by Zoe Ann Wood
“I can’t answer that,” Hailey said, then motioned to the door. “If that’s all…?”
She was throwing him out. What had Jade said to her?
Ben swallowed his pride and begged. “Look, if you’d just let me talk to her, I’ll explain everything.”
Hailey was short and had seemed friendly when he’d met her, but now she drew up to her full height and put her hands to her hips. “Jade is my friend, so I’m going to respect her wishes.”
Ben straightened his shoulders and gave her a curt nod. “Fine. Thanks for your help.”
He left the shop, acutely aware of the women’s stares at his back. This was bad. Whatever Jade had told Hailey must have been awful for Hailey to react that way. Why wouldn’t she even listen to him? It wasn’t like he’d purposefully blown the pipe to make himself late for their date.
But you didn’t put off work, either.
The snide voice inside his head was right, though. He should have paid more attention to Jade. Now, she was staying away from her home to avoid him, it seemed, and if Ben thought his guilt was bad before, it ratcheted up to a whole new level now.
Finally, he drove to his father’s house because he needed a distraction. Staying at home, cooped up in his trailer alone, didn’t sound remotely inviting. Besides, it had been several days since he’d checked in with his father, and he’d decided he was going to make more of an effort.
His father was on the couch, eating cantaloupe chunks, while Betty was ironing his shirts. They were watching TV together, and the scene was so domestic, something in Ben’s chest tightened at the sight. He was glad his father hadn’t managed to chase the housekeeper away, and that she was strict enough with him. Nurse Dylan had also reported that his father was regularly taking his medicine and that they’d been on several walks together.
“Hey, Dad,” Ben greeted. “Betty.”
He flopped on the couch next to his father and covered his face with his hands. He’d get up in a minute and put some work in on the back porch, but he needed a moment to just unwind after the day he’d had.
The television sound cut off, and Ben lowered his hands to find Betty and his father staring at him.
“What?” he asked.
“How was your date yesterday?” his father asked.
Ben snapped his head up. “How did you—” He stopped himself. “Of course. I should have known.”
This was Hidden Hollows, and the gossip ran rampant, just like in any other small town.
“Well?” his dad prompted. “We heard…”
“That you left that poor woman sitting alone at Louis’ place,” Betty interjected. “Mrs. O’Dell heard it from Mr. Ricardi.”
“Yeah.” Ben had never been one to blush, but heat spread up his neck and to his face. “I couldn’t make it, and my phone died, so…”
His father sat up on the couch. “You really just left her there? Ben, that’s not how…” He paused, his face incredulous. “I admit I wasn’t a great role model when it came to the ladies, but you don’t treat a woman like that.”
Coming here had been the worst idea of his life.
“I didn’t want to stand her up. The pipe burst, and the plumber was injured, and my phone got soaked, so I couldn’t even let her know.”
“You could have called the restaurant from the hospital.” Betty’s pinched expression was accusing and disappointed.
Ben groaned and got up to pace. “I know. I realize that now. And I tried to apologize, to make it up to her, but she won’t even speak to me. She’s left home, and she’s gone who knows where…”
Rationally, he knew only one day had passed, and that Jade would have to return home at some point. But he felt an urgency to make things right, to fix this. If he didn’t, she might never know what he felt for her.
“Hmph,” said Betty. “I don’t blame her. Given your history, I’m surprised she even gave you a second chance.”
Ben stopped and stared at her. “What?”
But the housekeeper clamped her lips together and focused back on her work. The shirt she was ironing was the last in the pile, so she hung it and put away the ironing board.
“Betty, please,” Ben said. “What are you talking about? Help me out here.”
She paused with the iron in her hand and stared at him for a long minute. Ben gazed back, unsure of the crimes for which he was judged. Was Betty referring to the time he’d asked Jade to prom? But she’d been the one to turn him down, not the other way around. He was aware of his father watching their exchange silently, and wished again he hadn’t come here. Though if Betty knew something he didn’t, this might not have been the worst decision.
The housekeeper finally seemed to reach a decision. “I don’t think it’s my story to tell,” she said. “And it’s not that I don’t gossip. I do. I just try to keep it to…” She shook her head from side to side. “You know, the surface-level stuff. I’d never betray someone’s secrets. I heard Miss Marshall tell her friends something that night when you saw me at Miller’s. She was trusting her friends, and I’d be betraying that trust if I told you. Or that’s how it seems to me, at least. Do you understand?”
