Chapter 20 #2
Jake clamped his hands down on Claire’s arms and pushed her away. “Stop!” He took several steps away from her and held up his hands while his heart hammered in his chest. “I’ve told you a hundred times that I’m done.”
“But it can’t be over,” she exclaimed, tears rolling down her pink cheeks. “After all these years, how can you give up on
us? What we had was special. I still love you!”
He shook his head and began walking backward away from her. “I don’t love you anymore.”
She gasped. “How can you say that after all we’ve been through together?” Her voice sounded strange, hysterical.
He scrubbed his hand over his face. What did he have to say in order to make her understand that he was over her?
“Listen to me,” he began, his words measured. “I’ll always care about you, but we’re done. We’re no longer a couple, and we
never will be again. What we had is in the past. Do you hear me? It’s over. Over!”
She stilled, and they studied each other for what felt like several moments.
Suddenly a devious smile overtook her lips. “That’s what you think.”
“What did you say?” he asked as a feeling of foreboding wafted over him.
But instead of answering, Claire climbed in her car, started the engine, and drove away.
The alarm clock blared next to Jake’s head. He groaned and rolled over. He’d slept in fits all night long. Every time he closed
his eyes, he saw Emily’s hurt expression at supper and then Claire’s deceptive smile.
His mind replayed Claire’s kiss over and over again. When her lips touched his, he’d felt nothing—nothing at all. No spark, no excitement, and no love.
But as Claire kissed him, he also realized that he did love one person—Emily.
He loved her wholly and completely with his entire heart. And while his ex was kissing him, all he could think was that he
wanted to be with Emily and only Emily. Claire had done him a favor by making him realize just how much he loved Emily.
He loved her. Loved her.
And he wanted Emily in his life for the rest of it. He wanted her by his side forever. He just needed to find the right moment
to tell her.
In the middle of the night, he’d considered going to his parents’ house and knocking on Emily’s bedroom door to tell her what
had happened between him and Claire and also confess all the feelings in his heart. Twice he’d gotten out of bed, gotten dressed,
and started for the door. But when he realized it was three in the morning, he changed his mind. He didn’t want to scare his
parents or her, but he couldn’t wait to tell her how he felt. No matter what happened with the orchard—whether he had to sell
it or the situation turned around—he wanted Emily by his side, and he prayed she felt the same way.
After a long, hot shower, Jake shaved and dressed before jogging out to the kitchen, where Dusty wove herself between his
legs, meowing and purring for her morning meal.
“Hey, Dusty,” he sang while he filled her bowl with a fishy breakfast. “It’s a great day, girl. You know why? Because I’m
going to tell Em that I love her. Do you think she’ll say she loves me too?” He set the bowl down, and the cat began inhaling
the food. “Well, I’ll take that as a yes. See ya later, kitty.”
He grabbed his phone and headed out into the bright morning sun. The sky was blue and cloudless, but the late September air was cool. The perfect fall day.
While he walked toward his parents’ house, he opened his Instagram app and immediately found a post on the orchard’s page
highlighting the grand opening and the anniversary celebration. He scrolled through the photos—and all of them were gorgeous
views of the orchard. He smiled. Emily was the best at what she did. She was the best at everything. And she was his. He just
had to make it permanent.
He checked the orchard’s other social media pages, and all of them had been updated with photos and new appeals for customers
to join them for the celebration.
Pocketing his phone, Jake jogged up the steps and entered his parents’ house. He expected to find his parents and Emily in
the kitchen, but only Mom and Dad were there. He waved to them as he entered the room.
“Morning,” Mom said.
“Mornin’.” Jake swiped a piece of bacon off a platter on the table. “Where’s Em?”
Mom pointed toward the door. “She was up and out of the house early. She left me a note saying that she’d eaten and would
see me later.”
“Huh.” He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. It rang once before going straight to voicemail. Strange. Maybe her
ringer was off. He picked up a toasted bagel. “Can I have this?”
“Sure,” Mom said.
He smothered it in cream cheese, placed it on a napkin, and then started for the door. “See ya later.”
He ate the bagel on the way to the barn, where he found the vendors setting up for the day. He waved to them. “Have you seen Emily?”
Mona shook her head. “Nope.”
He asked Warren, but the man had the same answer.
Jake traipsed out to the plein air area, where he found Emily’s easel and supplies set up, but no sign of his favorite artist.
So odd. Where was she?
He headed over to the cashiers and spotted his girlfriend talking to Maddy and Sidney, and his heart skipped a beat. He was
definitely becoming an old sap, but that realization made him grin. “Hey! I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Emily faced him, her lips pressed into a flat line.
Uh-oh. Something was definitely wrong. He picked up the pace and tossed his napkin into a nearby trash can. “You okay?” he asked
as he approached her.
“Yeah,” she said, but her normally bright eyes were dull and lined with dark circles.
A thread of worry twisted through him. “Are you feeling all right?” he asked.
“I didn’t sleep well last night,” she said, her voice as dull as her eyes.
He reached for her face, and she took a step back.
Whoa. Something was very, very wrong.
He took her arm and led her away from his employees, who were watching them with curiosity. “Why didn’t you sleep?”
She shrugged.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She crossed her arms over her chest and looked past him. Now she was avoiding his gaze.
“Emily,” he said, and her eyes snapped to his. “What’s going on?”
She shrugged again, but her eyes glistened.
He reached for her and tried to pull her against him, but she pushed him away.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, but when she remained silent, he leveled his gaze with hers. “Did I do something to upset you?”
Something almost imperceptible flickered over her face.
“What did I do? Please tell me,” he begged her. “No matter what it is, I’ll make it right, okay? I care for you—deeply—and I don’t want to mess this up. You’re too important to me.”
She took three steps back. “I think I’m getting a cold, and I don’t want to get you sick. We have the anniversary celebration
in two days and—”
“Jake!”
He pivoted just as Vince rushed over.
“I need you,” Vince called, beckoning him. “We have an issue in the orchard.”
“Can it wait?” Jake called as frustration filled his voice.
“Sorry, Boss, but no. I need you now.”
Ugh! Perfect timing. “All right.” Jake faced Emily. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
She pursed her lips and nodded, but he could see the pain in her eyes. She wasn’t getting sick. No, she was upset with him,
and he wanted to fix it now. He’d have to bury his worry for now and focus on work.
But later he’d get her alone, and they would hash it out. Jake would find a way to fix it because the idea of losing Emily
made it hard to breathe.