“I like being here with you,” he whispered.
She nodded her head against his chest and sniffled.
“Are you alright?”
Molly nodded again and gripped the back of his jacket.
He guessed the sniffle was a sign of something else. There was something bothering her… as much as he wanted to pull it out of her, he thought it best to wait for her to share when she was comfortable. In the meantime, he needed to make some decisions of his own. This woman would either stay in Lemon Grove or would go to the city to build her coffee shop empire. If he really wanted to be with her, he might need to rethink his own plans. Was she enough to entice him back to the city?
Rick tried not to think about the day that would inevitably come when she would need to return home. He had known the risk when he met her, yet he still took the chance. He had to. Rick would have beaten himself up if he had let her go without a try. Already, she had found a solid place in his heart, and he still had so much to learn about her. They might have a lifetime ahead of them to get to know each other. They merely needed time to give their relationship a chance to grow. With the number of meetings he had on his work calendar in the days ahead, time would be hard to find.
“I have an idea,” he said.
“What's that?” She slowly slipped her head out from beneath his chin. Molly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and stared up at him with a smile.
Maybe she was thinking the same thing he was. Saying goodbye was going to be hard. They couldn't waste their last days together being sad about their future separation. They had to make the most of them and he would lead the way. “I have work to do this week, but there is a Farmers’ Market in town that I'd like to take you to.”
“What's at the Farmers’ Market?”
“The local shops and home businesses set up stands with their merchandise. There are fresh foods to try, and best of all, live music.”
“Really?”
“We have a local band that has been a staple at the Farmers’ Market for thirty years, they tell me.”
She laughed and nodded. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”
“It's not for a couple of days, but I thought maybe we needed something to look forward to. I'd like to come by and see you in the evening, if that's alright with you.”
“I'd like that.”
Rick breathed a sigh of relief. Part of him had worried she would turn him down. Whatever was on her mind made her sad, and if his mother taught him anything, a crying woman meant bad news.
“I think you're really going to like it. You’re into plastic beads and tie-dyed shirts, right?”
Chapter Twenty
Molly stared at her steaming mug of instant ground coffee and shivered. For several minutes, she stood in place, revisiting the day before. Her thoughts had kept her awake that night as she replayed the kiss by the waterfall. It was a magical kiss and one she wished never ended. Wrapped in her sleeping bag, she still felt the warmth of his lips against hers and the gentleness of his arms wrapped around her waist. No one ever held her like Rick had. Any interactions with previous boyfriends had been, by comparison, lifeless and cold. Rick showed that he wanted her. She wanted him, too, but the timing... oh, that terrible timing.
If only Carla had never told her about the shop on 8th. With the knowledge of expanding the business looming in the back of her mind, it put a damper on the date with Rick, and no matter how hard she tried to put the thoughts out of her head, she kept thinking about the day it would all come crashing down.
Her hands shook, and a chill of cool morning air blew up the back of her jacket, sending a shiver through her body. The thoughts about Rick and needing to return to the coffee shop in the city and her apartment were as cold as the mountains. The reality of what was coming brought a melancholy air to her vacation. Molly left the city sad, and now the sadness crept back in and weighed her heart down. She should be happy and enjoying the excitement a new relationship brings. Instead, she was wallowing in self-pity and worry. As Carla said, if it was supposed to happen, everything would work out. Molly and Rick could be together, even if she had to be in the city with the business. Still, the nagging thought lingered: maybe she didn't belong in the city at all and this entire trip had given her a fresh look at her life. It wasn't only the relationship that she wanted, but this, the quiet lifestyle, all of it. As much as she wanted to support Carla, leaving all this behind would be a mistake. Rick was only one of many reasons to stay in Lemon Grove, and there was a perfect opportunity with Patsy’s café to have employment. It was as if she was being handed everything she was asking for, and she was rejecting it out of fear.
“Shoo! Go away,” a woman shouted from the campsite across from her. “Go on. Get!”
Molly stepped to the side to look around their parked pickup truck at the front of the woman’s campsite. A large fifth wheel camper touched the tree branches and took over much of the space. A unit that large and new would cost Molly a couple of years' worth of income and probably even more debt.
“Hudson!” Molly called. He hadn't come by her site yet, but if she had to guess...
The dog came galloping across the road toward her with his tail wagging in the air.
“There you are. I was wondering where you were. Did you have a good walk?”
“Is that your dog?” the woman called from across the street. She planted her fists against her hips, which she tilted at an angle to one side.
“Oh, he is—”
“You shouldn’t allow your dog to wander into people's campsites like that. If you're going to bring a dog to a campground, the least you can do is tie him.”
Was that what she sounded like when she first met Rick? If so, she's lucky he talked to her after such a rude introduction.
“Hudson is an old dog and enjoys visiting with the guests here.”
“Well, the guests don't want to visit with him. Every campground we've visited, the guests have followed the rules. They should expect you to follow them, too.”
Molly sensed the heat rising within her. She wanted nothing more than to unleash her frustration on this woman who knew nothing about Hudson and was assuming Molly was the owner. If she gave Molly a chance to explain, she'd understand.
