Page 16 of Always, For Love
Ariel bit her lip, struggling to maintain her composure as she met her daughter's pleading gaze. She couldn't tell Katie the real reason for her hesitance, that she knew about Ethan and feared the possible consequences of their meeting. Instead, she focused on finding the balance between protecting her child and nurturing her dreams.
"Sweetheart, it's not that I'm against the idea," Ariel explained gently, her heart aching at the sight of Katie's disappointment. "It's just…a big step, and I want to make sure we're both fully prepared for what it could mean. After all, you're my only child, and it’s so far away."
"I get that," Katie admitted, her voice softening. "But I need you to trust me, too. Trust that I know what I'm doing and that I'm ready for this. I don't want to miss out on something incredible just because we were too scared to take a leap. You took one with Leeside, and with Miles."
The earnestness in Katie's eyes stirred a bittersweet mixture of pride and concern within Ariel. She knew her daughter was right that sometimes taking a risk led to the most rewarding experiences. But as a mother, letting go—even just a little—was one of the hardest things she'd ever have to do.
"Okay," Ariel murmured, reaching for Katie's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I promise to think about it, truly consider everything you've said. Just…give me a little more time, all right?"
Katie replied, her annoyance evident despite her efforts to hide it, "But it's not like I'm asking to leave tomorrow. I just want to know if I can go after the wedding is over."
"Listen," Ariel said softly. "I promise that after the wedding, we'll sit down and discuss this in depth. We'll weigh all the pros and cons and make a decision together. But for now, I need you to be patient and focus on helping me prepare for the big day."
Katie sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "Fine," she muttered, fiddling with the frayed edges of her blanket. "I'll wait." Then, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Ariel's waist, burying her face in her mother's shoulder.
"Thank you," Ariel replied as she returned the embrace, feeling the weight of their shared emotions heavy in the air around them. She could sense the frustration simmering beneath Katie's surface, but she hoped that in time, her daughter would understand the reasons behind her hesitation.
"Hey," Ariel said, pulling back slightly and brushing a stray lock of hair behind Katie's ear. "No matter what happens, we'll always have each other. Remember that."
"Always," Katie agreed, offering her mother a watery smile that seemed to light up the entire room.
As they sat there, locked in each other's arms, Ariel knew, deep in her soul, that she would move heaven and earth to nurture and protect the extraordinary young woman who had filled her life with such warmth and color. With a final squeeze, Ariel reluctantly released her daughter from their embrace and stood up.
"I should get back to preparing dinner service," she said, her eyes lingering on Katie's face, searching for any lingering doubt or hurt.
"Okay," Katie replied, her voice steady but tinged with disappointment. "Thanks for talking, Mom."
"Anytime, sweetheart." Ariel offered a small, reassuring smile before turning to leave Katie's room. As she pulled the door shut behind her, she leaned against it for a moment, allowing herself to exhale the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Ariel wandered down the hallway, her footsteps nearly silent as the thick carpet absorbed the sound. The windows along the corridor framed a winter landscape painted in muted grays and blues, the sea beyond roiling with the intensity of an impending storm. She paused, watching as the waves crashed against the cliffs below, her thoughts churning like the tumultuous waters outside.
How could she possibly make this decision? On one hand, she wanted Katie to have every opportunity to pursue her passion for art; on the other, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more at stake than simply attending a prestigious summer program. The connection between the art program and Ethan remained a worrisome undercurrent in Ariel's thoughts, and she knew that she had to tread carefully lest she inadvertently reveal her knowledge of their correspondence.
Ariel continued down the hall, her mind swirling with thoughts of Katie's future – both the opportunities that attending the art program could provide and the risks that it might entail. She knew she couldn't make this decision lightly, but she also knew that she had to be honest with herself about what was truly driving her hesitation.
In the complexities of parent-child relationships, she still had more work to do—and Ariel realized, as she came into the kitchen, that her confession to Charlie about inviting their father to the wedding might be a bigger hurdle than she’d imagined. When she’d found her father, she had driven onto his secluded property and met him in person. She had no contact number for him, and she wondered if he even had a phone.
If she wanted him at her wedding, she would need to make the drive to his place again.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The next day, Ariel parked her car at the edge of the snow-dusted gravel path, her hands gripping the wheel with a mixture of nerves and anticipation. Her heart raced as she looked out onto the vast expanse of trees that surrounded her father's off-grid property. A cold gust of wind brushed against her cheeks as she stepped out of the car, tugging her coat tighter around herself to ward off the chill.
The winter sun cast long shadows across the frozen pond nearby. The once vibrant landscape had been transformed into a monochromatic world, shades of white and gray blending together to paint an eerie backdrop for the Airstream trailer that stood lonely amidst the barren woods. The isolation of the location was palpable, each crunch of snow beneath Ariel's boots echoing through the silence, heightening the tension that already thrummed within her. The last time she had been here, the place had been bursting with fall color—and it had been much more inviting.
As she approached the Airstream, its metallic surface reflecting the pale sunlight, she couldn't help but feel dwarfed by the ancient trees towering over her. Their gnarled branches reached out like skeletal fingers, adding an air of ruggedness to the scene. It was a far cry from the bustling streets and warm climate of Miami, and even further from the charming familiarity of Endless Harbor.
Ariel paused, her breath fogging up in the crisp air as she took in the stark beauty of the place. It seemed almost unreal, like a painting or a scene from a movie. But this was where her father had chosen to hide away, and it pained her to think of him living in such seclusion. Self-imposed seclusion.
"Please let this work," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible above the gentle rustling of leaves. She knew there were no guarantees when it came to dealing with her father, Lee Briggs, a man who had always been an enigma to his own family. But she held onto the hope that he would see the importance of her request, that he would understand how much it meant to her for him to be a part of her life once more.
As Ariel took the final steps toward the Airstream, her heart pounding with each footfall, she couldn't help but wonder if she was making a mistake. Would her father even want to see her again? Was she truly ready to confront the unresolved issues that lay between them? The isolation and ruggedness of his chosen home only seemed to emphasize the distance that had grown over the years, leaving her feeling more uncertain than ever.
But there was no turning back now. She was here, on the doorstep of her estranged father's hideaway, and she knew that she owed it to herself – and to her family – to try and bridge the gap that had torn them apart. With a deep breath, she steeled herself for what lay ahead, praying that she would find the strength to face whatever response awaited her on the other side of that door.
Ariel raised her hand, hesitating for a moment before she finally knocked on the door of the Airstream. The sound echoed through the quiet woods, making her feel small and vulnerable. She waited anxiously, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her coat as the cold air nipped at her cheeks.
The door opened slowly, revealing her dad standing in the entryway. His face was a mix of surprise and indifference upon seeing Ariel, his expression unreadable as he took in her presence. Wordlessly, he stepped back to allow her inside his makeshift home, not offering any form of greeting or warmth as she crossed the threshold. It was warm inside, however, so one of her fears—that he was out here without any comforts—was allayed.