“Yes. You are a mysterious woman who ran away from the city and is looking for a fresh start someplace new. They are all guessing what sort of trouble you were into that made you hide out in Lemon Grove.”
“That's not true.”
“Is any part of it true?”
Molly shook her head... then paused and smiled. “Maybe. I came to Lemon Grove on vacation, and the town has since grown on me... a lot.”
“It has?” Rick's smile grew. “Enough to make you want to live here?”
To move to a town like Lemon Grove, she would need to be prepared to live with the quirks, such as the gossip. Most of the women here already showed that they hate her, but would it stay that way forever? At some point, they would have to forgive her for stealing their bachelor. Still, there was always the chance she and Rick wouldn't last, and then what? Would she move back to the city? Imagine the gossip then?
“I've thought about moving to a place like this, but that wasn’t why I vacationed here. It was to get a break from work.”
There was an expression on Rick's face. It was a look of mischievousness and concern. There was something he wasn’t telling her.
“There's more, isn't there?” she asked.
He gave her hand a squeeze. “Glenda said the women are concerned you're toying with me.”
“Pardon?” Molly turned and faced the women who continued to observe them in the park. She wanted to shout at them and give them an angry, death stare, but somehow plastered on a warm smile instead. She wouldn’t feed the rumor mill. “Why would they say that?”
“Because they are afraid you'll forget about me when you go back home where the business executives in suits would woo you.”
Molly turned her face toward the ground. There were no men in suits to woo her, and she was not interested in any men in the city. In fact, it seemed she had finally forgotten about the one she came to Lemon Grove to forget, finding a surprise in the small town instead.
“Well, I am not interested in any business executives in suits, so they can forget about that.”
“You're not?”
“Nope. I like the more rugged types I find in the forest. Men with dogs.”
“Ah.” Rick smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. “Those are hard to find.”
“You're right. Hopefully, I can find one at the Farmers’ Market. Do you think any of the vendors might have one?”
Rick shook his head. “Afraid not. But I think I know where you could find one.”
“Where?” Molly faked searching past Rick, leaning side to side to look into the crowd behind him.
“Here,” he said. Rick pulled her close to kiss her lips and wrapped his arm around her waist.
Molly sensed the watchful eyes of the women glaring at them. She didn't want the kiss to be about silencing her critics and wanted it to only be about her and Rick. Molly would kiss him in a crowd, or anywhere. Still, she enjoyed the thought of the women being surprised by Rick’s public display of affection. It wasn’t a long kiss, but it was enough that no one would doubt they were an item.
“Come with me.” Rick offered the crook of his elbow and Molly draped her hand over his arm. He guided her past the stalls to an open area where volunteers positioned chairs in front of a temporary stage.
“They're about to start,” he said, pointing to a row of chairs. “Where do you want to sit?”
“Not too close to the speakers. I find the volume pretty loud at festivals.” She hadn’t been to a festival since high school and hated the way the volume had made her ears tickle.
“You won’t find that problem here. There's no one that understands how to work the sound system.” A loud squeal emanating from the speakers blasted through the park. Both Molly and Rick covered their ears. “See what I mean?”
“Another reason not to sit too close.”
They sat near the middle of the rows and waited as the musicians took the stage. It was a band composed of two men on acoustic guitars, a fiddler, and a man on a trumpet.
“Is this a local band?”
“They are. The trumpet player is a retired sheriff. The fiddler was the mayor here for ten years, and the other two are teachers. They aren't too bad.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, they won’t be going on tour, if you get what I’m saying. We are lucky to have a couple of guys who can play and make a little noise now and then. Have a listen. You’ll see what I mean.”
Molly chuckled and settled into her seat, leaning close to Rick as he draped his arm over the back of the chair. It was getting easier to forget about the reasons to resist him and cuddle against his shoulder. This was how a relationship should be. It felt natural and comfortable, even when preparing to listen to a market band.
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for coming out today,” the fiddler said. “I hope you all have visited our vendors. There are plenty of lovely items for sale. Amanda, do you still have some fudge left?”
Amanda waved from her booth and gave thumbs up to the band. It would seem the only person she didn’t like was Molly.
“Save some for us, would you?” He stomped his foot and counted down. In unison, the band played and the joyful upbeat music rang through the speakers.
Molly's eyebrows rose. They weren’t terrible. The music stayed on beat and they played in the same key. One teacher sang with more gusto than skill. She covered her lips to hide her smile.
Rick leaned over. "I said they could play. I never said they could sing."
That was true, and for good reason. At the end of the song, the audience applauded to show their appreciation for their local band.
Molly stretched out her legs and watched as the men set up for their next song. The audience smiled and cheered. This was a supportive crowd… at least toward the people from their community. Looking around, Molly wondered how many people had been born in Lemon Grove and how many moved here from elsewhere. How long did it take for the residents to accept them? How long might it take for them to accept her?
