Chapter 36
A tidal waveof emotions whooshed through me on my way home, and I didn’t know which end was up. I’d just had my best and worst date all in one. I had been on such a high being with AJ at the festival and in the competition, kissing her in front of everyone. That memory would live in my mind rent-free for the rest of my life.
But then the bottom fell out, and it all disappeared like it never happened. One moment I had everything I ever wanted, then the next… Poof. Gone.
Had AJ really not felt for me the way I did for her? Had she been faking all that time, even after it had gotten so real for me?
As soon as I got home, I called Storm. He answered on the first ring.
“Hey, man. Where are you? I just got to the festival, but I can’t find anyone. Just a lot of screaming kids all over the place. Where is everyone?”
“The rest of the family should still be there somewhere. At least they were when I left. So you didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
I sighed loudly and filled him in on all that had happened.
He let out a long, slow whistle. “That sucks, man.” He paused as he processed all that I said. “So this stalker is using the fact that she stalked you for the past year to prove that you weren’t in a relationship with AJ?”
“Yeah. She says she has photographic and video evidence that AJ and I hadn’t met before the gala. And somehow she knows about our arrangement with the Quinces for the Moonstruck.”
“Okay. We’ll press charges for stalking, sue her for invasion of privacy and defamation of character, and also file a restraining order.” I knew I could trust Storm to come up with a game plan. “I’ll contact the police right now and then start the paperwork for the rest as soon as I get home. She’ll regret messing with a Rhodes.”
“Thanks Storm, I knew you’d know what to do. I should have taken your advice and reported her earlier, then none of this would have happened.”
Storm added. “I’ll look over the contract with the Quinces, too, to see if we have any legal recourse there.”
“Anything you can do to help me get AJ back?” I asked, grasping at straws.
“Sorry. You’re on your own for that one. You wouldn’t want my advice in the relationship department, anyway. Not my thing. Never will be. Good luck, though.”
“Thanks, I have a feeling I’m going to need all the luck I can get, and it still might not be enough.”
Car doors slammed outside and in walked my mom, Junie, and Tillie.
“How are you doing, Jasper? I’m so sorry about what happened?” Mom pulled me in for a hug.
Dad came down from upstairs, having skipped the festival to rest at home. “What happened?”
He sat down in his favorite recliner and Mom briefed him on the main highlights. “Wow. The first Harvest Moon Festival I’ve missed in thirty-five years, and it was a doozie.”
Tillie put her hand on my arm with compassion in her eyes. “You and AJ were so great in the competition, as I knew you would be. Too bad that had to be overshadowed by this dark cloud.”
“Who would have thought a crazy stalker would show up in the middle of our festival?” Junie dropped onto the couch and kicked her feet up onto the coffee table. “It sure brought an element of excitement, though. The whole town is buzzing about it.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes and sighed before taking a spot on the other end of the couch. “You know, as much as I wanted that restaurant, I don’t feel too bad about losing that. Not compared to losing AJ.”
“Are you sure you’ve lost her? From what I saw of the two of you, neither of you faked that relationship.” Tillie was always wise, and I wanted to cling to her words like a life raft. I just don’t know if I could believe them this time.
Mom sat down in the chair next to me. Her voice was soothing, as always. “This was quite a shock and traumatic for both of you. Did she say she wanted to break up with you?”
“No, but when I asked her how she felt about me, she didn’t say anything.”
Understanding dawned on Mom’s face and she slowly nodded. “Ah. So you assumed the worst. Did you tell her that you loved her?”
“Well, no. When she had no answer for me, I wasn’t about to admit that.”
“So you got upset because she didn’t bare her soul to you when she’d just been publicly humiliated, fired, and evicted? But you didn’t stick around to support her or tell her how you felt?” Junie leaned over and flicked me on the forehead. “What were you thinking?”
“Apparently, I wasn’t.” I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. “What do I do now? How do I get her back?”
Tillie, sitting in the chair across from me, leaned forward and held my gaze before spelling it out for me. “It’s simple. You need to show her she’s more important to you than that restaurant deal.”
Mom moved to the arm of Dad’s chair, and he put his arm around her waist. “Tillie’s right. You have a lot going in your life right now, but no woman wants to be third or fourth in line for your attention. She needs to know that you would put her first. That she matters to you.”
The wheels started clicking in my mind, and a new plan began to form. “Thanks. I think I know what I need to do, but it won’t be easy.”
Tillie had a satisfied grin on her face. “The best things rarely are.”
I kissed them each on the cheek and dashed off to my computer. This had better work.