AUDREY

Bittersweet anticipation surrounds us as we prepare to leave the B&B and head home. Back to our everyday existence. Zipping my bag closed, I hear Maggie billowing up the stairwell.

"I hope you two aren't leaving without saying goodbye first," she says in her familiar singsong tone.

"Wouldn't dream of it," I call back, trying to hold back my laughter.

"Coffee's almost ready when you are," Maggie says. "You'll need it for the drive."

Maggie has quickly become a cherished friend to both Aislinn and me during our short time here. Her charm, wisdom, and kindness never cease to amaze me. I wish I could be more like her.

A few minutes later, Aislinn and I gather our bags at the top of the staircase, taking one last look around. I already miss this place and all its vintage charm, and we haven't even left yet. Isn't it strange how a place can have such a profound impact? It might also have something to do with the people.

Descending the staircase for the last time, we place our bags beside the kitchen doorway before filing into the kitchen. Maggie's in her usual spot between the island and the stove. Seated before her is an unexpected sight. Jake flashes me a wide grin that makes my stomach flutter. Heat rises from my neck, spreading across my cheeks. It seems like Maggie's put together a little snack with coffee today. And while I'm surprised, seeing him is not unwelcome.

Jake stands from his spot and pulls two adjacent chairs out for Aislinn and I. Settling at the counter, from the corner of my eye I notice Jake reposition his chair so he's facing me. I could get used to this attention.

Maggie catches my gaze and smirks, setting down the mugs before us.

"I hope you ladies enjoyed your stay," Maggie says.

"It's been good," I reply. "Well, apart from..." I nod towards Aislinn, referring to last nights debacle.

"Do you think you'll come back again?" she asks, one brow raised.

"I'd love to, but I'm not sure how Ais would feel about that," I reply. Glancing over at her, she's focussed on her phone.

"Do you have Insta?" Aislinn asks.

"The best I can do is Facebook," Maggie replies with a chuckle.

Aislinn taps her phone a few times, then announces, "Done."

Clearing his throat, Jake props his arm on the back of my seat. "There's a festival coming up in a few months." He watches me, waiting for a response. "I mean, if that's your sort of thing." A hint of pink tinges his cheeks, and he runs a hand down his face.

Resting my hand on his forearm, I reassure him. "That sounds like fun. Will you send me the details?"

"Of course, but I'll need your number," he says, passing me his phone. It's open to 'Contacts'. I dial in my number without a second thought, then hand it back to him. Our fingers touch for a moment, feeling a reignition of the spark from when we met. Is he just being nice, or is he looking for a reason to see me again? I'm not sure, and I'm probably just overthinking it, anyway.

Half an hour later, Aislinn and I head towards the front door, ready for our journey home.

"You did well in there," Ais whispers. "Jake is so into you, Mum."

"Let's not jump to conclusions, Ais. He's just being friendly," I reply, trying to hide the smile forming on my lips.

She scoffs. "Mum, he literally handed you his phone and asked for your number. That's not being friendly. He likes you, for sure."

I can't argue with her there. Maybe there is something more between Jake and I, but I can't get my hopes up.

"Hmm, we'll see," I say, shrugging my shoulders.

On the porch, we say our last farewell to Maggie and Jake, who's trailed behind from the kitchen. Maggie's arms are wide and embraces us in a group hug. As I step away, I glance over at Jake.

"Don't forget to send me that info," I say, trying to sound casual. He nods, standing firm with his arms crossed. I wait for a moment, but for what? I'm not sure. But whatever it was, it didn't happen.

Aislinn's already at the end of the path, near the car. I quickly follow behind, escaping the awkwardness between Jake and me.

Five minutes later, we pull away from the curb. And just like that, our weekend of mother-daughter bonding ends. The road trip home is quiet. Aislinn rests her forehead against the windowpane, much like she did as a young girl.

In the early afternoon we arrive back home, exhaustion evident in every step. After unpacking our bags and throwing on a load of laundry, I take a moment to unwind.

