“Hey, this is Rusty. If this is an emergency, call...”
She listened as he gave out the number for his towing service, then directed the caller to leave a message. “Hi, Rusty, it’s me. Thanks again for bringing over my phone.” She paused, unsure what else to say.Tell him there’s nothing between you and Jack. Tell him you can’t wait to see him again. Tell him how much he means to—
Beep!
The recorder timed out. She ended the call. Telling him what was on her heart wouldn’t change anything. Not when he didn’t feel the same way.
Harper drew in a breath and headed for her home office, knowing she could find refuge in work. Now that she knew what—actually, who—had tanked her sales, she needed to figure out her next move.
But as she sat down at her desk and turned on the laptop, her mind drifted back to Rusty. The relaxation she’d felt at the fishing hole. The fun they’d had doing his makeover—after they’d gotten past the discomfort she’d created by caressing his chin. She closed her eyes, remembering that moment with a mix of regret and pleasure.
Holding his hand while they gazed at the stars...
She opened her eyes and stared at the computer screen. The last thing she wanted to do was work. Then she realized... that was all she had. Her parents were wrapped up in their drama, and she didn’t want to bother her friends with her professional and personal problems. Riley and Anita had their husbands, and Olivia had her educational pursuits. They didn’t need her tugging them away from their lives.
Above all, she didn’t want them to see the truth. She was Harper Wilson, successful businesswoman, flawless fashion maven, a rising star. She couldn’t let them know her life was falling apart.
***
The First Annual Maple Falls Fall Parade kicked off to huge success. Rusty closed the garage for the day so Percy and Hank could enjoy the festivities. Right before the parade started, he and Senior, along with Amber and his niece and nephews, set out their camping chairs in front of Price’s Hardware. The downtown area was as full as he’d ever seen it. He recognized a few people who had moved away, and he was glad to see them return for the parade.
“It’s starting!” his oldest nephew, Kyle, said.
Senior got up from his chair. He arched his back, then motioned to his grandchildren. “C’mon, youngins. Let’s get a closer look.” When Amber started to get up, he shook his head. “I can handle ’em. We ain’t goin’ far.”
She sat back in her chair, relaxing a little when she saw they were only a few feet away. Senior had the kids sit on the edge of the curb as Sheriff Hendricks’s car rolled by, his lights flashing.
“This is nice,” Amber said. “I’m glad to see they’re bringing parades back.”
“Thanks to Hayden.” Rusty glanced at Hayden and Riley, who stood a few feet away behind a table set up with brochures and information about Maple Falls and the surrounding area. “He worked to get this off the ground.”
“The kids are loving it. Even that big one over there.” Amber laughed and pointed as Senior grinned and waved at a pair of clowns walking by.
Rusty laughed and took a sip of warm cider.
Amber stuck her hands into the pockets of her dark-orange fleece vest. “Have you found a new place yet?”
He paused. He hadn’t spoken to Harper since Wednesday night. He’d silenced his phone as soon as he got home, and on Thursday morning he saw that she’d left a voice mail. He hadn’t listened to it yet. Eventually he would have to, but when she came to mind—and she did, frequently—all he saw was that guy touching her face and holding her hand. “Still lookin’,” he said, hoping that would satisfy his sister’s curiosity.
“Austin and I made our decision,” she said. “We’re going to Colorado. I’m going to tell Senior this evening before we go back home.”
“He already knows,” Rusty said.
Amber looked at him, then shrugged. “I’m not surprised. Did you talk to him about selling that dump?”
“Ilive in that dump. And it ain’t exactly a dump.”
“It’s totally a dump.” She pushed aside a strand of red hair the same color as his and hooked it behind her ear, which was also covered in freckles. “What did he say?”
Rusty watched Bubba Lewis drive by in his ’49 Ford truck. “To sell the dump.”
“See? Even he thinks it’s unsalvageable.”
For some reason he felt compelled to defend the house. “It can be fixed up. And there’s plenty of space in the backyard to build an addition. The neighborhood’s real quiet too.”
His sister gave him an odd look. “Since it’s got lots of potential, it should be easy to sell, right?”
Seeing there was no convincing her, he relented. “Sure.” The parade was almost over, with the town’s one fire truck bringing up the rear. “When are you moving?”
