Page 43 of Always, Plus One

Well, Ariel would just have to wait and see if that combination turned out to be another of her winning recipes.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Ariel could see that Katie was upset as soon as her daughter walked into the kitchen. She was holding her phone, and Ariel’s heart sank.

Not Connor again.

Ariel hadn’t expected that the drama in that direction would die down completely, but the sadness in Katie’s eyes was unmistakable. Ariel gave her a sympathetic smile as she walked over to her.

"Hey, what's going on?" Ariel asked gently, placing a hand on Katie's shoulder.

Katie let out a deep sigh before she replied. "I broke up with Connor," she said, looking down at her feet. “Not giving him space, and I’m not going to wait until he chooses between me and Tiffany. I told him it was over—I’m the one who broke it off.”

Ariel's heart sank a little more at the news. She had a feeling it was coming, but it still hurt to see her daughter in pain. "I'm sorry, Katie," she said, giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Katie shrugged her shoulders, trying to hide the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes. "It's okay. It's for the best, right?"

Ariel nodded, knowing that Katie was trying to put on a brave face. "Yeah, it is," she said, before pulling out a chair at the island. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, remember?”

Katie let out a small sob and nodded in agreement, even as she slid into the chair. "I know. I just keep thinking about all the good times we had, and it makes me feel so sad that it's over."

Ariel could see the pain etched on Katie's face, and it brought back memories of her own teenage heartbreaks. "I understand how you feel," she said, reaching out to take her hand. "It's hard to let go of something that meant so much to you. But sometimes, it's necessary for both of you to move forward."

Emily came to mind, and even Dylan, the ex who had so callously broken Ariel’s heart—and Ariel was struck by how life had so many echoes, how generations could come and go, but having your heart broken still felt universally awful, no matter the era. Katie was feeling just what Ariel had, what Miles had, even what Darcy had hinted at for his experience. It was a bizarre thing to think about, but a thought that made Ariel feel closer to Katie. Shedidunderstand what Katie was going through.

“Do you want me to keep talking, or do you just want to sit right now?” Ariel asked, thinking back to the beach and how Katie had been upset at her attempts to reassure her. Sometimes, Ariel had come to realize, it was enough to just be together, without words.

“No, I like it when you reassure me,” Katie said, and then she grimaced. “I know what I said on the beach, and I’m sorry—again.”

"No, no sorry needed. I’m just trying to get a feel for what you need directly from you. I know it hurts right now," Ariel added, leaving the prep work she was doing to bustle to the freezer, "but trust me, it's better to end things if they're not right for you."

Katie nodded, but Ariel could see the pain in her eyes. She wanted to do something to help ease her daughter's heartache. "Is there anything I can do for you, honey?" she asked, concern etched on her face. She was already pulling out the vanilla custard ice cream from the deep freezer.

Katie shook her head. "No, Mom, it's okay. I'll be fine," she said, trying to put on a brave face. She laid her forehead on the island, and Darcy came back into the kitchen at that moment from the dining room, pausing at the doorway when he saw Katie.

“Uh, should I go?” he asked, pointing back at the dining room.

“No, stay,” Katie said from under a curtain of hair. “And please add your sage advice for the lovelorn, if you have any wisdom.”

Darcy pulled out the chair next to Katie and sat down, looking over at Ariel. “Oh, I do. I thought I would never have the chance to share this with you guys.”

Ariel took three glass ice cream dishes down from the cupboard and lined them up on the island as Darcy began his story.

“This is one of the most popular old Irish tales about love—The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne.”

“You’re making this up,” Katie said from her face-down position.

“Not a word,” he said. “The same tale my grandma told me. Now, listen. The story tells of Gráinne, a beautiful and wealthy princess who was betrothed to Fionn MacCumhaill, the leader of the Fianna, an ancient band of Irish warriors. However, on the eve of her wedding, Gráinne fell in love with Diarmuid, one of Fionn's most trusted and loyal warriors.”

“Knowing that Fionn would never approve of their love, Diarmuid and Gráinne decided to run away together. They embarked on a perilous journey across Ireland, with Fionn and the Fianna hot on their heels.”

“Hot fudge?” Ariel asked, and Darcy shook his head.

“Hot pursuit,” he corrected.

Then he pointed at the ice cream and nodded. Ariel plopped generous scoops from a jar onto each dish. “Despite the dangers they faced, Diarmuid and Gráinne grew closer and deeper in love with each other with every passing day. They found joy and happiness in each other's company, and their love gave them the strength and courage to overcome every obstacle that came their way.”

“In the end, Fionn and the Fianna caught up with them, and a fierce battle ensued. Diarmuid fought bravely, but he was mortally wounded by a magical boar, and all seemed lost. However, in a final act of love and devotion, Gráinne used her healing powers to extend Diarmuid's life for a few moments longer, and they shared one last moment of happiness together before he passed away.”

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