Chapter 23
J ade sat in her rental car, which ended up being another little Nissan that she enjoyed driving.
She blew out a breath and stared at The Times building in front of her, once again letting the air-conditioning cool her face.
But she wasn’t just hot from the warm summer air.
Seeing Sebastian again had only confirmed how big of an idiot she was.
From the moment she’d had her idea for Clementonians to own the paper, she couldn’t stop thinking about him and her regrets.
She hadn’t expected him to welcome her with open arms, but seeing his hard expression when she walked in, then his quick exit from their meeting pierced her heart.
She had to push her personal feelings aside and explain the proposal, and was thrilled with how it was received.
Evelyn had told her they would be in touch with Rachel Lewis, the specialist that had helped Jade put together the proposal, and Jade quickly hurried by Sebastian’s office, not looking to see if he was reading the documents.
Her job was done, and while it made her feel a little better that the staff was so receptive, she also felt awful knowing that was truly the last time she’d ever see him.
There was nothing else for her to do than head to Little Rock.
She was going to spend a week with Logan and Lydia.
.. Mom. Then she’d reevaluate her options, as few as they were.
Her family was surprised she’d come back so soon.
They were happy too, and so was she. Being with them would be a balm to her broken heart. Not a complete one, but she’d take it.
She looked over her shoulder to back out of the parking space when she heard a knock on her window.
Turning, she saw a familiar pair of khaki trousers, right at the beltline.
Her heartbeat pulsed, but she tempered it.
Sebastian was probably here to throw her proposal in her face, although she couldn’t see him doing something so melodramatic.
She could see him telling her never to come back. No worries there.
He motioned for her to open the door.
Jade drew in a deep breath and did as he asked, although they kept their distance as she stepped out and closed the car door behind her. “I’m sorry,” she said, tears forming in her eyes. “I’m so stupid—”
“You’re not. The plan is brilliant. I think you saved The Times .”
Her heart soared.
“What about Harrington?” he asked. “I never heard from him.”
“I told him you wouldn’t sell. Later he told me you were shopping it around. Why?”
“I’m not a businessman, Jade. I never was. I tried my best to keep things going, but I couldn’t keep doing it.”
“It’s not your fault the newspaper business is in turmoil.”
“Maybe not, but I should have done things differently. Talked with a financial adviser. Developed a strategy with Flora. I... I don’t know what else, but I’m sure there’re other things I could have done.
I felt beholden to Buford’s legacy. He trusted me to keep The Times the way it was.
I still believe in his vision. I’m just not the one to see it through. ”
At the defeat in his eyes, she couldn’t keep from moving closer. “The mark of a good businessman is to know when to make a change. To put the business above himself. You, Sebastian Hudson, are an excellent businessman.”
He smiled, closing the space between them. “And you, Jade Smith, are—”
The sound of a growling engine broke them apart, and a familiar pickup truck pulled into the space next to her, straight as an arrow.
“Great timing, Kalista,” Sebastian muttered.
The young woman got out of the truck, pretty as ever with her hair in a pink scrunchy and dressed in a T-shirt and shorts and carrying a small white paper sack. “Oh, hey, Mr. H.... Jade?”
Jade gave her a little wave. “Hi.”
Kalista halted. Tilted her head.
“Is there a reason you’re here on your day off?” Sebastian asked, sounding more than a little perturbed at the interruption.
“I’m bringing Tyler some of Viv’s blueberry muffins.” She held up the bag. Then she wiggled her fingers at them. “Carry on,” she said, and sprinted to the building.
Sebastian turned to Jade. “Where were we?”
She smiled, her toes curling. His bedroom eyes were back. “I know where I want to be.”
His brow arched. “And where is that?”
She moved into his embrace and melted against him. “Right. Here.”
***
August
“You’re gorgeous,” Viv gushed as she and Kalista looked at their reflections in the mirror. They were getting ready for the wedding in the nursery room at Clementine Community Church.
“I don’t hold a candle to you, Viv.” She’d read the phrase in one of the many novels she’d read over the summer, and it was true.
Kalista felt pretty enough in her peach-colored maid of honor dress, despite all the ruffles on the hem and the sleeves.
Totally Viv. But Viv was beyond stunning, her simple off-the-shoulder wedding dress fitting her perfectly.
