Page 19 of Hensley Manor
I used the bathroom before washing my hands and observing my reflection in the mirror. My hair was messy and my eyes were a little glassy from how hard I’d slept, but I looked better than I had in a while. Happier, even. Crazy what just one day away from everything could do. Now that I knew it wasn’t a dream, I could try to make the most of it.
That still didn’t explain Lance’s number being changed, though. And it didn’t explain why I had no memory of the night I traveled to Evergreen Valley. But I was still in the manor a full twenty-four hours after first waking up there, and when I pinched myself it hurt. So itwasreal, even if I didn’t know how. There had to be a logical explanation for it all.
I changed into jeans and a hoodie before stepping into my shoes and leaving the room. Hannah and Ken were descending the stairs and smiled up at me before continuing on their way to the ground floor. The sun shone through the windows, a nice added touch to the morning. I felt like I hadn’t seen the sun in ages.
Once in the breakfast area, I noticed the round tables were back in place and scattered throughout the room. George and Nancy, the older couple, sipped their coffee away from the wall of windows, probably because even though it was sunny it was still freaking cold outside and the glass reflected it. As I went down the breakfast bar, scooping eggs and bacon on my plate, I caught myself looking around for Ian.
I didn’t see him, but I knew he’d made the warm blueberry muffins that set on a silver platter at the end of the line. And it made me smile, although I had no clue why. I poured a cup of coffee before looking for a place to sit. There were plenty of empty chairs this morning, which told me mostly everyone had either eaten already or hadn’t made it down yet.
“You want to sit with us, Cole?”
I turned to see Jolie and Tracy, the two women I’d met last night. They were dressed similar, one in a cream sweater and the other in red, and they had matching gold rings on their left hands.
“Thanks.” I sat across from Tracy.
“Anytime,” Jolie said, smoothing cream onto her bagel. “I’m sure it’s kind of lonely being here by yourself.”
“A little.”
“Well, from now on, you can sit with us whenever you like,” Tracy said. Her red hair was pulled back from her heart-shaped face and a dainty gold chain with a locket hung from her neck. Jolie had the same one. They also kept smiling at each other.
“How long have you two been together?” I asked, before taking a bite of the blueberry muffin. Jesus. Ian was an amazing baker.
Jolie grinned. “Wow. You’re perceptive.”
I shrugged. “It’s a gift.”
“Friends for ten years and married for four,” Tracy answered, reaching over and grabbing Jolie’s hand. “We’ve come to Hensley Manor for the past three years for Christmas. We almost didn’t make it this year because of my job making me work overtime. It doesn’t take long for the inn to get booked to capacity, but Ian was generous and allowed us to use a room normally not available. That man has a heart of gold.”
He really did.
“Why do you guys like this place so much?”
“In a way, it’s like home away from home.” Jolie held her coffee in her hands, holding it up to her face and inhaling it before taking a drink. “Our families aren’t supportive and holidays can be…well, kind of sad sometimes. But we’ve made a sort of family here. Mostly everyone you see here are regulars.”
“So, I’m an outsider,” I said.
“Not at all. You’re already one of us.”
That made it sound like I was in a cult or something. When I expressed the view out loud, both women laughed so hard they snorted. Strange enough, I actually did feel like I belonged. Cult or not.
“What made you travel alone?” Jolie asked. “Are you single?”
“Jolie,” Tracy said with a laugh. “I know what you’re doing. Leave the poor man alone.” Then, she looked at me. “We have a friend who is totally cute and a bit eccentric, and Jolie has been trying to set her up for months.”
“Not sure I’ll be much help,” I responded, after finishing the rest of the blueberry muffin. “I’m sure your friend is nice, but she’s not my type.”
“Oh yeah?” Jolie grinned. “Is your type tall, handsome, and blond?”
“Jesus, Jolie.” Tracy shook her head and said to me, “Sorry.”
I really liked them. I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Word of advice?” Jolie tapped a finger on her cup. “If youareinterested in Ian, don’t give up on him. In the three years we’ve come here, we’ve never seen him date anyone. He is compassionate and gentle, but he’s also selfless. He never thinks about himself and only worries about those around him.”
“It’d be nice to see him happy,” Tracy added. “Even when he’s smiling, there’s a sort of sadness in his eyes.”
I’d seen the sadness, too.
