Claire folded her hands. “That’s so sweet,” she gushed.
Emily wondered if Diane picked up on how passive-aggressive Claire was, but she dismissed the thought. “Call my cell if you need anything, okay?”
“I will,” Diane promised.
Emily jogged upstairs and printed two dozen flyers before dashing out to the barn. Finding the building empty, she continued to Jake’s house, where the garage door was open. She hurried past the refrigerator and tried in vain to banish the memory of Jake almost kissing her there less than twenty-four hours ago.
She walked into the house, where Jake was lounging on the sofa and talking on FaceTime while Dusty snoozed on the windowsill nearby. Emily set the stack of flyers on the kitchen counter before she lingered in the doorway and admired his blond scruff and his adorably messy hair under his ball cap. He turned toward her, and her cheeks flamed. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed her staring.
“Hey, Em is here.” He waved her over. “Come say hi to Ally.”
“Ally!” Emily exclaimed as she rushed over and dropped onto the sofa beside Jake. He shifted against her and held the phone so that they both appeared on the screen, and she cherished the feeling of his whole side snuggled up to her.
“Emily!” Ally exclaimed. “It’s been too long!”
That was true. It had been two years, and Ally had somehow become even lovelier. She’d always reminded Emily of Diane with her pretty blue eyes, petite nose, and angelic face. Her golden hair spilled past her shoulders and she sat on a tan sofa, which Emily imagined was in her apartment at school.
“Ithasbeen too long,” Emily agreed. “How’s school going?”
Ally made a face. “It’s going.” She sighed. “But now I’m worried about my dad.”
“Don’t worry. We’re taking good care of him,” Emily promised.
Jake balanced the phone with his left hand and looped his arm around Emily’s shoulder. She tried to ignore how every nerve ending in her body came alive as she reveled in his cozy closeness.
“I can come home,” Ally offered.
“No, no, no,” her older brother insisted. “We got this. You focus on school, and we’ll see you at Thanksgiving.”
“Will you be there this year, Emily?” Ally asked.
Emily shrugged. “I think so.”
“She will.” Jake gave her a side hug, and Emily didn’t want him to ever let go. “I’ll make sure of it. I’m trying to convince her to move back for good.”
“Yes! You need to come back,” Ally chimed in.
“Are you coming back to Splendid Lake?” Emily asked her.
“I hope to. After law school, of course.”
Emily grinned. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Yes, we are.” Jake drew imaginary circles on Emily’s shoulder blade, sending a flurry of chills cascading down her back. “And I can’t wait for you to see what we’re doing at the orchard.”
Ally’s pretty face brightened. “Tell me!”
While Jake filled in his younger sister on their plans, Emily’s eyes scanned the room. And when they found the television stand,she could tell something was missing. It took her a moment to realize the portrait of Jake and Claire all dressed up was gone.
Had he put the photo away because he was finally letting go of Claire?
She felt her heart stutter.
“We’re heading to town to find some vendors for the market,” Jake told Ally, and Emily’s focus returned to the phone.
“It all sounds amazing. Send me photos,” Ally insisted.
Jake nodded. “We will.”
