I glance at Nathan and Mason. “What visitors?”
“Someone comes by about once a month or so, but more frequently since Beth and Ethan sold. I thought they’d finally gotten to you when I saw a man snooping around your property. I thought for sure I’d see a for-sale sign on the lawn the next day.”
“What man?” Nathan asks before I do.
“Well, I’ve never seen him before, but he took a good look, going around back and everything.”
A chill races along my spine. “When was this?”
“The day you got all dolled up for that young man.”
Travis.Every muscle in my body stiffens.He couldn’t have staged an entire date?Then again, he knew about the application for rezoning and didn’t mention it. “Thanks, Mrs. Torbit,” I whisper as we say our goodbyes.
Mason and Nathan head out first, while Charity and I follow.
“I know my dad,” Charity says. “Mr. Cooper nor the developer won’t get away with this.”
“We both know Nathan will not remain in Candy Cane indefinitely.” As much as I want him to stay, my problem will not be a quick fix. “Neither is Mason.”
Charity flushes, following Mason with her eyes as he walks around my property.
“You can’t hide your feelings from your dad forever, Charity. He’s not blind, and I’m not sure Mason will wait that long.”
“I haven’t found the right words,” she says. “How do I tell my dad I’m in love with his best friend?”
I sigh. But don’t meet her gaze. “I don’t know.”
“How do you tell your best friend you care about her dad?”
I freeze. “How…you know?”
“You just confirmed it.”
“I hate you found out I have feelings for your dad this way. I should have told you, but I didn’t know how. I never intended to follow through with — I was perfectly fine ignoring my feelings.”
“Until you weren’t,” Charity finishes.
“You’re my best friend,” I say. “I won’t do anything that causes you pain.”
“I know.”
“Say the word and I’ll end whatever this is between me and Nathan.”
“I can’t remember all of us being happy at the same time. Dad took a nosedive into his work since mom. Mason can’t trust himself to be happy since his divorce. You believe nothing good will last and me —”
“You haven’t met a guy that wants you for you.”
“Mason doesn’t handle me as if I’m porcelain,” Charity says.
Silence drifts between us. We don’t need words, never have. All this time I worried about how to make it right between us, trying to fix a problem before I broke it.
“There’s nothing out of the ordinary around the property.” Nathan joins us.
“Maybe you should stay with us,” Charity says.
I swallow and shake my head. Staying under the same roof with Nathan will be impossible. Just imagining it has my palms clammy. “I’m not going to be pushed out of my house,” I blurt.
“Then I’ll stay with you.”
