” I ask Xavier.