place needs a lot of repairs. A new owner isn't going to want to take on those expenses in addition to a mortgage." He gets off his barstool. "I need to get back to the desk." He pats my shoulder. "I know you miss him but he'll be back next week."
How did he know I'm missing Aiden? Did he just assume that or can he tell?
"Want another?" Charlie asks, pointing to my empty glass.
"No, thanks. I think I'll just go up to my room."
Charlie motions to where Tom was just sitting. "Did he tell you what's going on?"
I nod. "I feel so bad for him. For both of them."
He grabs a rag and wipes the bar where Tom's glass was sitting. "My aunt had breast cancer and she's doing great now so maybe Lois will be okay too."
"Breast cancer? That's what she has?"
"Yeah. I don't know how far along it is. Lois didn't want us knowing too much."
A waiter comes up to the bar. "I've got a big drink order." He hands Charlie the order slip.
"I'll get right on it."
I get down from the barstool. "I'm going to head upstairs."
Charlie smiles at me. "Goodnight!"
When I get to my room I feel an emptiness come over me. All I see when I'm in this room are memories of Aiden and me, of him holding me in his arms, laying beside me, looking at me as if there's no one else in the world he'd rather be with. It never felt like a lie, which is why I'm finding it so hard to believe he's still with Celine. But if he's telling the truth and he's no longer with her, then why is he letting her get in the way of our happiness?
I know Aiden's concerned about Celine interfering with his handling of the inn deal, but Tom made it sound like the deal was almost done. If that's true, then Aiden no longer has an excuse for why we can't be together. He doesn't need to worry about Celine interfering.
The next morning I wake up to the sounds of thunder cracking and hard rain pounding against the windows. I get up and yank open the drapes and see the dark sky and a bolt of lightning shooting through it.
Checking my phone, I see a text from the work crew supervisor saying all work for today is cancelled. I was really hoping to get another eight hours of my community service done but it's not going to happen.
I take a shower and get dressed, then pack up the few items I brought. Maybe I'll have breakfast before I go if the dining room isn't packed with tourists.
As I'm about to leave my room, someone knocks on the door. For a moment I think maybe it's Aiden, coming here to surprise me. What if he did? What if he's here to tell me he doesn't care about work or Celine or anything other than being with me? Being a couple, a real couple who can go out and do things together and spend the night at each other’s place. I'm so excited about that actually being true that I whip open the door, a big smile on my face.
It quickly drops when I see Celine standing there.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sophie
"Good! You haven't left yet!" Celine smiles as she goes past me into the room.
I shut the door and turn to her, trying to figure out why she's here. Aiden said she never leaves the city.
She's wearing a beige trench coat that's undone enough that I can see her white button-up shirt underneath, along with a thin silver chain around her neck that holds a square-shaped diamond. Glancing down, I see dark dress pants covering her thin legs, and black pointy high heels on her narrow feet. She looks so out of place up here in the country.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I needed to talk to you and clear all this up since Aiden apparently can't bring himself to do it."
"Do what?"
She pats the bed. "You should probably sit down."
"I'm fine standing." I fold my arms over my chest. "Now tell me why you're here."
She walks up to me. "I know you've been coming up here with Aiden. I didn't want to believe it so I had him followed."
"You were spying on him?"
She shrugs. "I had to know the truth. I knew he was seeing someone up here. Daddy's cheated on Mother many times over the years so I'm well aware of the signs.