Page 15 of A New Chance

"All right," she said finally, her voice heavy. "Well, I hope you enjoy your time in Chesham Cove."

“Seems like a cute town. And this place is interesting,” he replied, spreading his hands to indicate the house.

He didn’t get up or take her social cue for him to head for the door. Charlotte looked back at Daniel, her heart thudding in her chest, a strange mix of anger and vulnerability swirling in her. This was one of the most awkward encounters she’d ever had—like she was trying to entertain a stranger. But despite herself, she couldn't bring herself to turn him away without even showing him around the place that had become her sanctuary.

"Would you like a tour?" she asked.

Daniel studied her for a moment, his eyes unreadable. "I'd like that," he replied softly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Charlotte nodded, leading him through the aged wooden hallways of The Crown Inn. She could feel the tension between them, thick and suffocating, as they moved from room to room. It was a dance of avoidance, each step careful and measured, neither willing to stray too close to the delicate boundary that separated their past and present.

In the dining room, sunlight danced through the stained-glass windows, casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the worn wooden floor. Charlotte paused, allowing the silence to settle between them before speaking up. "This is where I plan to serve breakfast and afternoon tea once the renovations are complete," she said, her voice tinged with the pride.

This is where I had dinner with someone new, she wanted to say. Someone kind and worthy.

"Quite ambitious," Daniel murmured, his gaze sweeping over the room with a critical eye. “What’s the cost of running a place like this?" He seemed unable, or unwilling, to let go of the businessman within him, even here in this small, quiet corner of the world.

Charlotte bristled at his comment but pushed away the annoyance, threatening to bubble up inside her. "I’m working on that," she said, her voice steady, "but I believe in it."

He hummed noncommittally.

As they continued their tour, Charlotte found herself stealing glances at Daniel. She was trying to reconcile the man he had become with the one she thought she knew—the man who had once been her partner, her confidant. But those were just idle musings, echoes of a life that could no longer be. Daniel was only a visitor in Chesham Cove, a fleeting interruption in her journey toward independence. And soon enough, he would leave again, returning to their old life while she continued to build her new one.

Charlotte led Daniel to the ballroom. A burst of pride swelled in her chest as she pushed open the heavy oak doors, revealing the elegant chandeliers and the ornate wooden paneling that filled the space. This room, more than any other, captured the essence of what she was trying to achieve with her new life—beauty amid the ruins, a place where people could gather and share stories beneath the time-worn beams.

"Wow," Daniel said, his voice flat and unimpressed as he surveyed the room. "It's certainly… rustic."

Charlotte clenched her fists at her sides, fighting back the urge to snap at him. Rustic? Was that all he could say? All he could see were the rough edges. But then again, that was Daniel, always focused on the surface, never bothering to look deeper.

"Rustic is charming, Daniel," she retorted, her voice laced with annoyance. "People come here to experience the history and character of the building, not some sterile, cookie-cutter establishment."

"Of course," he conceded, his hands raised in mock surrender. "I meant no offense, Charlotte. I just think you might want to consider giving the place a bit of an update. Some modern touches wouldn't go amiss. Wifi, at least."

Charlotte gritted her teeth, struggling to contain the simmering frustration that threatened to boil over. How dare he? He’d cast her out, and now he had the audacity to critique her new life, the one she was building without him. She had envisioned this day unfolding so differently, filled with the satisfaction of her hard work. Instead, she was saddled with the ghost of her past, a constant reminder of all that had been lost.

"Thank you for showing me around, Charlotte," Daniel said quietly as they made their way back to the front door—a deliberate destination on her part. His voice held a note of wistfulness, as if he too understood the significance of their encounter and the distance that still remained between them.

No, that he had put between them.

"You're welcome," Charlotte replied, her heart heavy with unspoken words and emotions she dared not explore. For now, they would remain strangers, bound only by the memories of a life left behind. She didn’t even know if she wanted to bridge the chasm that had torn them apart.

"Charlotte," Daniel began, seemingly sensing her growing irritation. "I know I may not understand everything you're trying to do here, but—"

"Exactly," she cut him off, unable to hold back any longer. "You don't understand, Daniel. This is my life now, my project. I don't need your approval or your advice."

He stared at her for a moment, a flicker of hurt crossing his eyes before he nodded slowly. "All right, Charlotte. I just wanted to see what you've been up to since… well since we last saw each other."

"Well, now you've seen it," she replied, her voice tight.

Daniel reached for the worn wooden door. Then, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the weathered brass handle. "Charlotte," he said, the sound of his voice causing her heart to clench unexpectedly, "I was hoping we could maybe... have dinner together tonight?"

She paused for a moment, her fingers tightening on the edge of the doorframe. In that instant, she could see it all - the candlelit table by the window, the flickering shadows playing across his face as he spoke, the impeccable dress short he would wear, how he would judge the waitstaff on their wine knowledge. Charlotte she needed to maintain her distance, to keep her focus on the life she was building here in Chesham Cove, without the distractions of the past clouding her vision.

With a steadying breath, she turned to look at him, the words firm and resolute despite the tremor she felt deep within her chest. "No, Daniel. I don't think that's a good idea."

His expression faltered for a moment, disappointment etching itself into the lines of his face before he managed a stiff nod. "All right," he murmured, seemingly accepting her decision. "I understand."

"Goodbye, Daniel," she said finally, her voice steady as she stood at the entrance to her new life, ready to show him out. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

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