Chapter 12
SATURDAY
“THANKS, CHERYL. FOUR o’clock is fine. Someone will be out front to help you.
” Chelsey hung up and dropped her head in her hands.
She stood in the kitchen, which happened to be the quietest place at the GP.
Heather and Janice were overseeing the work out back while Chelsey called for last-minute baskets.
She touched the back of her neck. It wasn’t the tattoo that she was remembering. It was the cool water on hot skin and Taylor’s careful hands. Of the soft rush of air when he’d leaned in, close enough that she’d forgotten to breathe for a second.
Seven years ago, she’d loved him with her whole heart and no armor. She’d spent years convincing herself that chapter closed, that she’d healed because she’d stayed standing.
But healing, she realized, wasn’t the same as forgetting or forgiving.
Rich came in with a grin on his face and motioned her to follow him out back and around the corner. A truck with a flatbed waited at the curb to unload a couple of portable potties. “This man here is talking crap.”
The delivery guy leaned against his truck and folded his arms. He looked to be around the same age as Rich, the difference being Rich was tall and lanky while the other guy was shorter with a buzz cut. “Your jokes are as old as your bunions, Tanner.”
“Hey, I know how to shovel it, but I’m not authorized to direct it.” Rich’s eyes twinkled, but he kept a straight face.
Chelsey rubbed her face. “Have my days really come down to directing crap?”
“Good one, Chelsey.”
She rolled her eyes as she took the clipboard and pen the driver offered for her to sign. At least she could have a laugh in the middle of the chaos.
The deliverer held up his hands. “Just tell me where you want the buckets, so I don’t have to endure any more of Tanner’s stupid jokes.”
Rich shoved his hands in his overall pockets. “I’ll have you know—”
“You know what? I have too much to do right now.” Chelsey handed the pen and clipboard to Rich. “Will you take care of this for me?”
Rich bowed. “I’m happy to help.”
The weight on Chelsey’s shoulders lightened a bit as she walked away from Rich and the port-a-potties. She couldn’t help but laugh as the two obvious friends kept ribbing each other and slinging “crappy” jokes.
She headed over to the gazebo to take a moment to catch her breath. There was a hive of activity and no emergencies yet. Could they really pull this off with the change from inside to out?
They had a little over three hours before they ceremoniously “opened the doors” at eight o’clock.
Chelsey could see Heather and Rodney creating a path of lights to lead the participants from the front to the event while Janice directed the placement of the cocktail tables.
One of the participants was Gage Greenwood, Wendy’s son.
He seemed focused on Janice and staying rather close to her.
Dan, good to his word, sent lunch and helpers over to the GP. Because of all the extra help, they were ahead of schedule and Chelsey could go home and get ready.
Before she made it to the parking lot, someone called her name.
“Ms. Hooper?”
Chelsey whirled around, heart racing at the sound of her name. Would she have an adrenaline spike every time someone called out “Ms. Hooper”? Was it another OSHA list? A bachelor with a broken leg?
“Rodney.” Relief rushed through her. He wasn’t OSHA or a bachelor. Come to think of it, why wasn’t he one?
“Sorry. I called your name a couple of times.”
“That’s fine.” She took a deep breath and held it while her heart returned to its normal pace. “What can I help you with? Do you need more lights for the pathway?”
“We finished. Heather went home to get ready.” Rodney gulped and wiped his hands on his pants. “I wondered if you would help me? I want to propose to Heather tonight at the gazebo after the auction, but I don’t want to cause any problems.”
Chelsey clapped her hands. “Yes! I’ll help you in any way I can.”
“I thought tonight would be perfect since she loves the Strawberry Festival and all and, well…" He stopped to wipe his palms on his pants.
“Tonight is perfect, Rodney.” Chelsey grinned. “Heather wouldn’t miss this event if she were in a body cast.”
Rodney smiled shyly. “Want to see the ring?” He pulled a little red box from his windbreaker pocket, opened it and held it up for her inspection.
Nestled inside the little, velvety pillow shone a beautiful solitaire diamond set in a silver ring. He moved the box side-to-side so she could see the little strawberries etched around the band.
“Oh. It’s beautiful.” She looked at Rodney’s worried face. “She’ll absolutely love this.”
“Do you think so?” His voice pleaded for her to be honest.
“You know her best. What do you think?”
Rodney studied the ring. “I know she will.” He glanced at Chelsey. “But will she say yes?”
Chelsey studied the ring for a moment then closed the box. “Heather loves you. What else matters?”
Rodney straightened up and squared his shoulders. “You’re right. And I love her. It’s just such a big step.”
