A Winter's Promise (A Winter's Tale Series Book 2) by Kristi Tailor

Author:Kristi Tailor [Tailor, Kristi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 7th Meadow Publications
Published: 2016-01-21T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Hand in hand Charlotte and Adeline inched their way down the sand hill that separated the narrow road from the beach, quickening their pace as they reached the bottom. Inhaling deeply, Adeline let out a long breath, lifting her arms to the sky as she stretched. “That had to be the most agonizing lunch party I’ve ever had the experience of sitting through, like I am literally exhausted from it,” she giggled, pulling Charlotte further onto the beach wanting to be close to the water. The waves were strong, hitting the coastline in rapids. Making small glances at her sister, Adeline licked her lips in deep contemplation. “Charli,” she said after a while, disrupting the silence between them. “Can I ask you something, and please don’t take it the wrong way?”

Stopping abruptly, Charlotte turned to face her younger sister. “Okay?” she agreed, a frown forming above her brows.

“What’s the deal with you and Nick?”

“I don’t think that I understand your question . . . the deal─”

“Are you two arguing, or something? Back in Maryland it seemed like there was a problem . . . I caught Nick sleeping on the floor, and when I asked him why, he totally avoided my question . . . and today he’s been really distant, almost like he’s being careful not to touch you, like he doesn’t want to get too close.”

Silence.

“Sorry,” Adeline groaned. “It’s none of my business. Forget that I even said anything.”

Charlotte regarded her sister carefully. It was apparent that Adeline was genuinely concerned. “Adie,” she said, her voice strained. “Nicholas and I aren’t really engaged. I lied.”

Adeline gasped. “What? You’re not engaged? But─”

“He’s my best friend. When mom called and left that message about dad being sick and needing me to come home, Nicholas insisted on making the trip with me. And on the way there he gave me this ring on a whim because I liked it,” Charlotte explained, holding up her left hand where the ring fit perfectly on her finger. “Nothing more. It was a promotional gift that was given to him by the man who took over his Magazine.”

Adeline blinked rapidly, shocked. “So, the whole story about how he proposed to you on Christmas morning, and everything you’ve told us since you came home has been a lie?” she asked. There was no judgment in her tone, nor was there any anger in her eyes at the realization that she was being lied to.

“Yes,” Charlotte answered. “It was all a lie.”

“But why?”

“Mom assumed that we were engaged when she saw Nicholas, and then the ring on my finger . . . at the time it seemed like a better option than coming home unattached after everything that happened with Marguerite and Todd. I just didn’t want it to look like I hadn’t moved on from what happened, and Nicholas being the sweetheart that he is went along with it. He didn’t know anything about Marguerite and Todd until that trip to Baltimore. I’m assuming mom had to have said something to him about it because─”

“It was me,” Adeline admitted.

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