“Then that’s your answer.”
Emily nodded. She agreed with her friend. She just had to find the right time to talk to him.
Emily steered her Jeep toward Jake’s house. She parked in his empty driveway and spotted Dusty sleeping in his front window. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and then pulled out her cell phone. She’d listened to all of Jake’s voicemail messages and read all of the texts he’d sent, and they basically said the same thing. They begged her to forgive him and talk to him.
Guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders as she recalled the painin his voice. She should’ve talked to him earlier in the day, but she was still working through her own heartache. Now she was finally ready to talk, but he wasn’t home.
Maybe it serves me right.
Turning toward the orchard and the barn, she smiled as her heart began to put itself back together. “This is home. Jake is home. I can’t let go. I love him too much.”
At that moment Emily knew she was going to fight for him, no matter what it took.
She unlocked her phone and then stilled. This wasn’t a conversation she should have on the phone. Instead, she wanted to talk to him in person.
Jake was hers, and she was going to tell him tomorrow. She stuck her phone in her pocket and then drove toward his parents’ house as a plan came together in her mind.
Chapter 25
“You’re not going to believe this.” Maddy, one of Jake’s employees, hurried over to him the following morning. “We’re out of candied applesandyour cider.”
Jake glanced around the orchard and shook his head. The place was buzzing with people. They were moving in and out of the barn and lining up to buy bushel baskets of apples. This kind of crowd was more than he could’ve dreamed of—because of Emily’s genius and talent. His heart turned over in his chest.
He’d missed Emily at his parents’ house again this morning, but his mom said she’d left smiling, which was a good sign—he hoped. She’d told his mom that she’d see her later, which was another good sign that she wasn’t leaving town today.
“Jake.”
He turned as Vince approached him.
“The mayor is here,” Vince said. “It’s almost time to start.”
“Right.” Jake wrung his hands and scanned the area. “Have you seen Emily today?”
Vince shook his head. “Not since early this morning.”
Andi and Seth emerged from the barn, and Jake rushed over to them. “Have you seen Emily?”
A strange expression flickered over Andi’s face. “I know where she is.”
“Where?” Jake asked.
Andi and Seth shared a look before she faced Jake again. “Don’t worry. I’ll get her.”
Jake pointed to the stage, where Carolina Dreamin’ had just wrapped up their first set of the day. “I need her here before the presentation starts. I have a surprise for her, but please don’t tell her,” he said. “Can you get her?”
“No problem,” Andi said before she headed toward the orchard.
Seth patted Jake’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. My wife will handle it.”
Jake hoped so as he headed toward the mayor. “Mayor Fairmount,” he called. “Good morning.”
A rustling noise sounded from the nearby bushes.
“Em!” Andi called. “It’s almost time for the presentation.”
Emily checked the time on her phone and gasped. “Oh no. I didn’t realize how late it was.” She stood up from behind the easel and checked the drawing. It wasn’t done. “I need to finish this. I’ll be there in a little while.”
“No,” Andi insisted. “I need you to comenow.” She hurried down the dock toward her.
