Mountain Getaway

by Pine, Heather

  Hudson lifted his head and looked at Rick with sad brown eyes. His ears hung low as he lowered his head back onto his paws.

  “He’s in one of those moods.” Rick pulled off his jacket and handed it to Molly before he gripped the chain-link and climbed.

  “What are you doing?”

  “He will not get off the porch unless I get him.”

  Rick made quick work of the fence and was up and over before Molly could talk him out of it.

  “How did he get in there?”

  “He’s a dog.” Rick dusted off his hands. “He dug under it. This should only take a minute.”

  Molly watched Rick cross the yard to the front porch, where he sat beside Hudson, stroking his back and the top of his head. She couldn’t hear him but could see Rick’s lips move as he spoke to Hudson. Watching him consoling the dog brought tears to her eyes, and she covered her face with Rick’s coat where she caught a whiff of his scent, bringing back memories of the day on the Lakewood Lake trail. She would rather have her arms wrapped around him than his coat. For now, his arm was around Hudson as he draped himself over the dog and nuzzled into his ear.

  Hudson’s tail beat against the front porch and he rolled onto his side for a scratch on his belly. Rick obliged as Hudson became more animated, eventually springing to his feet. Rick ran to the fence and climbed as Hudson ran behind the house, presumably to find his exit.

  As Rick climbed down off the fence, Molly handed him his jacket and wiped a tear from her eye.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  “That was really sweet.”

  “He needed me to remind him he’s not alone. He has us.”

  Molly nodded and stared up at his warm eyes as he smiled back at her. “Us,” she whispered.

  Rick wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Molly slid her arms over his shoulders as he leaned in, pressing his lips against hers. With Hudson at their feet, they held each other, enjoying kiss after kiss until Hudson flopped to the ground and sighed.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Rick submitted his official letter of resignation to his father. There were no doubts in his mind when he made a follow-up call to his father to confirm with him directly that he was leaving the company. While his father commented on his disappointment and expressed his anger, he never tried to convince Rick to stay. His minimized reactions gave Rick the hope he needed that the separation would benefit their relationship in the long run, even if it seemed bruised at present. Rick received a much warmer reception when he called Valerie's father and accepted his offer of employment, with one condition -- he wouldn't start until after Molly returned to the city, leaving him free to spend his time with her before she left.

  He couldn't have asked for a better result. The time he invested in Molly was exactly what they needed as he picked her up from the campground to take her to Patsy's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She seemed to enjoy the adventures he took her on, showing her the many attractions and viewpoints around Lemon Grove. As these tours and adventures continued to be enjoyed in her smiles and relaxed body language, he was more and more certain that she was what he had been looking for. Someone to share these moments with, who would appreciate them as much as he did, and he would not let her get away. It would take time to fully accept he would be leaving his cabin for the city, but for Molly, he would do anything if she asked. But in her remaining hours in Lemon Grove, she never said anything about it.

  Rick took her to the café, where they ordered breakfast. Patsy seemed quieter than usual as she took their order.

  “This is your last day, isn't it?” she asked as she poured their coffee at the table.

  “It is.” Molly stared at Rick. There was sadness in her eyes, mixed with a twinkle of hope. While they wouldn't be able to spend time together as often as they enjoyed the past few days, there would be many days ahead and phone calls in their future. “Rick and I are going to pack up my site once we're done with breakfast.”

  Patsy placed the coffee urn back on the heater. “Well, that's too bad. I enjoyed seeing your lovely face around here. I'm going to miss you, although I have a feeling Rick will miss you even more.”

  Rick reached across the table, holding Molly's hand in his. The distance would be difficult and downright painful, but if things worked out, it would be worth the wait. Her hand fit perfectly in his and he loved to touch her soft skin. Thinking of holding her again would be what would get him through the week, until the weekend when one of them would travel to visit the other. Visiting on the weekends would have to be the temporary solution until one of them made a more permanent move. With no business ties to sever locally, he was the first to volunteer to close the gap between them. Molly told him he didn't need to commit to it. At least, not yet. She spent time at his cabin, enjoying the backyard with Hudson by her side. She encouraged him to keep it for now, and if they could afford two homes, she did not see a need to sell a property they both enjoyed together.

  With neither Rick nor Molly interested in conversing with a third wheel, Patsy returned to her place behind the counter, leaving Rick and Molly to gaze into each other's eyes. There had been plenty of staring over the past several days, with Rick wanting to etch each of Molly’s features into his mind. He refused to miss a single detail. He swore the closer her departure time approached, the more beautiful she became, and it was increasingly difficult for him to accept she was leaving.

  Once their breakfasts arrived, neither was in a rush to eat, as each hurried moment moved them closer to the time she would leave Lemon Grove.

  “You don't have to leave when you check out,” he said, holding her hand a little tighter.

  “My site will be packed—”

  “You can spend the afternoon with me and then go home later.”

