Page 25 of Always, For Love

In the dimly lit room, the crackling fire cast dancing shadows across Miles's face, accentuating the hurt that seemed to radiate from him. Ariel watched as he struggled to find the words to express the depth of his pain.

"Every time I’ve trusted someone, Ariel, they let me down," he finally managed, his voice strained with emotion. "My ex-wife, Emily, my so-called friends... and now you, even if unintentionally. It feels like a curse."

Ariel winced at his words, feeling the sting of her own guilt pierce her heart. She reached out tentatively, trying to bridge the gap between them. "Miles, I never wanted to hurt you. If I had known, I never would have contacted him."

Ariel's heart thundered in her chest as she stared at the dying embers of the fire in the kitchen fireplace, the flames casting eerie shadows across the room. The oppressive silence engulfed them like a thick fog, making it difficult for her to breathe as she grappled with the weight of what had just been revealed. How could she not have known about Miles's past? She thought she knew him, every curve and crevice of his heart, but now she realized that there were still dark corners left unexplored. Details he’d held back.

Ariel's throat tightened as a surge of emotion threatened to overwhelm her. The air in the room seemed to grow colder, the frosty chill seeping into her bones. She shivered involuntarily, her thoughts whirling like snowflakes caught in a storm. How could she move forward with Miles when she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was still so much she didn't know?

"Tonight, when we go to bed, we won’t sleep. Let’s stay up. And you can tell me," she said suddenly, her voice wavering with determination. "Tell me everything I don't know about you." She needed to understand, to see the full picture, if they were going to have any chance at healing and rebuilding trust—if they were to marry in a few days' time.

Miles hesitated. "Are you sure you want to know? Some things... they might not be easy to hear."

"Please," Ariel implored, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I need to understand you.”

As the weight of their shared revelations hung heavily in the air, Ariel's plea to understand Miles better lingered in the dimly lit room. The atmosphere was thick with unresolved emotions, and they both felt the tension between them like an invisible wall.

Then, as if compelled by an unspoken desire for reconciliation, Miles moved closer, his footsteps soft on the hardwood floor. With a mixture of hesitation and longing, he reached out and gently took Ariel's face in his hands. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, all the words left unsaid seemed to find expression in the cathartic kiss that followed.

Their lips met, a fusion of pent-up emotions, anger, and love. It was a kiss that carried the weight of their shared history, and as their mouths melted together, the anger between them began to dissipate. Miles held Ariel as if he never wanted to let her go, and she clung to him, a silent apology for her unintentional trespass.

Finally breaking the kiss, Miles whispered against her lips, "I love you, Ariel. I should have been more open about my past."

Ariel's voice trembled as she replied, "And I should have trusted my instincts and asked you about Dale." Tears welled up in her eyes, reflecting the depth of her remorse.

Miles's gaze softened, and he wiped away a stray tear from Ariel's cheek. "We both made mistakes, but we can learn from them."

Ariel nodded, her heart aching with a mixture of relief and renewed love. "You're right, Miles. We can't change the past, but we can work on our future."

With a deep breath, Miles offered a reassuring smile and said, "Let's get back to dinner prep, together. I'll help you."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The next morning, a crisp winter breeze whispered through the snow-dusted streets of Endless Harbor, carrying with it the scent of pine and the distant melody of the Christmas music playing in courthouse square. Ariel walked along the cobblestone path, taking a moment to admire the twinkling fairy lights adorning the shops and houses. Despite having been back in this small coastal town for a year now, she still found herself enchanted by its charm.

Today’s mission was to pick up the fresh linens for Leeside and do a little shopping for bread and spices—and try not to dwell on her recent string of dramas. She and Miles had managed to have a good, long talk before bed the prior night, and she at least felt better about that.

As she approached the corner bakery, a familiar figure caught her eye. "Doris!" Ariel exclaimed, her breath forming little puffs of vapor in the air. She hurried toward her former neighbor, who was bundled up in a bright red scarf and matching mittens.

"Ah, Ariel! My goodness, it's been ages," Doris said warmly, embracing Ariel in a tight hug. "How have you been?"

"Busy," Ariel admitted with a soft laugh, thinking of the whirlwind that had been her life since returning to Endless Harbor and diving headfirst into her dream of running Leeside B&B and The Seaside Café. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything. What brings you back to town?"

"Visiting friends for Christmas," Doris replied, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. "I couldn't resist another Endless Harbor holiday season."

"Ah, I know the feeling." Ariel glanced around at the festive decorations, her heart swelling with nostalgia.

"So, how are things going at Leeside?" Doris asked, peering at Ariel curiously.

"Better than I ever could have imagined," Ariel responded, pride evident in her voice. "We've had wonderful guests, and I've been fortunate enough to work with an amazing team. Darcy, my sous chef, has been a godsend, and I couldn't ask for a better partner in Miles."

"Speaking of which," Doris said with a conspiratorial grin, "I heard about your engagement. Congratulations, my dear!"

"Thank you," Ariel replied, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink as she thought of the man who had captured her heart and helped her find her way back home—through both of their challenges. "In fact, I wanted to invite you to our wedding. We'd be honored to have you there."

Doris lowered her gaze, a touch of sadness flickering in her eyes. "I truly appreciate the invitation, Ariel, but I'm only in town for a couple of days. My best wishes and thoughts for your wedding day, though."

"Thank you, Doris," Ariel said, understanding the limitations of time and distance. Her eyes briefly darted away as she debated whether or not to share her next thought. But Doris and her father had been friends once. "I've even reached out to Lee...hoping he might attend."

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