Making my way through the house, I spot my phone on the kitchen counter where I'd left it amidst clothes. Wondering whether Jake had messaged yet, I pick it up and flip through the various notifications. But there's nothing from him. Not yet anyway. It's disappointing but I'm sure he'll text, eventually.

With a cup of tea in hand, I head back to the lounge room. Aislinn's already showered and dressed in her silky pink pyjamas, sprawled over the three-seater couch. One leg dangles over the edge as she channel surfs.

"Can't find anything to watch, huh?" I say, taking a sip.

She crumples her nose, "Nope." I take a seat in the armchair beside the couch. Aislinn continues flicking through channels, never taking her eyes off the screen. "Mum, can I ask you something?"

"Of course. What's up, sweetheart?"

Sitting upright, she crosses her legs, facing me. A crease forms between her eyebrows, and I suspect something serious is on her mind.

"It's just..." she sighs. "I feel sick thinking about seeing them at school tomorrow. I really don't want to go."

"Oh, Ais. I know you're hurt and angry right now. And I completely understand not wanting to see either Maddie or Lochie. But hiding away from them isn't going to make it better."

Her brows furrow closely. "I'm not trying to hide," she says gruffly. Then her face relaxes. "I just don't want to see them 'together'." She says the last word while making quotation marks with her fingers. "And if I see them kissing at school," she sucks in a deep breath and flashes a nonchalant glare. "Well, whatever happens next, it's not my fault." She crosses her arms.

Considering the multitude of emotions she's just expressed, it's obvious she's conflicted about the entire ordeal.

"How about this?" I negotiate. "What if I drive you to school in the morning and we can meet with the school counsellor together? I won't leave until you give me the say so. What do you think?"

Aislinn's brows raise high on her forehead, sceptical of my suggestion. Yet she appears to be considering it.

"Fine," she blurts.

"It'll all work out in the end. I promise you that," I say, trying to provide some reassurance. She nods unenthusiastically.

I want to speak to her about the weekend. Especially her night in the woods. I can only imagine what she went through. But I really don't want to push her too far tonight. Especially since she finally trusts me enough to tell me how she's feeling about the party issue and school. Tonight, I'll let sleeping dogs lie, and wait for a more opportune time. Or better yet, for Ais to raise it with me.

We spend the rest of the evening watching a romantic comedy on Netflix, and ordering in dinner before we both finally retire to bed.

In bed, the plush doona wraps around me like a cocoon. The fleecy material is soothing against the bare patches of skin where my pyjamas bundle up. I'm almost asleep when my mind turns on, like a tap suddenly flooding a sink with gushing water. This constant overthinking is exhausting. Endless nights of insomnia, at best getting a few hours each night. Its as if my mind is fraying at the edges, plucking each loose strand until there's nothing but a jumbled mess of threads. After sleeping well in Lakeview Hollow, I'd hoped this had stopped.

My therapist had worked on self-talk and distractions to manage times like these, and I inhale deeply before counting to ten. With each deliberate, controlled exhale, my body calms a little. Continuing the well-versed practice, my breathing eventually returns to normal with a clearer mind. Seeking a positive thought to hold on to as I lull myself to sleep, my subconscious brings Jake's face into view.

Out of all the experiences Aislinn and I had this weekend, this is where my brain goes? Allowing myself a moment, I play amongst the daydream, wondering what it could be like to date a man like him. A nice guy. One who holds the car door open, or kisses me when we part, or maybe one whose genuine happiness reflects in their eyes whenever they stare into mine.

Despite my past marriage, I've rarely had any of that. Perhaps I'm merely a hopeless romantic underneath it all; it would explain my obsession with rom-coms. Whatever it is, though, I'm happy to indulge myself in the thought of it for now.

In the morning, I wake feeling well rested, and ready to start the day. An unusual sense of calm fills me as I prance down the stairs to the kitchen, as if I were light as air.

"Good morning, Mum," Aislinn says, handing me a mug of coffee. She dashes around the kitchen, while I slide into a chair. "Butter or syrup?" she says, holding one in each hand.

