“Yes, of course. Thank you for calling me. I will let Thomas know what is going on, and we’ll be right over,” Mary Elle said to the person on the phone.

  “Is everything alright?” Melanie asked as she watched her closely.

  Mary Elle’s hands were shaking, and she was visibly upset.

  “That was Wyatt’s school counselor. She said he got into a fight with some kids at school.”

  “Wyatt? Is he okay?” Melanie asked, confused.

  Wyatt was the sweetest, most caring boy. He wouldn’t even hurt a fly. How did he get into a fight at school?

  “Wyatt is okay. He’s with the school nurse. He’s been having a hard time at school since everything happened with his mother.”

  Wyatt’s mother had abandoned him and left him alone, with no running water or electricity. She had run off with a man she had met online. Wyatt had gone to live with his grandmother, but she couldn’t look after him. The department of children and family had reached out to his mother, but she had been unresponsive and never showed up to court. Thomas and Mary Elle had stepped in and adopted him. They were trying to provide him with a stable home, but the kids at school were cruel and bullied him relentlessly.

  “I know. He hasn’t been the same since everything happened.”

  “Wyatt has been getting better, but this isn’t something you just get over. I have to go; we’ll finish our meeting later.”

  “Yes, of course,” Melanie said as she watched her mother grab her things and dash out of the office.

  Melanie walked over to Ryder's bassinet and ran a finger down his cheek. She couldn’t imagine ever abandoning him. There was a light knock on the door, and Melanie glanced up to see Cade’s handsome face. Just the sight of him still gave her butterflies in her stomach.

  “Ready for our lunch date?” he asked.

  “Yes, let me just put Ryder in his stroller,” Melanie said as she quickly moved him from the bassinet to his stroller.

  Cade grabbed the diaper bag, and they made their way to the restaurant together.

  “How’s your first week back at work been going?” Cade asked.

  “It’s going great. I love being back. I was going a little crazy being stuck at home, but now I get to work and keep Ryder close by, so it’s great.”

  “That’s good. Mel, wait up,” Cade called out.

  Melanie turned to see him and found him on one knee. Her eyes instantly teared up. Was this happening?

  “Are you okay?” Cade asked with a look of concern on his face.

  “I’m fine,” Melanie said, mustering up a smile.

  “You’re crying,” Cade said as he stood and made his way to her.

  “I’m not crying. I just got caught in the moment.”

  “The moment? We’re just walking to the restaurant.”

  “Oh, I just...” Melanie said, letting her words trail off.

  Cade stared at her with a confused look, but then realization hit him.

  “You thought I was proposing?”

  “Yes, I turned, and I saw you on your knee. I’m so embarrassed. Can we forget this happened?”

  “I was tying my shoe. You know I would love to marry you, Mel. I just wasn’t sure if you were ready. It hasn’t been long since your divorce, and you just bought a house and had Ryder.”

  “I know it’s fine. You don’t have to explain. Seriously, let’s just forget this happened,” Melanie said as she turned around and kept pushing Ryder’s stroller towards the restaurant.

  Of course, he wasn’t proposing. What was she thinking? They hadn’t even been dating for very long. Some couples dated for many years before they got married. So why did she feel so disappointed that he wasn’t proposing?

  Mary Elle sat at the kitchen island with Thomas as they enjoyed their morning coffee. It was the weekend, and she had everyone over for breakfast. The food was ready, and now all they had to do was wait for their guests. They both looked towards the stairs when they heard footsteps running down the stairs.

  “Good morning,” Thomas said as Wyatt came into the kitchen.

  “Good morning,” Wyatt said to them as he searched for food in the fridge.

  “The food is ready, but we thought it would be nice to have breakfast as a family today. Everyone should be here soon.”

  “Oh, okay, can I have a small plate to take upstairs? Just for meanwhile, we wait?”

  “Sure,” Mary Elle said as she stood to prepare him a plate.

