Page 24 of The Inn Dilemma

“And that’s exactly what this was. I wanted her to tell you, but she was afraid you’d reject her just like your dad did.”

His eyes went wide. “I would never–”

I put my hands up to stop him and said, “I told her that. But she was raw from everything she just faced. And she needed more time.” I run my hands over my hair. “So yeah, I didn’t like keeping it from you, but it’s what I thought was best at the time.”

Chris tucked his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. Roxy remained silent during Chris’s confusion and distress, but she held his hand the moment he reached for her.

I cleared my throat. The pups looked up at me, and when I motioned with my head toward their dog beds, they obeyed my silent command.

“I don’t want this–or anything—to come between us, but this was all up to Nova. And she didn’t feel ready.”

Chris shook his head. “I don’t want her to feel like she can’t trust me to be there for her. But I guess that’s what happens to families like ours. Where status overrides pretty much everything else. In a roundabout way, I get why she left, I just wish she didn’t cut me out in the process.”

“And she hates that she did that too. Believe me, the weight that she’s carrying is unreal.”

Roxy gave me a sad smile, then looked at Chris. “It seems like she’s doing her best to work through it all. I think patience is the best way to help her. She’ll come around when she’s ready.” Conviction rang in her tone.

“She will,” I agreed.

Chris nodded his agreement.

A soft snore comes out of Nova’s mouth, bringing me back to the moment. I glance over at her sleeping contentedly.

Nova is the same yet different. There’s a worldliness in her eyes that she didn’t have before she left. But she still wears her various masks that fit each occasion like a shield, keeping people out while bottling all her emotions inside.

Maybe Chris got used to her doing it, but even after years apart, I know Nova. I can still see through who she pretends to be and for who she is. This strain with her dad is harder for her to manage than she lets on. Nova wants everyone to think she’s okay that her own father has all but disowned her, but I can see how terribly it affects her. It’s written in the smallest downturn of her lips as they’re raised in her practiced smile. The way her eyes don’t crinkle at the corners like they do when her face reveals genuine happiness.

The leather seats crinkle, giving away her stirring. I glance over as her eyes blink open and she glances around.

“Where are we?” she asks.

“I’m taking you to one of my special spots,” I answer before facing the road again.

“How long was I asleep?”

“Twenty or so minutes. How’s Sleeping Beauty feeling now?”

Her lips turn down into a frown, then a pout that would be cute if I didn’t know the reason behind it. She crosses her arms over her chest and rests her head against the seat.

“Like useless garbage.”

My foot taps the brake, jolting us forward as I narrowly miss a squirrel scurrying across the road.

“Oh!” Nova shouts, craning her neck to look back at the rodent safely standing on the edge of the road.

“Stupid squirrel,” I mumble.

“I’m pretty sure I saw it shaking its fist at you. I guess you missed the ‘squirrel crossing’ sign back there.”

I crack a smile, feeling the tension from her slowly ebb away.

“We’re here,” I say as I pull into the small lot.

She eyes me warily. “Where is here, exactly?”

I stare straight ahead, gathering my thoughts. Turning to her, I finally answer. “One of the places I go to when I need time to myself. Where I can spend time with God in His creation to heal.”

Nova gives me a soft smile that touches her eyes.

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