Page 72 of A Fall to Remember

The Green Grocer was buzzing with holiday shoppers. Miranda had worried she might have ordered too many imported Belgian chocolate bunnies and fancy bags of jelly beans, but their spring candies were selling out by the minute as locals and tourists filled shopping carts with treasures for Easter baskets.

Harry Connick Jr.’s “A Wink and a Smile” played overhead as Miranda handed a waiting customer an iced lavender and honey latte and a container of her chicken pesto pasta salad.

Pastel bunting was strung in the front window, where a cheerful display of hand-painted eggs and Elise’s latest flower creations—grapevine wreaths adorned with ballet-slipper-pink tulips, bunches of eucalyptus and rosemary, and bundles of spring wildflowers in mason jars—greeted anyone passing by. The store was stocked for the weekend with ready-to-go Easter baskets, hand-painted glass eggs, and chocolates wrapped in jewel-tone foil.

“Should I put these carrot cake cupcakes in the pastry case?”

Miranda turned to see Jim balancing a white pastry box. A smile danced on his lips. She couldn’t believe it had already been six months since their fateful “latte encounter,” as Jim now referred to it. They’d been making long-distance work. Jim arranged as much of his travel as possible to go through San Francisco International Airport so he could take a detour to Half Moon Bay for a few days. Miranda had flown up to Seattle twice for long weekends and tagged along on a handful of work trips.

Thanks to the wild success of Jim and Shelby’s campaign, Voyager Travel had offered Miranda a very generous package to become an official brand partner. She had turned them down. As much as she had enjoyed her brief stint as a travel influencer, there was no place like home.

Jim had indeed convinced the team and higher-ups that there was space in the market to build connection with a new kind of “influencer.” In addition to traveling with Miranda, he’d spent the last six months slowly building a new portfolio of moms, dads, grandparents, and solo travelers eager to share adventures and travel tips with their peers.

It had been lovely and seamless thus far. The only con was that every time they had to leave each other, Miranda felt a dull ache in her chest that refused to release its grip on her until she was in Jim’s arms again.

But he’s here now.

Enjoy the moment.

She flashed him a smile in return and nodded to the end of the deli counter. “Yes, thank you. Go ahead and fill ’er up.”

“I have a feeling they won’t last long.” Jim carefully arranged the cupcakes with mounds of fluffy cream cheese frosting in the case. “It’s been nonstop today.”

“Thanks for jumping in to help.” She blew him a kiss. “I love having you in the store.”

He placed the last cupcake and closed the pastry case. Then he scooted up next to her and twirled his finger, encouraging her to do a little spin. “Hey, we’ve got Harry Connick playing and that gorgeous golden sunlight streaming in through the windows.” He wrapped his arm around her and swayed to the music cheek to cheek. “Oh, and did I forget to mention, the one and only Miranda Brown in my arms?” His voice got low and husky. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

“Me too,” she whispered back.

His phone buzzed, pulling them from the moment. “Uh-oh. It’s the big boss.” Jim wiggled his eyebrows, planting a kiss on her cheek before he answered. “Shelby, how can I be of service?”

Miranda was especially pleased that Shelby had been offered the promotion when she and Jim returned to Seattle last fall. She was Jim’s new boss and fully supported his campaign. So much so that she had even agreed to some punny spring taglines like Spring it on, I don’t want to miss a spring, and Spring for the fences.

She and Pete continued to stay in touch. They’d met up quite a few times and kept in contact with long FaceTime calls and lots of texting. Miranda had a sense that things might be getting serious with the two of them, but like with Pete’s search for his birth father, it was his story to tell when and if he wanted to tell it.

Jim kept his gaze on Miranda. “They did? That’s wonderful news. Yeah, she’s standing right here.”

Miranda scrunched her brow. What was he up to now?

“Well, this calls for a celebration,” Jim said to Shelby, putting the call on speaker, his eyes still lasered on Miranda. “I mean, I think you should tell her because my heart will shatter if she says no.”

“Me? You want me to tell her? No chance.” Shelby’s voice crackled on the other end of the line. “Miranda, I am not getting in the middle of this. No chance. No way. I did my part and moved some mountains, but I’m out. Jim, this is all you, my friend. Love you both. I’m hanging up now. Byyyeeee.”

Miranda’s heart flitted like the hummingbirds drinking from the feeders outside. What was he planning now? Certainly not another influencer campaign.

Jim tucked his phone away and waited for Miranda to package a honey ham and deviled eggs for another customer. Once they had a minute to themselves, he reached for her hand and caressed her palm with his thumb. “Meeting you has been the best thing in my entire life.”

“Me too.” She nodded in agreement, feeling warmth spread through her body, and it wasn’t from the waft of spring air coming in through the open front windows.

“There’s just one problem. I hate being gone from you so much.”

Miranda’s breath quickened.

“If you’ll have me, I was hoping maybe we could rectify that and have Half Moon Bay be my new home base?” He lifted a bushy eyebrow, still gently massaging her hand.

“Have you? Yes! I would love that, but how? What about your job? Voyager? Shelby?” Miranda’s mind ran wild. She was overcome with joy. Having Jim in Half Moon Bay permanently would be a dream. They’d discussed possibilities, but she didn’t realize he was ready to make this a reality.

“Shelby pulled some strings for me. Corporate has agreed to let me work remotely. I’m rarely at the office much anyway. I can video conference, and I’ll go to Seattle once a month for our team meetings, but if you’ll have me⁠—”

“Have you? Have you?” Miranda cut him off and flung herself into his arms, breathing in the scent of his balsam wood cologne and a hint of mint. “It’s a yes. A happy, dreamy, Half Moon Bay, yes.” She stood on her tiptoes and reached up to kiss him.

He cupped his hands over her face and leaned down to return the kiss. “I’m happy to call anywhere with you home.”

*