Page 28 of Just A Little Chase

Lauren wasn’t expecting more in terms of another confession from Ashley, and she braced herself for whatever was about to come next. “Okay.”

“Growing up… I know we were never close, and that was my fault, too,” she began, a pained look in her eyes. “I’ve never told anyone this before, but I was always so jealous of you.”

Lauren felt her jaw drop open, and had to snap it shut as she digested her sister’s unexpected, and startling, announcement. “Jealous of me? Why?”

Ashley winced in embarrassment. “Because everything came so easily to you. Fishing and riding horses and playing softball, and anything else you did. You were so talented and smart and self-assured. I’d hear that from the kids in school and the people in town when they talked about you. In comparison, I was uncoordinated and awkward and just… pretty.”

Lauren’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth but was unable to catch the burst of laughter before it escaped her.

“What’s so funny?” her sister asked, almost indignantly.

Lowering her hand back down to her side, she gave her sister a compassionate smile. “Ashley… pretty is not a bad thing to be. There were times, growing up, that I envied how pretty you were, and hated how much of a tomboy I was.”

It was Ashley’s turned to look shocked. “Why? Your beauty is understated. And you’re so confident,” she said, complimenting Lauren in a way she never had before. “You’ve never cared about other people’s opinions. And I cared too much about what people thought of me. So, since I couldn’t do those things that you excelled at, when a friend’s mother said I should be in beauty pageants, that’s what I did. I wanted to show you and Mom and Dad that I was good at something, too, even if it was something that was superficial and frivolous.”

Oh, wow. Lauren stared at her sister, seeing her in a whole different light. Finally seeing all the insecurities and vulnerabilities Ashley had lived with, that Lauren never knew existed.

Reaching out, she grabbed Ashley’s hands and gave them an affectionate squeeze. “I think we just need to accept and love each other for who we are. No expectations. No comparisons.”

Ashley nodded, and smiled, her expression filled with relief. “I agree. See, you’re so smart.”

Lauren shrugged, then grinned. “Sometimes I am,” she said, lightening the moment.

A jingling sound rent the air, and Ashley reached into the same pocket as she’d gotten a tissue from earlier and withdrew her cellphone. She checked the text message and a flash of panic passed over her features.

“That’s Maggie, my bridesmaid,” she said, her eyes wide. “I didn’t mean to be here so long and she’s letting me know that the photographers will be at the church in half an hour. I need to go so I can finish getting ready.”

“Yes, you do,” Lauren agreed. “Come on, I’ll walk you out front.”

They headed out of the gazebo and followed another pathway to a side gate that led around the house, instead of going through the inn. When they reached the street, Ashley stopped beside a light blue sedan parked by the curb.

“Thank you,” her sister said again, the words and her tone heartfelt. “For forgiving me for how stupid and selfish I was, and for hurting you. Having you in my life is so important to me because not only do I want my sister back, but someday I’m going to have kids and they are going to need their aunt to spoil them rotten.”

Lauren grinned, loving the idea of being an aunt, and being a part of Ashley’s life again. “You can count on that.”

Ashley took a step toward her car, then stopped, casting Lauren a curious look. “So, Mom said the date you brought for the weekend, Chase, is a very nice man.”

Lauren nodded. “He is.”

Her sister’s gaze searched Lauren’s face. “Are you… happy?”

She knew Ashley was insinuating her being happy with Chase, which made Ashley’s question difficult to answer. In this moment, this weekend, she was very hopeful when it came to Chase, but there was no telling what the future would bring, if anything.

So, she replied with a more generic, and truthful, version. “I’m happy with my life, yes.”

“I’m so glad,” Ashley said softly, genuinely. “You deserve to find someone special.”

As her sister got into her car and drove away, Lauren had the thought that she wanted that with Chase. So much. But whatever happened after this weekend was ultimately up to him, and she wasn’t sure that he was ready or willing to take a leap of faith with her.

But at least they had this one last night together, and she intended to make the most of it. To show Chase just how good they could be together, if he’d just open himself up to the possibility.

The rest would be up to him.

Chapter Twelve

Feeling much more optimistic about her relationship with Ashley, Lauren walked back into the inn through the front door after seeing her sister off. She’d checked her cell and had received a text from Chase that he’d returned from his walk, and found him sitting at the dining room table with Betsy, drinking an iced tea and eating one of the homemade chocolate chip cookies set on a plate in front of him.

Surprise lit up his eyes when he saw her. “Where did you come from?” he asked, his tone light and relaxed. “I thought you were in the garden out back.”

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