Chapter 6: Unwanted Ghosts
Two months into her new life, Willow Creek was preparing for its annual Autumn Festival. The workshop was officially finished, and its grand opening was set to be the main event of the weekend.
As Amy was arranging a display of hand-carved oak chairs near the entrance, a sleek black sports car pulled up outside the rustic shop. The engine cut off, and a man stepped out wearing a tailored suit that looked entirely out of place in the mountain town.
It was Ethan.
Amy felt her heart tighten for a second, but the panic never came. She wiped her dust-covered hands on her apron and stepped toward the doorway.
Ethan walked in, looking exhausted, dark circles shadowing his eyes. He looked around the workshop with a mixture of confusion and desperation.
""Amy,"" he said, his voice straining. ""I’ve been calling you for weeks. Your mother wouldn't let me near the house.""
""I asked her not to,"" Amy said calmly, leaning against a display table. ""Why are you here, Ethan?""
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Ethan took a step closer, holding out his hands in plea. ""I made the biggest mistake of my life. Chloe was nothing—it was a momentary weakness. The business is falling apart without you. My parents are furious. I need you, Amy. Please come back home.""
Amy looked at him—the man she had once thought was her entire future. She realized then that he didn't miss her; he missed the order and status she brought to his chaotic life.
