Chapter 17
“I think the market’s grand opening is going to be a huge success,” Sherry announced while they sat out on the deck. “Don’t
you agree, Ron?” She lifted her glass of sweet tea as if toasting the orchard.
Jake sat beside Emily, across from Claire and her parents, while they ate the lasagna and garlic bread. If he were honest,
he had to admit that the food was delicious, but he was ready to get back to his to-do list. Aside from that, he also was
tired of answering Sherry’s zillions of questions about the orchard while Claire eyed him from across the table.
But he was most worried about Emily. He could feel tension radiating off her while she remained mute and barely touched the
food on her plate. He’d tried to catch her eye, to touch her thigh under the table to try to convey that everything was going
to be okay, but she seemed to be completely inside her protective shell.
“Have you seen what the new owners have done with your family’s house, Emily?”
Jake’s eyes snapped to Sherry’s across the table just as Emily froze.
Oh no. Sherry couldn’t have chosen a worse conversation starter.
Jake reflexively covered Emily’s hand with his, and Claire appeared to seethe at them across the table.
“No,” Emily said, barely above a whisper.
“Oh, it’s lovely,” Sherry began before turning to her husband. “Don’t you agree, hon?”
Claire’s dad nodded before taking another bite of garlic bread.
“They’ve made such good use of all of that space your family had. They expanded the deck and put in a large in-ground pool.
And they also added a dock for their huge boat. You should go see it. You’d just love it. I’m sure your folks would have too.
We know the new owners—I’ll bet they’d give us a tour so you could see everything up close. We can walk over there if you’d
like.”
He waited for Emily to respond, but she only stared at Sherry. That was his cue to speak up for her. “I don’t think so,” Jake
said.
“They’re such a nice family,” Sherry continued. “Have you met them?”
Emily shook her head.
“I think they’re both surgeons.” Sherry consulted her husband, who nodded. “Yes, that’s right. They both work at the hospital,
and they have four kids. Of course, that place is huge, so there’s plenty of room for a large family. I always thought it
was a shame that your folks only had one child in that enormous house.”
Jake’s jaw tensed. Couldn’t Sherry read the room?
Emily’s lip trembled, and he moved his fingers over her hand, hoping to soothe her. But it didn’t seem to help. Her leg began to bounce, brushing her jeans against Jake’s. He reached under the table and set his hand on her thigh, stopping
the movement.
“Ron,” Mom began. “How’s business at your car dealerships?”
“Busy,” Claire’s father said. “We purchased another one out in Asheville. We have five now.”
While Ron continued detailing his successful businesses, Jake moved closer to Emily. “We’ll finish here soon and get back
to work, okay?” he whispered.
She nodded, but he could hardly stand the anxiety lining her features.
Jake forked more lasagna, and when his gaze tangled with Claire’s, she pinned him with a glare. He brushed it off and focused
on his meal.
When supper was over, Jake and Emily helped Claire, Sherry, and his mom clean up.
After the dishwasher was full, Emily touched Jake’s hand. “I’m going upstairs to get my supplies and then heading back to
your house to work on the banner,” she whispered, out of earshot from Mom, Claire, and Sherry, who were busy discussing the
weather.
“I’ll be there soon,” he told her before touching a lock of her hair.
She turned toward the group of women. “Thanks for supper.”
“It was good seeing you,” Sherry told her.
Claire’s smile was so phony it reminded Jake of plastic. “See you soon.”
Without a word, Emily dashed toward the doorway before her footfalls echoed on the staircase.
Jake narrowed his eyes at Claire, but she shrugged and returned to wiping down the counter.
After packing up the leftovers and stowing them in the refrigerator, Sherry hugged Mom. “This was so fun. We have to do this
more often.”
“Yes, we do,” Mom said, reaching to hug Claire next.
Claire held on tight, and Jake rolled his eyes. “Would you like me to come over to help you tomorrow?”
Tell her no, Mom! Jake wanted to scream the words.
“You’re so sweet, but that’s not necessary.” Mom patted her hand. “I appreciate all your help, honey.”
Go, Mom!
“Okay, but if you need me, please let me know. I’m just a phone call away.” Claire’s eyes filled, and she sniffed. “You and
Leon are like my second set of parents.”
Oh please. Claire is such an actress!
Jake turned to his mom and yearned to tell her not to fall for it.
“That’s so sweet, honey,” Mom said.
Yup, she’d fallen for it. He rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his chest.
Mom and Jake walked Claire and her parents to the door and waved as they drove away.
He turned to his mother after they were gone. “Why were they here?”
“Your dad and I have been friends with Claire’s parents since they moved here. We take care of each other in this community,
and Sherry and Ron wanted to check on us.”
“I’m sure it was Claire’s idea,” Jake added.
Mom’s blue eyes searched his. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just stressed. The orchard is opening in three days, and I don’t feel ready.”
Mom cupped her hand to his cheek. “I have faith in you and Emily. It’s going to work out.”
His lips widened into a grin. “Thanks, Mom.”
Emily’s thoughts ran wild as she sat at the patio table on Jake’s small deck, working on the banner. Her plan was to sketch
it and then paint it in the morning.
She was certain she’d been transported to another dimension. She was finally Jake’s girlfriend. His girlfriend! Her lips tingled as she recalled the kisses they’d shared, which were even more intoxicating than she’d ever imagined. And
boy, had she imagined them often over the years.
While she drew, she considered his suggestion of opening a gallery, and she couldn’t deny the thread of excitement winding
through her. She imagined putting her precious paintings on display for purchase and sharing them with the world. Could her
own gallery be successful? Would people want to adorn their homes with her work?
She allowed her mind to run with the idea. She envisioned working side by side with Jake while they set up the studio, holding
his hand and kissing him during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Having her own gallery would make her a true professional artist.
