Love at First Scent
Chapter 5

Caro woke to the sound of birds chirping. The window she opened last night let in a crisp morning breeze filled with the scent of trees and sunshine. She sat up and stretched, letting the stress she’d felt on her way here melt away under the warmth of the sunshine spilling across the covers.

When she stood and walked over to the window to look out at the yard, she was even more impressed with the home. The large backyard was meticulously groomed with various flowerbeds around the perimeter, a lovely little greenhouse was tucked away in one corner, and three huge raised garden beds were off to the other side.

A patio stood off the back of the house, which had an outdoor kitchen and plenty of space for seating. Bennett’s parents must have loved to entertain because it was hard to imagine anyone moving away from this place. She also noticed several well-worn paths along the rear of the yard that led into the trees, and she looked forward to some nice hikes while she was here.

A light knock against the open door had her turning to replace her sister poking her head in with a smile.

“Morning, how did you sleep?” Ellie asked.

“So good,” she replied. “I think I was more exhausted than I thought. I don’t remember waking up at all once my head hit the pillow.”

“Why don’t you hit the shower and then we can pop into town for coffee and breakfast? I have something I want to show you once we’re topped up.”

“Sounds good. Give me twenty minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”

Summer was in full swing in Hillard, and the town was as charming as it was remote. As they walked along the sidewalk, everyone they passed said hello, almost all using Ellie’s name and inquiring to meet Caro. Planters bursting with colorful flowers lined all along the walkways, and there were several interesting shops that Caro would definitely want to check out while she was here and do a little shopping. Overall, Hillard appeared to be a wonderful little town, and she could see why her sister had fallen in love with it. There was just something about this place that made her feel at home.

“So how did you meet Bennett?” Caro asked, smiling at the toddler who passed by with his mother. Dang, the kids were cute here.

“It was the first day here, actually.” Her sister laughed. “I had done all the rental stuff via email, so when I showed up in town and he met me at the house—I was surprised, to say the least. He offered to help me unload the moving truck when it arrived later that day, and honestly? We haven’t spent a day apart since. He talks about us getting married and starting a life together like it’s completely normal.”

Caro stopped and stared at her sister, who up until this point hadn’t even introduced a boyfriend to the family.

“And you’re not freaking out about it?” she asked.

Ellie just smiled at her. “I know, right? I was skeptical the first time he said anything, but he just felt so sincere, and my heart kind of just melted.”

“I can’t believe Bennett has already told you he wants something long-term with you. That’s pretty quick to know what you want, isn’t it?” Caro asked her sister cautiously.

Ellie laughed. “Well, the guys around here don’t beat around the bush, that’s for sure. When they’ve made their minds up about something, they tell you. It’s actually quite refreshing to not have to constantly be wondering what they’re feeling or thinking.”

“Wow.” Caro thought about it, and she could see how much easier that would make a relationship. “Peter was certainly never like that.”

Ellie snorted again. “Yeah, I certainly wouldn’t describe Peter as definitive in any way. Your hubby is the definition of a pushover.”

She’s not wrong. Did Peter even once make a decision about anything in our lives together?

“Oh, give me two seconds. I just have to run into Mrs. Bailey’s and pick up the seeds she ordered for me last week.” Ellie ran into the small shop on the corner, leaving Caro alone with her thoughts—which was becoming a scary place to be.

She thought about every defining moment of their lives together, looking for any indication that Peter had wanted the same things that she had. Going to university, buying their first home, even things like where to go on vacations, or what to have for dinner every night. Time after time, it had been Caro who eventually had to decide as he wavered back and forth on things, sometimes for weeks or months. It was the thing that irritated her about Peter the most, and she understood now how much she’d resented him for it. That resentment had been the beginning of the end of their relationship, she realized now.

But … had it been her fault that she’d spent the last nineteen years married to a man who was just too passive to actually break up with her?

Caro felt panic start to bloom as that thought swirled around and around in her head. So much wasted time, so many nights spent alone, wondering why her husband would rather look at spreadsheets than come home to her. Had she run out of time to have the family she’d always dreamed of?

Her breathing began to get more labored, and she felt lightheaded. She could sense a few folks on the sidewalk noticing her, and she tried harder to get her emotions under control, but it didn’t work. Her vision narrowed as she took great gulps of air in now.

“Shit, are you okay?” She heard a man’s voice beside her. “Craig, I think she’s having some kind of panic attack. It’s Caro, right? Where’s Ellie?”