“Have you met the new owners yet?”

“Early last week. From what I can tell, they seem really nice.”

“Are they going to keep you on?”

“I don’t know. I think so. I’m sure they’ll make some changes, corporatize everything, but that’s probably a good thing. There are a lot of things at the inn that could use improving.”

“As long as improving doesn’t mean firing you.”

I took a bite of soup. “I don’t think it’ll come to that. I know the inn. And I’ve had enough experience at bigger hotels that any changes they implement shouldn’t be totally foreign territory.”

“Well, that’s good. I wasn’t too keen on the idea of you moving away now that I’m finally used to you being here.”

I put down my spoon. “It took you this long, huh?”

She chuckled, her grin wide. “You’re a handful, Lane. There’s no denying that.”

I crumbled my cornbread into my soup and scooped up another bite. “I’m pretty sure that’s what Grandpa used to say about you.”

Her chuckle turned into full-bellied laughter. “That he did.”

I was nearly done with my soup when she asked me if I’d talked to Simon. She’d had a few moments of gloating when I’d given her the rundown on what had happened. Claimed she’d known it all along. It was fine to let her have her fun, but I didn’t like talking to her about him. Because she failed to see how he’d done anything wrong. And I wasn’t ready to let him off the hook. “You still haven’t talked to him?” she said as she rinsed out her bowl.

“It’s only been three days since you last asked me that.”

“Really? Only three?”

“I’m not giving in, Granny. What would it accomplish? Even if we both wanted it, we can’t be together. It’s not worth the heartache of calling him up just to talk about something we can’t have.”

And so began my fast from the Hamilton brothers. An icy November thawed into an unseasonably warm December. I spent almost all my time at work, coordinating with the new ownership, growing more and more confident in my role at the inn. I worked through Christmas. New Years. Oversaw and executed lavish parties and elaborate meals, observing from the sidelines as people lived their happy lives. I found a sort of detached peace through it all. I was alone, yes, but there was simplicity in solitude. I worked, I exercised, I ate with Granny Grace. And in my lowest moments, I agonized over how I was going to tell Abuela my engagement was off. She was expecting an announcement in the mail. Had asked about it multiple times, mostly through my mother. I was sick over the thought of disappointing her.