Chapter 12
Jake’s heart was in his throat when he found his parents’ front door wide open and an ambulance with lights flashing parked
in the driveway. He raced into the house, and his world tilted as he took in the scene.
Two EMTs were loading his father onto a stretcher at the bottom of the stairs. Dad moaned while cradling his right arm to
his chest. A gash stretched across his forehead, and a bright purple bruise lined his cheek. His left leg also sported a splotch
turning black and blue.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no. Not again!
Jake sagged against the wall and tried to shove down the tide of panic rising in his gut.
“Son!”
Mom rushed over to him. Her eyes were red and puffy, and tears streaked her cheeks.
“What happened?” Jake asked in a strained voice.
“Your dad said he wanted to get something, and before I could stop him, he was halfway up the stairs, and then he fell. I tried to call you, but when I couldn’t reach you, I called 911.”
Jake tried to swallow past the guilt lodged in his throat.
A warm hand covered his forearm, and Emily came to stand beside him. “It’s going to be okay.” Her voice was comforting.
He nodded dumbly, wanting to believe her. No, needing to believe her.
“Ms. Hughes,” one of the EMTs called, “we’re going to take him to the hospital.”
Mom took a shuddering breath. “Is he going to be okay?”
“Ma’am, we can’t say for sure, but I think he’s sprained or broken his arm. We’ll let the doctors check him out. Do you want
to ride with us?”
“Yes, of course.” Mom nodded and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Emily gave Jake’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll see you there.”
The EMTs loaded Dad into the ambulance and then helped Mom in before the doors slammed, and soon the ambulance took off, sirens
blaring.
Adrenaline shot through Jake, and he took off toward his house. He fished his keys from his pocket, and they jingled as he
fisted them.
Emily’s footfalls sounded behind him on the rock path. “Jake!” Her footsteps sped up before she grabbed his arm and tugged
him, causing him to stumble. “Stop!”
“We need to go now.” He tried to rip his arm out of her grasp, but her fingers clamped down on him. “What are you doing? We have to go!”
“You’re not driving.” Her expression was somber.
He made another attempt to shake his arm free, but she doubled down, grabbing his other arm.
“Jake, stop.”
He froze.
“Take a breath.”
He pulled in a ragged breath through his nose, and his eyes began to sting. He lifted his gaze toward the gray clouds clogging
the sky and tried to blink back the tears that threatened to spill onto his cheeks.
Hold it together. It’s your job to be the strong one.
But guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he drew in another deep breath to try to calm himself down.
“Hey.”
He closed his eyes and worked to rein in his raging emotions.
“Jake, look at me.”
He shook his head. “We need to go,” he whispered, his words sounding hoarse.
A warm hand cupped his cheek. “Please look at me,” Emily pleaded.
When he opened his eyes and saw the compassion in her face, he felt as if his soul were covered in a blanket of warmth.
“You don’t have to shoulder this alone. I’m going to be by your side, no matter what happens.”
He couldn’t help it then. A few tears escaped his eyes, and she brushed them away with the tips of her fingers.
He cleared his throat and attempted to find his voice. “When my dad fell, my mom tried to call me at least four times, but
I didn’t answer,” he croaked out. “I should’ve been there.”
“It’s not your fault.” She threaded her fingers with his.
He nodded and wiped away more tears.
Ugh! Stop blubbering like an idiot. You’re almost a thirty-year-old man!
Emily wrapped her arms around his waist, and Jake closed his eyes, resting his chin on her head until his tears subsided. Then he released her and dried his eyes with his sleeve. “We need to go,” he said.
“Fine, but I’m driving. You’re in no shape to get behind the wheel.”
He nodded.
They jumped into her Jeep, and his leg bounced while she steered out of the orchard.
Emily stopped at a red light and rested her hand on his thigh. “Deep breaths.” She reached for his hand, then entwined her
fingers with his. “I’m here.”
“Thank you,” he managed to say as he felt a tiny ribbon of relief swirl in his chest.
Emily shifted on the pine-colored vinyl chair. She tried crossing her legs and folding one underneath her, but she couldn’t
find a comfortable position. Not that she would on hospital furniture.
She glanced at the clock on the wall and then scanned the crowded waiting area of the emergency room. A television mounted
in the corner showed a weatherman discussing the forecast for the weekend, but there was no way she could concentrate on what
the man was saying. All she could think about was Jake and his parents.
She couldn’t believe that two hours ago she was standing in Jake’s garage, where he had almost kissed her.
He almost kissed me!
