Page 83 of The Inn Dilemma

“Well, this surprise was totally worth it!” Nova squeezes Elise again. “Thank you so much for making the trip.”

“My pleasure.” Elise rocks back on her heels looking incredibly excited. “I know I should wait, but I can’t!”

Elise digs through the purse hanging on her shoulder and pulls out an envelope before handing it to Nova.

“What’s this?” Nova asks, her expression confused.

“Open it,” Elise demands.

Nova slides a finger beneath the flap and slides it across the fold. She pulls out what looks to be a check and gasps. When she looks up, her eyes are wide and blinking rapidly. “You owe me nothing. This is crazy. Way more money than someone should get for a birthday!”

“It’s not money for your birthday. It’s money for your paintings.”

Nova covers her mouth with her free hand. “What do you mean?”

Irritation flashes in Elise’s eyes. “I caught Beau trying to sell them but swooped in before he could close the deal and told the buyers the truth. If they bought those paintings from Beau the artist wouldn’t see a dime of profit.” Then Elise giggles. “You should have seen Beau’s face when the buyer backed out. Well anyway, they came back in the next day to talk to me and bought the paintings with that check written to you.”

Nova clutches the check to her chest. “I can’t believe this. People actually paid for my artwork.”

“Of course they did. Your paintings are incredible.”

Tears stream down Nova’s cheeks and she throws her arms around her friend. “Thank you,” she mutters over and over.

“My pleasure,” Elise replies.

Everyone’s gone except Nova, me, Elise, and her husband. We’re sitting around the fire, talking and unwinding from the big day.

“Did you have a good birthday?” Elise asks Nova from across the fire.

Nova looks to me. “It’s been an amazing birthday.” She turns back to Elise. “Having you here has been the cherry on top!”

“I’m so glad.” Elise hovers her hands in front of the fire, warming them as the night grows cooler.

We fall into a comfortable silence. Nova snuggles deeper into my side and leans her head against my shoulder, tightening the flannel blanket around her shoulders. A few minutes pass like this before she starts nodding off.

I whisper down into her ear, “All right, birthday girl, I think it’s time to get you home.”

She pulls back and looks at me with her adorable pout, and I brush a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’ll take you on my bike.”

Nova sits up quickly, an obvious pep back in her energy.

“Okay!”

She goes around and hugs everyone goodbye, promising Elise that she’ll meet her at the inn for breakfast tomorrow morning.

We take our time walking hand in hand to my bike. I want to draw out this night for as long as possible, since I can no longer pop over to her cabin if I see her light on. Sure, I could show up at her house like I did before, but with the temperatures dropping, hanging out outside will become more frigid as each day passes.

I help Nova into her helmet and get onmy bike, taking her hand as she swings her leg over. She rests her head against my back as she wraps her arms around my waist, and I smile.

One mile separates the Storybook Inn from Nova’s house, but I make that one mile stretch out as long as possible. Before I know it, I’m pulling into her drive, and even after parking, Nova doesn’t release her hold on me.

“Am I gonna have to carry you in, SuperNova?”

“No,” she mutters before swinging her leg over and getting off.

I follow suit. Once I set both of our helmets on my bike, I take her face in my hands.

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