Falling For The Last First Time

t across the small rental. She lay in bed for a moment, watching the droplets race down the glass. It was strange, ho

an she had anticipated, but each day brought her closer

thes, she brewed a fresh pot of coffee and checked her schedule for the day. The ceremony space was the priority. She had plans to meet wit

rew her attention. It w

could always run off with Ethan

e herself. Jenna's relentless teasing wa

pulled into the parking lot, the scene was quiet-most of the workers were inside the main building,

ng wood, hanging light fixtures, and installing shelving. The scent

sence was magnetic, even in the chaos of the room. Claire hesitated befor

eye. He excused himself from the conversation and walked

his voice cutting

tching her portfolio a little

id with a small smile. "But I heard the landsca

ration bubbling to the surface. "We're already t

er, his arms crossed. "You'll

e past the cracks in her armor. Claire looked away, p

r a pause. "Failure's not

oftly, the words laced with somet

nsity in his gaze stopped her. The noise around them seem

, unsure of what she

ire,

out, breaking the spell. Ethan s

e said, stepping away. "Let me

in her chest. The unspoken words hung in t

ad set up in one of the back rooms. She spread her portfolio across the desk,

to step outside and survey the grounds. The ceremony space was still little more than an open field, but she could see the potential. The rows of vine

turn. Ethan was walking toward her, his ha

re," he said, his tone light

. "Just trying to visualize how this will look in a f

ng the field. "It's going to be incredible. Yo

n't sure how to respond. "It's my job," she said

ing onto hers. "You've always had a gift for bri

eight of their shared history pressed down on her, threatenin

, we c

this harder for you. But I can't pretend this isn't still there, Cla

t what they had was over, that she had moved on. But standing here, with Ethan looking at

she said, her voice b

eplied, a wry smile t

warring within her. "I came back to Willow Cree

e... maybe the past doesn't have to stay buried. M

t happen if she let anyone in again. But Ethan wasn't just anyone. He was the boy who had once held her dr

do this," she admitted,

g. "I'm not asking for anything more than honesty, Cla

, to believe that they could find a way forward. But the scars of their p

said finally, her

softening. "Take all the ti

ay, leaving Claire alone in the field. She stared after him

self was mourning the weight of the moment. Claire stayed rooted

e in years, she felt the faintest glimmer of hope. Maybe, j