But . . . none of that mattered now. There were more important things to worry about.
She could still hear the pain in Jake’s voice when he told her that he should’ve been there to help his parents.
And seeing the trails of tears down his cheeks had fractured her heart.
She couldn’t stop herself from holding him—she’d do anything to comfort him—and she was grateful he’d allowed her to.
But sitting out in the waiting area and not knowing what was going on was making her crazy. She’d almost texted Jake a hundred
times, but she knew he’d share an update with her if he had one.
She longed for someone to talk to, any sort of distraction, so she unlocked her phone and shot off a text to Andi.
Emily: Hi! I hope you and Seth are having fun in Hickory. I wanted to let you know that Jake’s dad fell, and we’re at the
ER. I’m waiting on an update.
Andi: Oh no!!! Please let us know how he is and if you need anything. We can head home earlier if you need us.
Emily smiled. Andi and Seth were the best kind of friends.
Emily: Thanks. I’ll keep you posted.
She dropped the phone into the front pocket of her hoodie and then picked up a celebrity gossip magazine. She swallowed a
groan when she realized it was nearly eighteen months old. Well, it was better than nothing. Resting her elbow on the arm
of the chair, she set her chin on her palm and flipped through the stories.
After a while, still immersed in one of the stories, Emily could’ve sworn she heard a familiar female voice.
“I’m looking for Leon Hughes. His wife is Diane; his son is Jake. And I’m practically family!”
Oh no. It can’t be!
Emily slowly turned toward the reception desk and spotted the owner of the familiar voice.
Claire Chapman.
Emily slumped down in the seat and lifted the magazine, hoping to hide her face. But Claire’s green eyes locked on hers before
a devilish smile lifted her lips.
Claire waved and rushed across the waiting area toward her with her high heels clacking all the way. “Emily!” she called.
Ugh!
As if she’d just strutted off the pages of a fashion magazine, Claire sported a light green peasant top, a pair of jeans that
accentuated her hourglass figure, and peep-toe pumps. As usual her makeup was perfect and set off her jade eyes, high cheekbones,
and pouty lips. And her blonde hair was perfectly smooth. She’d always looked so perfect that she reminded Emily of a Barbie
doll—tall and elegant, with flawless skin and curves in all the right places.
And she was sitting across from Emily, who sported a messy ponytail, an oversized gray hoodie, ripped jeans, and pink high-tops
that were splattered with a rainbow of dried paint.
Could this day get any worse?
“Oh, Emily! It’s so good to see you, despite the circumstances.” Her eyes roved over Emily, and her fake smile widened. “You
look . . .” She paused as if searching for the perfect word. “Terrific,” she gushed. “Jake told me that you came back to help
him with the orchard, but I didn’t realize you were still in Splendid Lake.”
“I sure am.” Emily sat up straight and wanted to kick herself. Could she think of anything more basic to say?
Claire pressed her hand to her chest. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard that Leon had fallen. How horrible! He’s already been through so much with his heart attack.” She stuck her lip out. “That family has just had a rough go of it. I mean, how much can poor Jakey take?”
It took everything in Emily not to roll her eyes. Claire had always called Jake “Jakey” when they were in high school, and
Emily teased Jake about it. Hearing her say it now, nearly twelve years after they’d graduated, made her want to gag. But
instead, Emily worked to keep a nonchalant expression on her face.
“I was here when Leon had his heart attack,” Claire continued. “I sat with Jake in the ER.” She pointed across the waiting
area. “Right over there, and I held his hand. He was devastated, Emily. Just devastated.”
Emily was certain every single muscle in her body tensed. So Claire had been with Jake during the heart attack. A vision filled
her mind of Jake slumped over in an uncomfortable waiting room chair while Claire held his hand and whispered in his ear,
promising that his father would be fine and that she’d always be there for him. Claire had been his strength, his comforter.
And now she was back after his father’s fall, prepared to do it all over again.
Emily felt like a fool believing that she could provide Jake all the comfort he needed. She’d never be enough for him.
And another thought hit her like a punch to the stomach: How did Claire find out that Leon fell?
And then the pieces fell into place. Had Jake almost kissed Emily and then called his ex-girlfriend to come to the hospital
after his father’s accident?
The thought sat like a lead bar in her churning stomach.
But that didn’t make any sense. When would Jake have called Claire? After they arrived at the ER?
Stop it, Emily! This isn’t about you. It’s about Leon and his fragile health.
Emily gripped the hoodie’s cuffs while she stared at Claire.