Page 73 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

“I could be better.”

“We could all be better.”

“I said no to France,” Calvin murmured, as they waved to Violet and Cassandra. Both of them were fussing over Dusty, whose face was covered in chocolate.

“What? Why?”

“It was asking too much.”

“The job?”

“No, moving overseas. It was too much to ask of all of us.” He glanced toward his mom, who was chatting with Mrs. Fisher. “I was being selfish.”

The tension that had been weaving through Hannah over the past few days tightened, then suddenly unspooled as she realized France was never going to happen.

She felt lighter, free. Her family was staying put. The only disruption in the New Year would be her spending time with her nose buried in textbooks. And she was fairly certain they could all handle that.

“Thank you.” She stepped closer to Calvin, giving him a hug that felt familiar but strangely devoid of love. They were partners raising their children and nothing more. And he was supporting her so she could finally be truly free. Free to be herself. Free to follow her dreams and her heart. She slipped from his embrace and gently touched his cheek. “Thank you. Really.”

“You’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

She laughed, knowing it would never be in a romantic sense, and for the first time it truly and honestly felt like that was okay. Thatshewould be okay.

The barn was emptying quickly and they shifted closer to the door, calling to the boys. As they did, a strange mix of sadness and joy filled Hannah. Tonight felt like a final goodbye. An ending to a large part of the life she’d always imagined with Calvin.

But on the horizon there was the unknown, the opportunity to get to know herself better, thanks to the meddlesome ways of a man named Louis. A man she felt she owed an apology to.

She missed him. He was trying, just like she was. The man was far from perfect, but so was she. But when they were together it felt as though they were both a little closer to it.

“You’ll tell me if you need anything for school?” Calvin asked, handing Hannah her jacket from the coatrack.

“I’ll need extra child care from time to time,” she told him, zipping it up as she waited for Maria Wylder and her boyfriend, Clint Walker, to exit first.

Calvin nodded, a slight smile haunting his lips. “A few weeks ago you wouldn’t have asked.”

“I’m the same as I was!” she insisted.

“No. This is good.” There was affection and approval in his gaze, and it felt weird. She hadn’t seen that from him, or really anyone other than Louis, in a very long time, and it felt out of place. “I like that you’re standing up for what you need, even if it means you’re going to be busting my chops a lot more.” He winked before she could get upset. At the threshold, he reached out to touch her sleeve again, saying softly, “It looks good on you.”

“Thank you.”

He tipped his head toward the grassy parking lot surrounding the old barn, and Hannah scanned the people mingling in the glow cast by the outdoor lights. Louis was standing, waiting, hands in his jeans pockets. He was handsome, calm and somehow sure of himself despite their tough words yesterday morning. The idea that he might be waiting for her even though she wasn’t woman enough for him made Hannah’s heart give one of those skips that would alarm a cardiologist.

“I don’t know what happened that made you two friends, but I think it’s good.” There was that flicker of a smile from Calvin again. “Go say hi.” He gave her a nudge.

“We’re fighting,” she said, suddenly uncertain. What if she and Louis made up, dated, and then she ended up single and alone again like she had with Calvin?

Her ex-husband chuckled. “If the two of you ever stop fighting, that’s when everyone needs to worry.” He smiled, and suddenly he was that teenage boy she’d once wanted to win over. The boy she’d believed would always be on her side.

And here he was, back again, but as a friend this time. It was nice to have him in her corner.

* * *

Louis straightened as Calvin left the barn, rounding up the boys after he said goodbye to Hannah. They’d been inside a long time. Louis had planned to leave, but then decided to wait for her.

Calvin, as he passed, gave him a nod without a hint of resentment or animosity. Louis returned it, curious as to what had changed in the man. Was it simply the spirit of the season? A visit from the ghost of Christmas past, who’d told him to let his ex go so she could live a full life?

Louis put out a hand for the boys to high-five on their way by. “Hey, little man.”

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