Chapter Five: Buried Truths and Brewing Storms

I couldn’t sleep.

Not because of the wind or the occasional hoot of an owl outside my window. It was something else, something heavier.

I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the dim glow of the lamp across the room, my hands wrapped around a cold mug of chamomile tea that I’d long stopped drinking.

Blackwell Enterprises.

In Maine.

Here.

I kept hearing it, over and over again. Like it was echoing through every nerve in my body.

I knew this peace was too good to last.

For four years, I built a life here. A quiet, lovely life. One where I wasn’t Lucas Blackwell’s wife. Just Claire. Just me.

And now he was coming to my town.

Or worse—he was already here.

I looked toward Aiden’s room. The door was cracked open just enough to see the edge of his Cars-themed nightlight.

He was still sleeping peacefully.

Blissfully unaware of the storm that might be heading our way.

I didn’t know what Lucas knew, if anything. I didn’t know if his expansion to this town was just business or something more. But what I did know was that I couldn’t let him find Aiden.

Not after everything.

I pressed a hand against my chest and took a deep breath. No. I wasn’t going to spiral. Not again.

Downstairs, the living room was still a mess from our sleepover, popcorn kernels on the rug, pillows strewn across the couch, and Maya’s fuzzy slippers in the middle of the floor. She always kicked them off when she got too comfortable.

“Claire?” Maya’s voice startled me. I turned to see her standing at the foot of the stairs, sleepy-eyed, wrapped in her checkered throw blanket. “Why are you up?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

She walked over and dropped beside me on the couch. “You didn’t sleep, did you?”

I shook my head, then blurted, “Lucas is opening a branch here.”

Maya blinked. “Here? In this town?”

I nodded.

She cursed under her breath, then sat up straighter. “Do you think he knows?”

“I don’t know what to think. But why here, Maya? Of all places in Maine…”

She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “Well… whatever it is, we’ll handle it. Like we always do.”

I wanted to believe her. I really did.

But deep down, I knew things were about to change.

—

The next morning was unusually bright, almost as if the sun had no idea my world was threatening to crumble again. I opened the shop early, hoping to distract myself with work.

I was watering the daisies near the window when the bell above the door chimed.

My heart stuttered—then slowed when I saw him.

Alexander.

And Amelia.

She had her hair in two tiny puffs today and clutched a bunny plush so tightly I thought the stuffing might pop out.

“Good morning,” he said, voice as deep and steady as yesterday.

I nodded, trying to seem casual. “You’re early.”

“I was nearby. Thought I’d finalize the delivery details.”

He walked toward the counter, Amelia trailing behind him like a shadow.

I tried not to stare at him too much, but honestly, was it even fair to look like that this early in the day?

“How’s Amelia doing?” I asked, offering the little girl a smile.

“She’s… better, I think.” His voice softened slightly. “She hasn’t stopped talking about you since yesterday.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Really?”

He gave a small nod. “I’m not sure what you did, but she connected with you. That doesn’t happen often.”

There was something in his eyes when he said that. A mixture of gratitude… and pain.

I crouched down and looked at Amelia. “Hey there, sunshine. Want to help me feed the roses again?”

She nodded, walking over slowly. I noticed Alexander tensing as she left his side, but he didn’t stop her.

As I guided her to the row of white roses and gave her the little watering can, I caught Alexander watching. Closely. Like he was studying me, or maybe studying her, or both.

“You’re good with kids,” he said when I returned to the counter.

“Thank you.” I glanced at Amelia. “I’ve had practice.”

His eyes met mine, like he knew there was more I wasn’t saying. I quickly turned my attention to the order sheet and grabbed a pen.

“So, about your bouquet. You mentioned white tulips, blush ranunculus, and some trailing greenery for softness…”

He nodded.

“And the delivery’s next Friday? It must be a special occasion?”

His gaze flickered for a second. “Something like that.”

Before I could ask more, we both heard Amelia giggle. My head turned just in time to see her crouched near a shelf, petting one of the silk flower arrangements like it was a real puppy.

She looked… happy.

And so free.

I smiled.

Then Alexander said something that made me freeze.

“She doesn’t laugh like that. Not anymore.”

I turned to him slowly.

He looked like he regretted saying it.

“What happened?” I asked before I could stop myself.

His jaw tightened. “It’s… not something I talk about.”

“Sorry,” I said quickly. “That was too forward.”

He was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. “No. I get it.”

Before I could figure out what to say next, Amelia rushed over to him with the silk arrangement in her arms.

“Daddy, look!”

His eyes softened, and for a moment, I saw it, pure love etched into every line of his face.

“She talks to you,” he said again, quietly.

I shrugged. “Maybe she just needed someone new.”

Or maybe… she just needed someone who understood what silence meant.

—

Later that evening, after I’d put Aiden to bed and finished my paperwork at the dining table, I walked out to the porch with a mug of warm milk.

The stars were bright tonight.

I took a deep breath and leaned against the railing.

I thought about Alexander. About Amelia. About the way they both looked a little broken, like puzzle pieces trying to find their edges again.

And I thought about Lucas.

Would he come here himself?

Would he recognize Aiden if he saw him?

Would he even care?

I stared into the night, the questions circling my brain like moths around a flame.

Then my phone buzzed.

A message from Maya.

"Have you seen this??"

I opened the link she sent. It was a photo.

Lucas.

In a crisp navy suit, stepping off a private jet.

And the headline underneath?

"Lucas Blackwell Touches Down in Coastal Maine Ahead of Blackwell Enterprises' Expansion Launch."

I froze.

He was here.

Not just the company. Him.

My hand trembled slightly as I set the phone down on the table beside me.

The air around me suddenly felt too cold.

I looked through the glass window, where Aiden was curled up peacefully on the couch with his favorite blanket, unaware of the ghost from my past that was suddenly back in our orbit.

This can’t be happening.

Not now.

Not when I’d finally started to breathe again.

Not when I had everything to lose.