“I’m finally going to be Mrs. Bo Wilson in an hour!” Viv giggled.
Kalista hugged her. “I’m so glad I’m here to see it happen.”
“Me too. I’m sure your dapper young man won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
She grinned. Tyler was quite dapper in his black suit and peach tie.
He wasn’t in the wedding party—Mr. H. was Bo’s best man, and he and Kalista were the only attendants—but he’d been happy to match her dress.
After spending almost every spare minute with him over the summer, she was head over heels, and she refused to think about what she inevitably had to do in a few days—go back to California. Her summer with Viv was almost over.
She had a plan, though. At least a semblance of one. She was going to college to major in graphic design. Evelyn Margot had been kind enough to show her how to draw graphics and set advertising and had encouraged her to pursue a degree. “You’ll be great at it,” she’d said.
Kalista wasn’t sure about that, and she had doubts that she’d sail through college.
She’d missed a lot during high school, and she’d probably have to get a tutor.
But she was determined to get her degree.
Her father was on board, and they were now talking weekly—something she’d instigated shortly after she and Tyler got together.
She was even cordial to Bettany, but not by much.
Maybe they’d grow closer when she returned to LA. Baby steps.
Sadness overcame her. She didn’t want to leave Clementine, but she couldn’t impose on Viv either. California was her home. And then there was Tyler. How could she leave him behind?
“We can talk on the phone,” he’d said, cuddling with her on Viv’s front porch swing the other night. “I can come visit, and you can do the same. We’ll make it work.” He’d sealed the promise with a tender kiss, and then they stopped talking altogether.
“Someone’s waiting to see you,” Viv said, going to the door. She blew Kalista a kiss. It was fun to see her so giddy. “See you in a bit.” She left, and a man walked in after her.
“Daddy!” Kalista ran to her father and hugged him. “What are you doing here?”
“Viv invited me.” He grinned and held Kalista out in front of him. “My baby’s all grown up.” He kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She paused. “Is Bettany here?”
“No. I cleared my calendar for a week, and I want to spend all that time with you.”
“Really?” She tried to be disappointed that Bettany was back in LA. That was the grown-up thing to do. But she couldn’t. She never had Daddy all to herself for so long. “Where are you staying?”
“The Clementine Inn.” He gestured to two rocking chairs on the other side of the room.
Where else would he stay?
“Can we talk for a few minutes?”
“Sure.”
They sat down, her father still smiling.
“I’m so proud of you, honey,” he said. “Viv’s been keeping me apprised of what you’ve been doing, of course, but I can tell from our conversations that you’ve matured.
” He pulled a cell phone from his suit jacket pocket.
“I turned your phone back on and got you the latest model.” He held it out to her.
She looked at it. It was fancier and bigger than her other phone and had a larger screen. Nice. She shook her head. “I’ll get it later,” she said. “When I go back to LA.”
His brow arched in surprise, but he pocketed the phone. “About that.” His expression grew somber.
“What? I still can’t come home?”
“You can come home. I just want to know if you want to.”
“Of course I—” But she couldn’t say the rest. She’d just assumed she had to go back to California. That’s where she belonged, right?
“I have an idea,” Daddy said. “During one of my conversations with Viv, she mentioned that The Clementine Times was open to investment.”
“Uh, I guess.” She really didn’t know all the business stuff, just that Jade had moved to Clementine and was working with Flora. What Kalista had really noticed was how happy Mr. H. was around Jade. His portrait outside his door was always him smiling. The whole mood at the office was brighter.
“I made some calls, and I decided to buy some shares. Well, more than half actually.”
“You own half the newspaper now?”
“Yes. I like to diversify, you know.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll explain it later. You might want to consider investing in The Times yourself, once you get your trust fund. I can help you figure that out.”
Wow, she hadn’t even thought about her trust fund lately. The news didn’t deter her from her college plans, though. She was determined to go.
“I need someone here to keep an eye on my investment,” he continued. “Someone on the inside.”
“You want me to stay here?”
He held up his hands. “Only if you want to. Honey, I do want you home, and I want us to grow closer. I promise I’ll make the effort to make that happen, whether you’re in LA or in Clementine. Most of all, I want you to be happy. You seem much happier here than back home. Is that true?”