Page 65 of Wood You Knot

“Sorry about that. I set her off,” I apologized, looking out over the backyard. Auntie Em leaned forward and reached for my hand, taking it in hers. I glanced back at her.

“Your mother has never liked hearing the truth of things if it doesn’t fit her narrative,” Auntie Em said wisely, her expression softening as she looked at me. “You had every right to be angry at her for disregarding your choices. I’m sorry she did that, and I’m sorry you had to put her in her place. It’s not easy when we have to parent our parents.”

Auntie Em’s words and her loving touch unlocked the floodgates, and my eyes welled up with tears. I laughed awkwardly, wiping them away with embarrassment. “Well, I’m sorry she lashed out at you over it.”

“I can take it,” Auntie Em assured me with a wry grin. “I didn’t know Warren showed up last night. Is that why the Hutchinson boys were all gathered around you like bodyguards?”

“Yeah, it all happened so fast.” I sighed. “It’s why I was so angry with her. I spoke to her last week and told her I had no desire to hear from or see him again, and she sent him straight to me.”

“That wasn’t fair of her, and I’m sorry she did that,” Auntie Em said.

“Yeah, well. I shouldn’t be surprised, and yet…” I sighed, looking back out over the backyard.

“Sometimes the past has to rear its ugly head to remind us to appreciate what we have now, and to look forward to the future,” Auntie Em remarked.

I snorted. “I guess that’s true.”

Auntie Em laughed, too, giving me a secretive smile. “I’m happy to see you and Nix have…rekindled your friendship. He’s a good man.”

“He really is.” I nodded in agreement, a smile lifting my lips. “He makes me feel…safe. Emotionally and physically.” I thought back to the night before, how he held me in his arms and eased the hurt and betrayal I’d felt over my mother’s actions with his mere presence.

“That’s a good thing, sweetie. You deserve that,” Auntie Em said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

“You don’t think it’s too soon?” I worried my lip, glancing at my aunt.

“I think it’s not soon enough,” Auntie Em winked. “There’s always been a special connection between the two of you. I’m so happy you’re finally exploring it.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nix

Sage had been really shaken up by her ex-fiancé’s appearance at the school last night. She hadn’t expected to see him and confessed she’d had no idea he was so interested in talking to her because she’d blocked his phone number. He’d also never tried to see her when she’d been in Guelph staying at her friend Nellie’s place, and then her mom’s.

She admitted it was only recently she’d heard from her mom that Warren was trying to get in touch.

We spent the evening talking about it and various other deeper topics. I held her in my arms, and we fell asleep that way after exhausting ourselves conversing. Although I would have liked to have made her forget about the whole thing in other ways, I knew she needed to talk about it, and I was happy to be that shoulder to help her process her thoughts.

I really hadn’t wanted to leave Sage’s apartment Saturday morning, but when I woke up, there were several missed text messages from my brothers. I knew Sage also had a phone call to make to her mother to find out why in the hell she’d given up her new address to someone Sage had explicitly said she was finished with.

Apparently, during their night out at The Quarter Lounge, my brothers and Tabitha had discovered our unwanted visitor was staying at the bed and breakfast Annalise’s family owned. Now that I had that information, I decided to go to the bed and breakfast and face him myself.

The Hastings family had owned the bed and breakfast for a few generations, and Annalise worked as the innkeeper. I knew the information likely came from her—unofficially—and I didn’t want to get her in trouble. She was in the main room dusting the library shelves when I walked in.

“Morning, Annalise.” I smiled politely. “Is the dining room open today?”

“Yes…are you meeting someone?” Annalise asked, arching a brow in question.

“Sure am,” I replied, walking past her and continuing toward the dining room.

She grabbed my elbow, tugging me back for a minute, a concerned look on her face. “Nix, you can’t start anything here. This is a place of business.”

“I promise I’m not going to start anything. I’m just going to have a friendly chat with the man over coffee.”

Annalise’s eyes narrowed like she didn’t quite believe me. “I’m serious. No funny business.”

“Scout’s honour,” I promised.

She sighed, glancing into the dining room with a look of aversion. It was evident she wasn’t his biggest fan either. “Don’t make me regret this,” she warned, pointing her duster at me. I nodded, receiving the message loud and clear.

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