Page 48 of The Birchwood House

“Noted.” Harper gave them a playful salute and made her way toward the buffet. A few minutes later, she was back at their table, and they were all laughing hysterically over a story she was telling about a parrot who had learned how to mimic her voice and had been confusing her employees with commands to open and close the door all day.

“Must be a fun line of work,” Michelle said, sipping her wine.

“It really is.” Harper nodded. “And now you’re about to start a rewarding line of work as well. I just know you’re going to have an amazing time with running your hotel and historical site.” She lifted her wine glass. “To the Birchwood House!”

“To the Birchwood House!” the women echoed, holding their glasses high.

After a while, Elaine and Michelle got up to start taking pictures of their guests for the Birchwood House Instagram. Audrey wanted to help them, but she didn’t want to leave her friends. She enjoyed spending time with them almost as much as she enjoyed spending time with her mother and daughter, and she wanted to linger over the wine they were sipping and the desert they were nibbling.

Penelope got up to grab a second round of cupcakes for the three of them, and after a moment, Harper leaned toward Audrey conspiratorially. “Is it just me, or is Evan watching you from across the deck?”

Audrey turned to look in the direction Harper had nodded in, and sure enough, she saw Evan looking at her with that same intent stare that he’d given her earlier. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stared back at him for a moment, a strange whirl of giddy emotions rising inside her.

“Audrey,” Harper said softly. “I know what it feels like to think you’re just going to keep rejecting the idea of ever loving someone again, but maybe that makes me better equipped to give you advice, because I know how hard it is to risk your heart again. I can’t help noticing the way you and Evan are looking at each other. I think you should let yourself explore this.”

Audrey bit her lip. “Do you really think so?” She wished she could just stride across the party to Evan and kiss him. She wanted to be able to dive headfirst into a potential relationship with him with no fear or doubts—but her reality was that she was scared in a way she couldn’t just talk herself out of. She knew that being hurt as severely as she had been would affect the way her heart approached a new relationship.

Harper nodded. “I do. I know you don’t know each other incredibly well and that this is just a spark between the two of you, but it looks like quite the spark. I think whatever is going on here is significant enough to be worth considering.”

Audrey swallowed, overtaken by a rush of doubt. “I wish I could, but—I just feel like starting a relationship is too risky. I don’t want to begin anything without having a real sense of how it might turn out. And I just don’t know.”

Harper shook her head. “You never know with a relationship, even if you’ve known the person for a while before you start dating. There’s always a risk involved in any big decision. But what would life be if we never stepped out in faith?” She took Audrey’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “You arrived back in Coral Sands with no idea of what your future would hold. You took that bold step because you found it within yourself to pushpast fear and embrace the possibilities in front of you. Don’t you think that you could find it within yourself to do the same when it comes to Evan? I think you could.”

Audrey swallowed, her heart beating faster. She felt as if the idea of dating Evan was the emotional equivalent to jumping off a cliff and hoping she’d learn how to fly while she was tumbling toward the ground. She felt scared in a way that she’d never felt before in her life, and that made it all more concerning.

I don’t know how to handle something like this,she thought.I’ve never had to navigate a situation like this before. Is Harper right, or should I just give it all more time, and accept the fact that I’m scared out of my mind?

Penelope returned with their cupcakes, and the conversation shifted toward more lighthearted topics again. As they laughed and chatted, however, Audrey kept thinking about Harper’s words.

Every time she glanced over at Evan, she felt more and more inclined to heed the advice of her friend.

* * *

Evan glanced over at Audrey for what must have been the hundred time that evening. He’d been having a wonderful time at the party, surrounded by friends and coworkers and the people of the town he cared about so much. He always loved talking to the citizens of Coral Sands. Not only did he get the sense that they all respected him a great deal, which touched him deeply, but he enjoyed hearing what was going on in their lives. He always hoped that someone might drop a hint about something that would turn into work for him, such as suggesting a bake sale fundraiser or organizing a Christmas party for Coral Sand’s children.

Tonight, however, his mind was not on Coral Sands business, it was on Audrey. He’d noticed her staring back at him across the deck a few times, and the sight of her eyes on him always made his heart beat faster.

Gosh, she looks incredible tonight,he thought.Should I go over there and talk to her again, or give her space? I don’t want to crowd her. After all, we’re not dating.

He sighed, deciding to get himself another miniature chocolate éclair from the dessert table. It was later in the evening, and the savory food had all been packed up and whisked away back to the kitchen. The dessert table was still covered in a bounty of treats, however, and many people were lingering near it, talking and laughing excitedly.

“Hello, Evan,” Elaine said to him as he approached the table. She was standing there with Michelle, who had her phone held up in her hand as though she was getting ready to take a picture. Elaine smiled at him warmly and touched his arm. “Thank you so much for thinking of this. It’s brought me and the girls a lot of joy.”

“Of course.” He smiled at her. “I’ve been having a wonderful time, and everyone else has too.”

Elaine let out a soft breath. “It seems that way, doesn’t it? I’m so pleased. Michelle and I have been taking pictures of our guests for the Instagram we’re starting to run for the Birchwood House. Could I take a picture of you for it? Maybe—” She looked around the deck, smiling a touch impishly. “Maybe we should get Audrey and she could be in the picture with you.”

Evan swallowed, his heart sinking and also giving a jolt of longing at the same time. He would have loved to have his picture taken with Audrey, but he knew people were already wondering if the two of them were an item after they went to the flea market together. Having their picture taken together andhaving it posted online would only make those kinds of rumors grow.

I wish it was true,he thought, repressing a sigh.But it’s not, and I know Audrey wouldn’t want people to start speculating, not now while she’s still trying to decide when she’ll be willing to try dating—and that could be years from now.

“No, I think we’d better just have me in the picture,” Evan said, smiling politely. “I don’t want to bother Audrey. Besides, it fits, doesn’t it? Coral Sand’s grumpy mayor should get his own picture all by his lonesome.”

Elaine tutted at his joke and shook her head. “You’re not really all that grumpy, you know,” she said. “But all right. Why don’t you stand over there and strike some kind of dramatic pose? Look out across the water and think proudly of the town you shepherd.”

He smiled and obeyed—for the most part. After he’d turned out toward the ocean, he didn’t think about Coral Sands. He thought about Audrey, wondering if she would want to wait years before being willing to date again. He wondered if he would wait that long for her, and he had to force himself to hold still instead of turning toward the crowd and looking for her.

I think I would wait,he thought.I think I’ll plan on waiting for her. I’ve never met anyone who challenges me and inspires me the way she does. I really think there’s something special between us, and I don’t want to pass by the opportunity to explore it.