Page 98 of In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes

Wait. I frowned at Elizabeth. “We’re just friends.”

She smiled and her eyes glittered like she knew a secret. “That’s what I meant.”

I nodded. “Good.” I cleared my throat to change the subject. “How does it feel to have been married forty years?”

She tapped her finger on her chin as she pondered this. “Like the most natural thing in the world. I married the person I like more than anyone. We’ve changed throughout the years and I always worried we’d change in different directions, but we’ve grown around each other.” She regarded Sam, gesturing and talking to his sons, and her eyes warmed. “And now he can’t get rid of me.”

“He’s a lucky guy.”

She shook her head. “I’m the lucky one.”

“How old were you when you got married?”

“Twenty-three.”

My eyes bugged out of my head. “That’s so young. I feel like I was still playing with Barbies at that age.”

She laughed. “It wasn’t out of the norm back then to get married right out of high school. Sam and I met in university and he wanted to get married right away but I made him wait until we finished school.” She shook her head, smiling with nostalgia. “I didn’t want to get married at all.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

“My parents were very, very unhappy,” she told me. Her mouth twisted. “I didn’t want to repeat that.”

“What changed your mind?” I caught myself and blinked. “Sorry, Elizabeth, I didn’t mean to grill you. Ignore me.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t mind talking about it. It was important to Sam and I would rather keep Sam than break up, even if it meant compromise. And there were many, many compromises over the years, so I figured we’re even now.” She grinned again.

“You look like Holden when you smile,” I told her.

“Do I?” She glowed when I said this. “You’re the first person to ever tell me that, and I’m so glad you did.”

We studied each other for a moment.

“There are lots of risks in life,” she told me, nodding as her gaze swept around the party at all the people she loved. Her mouth twisted to the side, sweet and nostalgic. “I guess in the end, I figured, I’d take the hit if things went south with Sam, because he was worth it. I wasn’t going to say no to the good things in life because I was afraid of getting hurt.”

My stomach knotted over and over again. When Holden asked me if I ever wanted to get married, my fast answer surprised me, but even if I trusted someone else, that wasn’t enough. I didn’t trust myself.

I glanced over at Holden, smiling in that calm, steady way of his at something his dad had said.

I wished I could get over it. I wished it so hard.

Elizabeth sighed, studying me. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Me, too. Thanks for inviting me.”

She chuckled. “I meant, in town. Katherine would be thrilled to see what you’ve been up to.”

I chewed my lip. Sure, I was fixing up the inn, but I was avoiding my whole life back in Toronto. “You think?”

She studied my face. “Yes. I do. She would be so proud of you. Although,” she continued in a brighter tone, “I’m also thrilled you could come by for the party. Holden asked us to move it to a Monday and that worked better with Avery’s work schedule, too.”

My stomach wobbled and dipped with warmth. “He did?”

She nodded as Sam appeared at her side. “Can I refill your drinks?” he asked us.

Elizabeth stood and shook her head before looping her arm around his waist. His arm came up around her shoulder. “I need to check on the food, anyway. Sadie, do you want anything?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m happy.”

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