Chapter 5: Too Close
1068 Words
The walk back from the café was quieter than I expected.
Maggie didn't ask what Grace and I had talked about. She simply walked beside me with her hands tucked into the pockets of her sweater.
I was grateful for the silence.
Grace's words wouldn't leave my head.
He never got over you.
It didn't make sense.
A man who never got over me wouldn't have ended our engagement without an explanation.
A man who loved me wouldn't have disappeared from my life.
I pushed the thoughts away as the house came into view.
The sound of hammers echoed from the backyard.
Work had already started.
I unlocked the front door and stepped inside. The smell of fresh wood and paint greeted me.
Someone knocked gently on the open door.
"Ivy?"
I turned.
Ethan stood on the porch with a rolled-up set of blueprints in one hand.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"I thought we could go over today's work before we began."
"I'll be watching everything."
"I expected you would."
I folded my arms.
"Good."
He smiled faintly.
"I've learned that arguing with you before breakfast isn't a good idea."
"I wouldn't joke if I were you."
"I'm not joking."
For a second, I almost smiled.
Almost.
He stepped inside and spread the blueprints across the dining table.
"I'd like to start with the kitchen."
I looked down at the drawings.
"The island is bigger."
"Your grandmother asked for that."
"And these cabinets?"
"They'll match the originals."
I traced a finger over the sketch.
"The window stays?"
"Yes."
"I don't want it changed."
"I never planned to."
I looked up.
"You remembered."
"You always loved the morning light in this room."
The words slipped out so naturally that neither of us spoke for a moment.
He remembered something I had forgotten I never said.
I cleared my throat.
"What about the dining room?"
"We'll repair the floorboards instead of replacing them."
"Why?"
"They're part of the house."
I nodded slowly.
"I agree."
It was the first time we had agreed on anything since I came back.
He noticed too.
"I'll take that as progress."
"Don't get used to it."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"I won't."
Outside, the workers carried in stacks of wood.
Ethan rolled the plans back up.
"We'll begin with removing the damaged cabinets."
"I want to see everything before it's thrown away."
"Of course."
He always answered calmly.
Years ago, that calmness had made me feel safe.
Now it only confused me.
We walked into the kitchen together.
The old cabinets had already been emptied.
One worker reached for a crowbar.
"Hold on," I said.
He stopped immediately.
I opened every cupboard one last time.
Most of them were empty.
Then I noticed a small tin box tucked behind a shelf.
I picked it up.
Inside were old recipe cards written by Grandma.
I smiled.
"I almost lost these."
"They're important."
I looked at Ethan.
"You remembered she wrote everything by hand."
"I remember a lot."
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
I slipped the recipe cards into my bag.
"Okay."
The worker carefully removed the first cabinet.
The wood groaned as it came loose.
I watched every movement.
Maybe too closely.
"Relax," Ethan said gently.
"They know what they're doing."
"I'm not worried about them."
"What are you worried about?"
I looked around the room.
"This house."
He nodded.
"So am I."
For the first time, I believed him.
Hours passed.
I followed the crew from room to room, checking every detail.
One of the workers smiled.
"The boss said, You'd keep us on our toes."
"I hope that's not a complaint."
"No."
He laughed.
"It just means we have to do our best."
Ethan overheard the conversation.
"I wasn't wrong."
"You make me sound difficult."
"You've always noticed things other people miss."
"I don't know if that's a compliment."
"It is."
The afternoon sun poured through the kitchen window.
Dust floated in the light as another cabinet was carried outside.
I bent down to look at a crack in the old floor.
"It wasn't here before."
Ethan walked over.
"It happened after the water leak."
He crouched beside me.
"If we repair this section now, the rest of the floor will stay strong."
I leaned closer to inspect it.
"So we don't replace everything?"
"No."
"Only what's damaged."
"Exactly."
I nodded.
"That makes sense."
When I stood, my foot caught on a loose piece of wood.
I lost my balance.
Before I could fall, a strong hand caught my wrist.
The world seemed to stop.
Ethan steadied me with one hand while the other rested lightly against my waist.
"Easy."
His voice was barely beyond a whisper.
"I'm fine."
"I know."
Neither of us moved.
I could feel the warmth of his hand through the thin fabric of my shirt.
His eyes searched for mine.
For one impossible second, it felt like the last ten years had disappeared.
Like we were still a couple planning a future together.
A loud cough broke the moment.
We stepped apart so quickly it was almost embarrassing.
One of the workers scratched the back of his neck.
"Sorry, boss."
"It's fine," Ethan replied without looking away from me.
My cheeks burned.
"I should... check upstairs."
I turned before anyone could see my face.
My heart refused to slow down.
Upstairs, I stood by the bedroom window, staring into the garden.
Get yourself together, Ivy.
He was just helping me.
That was all.
So why did my hands still tremble?
A soft knock came at the open door.
I turned.
Ethan stood in the hallway.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine."
"You don't have to pretend with me."
"I wasn't pretending."
He studied me for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
"All right."
He started to leave.
"Ethan."
He stopped.
"Thank you."
He looked back.
"For catching me."
A gentle smile crossed his face.
"I'll always catch you if I can."
The words hit me harder than they should have.
Before I could answer, he walked away.
I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart aching with emotions I wasn't ready to face.
Downstairs, my phone rang.
The screen lit up with an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?"
A calm male voice spoke.
"Ms. Lawson? This is Daniel Carter. I'd like to talk to you about a business opportunity."
I frowned.
"I'm listening.”
- Writer