  Molly half smiled and placed her other hand on top of his. “I would like that, but I promised Carla I would look at the property on 8th this evening. The realtor is saying there might be another offer coming in this week, so she is concerned we will miss out on it if we don't decide soon.”

  She didn't sound excited whenever she spoke of opening a new branch of their coffee shop. For someone who wanted her business to grow, Rick interpreted her lack of enthusiasm as disappointment. As much as he wished there was nothing in the city that would keep her from him, he didn't want her to avoid being successful for his sake. He gave her hand a squeeze before lifting it to his lips.

  “I hope it is as perfect as Carla says it is. You two deserve this.”

  Molly turned and faced the window. A tear rolled down her cheek.

  “What's wrong?” he asked as he ran his thumb over her knuckles.

  “I don't want to leave you.”

  “We already talked about this. I'll come visit you when I meet with Valerie's father to complete my orientation, and then I'll come again on the weekend.”

  “I hate that we will be apart for a week at a time.”

  “I know. At least we have technology to help tide us over. I will be happy to stare at your smiling face on my computer screen whenever I want.” And he meant it. He already made her photo from their hike the new background on his computer, and photos from their sightseeing adventures had become a rotating screensaver. Whenever he found himself at his computer, he would see her.

  Molly wiped away the tear and took a breath. “I need to check out if I am going to get unpacked and cleaned up before I meet with Carla.”

  Keeping her hand in his, Rick nodded and rose from his chair. The time had come for them to prepare for goodbyes.

  The drive back to the campsite was quiet, and neither said a word, leaving their silence to say everything they couldn’t. Packing up her tent was quiet besides the clicking of the poles. Their combined efforts made the clean up go faster than either wanted, until they stood in the empty site inches apart.

  “Are you sure you have to leave right away?”

  She buried her head against his chest and let out a sob. He rubbed h
er back and swayed as they stood on the empty gravel pad. A few agonizing minutes later, she gave him a final tender kiss goodbye and climbed into her car to drive out of the campground.

  Rick stood in the campsite, where he kicked at stones and stared at a patch of ground that still bore the imprint from the soles of her hikers. They had looked cute on her feet. Her entire wardrobe had made him chuckle, at first, but he recognized how much that city girl had been longing to be in the wilderness. It wrenched at his heart to see her go, but he had to hope the pull of the mountains and their budding relationship would be enough to bring her back. Only time would tell, and he would give her all the time she needed.

  * * *

  Molly sensed her heart breaking as she drove out of the campground. She refused to glance in the rearview mirror as she pulled away, wanting her last memory of Rick to be the sparkle she saw in his eyes before she climbed into her car. She didn't want to replace it with the visual of him standing in the campground looking sad as she pulled away. Leaving was hard enough without replaying his saddened face in her mind.

  If only she didn't have to go back to the city. She had finally found a relationship that seemed to go somewhere good, and now she had to leave just as things were gaining momentum. Wouldn't that squash what was only getting started? Running a coffee shop in the city was the life she had chosen and, for now, her relationships needed to fit within that reality. She knew Rick understood. It didn't change the fact that this separation wouldn't be easy. With enough time, it might be possible to sell off her share of the company and have Carla buy her out. When they had started their business, they were both young single women and both knew things would one day change.

  With Rick starting a new job, they had a plan in place for now. It was better than him remaining in Lemon Grove and not being able to see each other at all. She never thought she would regret the life she had chosen, yet here she was wishing her life could be different. If only she had the freedom to not return to the city and remain in Lemon Grove with the man her heart knew was the one for her. He had shown her what it was like to have someone put her first and made her feel loved through his words and actions. His kindness melted away any judgmental thoughts she had toward him, and to her surprise, her heart had opened to the irresponsible and irresistible dog owner.

  As she relived the happy moments she had shared with Rick, the heart-crushing emotions eased. She looked forward to more moments to come, and even though obstacles stood in their way, she was confident they would overcome them.

  Chapter Thirty

  Molly breathed in the scent of freshly brewed coffee. Normally, it would excite her to try new beans and learn new recipes, but today her mind kept wandering to thoughts far outside of their busy coffee shop. The line of waiting customers extended from the counter to the door. Molly tried to recall the last time the shop was this busy. There were no promotions and no nearby events to draw the crowd, but the constant pace kept Molly and Carla running all day.

  “It's been like this all week,” Carla said, grabbing another carton of milk from the fridge. “I brought in extra help to keep up with the demand.”

  “This is unbelievable. I never imagined we would be so busy.”

  “Same, but I hoped we would be.” She winked.

  It was what they dreamed about in their early days of planning their business. They hoped for days of having a line extending down the block as coffee lovers spread word to one another about the quirky shop with the best tasting coffee and incredible service. The moment had finally arrived and so did the people.

