9. Juniper
9
JUNIPER
W e’d just finished opening our gifts on Christmas morning when my mother’s cell phone rang. Since most of our relatives were here, I couldn’t imagine who might be calling.
“Thank you for letting me know, Mrs. Miller,” she said a few minutes into the call, looking straight at me.
I knew without her needing to say it that Miss Cena had passed.
I spent the time between Christmas and the week after New Year’s looking for more job postings and making a note of the few new ones that had popped up. Rather than look desperate by sending a message when everyone else in the world was still on holiday, I set a reminder to reach out closer to the end of the month.
My mom had called Mrs. Miller a couple of times, asking if there’d be a memorial service for Miss Cena, but she said she wasn’t aware of one. If she’d asked whether Cord was still at the Lilacs, she didn’t say, and I didn’t bring it up either.
Without Miss Cena there, I only had one reason to visit the place again, not that I was ready to. In fact, I might never be.
“Where are you off to?” my mom asked when I came downstairs and grabbed my coat off the rack.
“I’m having dinner with Ross Reynolds.”
She raised a brow.
“It’s just dinner. I made that perfectly clear.”
“I didn’t say a word.”
“Yeah, you did. I can read your mind.”
She shook her head. “My mind is completely blank. Nothing to read.”
I chuckled. My mom and I were alike in that our minds were never blank. We both overthought everything down to the most minute detail.
“He’s here,” I said when I saw his car pull in the driveway. I kissed her cheek and told her I’d see her later.
She waved as I shut the door behind me.
It didn’t take long before I realized the mistake I’d made. While I’d said I made it clear we were only having dinner, Ross disregarded it entirely. He was acting as if we were dating again, and when I tried to address it, he responded as if I hadn’t said a word.
Finally, when I’d told him I was ready to leave at least three times and he just kept talking, I excused myself, left the table, got my coat from the rack, and walked out. I could’ve called my mom or brother to come and get me, but it wasn’t that long of a trek home and the weather was nice for the beginning of January.
I was about to turn off the main drag onto our street when I saw a black truck drive by. The Colorado plates confirmed it was Cord’s. Thankfully, it was dark enough that I doubted he saw me. Halfway down the first block, though, he pulled up beside me and stopped.
“Juniper?”
“Oh, hey, Cord.”
“What’re you doing out, walking in the cold?”
“It isn’t that cold.”
“Okay, what are you doing out, walking at this hour?”
I rolled my eyes. “You sound like my nana. It’s nine, not midnight.”
“Can you get in the truck? I was hoping we could talk. ”
“It’s not a good idea. Besides, my house is right there.” I pointed at one a few doors down that was definitely not my house. Mine was still two blocks away.
He cut the engine and got out. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”
I knew he had. Who else did I know with a Colorado number? As far as trying to get in touch, he’d only called twice.
I shoved my hands in my coat pockets and sighed. “How are you, Cord?”
“I guess you heard Mrs. Covert passed away.”
I nodded. “Mrs. Miller called my mom.”
“I never got to meet her,” he said, looking down at the ground.
“Too bad. She was a nice lady.”
“Look, I don’t know what your uncle told you about that day in the tavern…”
“He didn’t tell me anything.”
Cord’s eyes met mine. “Nothing?”
“We didn’t talk about it.”
“I want to explain. Can we please get in the truck?”
I noticed he wasn’t wearing his jacket, so I gave in—stupidly.
He opened the door for me, and I climbed inside.
“It’s nice to see you, Juniper,” he said once he was behind the wheel and had started the engine.
“Thanks. What did you want to explain?”
He scrubbed his face with his hand, something I’d seen him do more than once the day we spent together. “You know Pete and I were talking about Hoss Schultz.”
I nodded.
“When you heard me say I didn’t want you to have any part of it, I meant I didn’t want you involved with Schultz. As I’m sure you know, he’s not a good guy.”
“That’s not what you said.” I’d whispered the words, but as soon as I had, I wished I’d kept them to myself.
“What?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter.”
He reached for my hand, but I moved it away. “Juni, talk to me. I’ve missed you.”
I stared at him. “We aren’t friends who haven’t seen each other for a while, Cord. We spent part of a day together. I showed you around town. That’s it.” My words came out harsher than I’d intended, but I was still pissed about Ross’ behavior at dinner.
“I’m sorry. I never meant?— ”
“You said, ‘If this has anything to do with Juniper, I’m out.’ Those were your exact words.”
“Taken out of context,” he murmured.