  “Thank you,” Wyatt said and sprinted back up the stairs with the plate of food.

  “Boy, has a healthy appetite,” Thomas commented.

  “How do you think he’s doing?” Mary Elle asked him.

  “I think, for what he’s been through, he’s doing as well as anyone could expect,” Thomas said as he sat the newspaper down next to him.

  “I just hate all those horrible things those kids said to him,” Mary Elle said, remembering their meeting with Wyatt’s counselor the day before.

  “Kids can be cruel. I know their parents, and I will talk to them.”

  A couple of boys in Wyatt’s class had been picking on him. They told him his mother left him because she thought he was worthless and wanted nothing to do with him. They also said many things that Wyatt hadn’t felt comfortable talking about. It broke Mary Elle’s heart to see him sitting there in the office with blood coming out of his nose and looking so defeated. She would never understand how Wyatt’s mother could leave him. Mary Elle tried to place herself in Lorraine’s shoes, but she couldn’t fathom the thought of ever abandoning her kids to go off with some random man.

  “Did I hear someone say they wanted my special biscuits?” DeeAnn said as she walked into the kitchen.

  “When have biscuits ever been a bad idea?” Mary Elle said, happy to see her sister with Paul trailing close behind her.

  Paul had come along just at the right time into DeeAnn’s life. Her sister was so much happier now. She was more expressive and sure of herself.

  “I hope we’re not late,” Rita, Mary Elle’s best friend since elementary school, said as she and her husband, Bob, came in.

  “You’re just in time. The girls should be here soon,” Mary Elle said as she enveloped each in a hug.

  Mary Elle wanted nothing more than to make Wyatt feel at home. She wanted him to feel like he belonged and was a part of the family. They all loved him and felt for him. It was hard not to love him. He was hardworking and sweet, but he often lived in his head, and it was hard to know what he was thinking or feeling.

  “I’ll go get Wyatt to let him know everyone’s almost here, and he should head down,” Mary Elle said as she excused herself.

  “Honey, are you ready?” Mary Elle asked as she walked into Wyatt’s room.

  “Oh, my God!” she heard a girl's voice say.

  “Close the door!” Wyatt yelled.

  “Molly? What is going on?” Mary Elle asked in disbelief.

  Once they finished their breakfast and everyone had gone back home, Mary Elle and Thomas sat with Wyatt and Molly.

  “I’m sorry about what you had to walk into,” Wyatt said as he hung his head in shame.

  Mary Elle looked over at Thomas, unsure of what to say. She had never walked in on any of her kids before. This was new territory for her. Thomas met her gaze and took her hand in his.

  “I think it’s time we set some ground rules,” Thomas said.

  “I agree,” Mary Elle said.

  “No more sleepovers; if anyone is visiting, the door must stay open, and I hope you’re safe.”

  “We weren’t doing anything, Mr. Clarke. We just fell asleep. I promise,” Molly said as her voice trembled.

  “I believe you, and neither of you is in trouble. We just don’t want any problems. That is all,” Thomas said, reassuring them.

  “Thank you. I promise this won’t happen again,” Wyatt said as he looked at them.

  “We have no problem with you two spending time together. You can watch movies in the living room or spend time in the backyard. We ask you to respect the house rules,” Mary Elle told them.

  The last thing she and Thomas wanted was to make them feel uncomfortable or have them sneaking around.

  “We will follow all the house rules. Will this affect our jobs?” Wyatt asked.

  “No, it will not,” Thomas said.

  After Molly and Wyatt excused themselves, Mary Elle turned to Thomas.

  “What are we going to do?” she asked him.

  “What do you mean? We just dealt with it.”

  “You told them to ‘make sure they’re safe.’ I don’t want them to do that. I don’t want them having sex at all. They’re kids!”

  “He’s 16,” Thomas said as if that was completely normal.