"Wow, Ais. You didn't have to go to all this trouble," I say. The last time she did this was Mother's Day, two years ago. I'm curious what she's buttering me up for, though.

"I had the best sleep last night. Besides, I wanted to do something nice for you. Now, answer the question – butter or syrup?" she says.

"Both, please," I reply. "Thanks, sweetheart." But the heartwarming gesture makes my eyes wet with emotion.

"Are you crying?" she asks.

"Happy tears," I say, wiping my cheeks.

It's the first meal we shared in this home in a long time, that isn't filled with awkward silence and snarky comments. I've missed this. But I know I shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch. Our relationship is improving, and I'm so excited for that, but things don't happen overnight, and I know we've still got a long way to go. But for now, I'm going to revel in this little glimmer. It must've taken some serious reflection for Aislinn to have even got to this point. Even her attitude has improved. Either way, my baby girl is growing up. Maturing.

After breakfast, I drive Aislinn to school. Once we park, she unbuckles her seatbelt and turns to face me.

"Mum, I know what we agreed to, but I think I'm going to try this on my own today. OK?"

"Are you sure?" I reply with concern.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I checked my class schedule, and I don't have any classes with them today."

"Well, you've got your phone. Call me if you need me, OK?"

She nods. "Thanks Mum. Love you." Ais jumps out of the car and darts off.

"Love you too, sweetheart. Have a great day." I hope she heard me, but she's already at the front door. Strutting with the air of confidence that's ingrained in her. What brought about that change of heart? I don't know, but I'm happy for her.

My phone vibrates in the centre console. It's a text from my best-friend, Olivia.

"Coffee?" it reads.

I reply. "Sure. See you in 10."

She replies with a thumbs up emoji.

Before long, I pull up outside our usual coffee shop, where Olivia is waiting.

"Hey stranger," she says, grinning broadly, pulling me into a hug. "I want to hear all about your trip."

Olivia strides into the coffee shop, high heels clacking against the tiled floor. We place our orders, take a table number, and sit at our usual corner table. She rests her elbows on the table, balling her hands together eagerly.

"So, how was it?" she asks, raising a single brow.

"It was amazing. The scenery was just breathtaking, and the people were so nice. Welcoming, you know? I wish I could just pack up and move there if I'm being honest."

"I know that feeling," she smiles. "You know what they say – home is where the heart is."

For a moment, I ruminate on the comment. Once upon a time, I would have agreed, but I have Aislinn now. And my job at the bookstore. But other than that, nothing is holding me to the city, I suppose. I have no family here; no siblings, and my parents, last I heard, were on the other side of the country. It's been well over a decade since we last spoke.

Growing up, I guess you could say I was close to my extended family – second cousins, aunts, uncles. But that was when my grandparents were still the head of the family. They were the ones that held the family together. Planning all the holidays. Ever since grandad passed away and my grandma developed Alzheimer's, the family drifted apart. Occasionally there's a Facebook chat or a random Christmas card, but other than that, it's just Aislinn and me.

I suppose that's why Olivia means so much to me. To both of us.

Olivia – Liv and I went to the same primary school, and then high school. We first met in preschool, though, bonding over the fact we were both named after our grandmothers. All the other girls in our class had modern names like Tasha, Lisa, or Kimberley. We were special. At least we thought so.

She's the one friend who's been there for me through everything. All the ups and downs of adolescence, and more importantly, she was the only friend that my ex hadn't successfully pushed away as an adult. Although, that's probably more to do with her resilience, not letting him manipulate her, or get under her skin. But then again, she's always been that way. No one tells Olivia what to do, or how to do it.

She tilts her head, curious. "I want to know who's the reason behind that smile," she says, interrogating me.

A laugh escapes me. Liv doesn't know how accurate that is, but some things aren't meant to be shared.

"I don't know what you mean," I reply.

"Yeah right," she pouts. "I call BS on that, Audrey. You forget I can read you like a book." She makes a good point. Squinting, I try to read her, with no luck. "Come on. Spill the tea. I don't have all day," she says with a smirk.

