Page 28 of Once Upon a Winter
“And you’re able to work remotely. Mistletoe is too long a commute for most people. It’s our saving grace. We appreciate the tourism income, but it’s always a bit of a relief when the season ends—at least for me. Life gets back to normal.”
Laura said, “You’re lucky to have the sort of work that lasts all year round. These historic houses must be in constant need of repair.”
Cooper nodded, looking slightly amused.
“What?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t say anything.”
“But you’re thinking about something. What is it?”
“Laura, the handyman work isn’t for me.” Apparently sensing her confusion, he said, “I don’t need the money.”
“Oh.” She wasn’t sure how to interpret that. Even wealthy people she’d known behaved as though they needed—or wanted—more money. The only difference was that at some point, their goal shifted from survival to a challenge. It was a sort of game for some people. But Cooper didn’t seem overly focused on material wealth. His home, tastefully understated in style and perched on a hill overlooking the harbor, spoke of his wealth, but the fact that he downplayed it spoke even more of his character.
Laura waited while the busser cleared her plate, then said, “There’s something about a small town that makes the status symbols of life seem less important. I suppose it’s because of the things I enjoy in my daily life here. I love looking out at the sea, the way it looks different each time, a warm smile from a store clerk, shops that reflect the personalities of the owners, and the way people come together in good times and bad. I love it all, and they all have one thing in common—they aren’t laser-focused on their jobs or their money.”
Cooper’s eyes brightened with shared understanding. “Exactly. Life is about more than that. It’s about the beauty around us and the people we share it with.”
Laura chuckled. “Although it’s easy to discount money while sitting here sipping wine in a nice restaurant.”
Cooper dismissed what she said with a shake of his head. “The restaurant is nice, but we could be in a dockside shanty eating out of a paper-lined basket, and it wouldn’t matter to me. It’s the company I’m enjoying.” His gaze deepened. Nothing moved except Laura’s heart, which was pounding.
She realized her gazing had turned into staring but got lost in his eyes and in thoughts of the man she was getting to know. With some effort, she looked away, hoping he couldn’t tell how hard she was falling for him.
Cooper paid the check. “Shall we?”
As they walked to his truck, Laura lifted her chin to the cold air, which felt good on her flushed face. Over dinner, she’d felt as though they’d discovered an unspoken understanding that they were heading somewhere together but there was no need to rush. Yet her nerve endings were on heightened alert every time he drew near. His hand touching her back as they walked out the door or his fingertips touching her arm to help her into the truck sent her into a state of lightheaded euphoria.
On the quiet ride home, Laura looked at the inches between them and resisted the urge to close the space. She reminded herself of his desire to take a step back, but while he did that, she stole glances at him, admiring his rugged features and the way his strong and sure hands gripped the wheel.
The contentment they had shared over dinner seemed a world away as they approached Cooper’s house. An unexpected figure, a woman with a chic, short haircut, leaned against a car parked in his driveway. Cooper’s eyes narrowed as he parked the truck.
Despite her curiosity, Laura didn’t want to be caught in the middle of the situation. “Why don’t you drop me off? We can have that nightcap another time.”
Concern etched his face as he considered the matter. “Yeah, maybe that’s for the best.” The weight of his words lingered between them.
Don’t ask. Don’t look desperate or jealous.
Apparently inferring her thoughts, Cooper said, “She’s my ex.” He hastened to clarify, “Girlfriend, not wife! She’s probably home for the holidays, although why she’s on my doorstep, I can’t fathom.”
Laura could guess, but there was enough awkwardness in the air without her adding to it.
“Excuse me.” He got out of the truck, walked over to his ex-girlfriend, and they exchanged a few words. When she looked over at the vehicle, it was all Laura could do not to slide down in the seat out of sight.Of course this would happen because everything seemed perfect. So right.It didn’t take long to go from so right to so wrong.
As Laura tried not to watch them, she sought ways to minimize the situation. Everyone had baggage. If the tables were turned and Alan showed up on her doorstep, Cooper might be going through the same thing for no reason.
Alan.It was over with Alan before they even broke up. During their last few months together, Alan had become increasingly absorbed in his work. Laura understood work pressure; she had her own to deal with. But in time, maintaining an orderly home and clinging more tightly to routines weren’t enough to mask her unhappiness.
It took her years to recognize the pattern she’d fallen into. While few relationships were perfectly balanced, she was remarkably gifted at what she came to think of as the end of a seesaw relationship, in which whoever she was involved with would, with no warning, hop off the seesaw and leave her to crash into a worn patch of dirt as a dust cloud obscured her dismay.
Her first serious boyfriend in high school had cheated on her with a close friend. To avoid dealing with the betrayal, Laura dove into schoolwork and extracurriculars, keeping herself fiercely busy. For two years, she avoided relationships. They only caused pain she couldn’t bear.
In college, finally ready to take a chance on a guy, she fell hard for Matt, who was excitingly angsty until he revealed himself to be emotionally volatile, lavishing her with over-the-top romantic gestures one day then scowling and sulking the next. The unpredictability kept Laura on edge, never knowing what to expect. She found refuge in tasks she could control, like color-coding her class notes with index tabs and highlighters and planning every hour of study time, down to five-minute breaks to relax.
A string of dates and near misses stretched out over the next several years until, alone again and buried in work, she resolved to change her life. And she had! And yet, there she was, on a date—if that was what it was—with a guy, and his ex had shown up.
Cooper climbed into the truck and backed out of the driveway without saying a word. Laura replayed the scene in her head in a half dozen different ways.Couldn’t he have just told her to leave?If he had, then what would have followed—a romantic nightcap together while his mind was on whatever was going on with his ex-girlfriend? Laura had compiled quite a list of potential scenarios by the time they arrived at her house.