  Molly glimpsed the faces of the crowd, who somehow seemed content to wait as their workers buzzed about fulfilling their orders. The team worked fast and kept the line moving. Their customers were cheerful as they received their coffee and the tips came rolling in. With each transaction, Carla and Molly exchanged looks and smiles. This was a big lift financially, but if this was the new normal for their store, it was positioning them well to expand their business. It was a simple decision. They had landed on something special. Regulars were coming back, and new customers believed the hype. All this with minimal advertising on their part.

  The phone rang, and Carla excused herself from the rush to take the call. Molly stepped in to replace Carla, completing her drink orders and grabbing pastries from the display cupboard. She had assisted three customers by the time Carla returned, shaking her head with a frown on her face.

  “What's wrong?” Molly asked.

  “They sold the place on 8th this morning.”

  Molly paused, pouring coffee into a paper cup. “But we had an appointment to take a second look after our shift today.”

  “Someone swooped in and put an offer on it. The realtor says there is no point, and it is a done deal.”

  Carla's dream property was gone and there was no telling how long it would take before another property would become available. Molly reached out to comfort her friend. “I'm sorry, Carla.”

  Carla smiled and waved her off before washing her hands and returning to serving customers. It was rare for Molly to see her with tears in her eyes. If Carla was trying to hide them behind a smile, she had failed. There was little Molly could say to improve her mood, and with such a long line of customers, it would be impossible to sneak away to do more to comfort her. Instead, Molly focused on the task ahead of her and moved through the orders as quickly as possible. The rush would soon be over, and then she and Carla would be free to talk about their next steps.

  * * *

  It was an hour before the crowd had slowed to where the staff could catch their breath. Molly's back ached, and she had burned her fingers with hot coffee. Finally, she noticed Carla working at a slower pace and found an opportunity to pull her into the back room for a conversation.

  “So, what do you want to do?”

  “About what?” Carla asked.

  “The place on 8th? Now that it isn't available, was there another place you wanted us to look at?”

  Carla sighed and shook her head. She looked down at her feet before looking back up at Molly with a wistful smile. “No, but I’ll bet you do.”

  “I don’t—” Molly froze and her cheeks reddened.

  “Rick told me about the shop in Lemon Grove. You've been home for two weeks, Molly, and you have been miserable. I know you've only been looking at the place on 8th for me.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “Rick makes you happy, and I am willing to consider the coffee shop in Lemon Grove. If your relationship is going to be a long-term thing, then we need to invest in a place that won’t make you commute to see the love of your life.”

  Molly giggled to herself. “Are you serious? You really wanted that place on 8th and I don’t want to disappoint you because we went with the store in Lemon Grove.”

  “If I show you another place in the city, I think you will be the one missing out on an opportunity.” Carla glanced out at the busy shop. Customers were entering the store, but none of them were waiting long. Their staff handled the flow on their own. “We're doing well here, and if the place has as steady an income as what Rick described, then we wouldn't be taking a loss on it. We’d continue to be in an excellent position. Then, when a new place comes up in the city, we'd be opening up a third location.”

  Molly flung her arms around her friend and squeezed her tight. “I can’t believe you're considering this.”

  “Just keep me in mind when you spot another eligible bachelor in Lemon Grove that would be good for me. I could use a little Lemon Grove romance.”

  * * *

  With Hudson in the seat beside him, Rick pulled up at Patsy's café. It had been a long week of meetings and orientations, getting familiar with the new working environment. It went much smoother than expected, but still, he was ready to unwind with some local Lemon Grove coffee and a pastry. Hudson followed him out of the truck and flopped down by the picnic table as Rick entered the café. The regulars were sitting at the table eating their lunch, but Patsy was not in her usual
spot behind the counter or out by the tables waiting on customers. Knowing she would be out momentarily, Rick stood by the counter and waited.

  He had hoped to spend his Saturday in the city with Molly, but she warned him she wouldn't have time for a visit and instead had encouraged him to stay home. Doubts crept into the back of his mind and he worried for a moment it might be the start of Molly growing tired of their relationship. Distance took its toll on many relationships, and while his feelings toward her hadn't changed, perhaps hers had. It deflated him to contemplate perhaps the relationship had already run its course. If it was the distance that ate at their future, he would do anything it took to restore things back to what they had been when she visited Lemon Grove.

  As if he could read Rick's thoughts, Robert Fletcher walked through the door with his realtor beside him. A smile appeared on his face as he approached Rick with his hand extended outward.

  “Rick. It is always a pleasure to see you.”

  “Hello, Robert.”

  “We haven't talked in a while. I heard you left your father's company. That was an unexpected surprise.”

  “I decided I needed to make a change.”

  Robert laughed and leaned against the pastry display. “Are you considering any other changes?”

  “I have been thinking a lot about making additional changes,” Rick said as Robert straightened and looked at his realtor with a broad smile. “In fact, I was considering calling you.”

  “What brought on this change of heart?”

  The door to the café kitchen opened as Patsy stepped into the room, wearing a big smile and wiping her hands on a cloth. “Oh, I'm sorry,” she said. “I didn't know I had anyone waiting. I was just in the back showing the place to the new owners.”