Her eyes stung at the thought. Would her parents be proud of her? Would they support her using their money to make that dream
a reality?
Hot tears began to pool in her eyes, which she wiped away with the sleeve of her hoodie.
“Get ahold of yourself,” she whispered.
It was too much to ponder right now. She needed to focus on the orchard and Jake.
Jake!
Finally, he was hers.
But . . . was he really?
Her stomach twisted as an unsettled feeling coursed through her. Everything had been perfect when she and Jake were alone.
Conversation flowed easily between them as it always had. They laughed, talked, and kissed—a lot. But once they entered his
folks’ house, everything had changed.
She could feel Claire staring daggers at her, and Sherry’s inappropriate comments about Emily’s family nearly tore a hole through her. She would’ve burst into tears right there in front of everyone if it hadn’t been for Jake, who knew just how to calm her down.
How could Jake truly be Emily’s boyfriend if Claire put up roadblocks everywhere? Would Claire ever respect Jake’s wishes
and back off?
Why wouldn’t she just go away? Was it because Jake wasn’t truly over her?
She growled out a frustrated noise and then focused on her banner. She was outlining the last section when footsteps sounded
on the deck stairs. She rolled her neck before turning toward Jake.
He sauntered over, looking positively delicious in a blue-and-tan-plaid shirt, along with jeans and a ball cap. And he was
her boyfriend! She swallowed a happy screech.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey yourself.”
He perched on a chair beside her, and she inhaled his enticing smell—sandalwood and Jake. Her Jake!
“How’s the banner going?”
“Okay. I’ll need to start painting it tonight. It’s going to take a while.” She held it up. “What do you think?”
“I love it.”
And I love you. I always have.
Could he ever love her the same way she loved him?
He pushed a lock of her hair over her ear, and she slanted her head into his touch. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She dropped the banner onto the table.
“Come here.” He leaned over, and when his lips brushed hers, his kiss was slow and gentle. “Wanna go for a walk?” he asked while his fingertip traced her cheek and jaw.
“Yeah.”
They headed down the deck stairs toward the path leading to the orchard. Their shoes crunched along the leaves, and the air
smelled like fresh apples, the windswept lake, and a woodburning fireplace. The sky above them was clear, and the sun had
started to set. Jake held her hand, and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
Emily couldn’t shake the notion that they belonged together. She was with Jake, and they were in her favorite place—the orchard
at Splendid Lake. Her home.
He led her down the path toward their old fort, and they picked up the pace. When they reached the tree, he turned toward
her. “How about a visit to our ol’ fort as our first official date?”
“I love it!” She giggled.
He made a sweeping motion toward the ladder. “Ladies first.”
She climbed up onto the platform and scooted over as far as she could before he joined her. As soon as he sat down, she claimed
his mouth with hers. He cradled her head in his hands and tunneled his fingers through her hair. As he deepened the kiss,
she wound her arms around his neck and allowed all time and space to melt away. Nothing mattered except for her and Jake.
When they finally came up for air, she tipped her head against his shoulder and sighed.
He chuckled under his breath while he wrapped his arm around her. “You warm enough?”
Was he kidding? She was on fire! “Yeah,” she managed to say. “You?”
“Yup.”
Silence stretched between them, and she enjoyed the view of the trees with the lake in the distance. She turned toward him. “Okay. Confession time.”
“This ought to be good,” he teased.
“Do you know how many times I sat up here and wondered what it would feel like to kiss you?”
“I have no idea.”
“At least a thousand.”
“Huh.” He rubbed his jaw.
“Let me guess. You never even thought about kissing me when we were up here, did you?”
“That’s actually not true.” He held up a finger. “The last time we were up here and you hugged me, that was the first time
I felt the urge to kiss you.”
She studied him. “The last time we were up here?” She pointed to the platform, and he nodded. “You mean like a month ago?”
“Exactly. You held on to me, and I had to stop myself from lifting your face up from my chest and kissing you until you were
breathless.”
His words sent a shiver racing through her. “Why didn’t you?”
“Honestly, I was afraid that you didn’t want the same thing. And I didn’t want to risk losing you because that would kill
me. I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
She swallowed as emotion clogged her throat. “I feel the same way,” she whispered.
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Knowing what I know now, I should’ve kissed you then, huh?” His grin was wolfish.
“Yeah, you should’ve.” She laughed.
His expression softened. “I’m sorry about Claire and her oblivious mom.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” He reclined back against the tree, and she snuggled closer to him. “I keep trying to make it clear to Claire
that I want space and she needs to stay away. But she keeps inserting herself. Before she left tonight, she offered to come
back over to help, but thankfully my mom told her she doesn’t need her. If she comes around again, I’ll make it clear that
she’s not welcome here anymore.” He rubbed Emily’s back, and she rested her head against his shoulder. “And just ignore her
mom. She has no filter.”
Emily glanced in the direction of her former home and tried to imagine walking over to the fence, but her insides twisted
up. She couldn’t do it. Her grief was still too raw and painful. Maybe someday she’d visit it again, but she doubted it would
be anytime in the near future.
“So we’ve signed some vendors,” he began. “Now we just have to get it all together. In three days.” He rested his hand on
her arm. “Are you certain we can do this?”
“Of course I am. We have to make sure the booths are ready, hang the banner and the lights, and go through our last-minute
list. Andi texted me earlier. She and Seth will be here tomorrow.”
“Good. We definitely need their help.”
She snuggled closer and kissed his cheek. “Let’s just enjoy a little bit of rest and relaxation before tomorrow.”
That wolfish grin returned, sending tingles racing down her arms. “Good idea.”
As Jake began to kiss her again, Emily was certain she was floating. And she didn’t want to return to earth anytime soon.