  “Exactly. He’s only 16. Molly is 18. They are too young. What if she gets pregnant?”

  “She won’t, and Wyatt is almost 17,” Thomas reminded her.

  “How do you know she won’t?”

  “Because they’re going to be safe?” Thomas asked with a sheepish smile.

  “They’re too young,” Mary Elle said with a sigh.

  “Everything will be okay,” Thomas told her as he pulled her close.

  “I know. It just caught me by surprise,” Mary Elle said as she rested her head on his chest.

  Mary Elle sighed. What had they gotten themselves into? Were she and Thomas too old to be dealing with an adolescent boy? Was there a way to put chastity underwear on them like in that Old Robin Hood movie?

  “You walked in on Wyatt and Molly?” Melanie asked in disbelief.

  “They claim they were only sleeping, but I don’t know,” Mary Elle said and shuttered at the memory.

  She still couldn’t believe this was happening. Her sweet little Wyatt and their little Molly? How did they grow up so fast?

  “They are teenagers. This is normal, mom,” Melanie said with a laugh.

  “That’s what Thomas said. Am I overreacting?” Mary Elle asked.

  “Yes,” Melanie said.

  “No," Tiffany said at the same time.

  “Come on, Tiff. Don’t you remember what it was like being that age? How exciting it was when you went on dates and had your first kisses? Oh, to be young again,” Melanie said.

  “I’m still a virgin,” Tiffany said with a shrug.

  “You are?” Melanie asked and looked over at Mary Elle, who looked equally shocked.

  “Yes, I remember all my friends losing their virginity and then being so hung up on these guys after the fact. So, I swore to myself that it would never be me. I refuse to ever in my life cry over a man. Now that I’m 23, it seems weird to go out with someone and tell them I'm a virgin, so I'd rather not let it get to that.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being a virgin. I think it’s great and shows lots of character. You didn’t give in to social pressure,” Mary Elle said.

  “I just didn’t want any boy to have power over me. I saw way too many of my friends crying and mopping around after guys.”

  “Do you regret it?” Melanie asked.

  “No? Maybe? I don’t know. Maybe I’m a little embarrassed now that I’m older and still a virgin.”

  “You shouldn’t be embarrassed; sex is a wonderful thing, but when it’s with the right person. You just haven’t met him yet, and that’s okay. You’re still young,” Melanie said.

  “Your sister is right. There is nothing sweeter than knowing you saved yourself for the person you will spend the rest of your life with.”

  “At least you can say you didn’t lose your virginity to Christopher Powell at the movie theatre parking lot!” Melanie said with a laugh.

  “Mel, you didn’t!” Mary Elle said, her eyes as big as saucers.

  “I did, mom. I’m sorry!” Melanie said as she laughed and hugged her mother.

  “Now I know why they say ignorance is bliss,” Mary Elle said with a shake of her head.

  “So, I had dad over for dinner last night,” Melanie said, changing the subject.

  “How did it go?” Tiffany asked.

  “He and Cade hit it off, and it was nice seeing him with Ryder. Dad has changed so much. He didn’t even look at his phone once.”

  “That’s good, sweetheart,” Mary Elle said, and she meant it.

  She wanted her kids to have a relationship with their father. That’s all she had ever wished for during their marriage.

  “What do you mean he’s changed?” Tiffany asked.

  “He’s just more present now. It’s like he cares, unlike before.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Tiffany and Mrs. Adelman had finished setting up the breakfast bar and cleaning out the rooms that had been checked out when they decided to have a meeting to go over the pending projects.

  “So, according to our list, we are right on schedule,” Tiffany said as she looked down at the list the city council had given Mrs. Adelman.

  “Are you sure?” Mrs. Adelman said, double-checking and crossing out the things that had been completed.

  “Yes, everyone has been working very hard. Trust me, we won’t let you down.”

  “I know. I’m just so nervous. What if we cannot raise all the money that is needed? All the repairs won’t matter.”

