Page 5 of Healing Hearts at the Christmas Inn
Holly's throat tightened, and she nodded. "Thank you."
Charlie squeezed her shoulder. "That's what sisters are for. Now sit. Drink. Stare at the ocean. I'll be back soon."
The door clicked shut behind her, and Holly was alone.
She sipped the wine without tasting it and turned back to the windows. The sun was setting now, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange that reflected off the water. It should have been beautiful. It probably was beautiful.
But all Holly could feel was numb.
2
CHARLIE
Charlie gripped the steering wheel hard enough to make her knuckles ache as she navigated through traffic toward Trinity's ballet academy. Fury burned hot and bright in her chest. It was a white-hot rage that made her want to turn the car around, drive straight to Holly's house, and give Simon Bennett a piece of her mind.
Actually, forget a piece. She'd give him the whole thing.
She'd never liked Simon. Not from the beginning. There was something about him that had always rubbed her the wrong way. He was too smooth, too charming, too quick with the right answer, and the kind of attorney that gave all attorneys a bad name with his sleaze. Holly had been swept off her feet when they'd met in college, and by the time Charlie had figured out that Simon was all flash and no substance, they were already engaged.
But Terry? That blindsided Charlie.
Terry Simmons, who was now Terry Brown, had grown up next door to them. She and Holly had been inseparable since beforethey could walk. Matching Halloween costumes. Sleepovers every weekend. Bridesmaids at each other's weddings. Charlie had been at Terry's divorce party two, no, three years ago, watching her cry into her wine while Holly rubbed her back and promised her everything would be okay.
And all that time, she'd been having an affair with Holly's husband?
Charlie's hands tightened on the wheel. How had she missed it? How had any of them missed it? Is that why Terry’s husband had just up and suddenly divorced her in what seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision? Like he’d come home one day and thought, I’m going to divorce Terry today. Because if that were the case, it would make more sense.
She pulled into the parking lot of the ballet academy just as parents were starting to trickle out with their daughters. Trinity appeared a moment later, her duffel bag slung over one shoulder, still wearing her leotard under a pair of shorts. Her dark hair was pulled back in a bun, and when she spotted Charlie's car, her face lit up.
Charlie forced a smile as Trinity climbed into the passenger seat.
"Aunt Charlie! What are you doing here? Where's Gran?"
"Change of plans, sweetheart." Charlie pulled back into traffic, keeping her voice light. "You and your gran are going to stay with me for a few days."
Trinity's smile faded. She was quiet for a moment, studying Charlie's profile with those sharp green eyes that missed nothing. "Did Gran and Granddad have a fight?"
Charlie's chest tightened. "Something like that. But it's probably best if you talk to your gran about it, okay?"
Trinity went silent.
Charlie drove, focusing on the road, but she could feel Trinity's gaze on her. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable, until finally Trinity spoke again.
"Can I go with you to Gran's house? To pick up my own clothes?" Trinity asked.
Charlie hesitated. The last thing she wanted was for Trinity to run into Simon and Terry if they were even still there. "Maybe it's best if you let me handle that, sweetheart."
More silence.
"Aunt Charlie,” Trinity’s voice was soft. “Did Gran find out about Granddad and Terry?"
Charlie's foot nearly slipped off the gas. Her head whipped toward Trinity so fast her neck cracked. "What? How do you…" She caught herself, forcing her eyes back to the road. Her heart was pounding. "Trinity, how do you know about that?"
“So Gran has found out.” Trinity's eyes filled with guilt, her small hands twisting together in her lap. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "About four months ago, I was on a school trip to the aquarium, remember? I saw Granddad and Terry in the parking lot. They were... they were kissing." Her voice cracked. "I was already running toward them before I realized what they were doing. He saw me and made me promise not to tell Gran. He said he and Terry were just sorting something out, that she needed comfort." Her eyes narrowed,and suddenly she looked much older than twelve. "Did he really think I was five? I knew what they were doing."
Charlie's mind raced as pieces clicked into place. "Is that why you wouldn't go with your granddad and Terry to the state fair a few weekends ago?"
Trinity nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