“I am going to be letting the office know about this.”
“Go ahead.” Molly laughed. The woman wouldn't be happy to learn Hudson has free rein of the property.
The woman's mouth hung open as she waved her hands in the air in frustration. “Do you think the owners of this campground want some person allowing their dog to roam free and disturb the other guests?”
“Since I've been here, you're the only person who has complained to me and I have been here for a week. Hudson doesn't bother anyone. Isn't that right, Hudson?”
Upon hearing his name, the dog sat on the ground facing the woman and nuzzled Molly's hand.
“Well, if you will not correct that dog's behavior, you leave me with no choice. Henry!”
A tired-looking man peered out from beside their truck. “Yes?”
“We're going down to the office. We will not enjoy ourselves as long as this woman assumes she can allow her dog to wander into our site.”
“It's just a dog—”
She raised her hand to silence him and marched to the back of the truck where they had an animated conversation out of earshot.
Molly glanced down at Hudson and whispered, “You sure picked the wrong site to visit this morning. Didn't you?”
Hudson beat his tail against the ground and licked her fingers.
“I know. But not everyone likes to have a dog visit them when they’re camping. Don't worry. You can visit me anytime.”
The man and woman hopped into their truck and pulled onto the road. The man kept his eyes straight ahead while the woman glared at Molly, who wore a wide smile on her face.
“She's about to get a big surprise. Come on.” Molly slapped her side and walked to her chair to drape her blanket over her legs and sip on he
r coffee. Hudson flopped down at her feet and let out a loud sigh.
Molly had come a long way since she first arrived at the campsite. While it was hard to watch the behavior play out in front of her, she was much like the woman when she arrived. After being in Lemon Grove for a week, she now found she appreciated the small town and its quirks. Having a dog wander into a campsite wasn't a burden or inconvenience, but was a privilege. Hudson had brought joy and comfort to her during her stay. In fact, Hudson had brought much more than that. While he didn't have a direct hand in it, his presence led her to Rick. It was an unexpected surprise, but it never would have happened without Hudson.
Hudson continued to rest at her feet as she pulled out her phone and smiled. No doubt, Glenda would get an earful about the dog wandering around and the rude guest they encountered. It wouldn't be difficult for Glenda to figure out who the couple was talking about, if they gave Molly's site number. If only Molly could be there when they learned Hudson wasn't her dog. Would they apologize or act like it was all Molly's fault? Probably the latter. Glenda would call Rick, but Molly assumed calling him herself wouldn't hurt. Besides, she hadn't talked to him since yesterday, and it had been long enough since she heard his voice.
Molly held her breath as the phone rang. Her heart raced as she waited for Rick's voice on the other end. The nervous energy was exciting, and she hoped the feeling wouldn't go away. Sure, with time she would calm, but she hoped she would always want to hear his voice on the other end of the line. This was what she should have experienced in the past, and now that she had found it, she wouldn't settle for anything less.
The phone line clicked.
“This is Rick. Sorry, I can't take your call right now.” He even sounded good in a voice message. “Please leave your name and number and I'll call you back. Thanks.” The beep rang in her ear and she took a breath.
“Hi, Rick. It's Molly.” Leaving a message wasn't in her plans, but he would call her back and that would have to do. “Hudson is at the campsite having his morning visit. The guests across from me aren't thrilled and are on their way to tell Glenda about him.” She sighed. “Anyway, call me when you can and I'll see you when you pick him up.” Or when he was planning to come by to see her. Hopefully, he still wanted to see her. She would be heartbroken if he was avoiding her call because their relationship had already run its course.
Molly stroked Hudson's fur as she tried to ease her disappointment. She would talk with Rick soon enough, but talking to him now would have been so much better than leaving a message. Knowing Rick, he would arrive soon to pick up Hudson, unless he needed to be in the city. He never mentioned plans to leave Lemon Grove today, and he hadn't called her to ask that she look after Hudson. She needed to wait, and when she saw him, they could make plans.
Within minutes, the couple’s pickup returned to the campsite, and the woman stepped out of the truck, slamming the passenger door beside her.
“You could have said it wasn't your dog.”
Molly rose from her chair. “I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't let me—”
“That woman in the office is just as rude as you. We're leaving.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
The man climbed out of the truck, looking even more exhausted than before. In silence, he gathered his tools from the compartment in the side of his trailer and got to work preparing his unit.
The woman moved to the front of the truck and stepped onto the road. “People like you ruin campgrounds for the rest of us,” she shouted.
“Like me?” Molly laughed. There had been no problems in the campground until this woman arrived. In fact, Molly had enjoyed the quiet of the place and the nondisruptive coming and going of campers. Most people kept to themselves and were pleasant whenever they passed by. But this woman...
“Had you at least been upfront about this dog and not had such an attitude about it—”
Molly gestured to Hudson and turned away. “Come on, Hudson. We don't need to listen to this anymore.”