  “We will raise the money, Mrs. Adelman. Please don’t give up hope.”

  “Mrs. Adelman?” they heard someone call out from the front door.

  “Yes?” they both said as they walked over.

  Tiffany’s stomach dropped as soon as she saw Richard standing there. What could he possibly want now?

  “Hello Richard, how can I help you?” Mrs. Adelman asked him.

  “I am just letting you know I am placing this notice on your front door.”

  “What’s it for?”

  “You’re not allowed to have any guests because your building isn’t up to code still.”

  “You can’t be serious!”

  “I’m afraid that I am. It’s much too dangerous for your guests to be staying here in the Inn’s conditions.”

  Tiffany stood quietly next to Mrs. Adelman, but she couldn’t take this anymore. They were abusing their power, and it was unfair. The Inn was in excellent condition, and they only had a few more things to take care of. How would they ever pay the fees if they couldn’t have anyone stay at the Inn?

  “Richard, we have almost completed all the repairs. There must be something we can do. We can’t close the Inn to our guests. We have a few reservations already made. Can we at least keep those?”

  “No. The only thing you can do to save the Inn is to pay your fees and finish the repairs. The sooner you get it done, the better. You know, this might be a good thing. Retirement might be good for you,” Richard said before walking away.

  “Are you okay?” Tiffany asked Mrs. Adelman. She had expected Mrs. Adelman to fire back. To put Richard in his place, but she hadn’t, Tiffany feared that meant she might give up.

  “No,” Mrs. Adelman said, turning around and going back inside.

  She took a seat in the lobby, and Tiffany followed her. She didn’t know what to do. This would set them back, but this only made her want to work harder. They couldn’t let those crooked individuals win.

  Tiffany’s nerves were all over the place as she headed into The Night Beneath the Stars event at Mr. Gunner’s farm. She wasn’t sure what had been going through her mind when she agreed with Mrs. Adelman to give love a chance. Maybe it was because her story moved her, and she genuinely wanted Mrs. Adelman to be happy and in love. Perhaps it was all those sleepless nights Tiffany had spent wishing she had someone to call her own. Whatever it was, they were here now.

  She spotted Melanie by the pretzel stand and quickly made her way over.

  “Hey!” she said a little too loudly.

  “Hey... here, break off a piece. This is too much for me,” Melanie said as she tilted the pretzel over for Tiffany to cut off a piece.

  Tiffany didn’t know if she could keep it down, but she took half the pretzel anyway. Maybe keeping her hands and mouth busy would help calm her nerves.

  “Where’s Ryder?”

  “Cade took him to the petting zoo,” Melanie said, and Tiffany followed her glance, quickly spotting Cade and Ryder.

  They were wearing matching plaid shirts and black pants. They looked adorable, and Tiffany felt her chest tighten. What was going on with her?

  “They look so cute with their matching outfits!” Tiffany said as she pulled her cellphone out to snap a picture of them.

  “Cade wanted to match with Ryder today,” Melanie said with the brightest smile.

  Ever since Melanie had given birth, Tiffany had fantasized about making a family of her own. Tiffany often found herself daydreaming of going on playdates with Melanie and her kid. She did not know where this had come from. She always said she didn’t want to have kids or get married, and now that was all she wanted.

  Did this happen to everyone? She didn’t dare say anything to anyone. Especially not Melanie or her mother; they would begin pressuring her about dating again.

  “Earth to Tiffany?” Melanie said, breaking into Tiffany’s thoughts.

  “I’m sorry. What were you saying?” Tiffany said, bringing her attention back to her sister.

  “Is Dad coming?”

  “I think so. I didn’t see him much today.”

  “How is he? Do you think we should be worried about him?”

  “Look who's the worry wort now,” Tiffany said.

  “It’s just so unlike him to leave work for an entire month,” Melanie said, and Tiffany could tell by the look on her face that she was concerned.

 

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