Chapter 11
SATURDAY
THE SUN CRESTED over the mountains as Taylor drove into town. He parked a couple of blocks away from the parade route then followed a family of six as the parents tried to wrangle their kids to a spot in the shade.
“But I want a slushie!” one screamed.
Great idea. The morning was already in the upper seventies with sunshine forecast the rest of the day.
Taylor stopped at one of the open food trucks and bought a couple of strawberry slushies in strawberry-shaped cups.
He was counting on Chelsey giving all the volunteers working on the auction time off to watch the parade, since it went right by Juniper Gathering Place.
Last night, he’d called in a favor from a friend who also happened to be a songwriter and wrapping up his latest album.
“I can lend you my newest ballad that’s sure to hit number one,” Derek Matthews, rockstar legend said this morning. “It’s for your ears only, well, and your plus one. My agent will freak if she finds out I’m giving it to you before the album breaks.”
“I’ll take good care of it, I promise, Your Highness.”
Derek chuckled. “I miss you, man. When are you coming out to Cali to visit me?”
“When are you coming to visit me?”
“The last leg of this new tour will be in Greece next year then I’ll have some time off. Want to meet over there? Maybe by then you’ll be engaged and can introduce me to your woman.”
“I’ve been over there a few times. Let’s set it up.” Taylor totally ignored Derek’s words.
“I sent the song. If she doesn’t fall in love with you after hearing the most romantic song I’ve ever written, nothing can help you, bro.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”
After they’d hung up, Taylor put on his running shoes and ran his jitters off as the sun peeked over the mountains.
Up the hill, around the cemetery, through Three Story Park to the top where he could see the entire valley in front of him.
He took his time to stretch his legs as he thought about when and how to play the song for Chelsey.
He originally planned it for the morning before he flew out over homemade breakfast, complete with smiley face pancakes like when they were in high school. But the timing felt right.
Rows and rows of lawn chairs and blankets had lined Main Street and all intersecting roads for the last several days.
This parade was a big deal in their small town.
Family and school reunions boosted the town’s population to almost double.
Strawberry decorations showed up on houses and lawns, plus all the streetlamps.
Kids were towing wagons along the parade route selling “ice cold!” water, sodas and popsicles.
Families made a day of it with BBQs, games and naps for the adults and babies. Tonight was the last night of the rodeo, carnival and cups full of strawberries and cream.
Chelsey leaned casually against the GP. As Taylor drew nearer, he caught a hint of coconut, bringing back memories of when he used to run his hands through her hair, releasing the same scent from years ago. He cleared his throat so he wouldn’t startle her, though she still jumped a little.
“Is it me? Or has this whole Strawberry Fest gotten bigger over the years?” He handed her a slushie and leaned against the wall next to her.
She slurped her drink loudly and smiled at him. Just like old times. “I think more events have been added, like the princess and knight party.”
“And golfing, pickleball and a duck derby? Why weren’t these events running when I was growing up?”
“I’ll let the mayor know you were traumatized in childhood for lack of said derby.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’ve participated in the derby, haven’t you?”
A splash of pink showed on her cheeks, and she shrugged one shoulder, trying for nonchalance. “Maybe.”
“Did you win?”
She took a long sip of her drink and didn’t answer.
“Did you bribe the mayor to let you win?”
“Hey.” She turned to him, hand on her hip. “I’ll have you know it was a fair race. I just happened to pay for twenty ducks and handed them out to the kids. So really, they won. Someone slipped me homemade fudge later to thank me.”
Taylor chuckled. “That checks out.”
“Hey, you two. Over here.” Heather gestured at them to join her and Rodney, who were sitting in a love seat style camp chair. They each held a mini fan aimed at their faces.
Taylor and Chelsey pushed off the wall and out of the shade at the same time to make their way to the proffered camp chairs. When they settled under the pop-up canopy, their knees brushed against each other, familiar as old times.
The rodeo royalties high-stepped by. The Juniper Valley princesses threw candy from their strawberry-themed float and children ran for the wrapped sugar.
The parade marched past as a kind of hometown nostalgia settled in, not sharp enough to hurt, but heavy enough to be felt. He didn’t regret the life he’d built abroad—the cities that taught him how big the world could be or the version of himself that had learned to move easily through it.
But sitting here, watching friends and family greet each other, Juniper Valley still held him in smaller ways.
He could see the moments he’d skipped over without meaning to: Sunday dinners, birthday parties and small celebrations.
The slow accumulation of ordinary days with Chelsey that might have added up to something lasting.
Outgrowing Juniper Valley hadn’t erased his love for it; it had simply taught him that leaving didn’t mean not belonging. Some places shape you forever, even after you learn how to live beyond them. Some homes travel quietly with you, whether you realize it or not.