Molly brushed her hair out of her face and relaxed against Rick’s arm. It was interesting to take in local culture. While these men weren’t as skilled as the professional musicians she had seen at concerts in the city, it didn't matter. They made people happy, including Molly, who had tapped along to their music. It was more satisfying to support people with her enthusiastic applause than through the purchase of an expensive concert ticket.
"Rick?" she heard a woman say. They both turned. A tall, thin blonde stood at the end of their row. She wore an out of place tight, pencil skirt and a blue silk blouse. Her hair and makeup were perfect and her jewelry caught every speckle of light. She held her arms out wide to Rick and smiled. "I thought that was you." Her voice was high-pitched and irritating.
Rick rose, and he held out his hand to shake her hand. She ignored his gesture and wrapped her arms around him. Molly stood beside him, waiting for an introduction.
"Who is this?" the newcomer asked.
"This is Molly," he said. "She's a friend from out of town."
Molly felt her heart break. He had relegated her to being a friend. Just a friend. Whoever this was, Rick didn’t want her to know that, moments earlier, they had just shared a kiss, unless it meant nothing to him.
"Just visiting?" the woman asked.
"Would you all take your conversation elsewhere?" a woman behind them shouted. "We're trying to watch the show."
"I'm sorry," he said to the woman behind them.
"I was hoping I might find your here." The blonde woman smiled and took a seat beside Rick. "I have missed these local shows."
Rick sat on the edge of his chair. His arm was no longer draped over the back of Molly's seat as he folded his arms across his chest.
Nearby, women huddled together, whispering excitedly to each other. Their surprised expressions showed that the woman sitting beside Rick was giving them plenty to talk about.
"It has been too long since I've been here. The c
ity was pleasant, but this... I've missed this place." She rested her hand on Rick's knee. "How have you been? I haven’t seen you since the meeting."
"Fine," he said, brushing her hand away. "Perhaps we could talk later so others can enjoy the performance."
"That's why I'm whispering."
Molly smirked. If this were what this woman called whispering, she would hate to hear what she would consider a normal volume.
"I stopped by your cabin to see if you were there. It took me a while to find you here."
"The town isn't that big."
"Yes, well, you don't always make yourself available." This woman must be used to being the focus of his attention, not caring about others who are nearby, especially Molly. "Did you want to go get something to drink? It would be quieter away from all the music."
"Please, do," groaned the woman behind them.
"I think I'm fine," Rick said.
"Take that woman away from here." The woman leaned forward and waved a pamphlet in the air. "I am trying to watch my husband play."
Rick turned to Molly and shrugged. “I'm sorry. I guess the show is going to get cut short. They will play again later.”
They inched their way out of the row with the blonde leading them toward the drink stand. Molly thought she saw the woman reach back for Rick’s hand, but he pulled his hand away.
It was quieter by the drink stand, just as this interrupter had suggested, but the three of them were not alone. The nosey women had somehow followed them, finding their drama to be more interesting than the musical act, and stood to one side to observe them.
"What have you been up to, Rick?" she asked.
“Not much. Same old.”
The woman inched her way closer to Rick and stroked his arm. “You are quieter than when I saw you the other day. What’s wrong?”
Molly’s eyes fixated on Rick’s arm, which only minutes ago, Molly had draped her own hand over. Now, this woman was running her fingers up and down his sleeve to coax him to talk. Whoever she was, it was clear they had a history. A history that apparently wasn’t over.
“I’m sorry,” Molly said, taking a step back. “I should probably go.”
Rick pulled his arm away and turned. "No, Molly. You should stay. Valerie was just leaving."
Valerie laughed and grabbed Rick by the elbow. “Don’t be silly, Rick. I just got here. I told your father I was coming out to visit you and he told me to let you know you can have the rest of the week off. Isn’t that great?”
Rick’s gaze never left Molly. His eyes pleaded with her to stay, but Molly’s cheeks burned as tears pooled in her eyes. There was something more to Valerie that Molly couldn’t identify and didn’t want to stick around long enough to figure out.
“I think I’m done here,” Molly said. “You two appear to have some things you need to talk about.”
"Molly." Rick took a step toward her, only for Valerie’s grasp to hold him back.
“Let her go, Rick.” Valerie hung on as Rick’s arm straightened behind him. “I only need a few minutes for you to hear me out.”
Molly didn’t look back as she walked past a row of smiling female vendors who shook their heads and laughed. She had become one of the many caught up in Rick’s ways. She never should have thought about moving here. Not because of some guy. She should have kept her mind on having a relaxing vacation and on returning to her job where she and Carla could expand their business in the city.