“See?” she continued to shout. “You're encouraging it to stay here. If the guests here would be consistent and send the dog away whenever it comes around, then no one would have to deal with it wandering through their site.”
Molly took a breath and patted at the blanket on the ground. Hudson curled up and kept a watchful eye on the woman.
“I used to think the same as you when I first arrived,” Molly said. The woman's face remained unchanged. “When Hudson first came to my site, I shooed him away, and he left, but he came back. He is very sweet and is loved by the whole town. Everyone knows Hudson.”
“It shouldn't be the expectation that everyone has to visit with a dog. I don't like dogs and I don't want one walking in my campsite.”
No surprise there that the woman didn't like dogs. “Well, I appreciate his visits. He comes and sees me every day and sleeps at my feet until his owner comes to pick him up.”
“That owner should have his dog taken away.” She took another step forward, pointing at Hudson. “Its owner should lock that dog in a yard and not allow it to come onto private property like this. When the owner comes here to get his dog, I am going to tell him as much.”
Oh, boy. Molly noticed the gut twisting sensation of embarrassment. Rick didn't need to see Molly's old behaviors on display from another camper. Now that she could see how poorly she had behaved when they first met, she didn't want to relive it. She much preferred her fresh approach to handling Hudson. Giving him his freedom as an old dog seemed more humane than what the woman was demanding. Molly had felt the same at one time and didn't want to go back there or act similarly.
“He's a nice guy,” Molly said, hoping to give Rick a chance at surviving the encounter.
“I don't care if he's a nice guy. He is a terrible dog owner, and he ruined our stay here by letting his dog do whatever it wants. We were hoping to stay here for a few days and rest, but we have to leave.”
“I'm sure if you could see the positives of this place, you'd find a reason to stay.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I think you were looking for a reason to not like the place and you found it. I am sorry for your husband, who has to pack up your site.”
The woman's mouth dropped open and snapped shut. Her hands opened and closed as she stomped her foot on the ground. “How dare you!”
Molly shrugged and turned away. There was no point in talking to a woman who was determined to be miserable and attempted to make everyone around her share her misery.
She smirked when she spotted Rick's truck driving up the road, no doubt summoned by Glenda's phone call or he listened to Molly's voice message. He had no idea what he was about to drive into... or maybe he did.
The woman stepped toward her truck and crossed her arms over her chest. Molly spotted a smile on Rick's face as he pulled into Molly's campsite. He knew what was about to happen.
Rick barely set a foot outside of his truck when the woman shouted from her site. “Is that your dog?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He flashed a warm smile in her direction. It had little effect on its target.
“What makes you think you should let your dog loose like that? What if it bit someone?”
He reached into his truck and pulled out two cups of coffee from the café. “I can assure you, Hudson has never bitten anyone.”
“We could have been the first.”
Rick didn't reply and handed Molly the cup with her name written in Patsy's handwriting. “I figured you might like one, since I was already in town when Glenda called.”
“You're so sweet.” Molly held the cup to her nose and took in the coffee's smell. Café-brewed coffee was far superior to the instant coffee she had made this morning. She had almost walked to Patsy's herself, but decided not to when heavy clouds gathered overhead. “Thank you.”
“Oh, so you two are together,” the woman shouted. “Now I understand why you were defending him.”
Rick looke
d down at Molly and smiled. “You were defending me?”
Molly shrugged and pressed the coffee cup lid to her chin. It was still too hot to sip. “Maybe,” she said. Yes, she had been defending him, even if she hadn’t realized that was what she was doing. She felt as defensive over Rick’s pet ownership as she did over Hudson’s love of walking. To see the smile on Rick’s face was worth the hassle of dealing with the woman.
Rick wrapped his arm around Molly to lead her deeper into her campsite, away from the critical eye of the guest. Even though it had been only a few hours, she had missed his touch and wished they were alone.
“I hope you're taking that dog home,” she shouted. “It is people like you who ruin things for others.” She turned and stomped back into her site, slamming the door to her trailer with a bang that echoed across the campsite.
“Did you hear something?” Rick whispered.
Molly shook her head. “Nothing but the chirping of birds.”
Rick smiled and placed his hand to her cheek. Molly closed her eyes as he leaned forward and kissed her lips. It didn't matter what that woman thought. If Hudson’s wandering brought Rick into Molly’s life, she would never complain about a wandering dog again.
Chapter Twenty-One
Rick whistled to himself as he pulled into his driveway with Hudson panting in the passenger seat. Seeing Molly this morning was just the pick-me-up he needed to get through the rest of his workday. He always found picking up Hudson to be a pleasant distraction from the onslaught of phone calls and emails, but to add in the chance to see her and hold her was the answer to beating the nine-to-five blues. Phone meetings exhausted him during a long workday. Knowing he would rush out the door and see Molly again would be the bright spot to his day and would be all he thought about as the minutes dragged on.
Rounding the corner to the front of his cabin, he discovered Robert Fletcher standing on his front steps with another man. Robert waved as Rick pulled up and groaned. One toothy grin ruined a perfectly good morning.
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