6
Annie
Brandon’s coming today. That thought shouldn’t fill me with as much agitation as it does.
The shift started with his comment on New Year’s Eve: If I kissed you, it would be a very big deal.
I’ve been replaying those words in my mind ever since.
Did he mean that he wants to kiss me? Because he made it pretty clear in the Narnia closet that he has no interest in dating me.
And I should absolutely not be interested in dating him.
Not when I have Jack in my life—wonderful, clever Jack, who is always saying sweet things like, “You are as witty as Lizzy Bennet, as good as Jane Eyre, and as lovable as Anne Shirley.” And yes, he has read all of those books, plus so many more.
Jack is a voracious reader. And I love that about him.
But still, I can’t shake the whole Narnia closet incident.
What would have happened if Pepper hadn’t interrupted us?
Would Brandon have kissed me? I don’t think he would.
He knows I’m with Jack, and he said he can’t date—whatever that means.
But if he had kissed me? I don’t know what I would have done.
Does that mean I’m a terrible person? I think that means I’m a terrible person.
How can I even think of Brandon when I have Jack?
He is not afraid to act on his feelings—Jack is all in.
He recently decided to stay another month in Big Sur just to spend more time with me.
We’re letting him rent one of the large cottages, even though cottage rentals stopped mid-June due to all the nearby construction.
The small cottages are being replaced, but renovations on the three larger cottages won’t begin until fall.
But since they’re so close to the demolition zone, we aren’t renting them to guests.
Brandon and Pepper—and now Jack—are the only exceptions.
To prepare for Brandon and Pepper’s arrival, I’m placing flowers in the cottage, as well as leaving a tin of their favorite cookies.
“Who are these people again?” Jack asks while sampling a chocolate chip cookie from the tin.
I playfully swat his hand. “Hey, you have your own box!”
“I know,” he says around a mouthful of cookie, which he devours in two bites.
“But they’re so delicious.” Jack often accompanies me in the morning as I freshen up and replace flower arrangements throughout the resort.
Since I was in middle school, I’ve been tending my own flower garden and making my own flower arrangements.
I make sure that each table in the cafe has fresh flowers and that each of the cottages has take-your-breath-away flower boxes.
For years, my sister, who manages the resort, didn’t have the funds to pay me for what I considered a hobby.
However, since Brandon bought Norland Park last summer, he has insisted I’m paid for my efforts.
And he pays well. Brandon says very nice business-y things about my flowers.
I can’t remember his exact words, but the gist is that my fresh flowers are “integral” to the brand of Norland Park, which is honestly really kind of him.
More than once, he has suggested I could start a business with my flowers.
I like the idea, but I have no idea how I would even get started.
“It’s the new park owner, Brandon James. He’s the one who saved Norland Park.”
“I thought your sister’s boyfriend owned the park.”
“Edward owns Bumble Cottage, where we live, and the land it’s on. Brandon owns the resort. But Edward’s managing the renovation. They’re business partners.”
“Huh. So this Brandon guy is kind of a big deal. I might as well stick around to meet him.”
“Um . . .” This is the moment I’ve been dreading. “Actually, you’ve already met Brandon. He was the one that stopped by that morning, you know . . . the day after we met.”
“Are you telling me I get to live next to your ex?”
“How many times do I need to tell you? Brandon’s not my ex—we’ve never dated.”
“But he’s into you.” I can’t help but think of the way Brandon looked at me in the Narnia closet. For a moment there, I thought the same.
“He’s never even asked me out”—this much is true—“or shown any interest. So I think not. Now don’t go all territorial on me. I can’t have you picking a fight with Brandon; he’s like twice your size.”
“So he’s rich and jacked, but you’re still dating me instead of him?” Jack hugs me from behind. “You must really like me.” He slowly kisses the back of my neck, a move that always makes me feel a little lightheaded.
“Annie!” Pepper shouts from the front porch. I turn. Brandon stands in the doorway. His expression blank. I slip out of Jack’s arms just before Pepper scampers into the room and throws her arms around me.
“I have so many plans for this summer. Daddy and I are going to hike to a waterfall on Wednesday. Do you want to come along?”
“Maybe? You know I love a good hike.”
“Can I come, too?” Jack asks Pepper.
“I’ll think about it.” Pepper eyes him suspiciously. “How do you know Annie?”