It was foolish to get caught up in imagining a life that wasn't hers and would never be. Hot tears pooled in her eyes. Her vision blurred as she walked up the road to the path leading to the campground. She had nothing to show for her trip to town. Instead, she returned empty-handed and with one less friendship. Molly couldn't be friends with Rick if he was hiding a woman like Valerie. She probably couldn’t even remain in Lemon Grove, especially with everyone laughing and staring.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Molly wiped the tears from her hot cheeks. She didn't care if anyone at the campground saw her and the miserable state she was in. If her tears kept someone else from being hurt by Rick and his charming ways, so be it. She shouldn’t have listened to Carla and her encouragement to not reject him. Molly should have trusted her gut and avoided Rick. He shattered her heart, and it took everything to keep herself from bawling in the middle of her campsite. Why would he choose her over a gorgeous blonde in her fancy outfit? Valerie in her dry clean-only fashion offered more than Molly in her plain shirts and jeans. It would be impossible for Molly to get her hair to lay that perfect with the limited products she brought with her. Besides, she shouldn’t have to compete with anyone. Rick made her believe she was important and that he cared about her. If he did, he wouldn’t allow Valerie to touch him like that. It bothered her even more that Rick kept it a secret that he spent time with the woman in the city. Something must be going on between them for Valerie to be that comfortable with Rick.
“Trust your instincts,” she told herself as she pulled her belongings out of her tent. It didn't matter if it was mid-afternoon. Molly would not give him the opportunity to make a lame excuse for why Valerie was all over him. Instead, she would leave as quickly as possible and not stick around to hear his lies. If Rick thought about running after her, he would find her gone. Keeping secrets was not a way to begin a relationship. Molly was not about to become some long-term fling while he kept another woman on the line. “He can play that game with someone else,” she said aloud as she gathered her things.
Molly shoved her sleeping bag into the trunk of her car and grabbed a nylon bag, returning to the tent to pull the pegs from the ground. She didn't bother to shake off the dirt, choosing instead to allow the clumps to fall into the bag along with the peg. Next, she collapsed the tent poles into a packable size before rolling the tent and its attachments together into a ball. If she was taking her time, she would have folded each corner of the tent, following every crease until it looked as tightly wrapped as it was when she pulled it out of the box. Instead, she crumpled the tent into a ball and threw it into the backseat of her car.
If she ever needed to evacuate a campsite, she now knew she could do so in under ten minutes. With her picnic table cleared, her laundry line tucked away and her chair packed, her campsite was empty. Now, to decide where to go? She would figure it out on the road. Molly pulled up to the office to tell Glenda she was leaving and was charged for the night. Glenda smiled as she refunded Molly for the remaining three nights. It was as if Glenda was happy to watch her go. No doubt the other women in town felt the same.
Her tires spun in the gravel as Molly hoped to not run into Rick during her last minutes in Lemon Grove. It was his fault she was leaving. Had he been trustworthy, then she would still be at the Farmers’ Market, listening to local musicians and enjoying a meal from the food trucks. Instead, she was on the road with her tent in the backseat, wondering where she would choose to sleep tonight.
At the end of the road leading out of town, she considered both directions of the highway. Turning right would take her back to the city where Carla would lecture her about running away and wasting her precious vacation days. Returning home now would mean she would sit alone in her apartment feeling as miserable about her life as she felt the day she left on the trip. Turning left would take her past Lakewood to some unknown destination. She would be alone with her thoughts and no one telling her what she should do.
Turning left onto the highway, she sped down the road, leaving any thoughts of Rick behind her.
* * *
Rick grew impatient with Valerie and the flock of too-observant women huddled nearby. He felt like an object that everyone wanted and the only one he wanted had walked away. With her fingers still lingering on his arm, Valerie wasn't about to let him go.
“Come on, Rick. I came all this way to talk to you.” The way she stared into his eyes, he recognized she wanted more than to talk. She wanted him to say things he no longer felt. He didn't love her. Not anymore.
And he was not about to let her back into his life, even if it was what his father wanted.
He broke free and increased the space between them. “Valerie, I appreciate that you came all this way to talk, but I can’t give you what you want.”
Valerie laughed. “And what is it I want?”
“Us. We both know this would never work. We don't want the same things.”
“Of course we do. You want to be successful and have a family. Maybe own a nice vacation home in Lemon Grove or nearby to visit now and then.”
Rick observed the women sidling closer, hoping to eavesdrop on their conversation. There would be no privacy in the middle of a Farmers’ Market. He motioned for her to follow him as he walked past the vendors toward the road where he had parked his truck.
“Lemon Grove isn't where I want a vacation home.”
“It isn’t?” Valerie's voice rang with excitement. “That’s fine, I can think of a million places to buy a vacation home.”
He paused and turned. “I don't want a vacation home in Lemon Grove because I want to live here. Full-time.”
Valerie worked to catch her breath as she considered Rick's words. She held her hand to her chest and her face wore a look of confusion.
“What about what you said at your father’s meeting? That you were selling your cabin and moving to the city?”
“Someone was putting words in my mouth. Rather than fight it, I got through the day.”
Her confused expression changed to anger as she pulled out her phone. “Your father assured me you decided to sell.”
“And that is why this would never work. We both want different things.”
She nodded and continued to touch the keyboard on the screen of her phone.
“Who are you writing to?” Rick asked.
“My father.” Valerie slipped the phone into her purse and crossed her arms in front of her. “He told me it was a stupid idea to come here.”
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