“Except it doesn’t matter.” I put my hand on the door to get out, but he rested his on my arm.
“Wait. Your uncle said he’d explain.”
I shook my head and cleared my throat. “Cord, I had a nice time with you that day. I hope you’re settling in over at the Lilacs and enjoying the time you have to spend in East Aurora. It’s a nice place, and I’m glad I was able to show you around. But that’s it, okay?”
He moved his hand down my arm to my wrist. I was wearing gloves, but the area between them and my coat was bare. He drew circles on my skin with his fingertips. “I meant it when I said I missed you.”
I cocked my head. “You should get to know more people here. Make some friends.”
“I guess. By the way, there’s a couple who will be staying in the main house. My understanding is the woman inherited it.”
My eyes scrunched. “What did you say?” I held up my hand when he looked like he was going to repeat himself. “Never mind, I heard you. Who is she? ”
“I have no idea. I get the impression she doesn’t know why Mrs. Covert left it to her.”
“What’s her name?”
“Samantha. I think her last name is Marquez. Something like that, anyway.”
“You said she’s with a man? Is he her husband?”
Cord shook his head. “They’re definitely a couple, though.”
“Hmm.” This was an interesting and unexpected development. I groaned and moved my hand away a second time. It was also none of my business. “I’m interviewing for jobs out of state,” I blurted.
His eyes were wide. “You’re leaving?”
“If someone makes me a good enough offer, I guess I am.”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay.”
“I regret not kissing you in the movie theater.”
“Cord, please, don’t be ridiculous. We spent one day?—”
“Don’t lie, Juni. You wanted me to.”
I folded my hands together. “I got caught up in the moment. That’s all it was for me. I’m sure that’s all it was for you. It’s silly that we’re even talking about it.”
“You can speak for yourself but not for me.”
“Right. Good night, Cord.” I grabbed the handle at the same time I heard a click. Then it wouldn’t move. “You’re locking me in here?”
“No, I’m taking you home.” He put the truck in gear, pulled away from the curb, and was about to pull in the driveway of the house I’d pointed out earlier.
“I don’t live here.”
“Huh?”
“I lied. That isn’t my house. Mine is a couple of blocks farther down.”
“Can I please drop you at home, Juniper?”
I sighed. “Sure. Keep going, and when you pass the second stop sign, it’s the second house on the left.”
He drove slowly and scrubbed his face once more before we got to my driveway. He stopped and put the vehicle in park. “Pete asked me to see what kind of dirt I could get on Schultz. We both agreed we didn’t want you or anyone else in your family involved, simply because we believe he’s dangerous.”
“If this woman you mentioned is inheriting the estate, maybe Schultz won’t be a problem anymore.”
“Maybe not.” His eyes bored into mine. “You’re really leaving?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m just looking. I haven’t made any decisions yet.”
“I hope you don’t.”
“Is that right? What about you? Aren’t you leaving a year from now?”
He sighed. “I am.”
“Can you unlock my door, please?” I heard the click and opened it. “Goodbye, Cord.”
“Good night, Juni.”
“That isn’t the same vehicle you left in,” my mom said when I came in the front door.
“You’re right. Cord dropped me off.”
“What happened, sweetheart?” she patted the sofa, and I sat beside her.
“Wait. You can’t see the driveway from here.”
“I hurried and sat down when I saw you get out and walk up the steps. ”
I rolled my eyes.
“So, what happened?” she repeated.
“You were also right about Ross. I never should’ve agreed to have dinner with him. It was like he expected us to just pick up where we left off.”
“He’s smitten.”
“He’s obsessed.”
“That may be a better word for it.” She paused. “So, connect the dots for me. How is it that Cord brought you home?”
I closed my eyes and rested my head on her shoulder. “He saw me walking and gave me a ride.”
She leaned away, and her eyes scrunched. “You walked home?”
“It wasn’t that far, and it’s nice out.”
“Nice?”
“For January. Yes.”
“Ross made you walk home? I’m going to give that boy a piece of my mind.”
“Stop. He’s not a boy; he’s a man. And I’m sure he would’ve driven me home had I not stalked out on him at the restaurant.”
“That bad?” she asked, resting her head against mine.
“Worse.”
“What about Cord?”
“He said Miss Cena left the estate to someone named Samantha Marquez.”
She sat up straighter. “What?”
I shrugged. “That’s what Cord said anyway.”
“My goodness. Jimmy Rooker must be fit to be tied.”
I shrugged again. “It’s not our business, Mom.”
“My darling Juniper, we live in a small town. Everything is our business.”