“I’m Jack Willoughby.” He puts his arm around me. “Annie’s boyfriend,” he says, like dating me is his greatest achievement.
“Oh! Yeah, Annie told us all about you. Sure, you can tag along.” She shrugs.
Both Brandon and I stare at Pepper with some shock. What is this? I expected her to be upset and maybe run off to her room. I expected slamming doors and crying. I absolutely did not expect her to invite Jack on their hike. For some reason this response has me concerned.
“If Annie’s going, I’m in,” says Jack, pulling me closer.
“Splendid!” Pepper says with a big, tightlipped smile. What is she plotting? What would I be plotting? I still can’t believe she locked us in the closet. “Mr. Willoughby can come along, right?” Pepper asks her dad.
“Sure. It’ll give us an excellent chance to get to know him better.
” He claps a hand on Jack’s back. “My only concern is Annie’s ankle.
Are you sure you can hike on it?” Brandon studies my face.
He always asks questions with this odd intensity, as if he’s deeply interested in the answer.
We should probably all ask questions that way, but most people don’t.
You can see it in their eyes. They ask a question and are immediately thinking about what they are going to say next.
Not Brandon. He gives you his full attention.
It’s incredibly flattering but also a little unsettling.
“I think so. It’s doing a lot better.”
“Good.” He sets down a large duffle bag.
“Jack, will you help me bring the luggage in? Then maybe we can all go get lunch at Mom’s Cafe.
I’ve been dreaming of those garlic burgers the whole drive.
” My mom runs the restaurant at Norland Park that serves breakfast and lunch.
People drive for hours to have her garlic burgers.
Personally, her fried chicken is my favorite.
“I love those burgers,” says Jack. This is true.
He has one nearly every day. Jack walks out of the cottage with Brandon.
The sight fills me with unease. I feel like I’m missing something.
But then again, what am I expecting? For Brandon to challenge Jack to a duel?
At times Brandon can be a bit stiff or aloof.
And I’d never accuse him of being a chatterbox.
But in general, he has impeccable manners.
He wouldn’t insult a new acquaintance. His behavior the morning after my birthday was a one-off.
“So, what’s on the agenda?” I ask Pepper as we carry bags up to her room.
“I’m going to visit all my old haunts—the cove, old Jed in the hotel lobby, and I want to see the new tree house Freshie is building.
” Freshie is the nickname Brandon and Pepper sometimes call Edward.
Brandon was the captain of Edward’s lacrosse team at Dartmouth.
They have stayed in touch over the years, but their friendship was cemented when the two of them reconnected last summer and decided to start a business together.
“Oh! And I need to visit Lady Whimple and make my wish for the summer.”
“Do you know what you’re going to wish for?”
“I do.” Pepper nods her head decisively.
“Are you going to tell me?”
“No, then it won’t come true.”
I could probably guess Pepper’s wish. She wants me to end things with Jack and start dating her dad.
Not that long ago, that was my wish. But then I met Jack.
And I don’t know . . . I think I might be falling in love?
The man is effortlessly charming—and that’s not even taking into account that he is the most beautiful man in the world.
Mom is completely won over. Elinor, being Elinor, has some reservations.
Though she freely admits that he is criminally attractive.
He told me that he loved me two days after we met. He says when you know, you know. I just wish I knew.
The way we met was so romantic. And he loves poetry and quotes Shakespeare just like my dad.
It all seems meant to be. Still, I’m not quite ready to say those three all-important words to Jack.
I want to be certain. And those few minutes in the Narnia closet .
. . well, they left me very uncertain. But what should I do?
Break up with Jack who loves me, in the hope that the man who said he doesn’t date will change his mind?
And why doesn’t Brandon date? Did he promise his dead wife that he’d never remarry? That seems unlikely, since she died in a flash flood.
I can’t think about Brandon right now. My focus needs to be Pepper.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” I begin.
“Yes?” Pepper looks at me expectantly.
“So . . .” I spread down my gingham skirt. I’m not sure why I feel so nervous. “We had a lot of fun locking Edward and Elinor up in the tree house. But I should have never taught you that, and—”
“You can skip the lecture. My dad has given it to me about a zillion times. You’re dating Jack, and I’m not going to do any parent trap stuff.”