Chapter 21
As soon asJo arrived at the rehearsal lunch, Jack knew something about Jo was off. He approached her, growing more concerned the closer he got. “Hey, everything okay?”
“Grandma doesn’t want to sell.” The way she said it gave him the impression that she was upset. Unless something major had happened to shift her opinion.
“And you’re upset? I thought you didn’t want her to sell.”
She hugged herself. “I didn’t, but I started getting used to the idea of her moving in with me. I’d pictured us traveling and experiencing things together. It makes me sad that might not happen now.”
A knife plunged into his chest. Charlie and Jo gone? “Oh.”
“The developer plans to bulldoze the house, and Grandma doesn’t want that.” She sighed. “And she doesn’t want to move either.”
His spirits lifted instantly. At least if Charlie stayed, maybe he”d get to see Jo on occasion. ”I”m sorry.”
“Me too,” she whispered. She sucked in a sharp breath, and her eyes widened. “You could buy it. She was willing to listen to the offer, and I think she would have sold if it weren’t for the fact that they planned to tear the house down. Maybe you could even help me convince her to move with me.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “Do you not hear yourself? I mean, I want to buy the property without question. But Charlie doesn’t want to move to a big city. She loves Wishing Well. Just like I wouldn’t talk Charlie into hearing Craig’s offer, I won’t talk her into moving with you either.”
Her lips pinched together, and fire flared in her eyes. “If you cared about her, you would. She’ll need someone to take care of her. If she lives with me, I’ll be there to take care of her.” Her voice rose with each word.
Jack cupped her elbow and led her away from the people gathering at the lunch. He shielded her from the group and crossed his arms over his chest. “When Jo? You said you’re going to be so busy that you wouldn’t have time for a relationship. Where would Charlie fit in there?”
“I’d make changes. I’d just explain to Delia that my family needed me and that I needed to slow things down.”
“The same Delia that has lied to you repeatedly. The one who said she’d move you to photography and instead hired someone else?”
“This would be different.”
“How?” He tilted his head.
Her mouth opened and shut a few times. “It just would.”
His temper flared. “Keep telling yourself that lie. Maybe you believe it, but you better hope?—”
“Is everything okay?” Serenity’s voice came from behind Jack.
He turned. “Uh?—”
Jo stepped forward. “Yeah, everything is great. We were just talking.”
Serenity looked from Jo to Jack and back. “Are you sure? I didn’t realize?—”
“Nope,” Jo said. “We were done talking.” Ice dripped from the words as she glared at him.
He sagged. “Jo.”
Another glare. “We’ll… talk later.”
Translation? She would never speak to him again, but there wasn’t a single bit of him that was sorry for what he’d said. If Jo wanted to be selfish, then so be it, but she wasn’t getting a pass from him. Seemed like she wasn’t getting one from Charlie either.
Though, her turning down Craig’s offer, gave him renewed hope that maybe he could make another offer and she might take it, especially if he promised not to tear it down. If anything, he’d make it even better than before. If he had his way, it’d be the go-to place to stay in Wishing Well, and given time, he’d make it a wedding venue that rivaled anything within a hundred miles.
The venue Ethan and Serenity chose wasn’t bad. It was just a good half hour away. Plenty of miles to put a chill on the food being catered, and there are also enough miles to have a breakdown or get lost. The actual venue wasn’t horrible if you wanted extra rustic. The owners had stripped an old barn down to its barebones, making it almost like a pergola. It stood in the middle of a field of wildflowers, which Jack had to admit smelled fantastic with its hints of honey and vanilla.
If this was his closest competitor, there was no way he was going to lose business. Of course, there would be brides who wanted this sort of wedding, but they’d stay at his place. He’d make it as warm and as inviting as humanly possible. Give them no way to resist the charm and beauty of the area.
He forced the thoughts away and smiled as he followed Jo to the table. They were celebrating his brother getting married, and Jack could figure out his business plan later.
Jack had to hand it to Jo. Her ability to switch into professional mode was impressive. She’d smile, even at him, like there was nothing wrong at all. Even after taking pictures, she conversed with people, including him, as though they’d never argued.
As the wedding party was finishing lunch, Jack wiped his mouth and stood. Ethan gave him a puzzled look.
Jack tipped his head toward the front of the venue. “I have a wedding gift for you.”
“A gift?” asked Serenity. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.” He smiled. “I just hope you like it. If you don’t, it’s okay. It won’t hurt my feelings.” Not entirely true, but it was her wedding, and if the arch didn’t fit with what she wanted, he would understand. He glanced at Jo, and for the first time since their argument, he could swear he saw pride in her eyes.
“Come on, it’s over here.”
Ethan and Serenity stood and followed him, and the rest of the party quickly joined them. When Jack reached the arch, he pulled the furniture blankets off. His heart was in his throat. After failing to sell his furniture, he had to admit, he was a little—okay, a lot—anxious.