“But if you’re ready, you can do it,” Chelsey said. “Tonight is going to be monumental.”
AS CHELSEY DROVE home, she thought of Heather’s good fortune.
How lucky to find someone to love. Her own prospects were slim in the valley, though plenty of eligible men still lived around.
She didn’t want to admit that through the years she’d compared all her dates to Taylor, but after all this time she needed to be honest with herself.
Even the amazing Corbin Walker didn’t move Taylor out of the spot she’d apparently reserved for him in her heart.
Stupid.
She hit the steering wheel with the heel of her hand.
How could she be so blind and stupid?
Taylor Compton was lost to her, she was sure.
He wouldn’t want to stick around, now that he’d had a taste of the world, both figuratively and physically.
Chelsey loved hearing the updates on him when his mom let it “slip” where he lived and the places he explored.
She’d googled every place and finally admitted to herself she was wildly jealous of his adventures.
That day, not only had she started saving money to travel, too, she’d started collecting travel books and National Geographics.
It was one thing to read about the world, but to be in it was a totally different education.
She’d know when she was ready to go, right?
Maybe in a couple more years. But why wait?
Did she feel like she was abandoning a good job and friends?
She didn’t want to hurt people the way she was hurt several years ago when Taylor suddenly disappeared.
Something between them shifted the moment he placed the cold napkin on her neck.
He still took her breath away. Did she dare let him in her heart again?
Her brain understood he was leaving soon, but the closeness of Taylor over the last few days made her heart want the love and closeness they’d once shared.
She pulled into the garage and turned off the car.
Her house waited for her the way it always did.
She walked to the side yard and brushed her fingers along the white picket fence where daisies pushed through in cheerful defiance.
Her mom had planted them too close together once, and Chelsey had teased her about it.
Flowers like company, her mom had said. They bloom better when they’re not alone.
Chelsey went back through the garage and into the house, the familiar hush wrapping around her. The cool air, the lemon-clean scent, the faint tick of the old clock on the wall. Everything exactly where she’d left it.
She set her keys down. Kicked off her gym shoes and let her shoulders drop.
This was the part no one witnessed. Not Heather. Not Taylor. The relief of being held by something that didn’t ask her to choose, didn’t look at her with questions in its eyes, made her almost weep.
So many people thought staying was the easy choice.
They didn’t know what it took to keep loving a place that reminded you daily of who was missing. To wake up every morning and choose continuity over escape. To keep the house standing, the garden blooming, the traditions alive.
She wandered into the kitchen and opened the fridge, absently moving things around she had no intention of eating. Her gaze landed on the calendar taped to the side, June already half crossed out, Strawberry Days circled in red.
Chelsey leaned against the counter and closed her eyes.
Taylor’s laugh drifted back to her, uninvited. The way he’d looked at her at the parade, like he saw not just who she was, but who she might become. It scared her more than his leaving ever had.
Because leaving meant loss she understood.
Wanting more felt like a betrayal she didn’t understand.
She touched the back of her neck, where the small strawberry tattoo still clung to her skin. Temporary. Washable. Proof that some things were allowed to exist without permanence.
“I’m not ready,” she said aloud—to the quiet house, to her mother’s memory, to the part of herself that had stirred in the sun.
And the house didn’t argue.
Outside, the distant sound of the carnival and muffled voices rose and fell. Chelsey walked to the living room window and looked out at Juniper Valley as the sun moved toward setting.
She loved this life. The knowing people and places kept her anchored. The steadiness of her routine kept her busy. The way staying had shaped her into someone dependable and strong.
One day, maybe, she would be brave enough to carry this place with her instead of guarding it so fiercely.
But not yet.
And for now, that was enough.
Chelsey took a hot shower to wash away the fatigue and interfering thoughts of the day. After she dried and styled her hair and put on makeup, she pulled the dress she’d bought for tonight out of the closet.
She slid the satin carefully over her head and looked at herself in the mirror.
She loved how feminine she felt—lovely and strong at the same time.
A plethora of strawberry appliques danced along the hem of the full skirt as well as the neckline.
There was a little pocket on the side too, for her keys and phone.
The red and white polka dot wedges would be a perfect accessory as well as the various strawberry baubles Heather had given her throughout the years.
Heather was going to be totally shocked when she caught sight of Chelsey’s strawberry outfit since she usually dressed in muted colors and sensible shoes.
Chelsey’s phone beeped with an incoming text. Her smile slipped as she read Heather’s urgent words. They needed her immediately. Of course, nothing would be easy about tonight. At least the event was almost over.