“There’s Rodney’s mom.” Heather waved at someone, effectively bringing Taylor back to the present. He carefully packed his thoughts away for the moment and what it meant for his relationship with Chelsey.
A float that sported a tub with one of the local librarians sitting in it, surrounded by cotton and bubbles, drifted. The other librarians handed out old, outdated Harlequin novels. Rodney’s face reddened as his mom handed him one.
“Do you want me to do a reading?” Rodney opened the book to a random page and opened his mouth to read.
Mrs. James patted him on the arm. “Not in broad daylight, honey.”
They all chuckled as his mom marched off, handing out more books.
“I think it’s going to be over ninety today,” Heather said. Rodney held his fan to her face, even while sweat dripped off his forehead. Heather patted him on the knee with a wink.
“Hopefully, the night will cool off enough to make the auction enjoyable, especially with the misters Janice found.”
Chelsey lifted her hair off the back of her neck and held it on top of her head. “Her idea of using cocktail tables was brilliant.”
“Here’s another brilliant idea.” Heather pulled a sheet of temporary tattoos out of her strawberry-shaped bag. “Anyone want a strawberry tattoo?”
“I’ll take one,” Chelsey said.
Taylor glanced over in surprise. She usually dressed up for the auction, which was tonight. “Really?”
“Why not?” she said. “It washes off. Low commitment.”
He tried not to feel like that was personally aimed at him. Studying her face didn’t show any ulterior motives.
Heather peeled one free and handed it to Chelsey. “Where are you going to put it?”
Chelsey tilted her head, exposing the back of her neck. “Here, I think.”
Taylor’s breath caught at the sight of her elegant neck. He remembered placing a kiss or a hundred there as they dated.
“That way, if it doesn’t come off, I can cover it with my hair.
Or I’ll leave my hair up and show everyone what a talented friend I have.
” She elbowed Heather. “You really should open a boutique. It would be perfect on Main Street. You could sell your jewelry and clothes and everything strawberry themed.”
“If you stock your coloring books and pastel drawings in it, we have a deal.” Heather stuck out her hand. Chelsey hesitated a breath before shaking it.
Taylor hadn’t heard about the coloring book. Nothing was safe from Chelsey’s doodling. He’d saved several books, napkins and even a driver’s license with her art. She never thought it a big deal, but she was talented with a pen and colored pencils. He was glad someone else thought so too.
Heather’s mouth formed into an O. “Really?”
“At least it will get me motivated, right?”
“Oh my gosh, this is so exciting! It’ll get me motivated too.” She turned to Rodney. “What do you think, handsome? You know all about owning a shop.”
The couple leaned close to each other as Heather asked Rodney for advice.
“Rodney owns a bike store called Shift Happens.”
Taylor chuckled. “I saw it the other day. A catchy name.”
“Will you help me put this on?” Chelsey asked him, her voice casual, as she held up the tattoo.
“Sure.” His voice caught as he answered. Her nearness made his heart race. Could Chelsey hear it? The scent of coconut, sunscreen and warm summer air wrapped around him.
Chelsey handed him a napkin, already damp, and he poured a little more water on it from his water bottle. His hands shook the tiniest bit, and he tried to steady himself with the small, ordinary task.
“Cold,” he warned.
The napkin touched her skin, and she inhaled sharply. The sound went straight through him. For just a second, the noise faded, the heat softened, and it felt like they were back in the easy middle of something—before goodbyes, before distance, before seven long years.
“The water is dripping down my back.”
“Sorry.”
He focused on being careful. On not rushing. On not letting his fingers linger longer than necessary, even though every instinct told him to memorize the moment. The curve of her neck. The warmth beneath the cool water. The simple trust in the way she sat still for him.
“It feels good.”
Her words sounded like there was more than one meaning behind them. Did she feel like he did? Like they were in the middle of something shifting?
“Okay,” Chelsey said after a moment. “Now we let it dry.”
Did he imagine the catch in her voice? He lifted the napkin and hesitated.
Then, slowly, ever so slowly, he leaned in and blew softly against her skin, barely a breath, watching the fine hairs at her nape lift and settle.
He hadn’t meant for it to feel like that.
Hadn’t meant for the world to narrow until only a small, quiet space stood between them.
“Done,” he said quietly.
She turned, her eyes soft. Her fingers brushed the place where his hand had been. “Thank you.”
The moment passed, as moments do.
Her eyes connected with his soul and for a heartbeat, he thought she felt the echo, the familiarity too.
The parade noise surged back around them, kids shouting, the band blaring off-key.
But Taylor knew one thing with absolute clarity.
He was still in love with her.
And this time, he wasn’t running.