Page 82 of The Matchmaker's Cottage

“I didn’t know you were out here, Julia,” Maggie said, her face practically luminescent with her joy. It had been like this for almost a week now, since Katy had returned to the area for an extended visit. It was an interesting endeavor, keeping her away from the influx of guests who had arrived at the B and B over the last few weeks, but staying at Maggie’s parents’ place certainly helped, as well as infrequent visits to the house proper and trips to the less popular spots, particularly for this time of year, like their precipitous arrival at the lake. At least some privacy and crowd avoidance had likely been the idea, without the expectation of having their day date ruined by Julia’s presence.

Still, if Julia was unwelcome, she didn’t feel it. Both women beamed at her, appearing happy to see her there.

“Bit cold for a swim, no?” Katy asked, sidling up beside Julia, who still sat all bundled up in her spot.

“Bit cold for anything,” Julia responded, wrapping her arms tighter around herself. “I can’t believe this is supposed to be mid-October weather and not…Well,” she conceded, “I guess this is actually on track for early mid-October. It just always feels like it happens earlier and earlier each year. Soon I’ll have to start planning for Christmas.”

“It’s not even Halloween,” Katy said incredulously.

“I know,” Julia groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’m already behind.”

“Wild,” Maggie mused. “What happened to waiting for Thanksgiving?”

“Dollar Tree, radio stations, and the Hallmark Channel all defy your logic,” Julia said. Then, with another groan, she stood up, adjusting the scarf around her neck and giving the chair another long, contemplative look before deciding it could probably withstand a little snow.

“How are things back at the house?” she asked, gingerly stretching out her ankle.

“Fine,” Maggie replied, shrugging. “I have dinner all prepped and ready. No paps to speak of, but lots of questions about the ‘Katy and Noah Tour.’ ”

“The— What?” Julia said incredulously. “What’s this now?”

The two women giggled. “Oh, you haven’t heard? All our new guests this week are part of the same fan club—people who think Katy and Noah are soulmates and meant to be together forever.”

Julia just shook her head, thoughts drifting to her previous worry that the bed-and-breakfast would become a tourist pit or a joke. But it didn’t feel that way anymore; she had a softness in her heart for anyone who wanted to come, for any reason.

Let them, she thought, marveling at this newfound warmth.

Maggie turned to look at Katy. “WhereisNoah this week?”

Katy shrugged affably. “Iceland, maybe?”

“Are you upset with the way things played out?” Julia asked, trying to be mindful of any sensitive subjects.

Katy snorted. “No. Not at all.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I always knew Noah wasn’t one to settle down and loved him anyway. As a friend!” she clarified quickly, perhaps atJulia’s surprised double blink. “We’ve always been really close, ever since the first film, and he’s like a brother to me. No romantic feelings whatsoever.” Waving her hands as if to banish the thought. “Ever! Just a very, very good friend. So when Ethan suggested we do this thing to help us all out, we were completely on board.

“It was actually perfect,” she mused. “Because there was no risk of us falling in love or things becoming complicated, and it was really just win-win-win.” She shrugged. “At least I hope Ethan won in the end. I haven’t really spoken to him, to be honest. It just seems like things went well, based on the positive press and all that.”

Maggie turned to Julia. “Do you know anything about how things went for Ethan, Julia?”

No. Of course she didn’t. She hadn’t spoken to Ethan in weeks, not since he’d left that day—the day they had all left, the day Hank had arrived. Not that she had expected to hear from him. His departure had been final, his goodbye clear. They had both decided, in a way, that it wouldn’t work out.

And that was fine. Everything was fine.

She shook her head. “No, actually, I don’t.”

Katy nodded thoughtfully, but Maggie’s look was a bit more abstract.

She had never asked Julia what had happened that day in the shed, never pried. Just said she’d be open to talk if Julia ever needed to, which Julia expressed appreciation for but never took her up on. It was too…much. Too painful, too raw. Too personal. She felt like she had spent more than thirty years thinking about Ethan. She was done for now. Maybe one day she could talk about it more, when it hurt less. But for now, dwelling on it was the last thing she needed.

Luckily, Maggie understood. And as luck and life would have it, she was wrapped up in her own happiness and didn’t need Julia bringing her down, at least in Julia’s mind.

“Anyway, I’m going to head back,” she told the other two women, who had moved closer together. “Enjoy the refreshing breeze.”

“We will.” Maggie giggled, and Katy wove her arm through hers, resting her head on her shoulder.

Julia felt warmth bloom inside her at their obvious adoration and joy, and she smiled in a way that she hoped reflected that rather than the sadness that creeped in now and then. Everything felt especially close to the surface.

She hadn’t come to the dock to escape. Or to freeze. She had wanted to reflect, which was something she’d always done best near the water. There was something about a lake, a body of water, that grounded her. Made her feel like she was home—the only home where she’d truly felt she belonged.