"Fine," I concede. "But the people were nice. I wasn't lying about that," I say trying to prove my earlier point. She just stares at me, tapping her nails on the table impatiently, silently telling me to get on with the story.

"Do you remember I told you about the B&B and the lady that owns it, Maggie?" She nods. "Well, she has this nephew..."

Liv interrupts. "Ah ha! I knew it. Go on," she says, a little too pleased with herself.

"There's not much to it, Liv. Honestly. We flirted a little. We talked. And, he might've bought me a drink at the bonfire night, but that's it."

"Name?" she says, curtly.

"Jake, umm, I don't know his last name."

For the next twenty minutes or so, she interrogates me about every aspect of the weekend, including the limited details about Jake. Even talking about him with my best friend gives me butterflies. It's as if I'm a teenager with a huge crush. How embarrassing.

"In the end, he lives there. We live here. Nothing can happen. That's life," I say, with disappointment.

"He sounds great, from what you've told me. But you make a valid point, Audrey. You don't want your first love-interest after that ogre to be long distance, do you?" Liv says matter-of-factly.

Shaking my head, I agree. She's right.

"Maybe we just need to get you back into the dating scene. Then, what's meant to be will be. If you two are destined, then it'll happen, and if not, perhaps someone else will come along and sweep you off your feet."

I groan. "I'm not sure I'm ready for all of that."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's been well over a year. Time for you to get back out there," she insists.

"What did you have in mind?"

Olivia glances around the cafe. Her eyes light up at a guy in a business suit, who couldn't be over thirty years old.

"What about that guy? He's cute. Go ask him out."

I lower my voice and crouch down so the man can't see me.

"I can't just go ask some random stranger out. I'm not like you. Besides, he's way too young."

"What about school, then?" she suggests.

"What do you mean? I'm not interested in teenagers, Liv," I say sarcastically. She rolls her eyes at me since we both know that wasn't what she meant.

"I mean, does Aislinn have any friends with a hot single dad?" she clarifies.

"Don't you think that would be weird for Ais? Besides, I don't really know that many parents at school."

Olivia sits upright, crossing her arms. "You leave me no choice then, Audrey." She picks up her phone and points to it.

"Noooo," I say, dragging the word out, horrified. "Not online dating." I feel my face contort at the very suggestion.

"Yes. It's time for Tinder. Now give me your phone," she demands.

Begrudgingly, I let go of my phone as she tugs it free of my grasp. All I can do is sit there, watching as she swipes left and right, tapping the screen.

"Done," she declares with a wide grin, handing me the phone.

I let out a sigh of defeat. As much as I hate the idea of online dating, perhaps Liv is right. Maybe this could be just what I need to get out there. Maybe I'll even meet someone. I scroll through the profile she created, then begin looking at profiles of potential guys. The sheer number of singles on this site is completely overwhelming. They can't all be looking for love, surely?

How hard can it be? I promised Liv I'd give it a go, so let's do this. Swiping a few times, a cute guy comes across the screen. His profile says his name is Max, a freelance photographer. Reading through his bio, it's filled with clever puns and witty jokes. He seems harmless enough, so I swipe right. As soon as I do, my stomach backflips with regret. What have I got myself into?

But within moments my phone dings with a message. We spend a few minutes chatting before he suggests we go hiking next weekend. I'm not sure about this. It's been a while since I've done anything remotely active like that, but Olivia pushes me to do it, so I agree.

"Eek, I'm so excited for you," Liv says, clapping her hands together. I just shake my head at her.

"If you're so keen, why don't you take my place?" I suggest.

"And steal you away from your first actual date in forever? No way. He's all yours honey," she says, leaning back in her chair.

"What if he's a serial killer?" I say, frowning.

She lets out a raucous laugh. "You'll be just fine. Besides, you can't pin all your hopes and dreams on this one guy. You need to meet a few so you can weed out the good from the weirdos."

Groaning, I reply. "Let's just take it one date at a time and see how I go."

"Alright," she says. "You can thank me later."