Ethan’s jaw hung open as he circled the arch. “Oh, man. Jack, you carved that? When?”
“I did.” He looked at Ethan. “Honestly, I knew by the second date that you’d eventually ask her to marry you, but I started working on it about six months ago. I could just feel it coming.”
Serenity approached it, one hand to her mouth and the other, inches away as she walked around it. “Jack…” She swallowed hard. “This is amazing. I’m not sure I have words. It’s one of the nicest, most precious things anyone has ever given me.” She turned to Ethan. “I worried that your family might not completely want me, especially after I lied and let you think I was someone else. Plus, I come with paparazzi, weird filming schedules, and a host of other annoyances. I?—”
Their mom rushed forward and gathered her in her arms. “Sweetheart, we are thrilled to have you in our family.” She leaned back. “You just wanted to be sure Ethan loved you because of you and not because you are famous. I—we,” she said and looked at their dad. “We understand. Ethan loves you, and we love you.”
In the background, Jack caught Jo snapping shots. He suspected his soon-to-be sister would love to know that the moment was caught for memory’s sake.
“I’m assuming that you would like it at the wedding then?” Jack asked, attempting to infuse a little humor in the moment.
Laughing, Serenity nodded and took a tissue from Zoey, her maid of honor. “Thank you,” Serenity said, dabbing her eyes. “And yes, I would love it.” She stepped closer to Ethan and hugged him around the chest. “I just love it.”
“I don’t even… it’s really incredible. The detail is amazing.” Ethan smiled. My big brother, the almost-pro footballer, is now an artist. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
There were more questions about the arch which led to questions about other works he’d created. There were even requests to visit the shop to see his other creations. The emotions he experienced were mixed and not so easily identified. Happiness, excitement, and fulfillment, among others, he couldn’t quite put a finger on.
Jack was actually relieved when the minister arrived, and the attention was diverted back to Ethan and Serenity. They practiced everything from walking to taking their places. The men had it much easier than the women. Escorting the mothers of the bride and groom and then standing at the front with the groom. All eyes would be on them, but they wouldn’t be entering the venue and then having everyone watch them as they walked the aisle.
All in all, it took roughly an hour to go over everything to the satisfaction of everyone who was involved. Once they were finished and Jo had put away her camera, she caught Jack and pulled him to the side.
“I’m still not really talking to you.”
“But you are.”
She rolled her eyes. “I just wanted to say I told you so. I knew she would love it, and I knew once people saw how talented you are, they would want more.” She lifted her nose a little. “I’m proud of you. That arch is beautiful, and it’s going to make their wedding even more special. The photos are going to be fantastic.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks.”
“Okay.” She turned to leave, and he caught her.
“Jo, I wasn’t trying to argue with you earlier. Really. I just… I don’t understand why you hate this place so much.”
“You wouldn’t. You have two amazing parents and a brother who loves you.”
“You have a grandmother who loves you.” His heart skipped a beat. “People…people who love you.”
“It’s not the same thing!” Her voice rose, and she tucked her chin against her chest, mildly embarrassed. “It’s not the same thing,” she said softer.
Jack looked at her and exhaled. “You’re right. You had it better.”
Jo jerked her gaze to his. “What? How can you say that?”
“Because your grandma had a choice. She didn’t have to keep you or let you live with her or love you. But she chose you.”
She blinked a few times, her lips pressed together, and her face turned pink. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’m done talking to you.” She huffed. “Don’t worry about working on the house. I’ve got it, and if we need help, I’ll hire someone else. I don’t want to see you again.”
He sucked in a sharp breath as his heart hit the ground. “Come on, Jo, you don’t mean that.”
“I do. We’re done, so just leave me alone from now on,” she said as she stormed off.
Jack stood there a moment. His head and his chest hurt.
His mom must have seen what happened because she was next to him before Jo even reached her car. “Is everything okay?”
Raking his hand through his hair, he said, “No. I think I just ruined everything.”
“Were you honest?”
“Yeah.” He looked at her. “I was.”
“Were you respectful?”
He replayed the conversation. “I think so, or I sure tried to be.”
His mom touched his arm and looked up at him. “Do you care about her?”
“Yes.” He didn’t even hesitate. “I’ve fallen for her.”
“Does she know that?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t even get the chance to get that far.”
She followed his gaze, and they watched Jo take off.
“It’s cliché, but if it’s meant to be, it will work out. Give her some space and some time. I have a feeling it’s not about you.”
Maybe his mom was right. Maybe this was something she had to figure out on her own, and he needed to keep his distance until she did, even if that meant indefinitely.
The only way a relationship would work is if she wanted it to, and until she wanted it, there was no point in chasing it. Or her.