Surprisingly, Ben did. He blew out a long breath. “Yeah. But what do I do? If she won’t talk to me…”
Betty lifted one shoulder and looked at him sadly. “If you like her enough, you’ll keep trying. And if she likes you enough, she might eventually give you a chance to explain.”
With that, she turned and left the room. Ben turned to his father, who shrugged.
“I don’t have better advice for you, Benji.”
It was a nickname Ben hadn’t heard in twenty years, and it brought home the fact that he’d managed to alienate every single person in his life. His throat tight, he sat beside his father on the couch and clenched his hands together.
“I’m sorry for being so hard on you, Dad,” he murmured. “And for taking charge of your life. I treated you like a kid.”
His father bumped his shoulder lightly. “Eh, I behaved like a kid, so you were well within your rights. But I’ve been talking with Nurse Dylan, and he gave me some good pointers for a healthier life that won’t mean eating celery and nuts for the rest of my existence.”
Ben chuckled. “That’s good.”
“Yeah. And I went to—” His father’s words cut off, and his gray eyes filled with tears. “I, uh, went to my first AA meeting on Monday. They have them every week. I didn’t have to speak or anything, I just listened to other folks talk about how drinking ruined their lives, and how they’re better now that they’re sober. And I thought, maybe, I could do this thing as well.”
Ben put an arm around his dad’s shoulders and squeezed. “For sure, Dad. And if you want me to go with you, just tell me. I’m here if you need me.”
His father patted Ben’s knee, and they sat together in silence for a long while. It was good, that human connection, and Ben found the pressure on his chest releasing, his breath coming easier.
“I’m going to be in Hidden Hollows for a while,” he said, trying to keep his voice casual. “I’m thinking of keeping the old Victorian.”
“Really?” His father’s smile lit up his face. “Bit big for a single guy, don’t you think?”
Ben got to his feet. “With any luck, I won’t be single for long.”
He needed to talk to Jade, now. And whatever their issues were, they could work through them. He would never prioritize work over her again, and he’d spend a lifetime convincing her that she was his number one.
“Good luck, then,” his father said. “And if she takes you back, bring her round for dinner someday soon, okay?”
Ben left feeling lighter than he had for the past twenty-four hours. All he needed now was to locate the woman so he could apologize and let her know how he felt about her. Then everything would work itself out.
16
Jade
Jade’s audition for the Asheville City Theater went great. She’d done so well, in fact,
that she received a call from Martin Horowitz, the artistic director, a scant half-hour after she left him and the rest of the orchestra members who’d participated at her presentation. He offered her a part-time position starting in November that would mean rehearsals three times a week and a concert at least every weekend, with more shows scheduled during festivals and the holiday season.
Jade accepted.
Of course she did—the energy of the orchestra had been amazing, and she was looking forward to playing for an audience again. This was what she’d trained for, what her life’s dreams had all been.
She spent the rest of Thursday exploring Asheville, had lunch at a lovely bistro downtown, then took a tour of Biltmore, America’s largest home, which featured a fantastic mansion and beautiful grounds. She wandered through the vast gardens while golden autumn sun warmed her skin, and marveled at the exotic plants in the Conservatory greenhouse.
All the while, her enjoyment was dimmed because her thoughts kept returning to Ben, and by the end of the day, she was even angrier at him than she was before. Hailey had called her out of the blue, concerned about her, and Jade told her the bare minimum of what had happened.
I had a date with Ben planned. He didn’t show. I’m a fool for giving him a second chance.
Hailey had assured her that she wasn’t a fool, and that Ben was a jerk for letting her down. She assured Jade that she wouldn’t be giving him any information on her whereabouts, and Jade was beyond thankful for that. She and Hailey agreed on a girls’ night out for the following week, and that was the thought that kept her going. Life would go on even though she was heartbroken.
And she was. Her heart was severely bruised, though she hadn’t even noticed when the silly organ had gotten involved in the entire affair. It would have been so much easier if Ben had been just another guy she’d agreed to date. But no—everything about him reminded her of her first crush and her first heartbreak.
So she tried her best to fall in love with Asheville instead. The city was a forty-minute drive from Hidden Hollows, but that didn’t mean she had to commute to work. She could move here, find another part-time job in music that would supplement her orchestra salary, and leave that cursed small town behind.
And Asheville was a beautiful city. It wasn’t large by any standards, which appealed to her. It had all the amenities of a big community, the culture, the anonymity, the shops. But it also wasn’t as large as Nashville or other big, crowded cities, and it didn’t seem to have the dark underbelly she was so afraid of, even two years after the Nashville incident. She could envision herself living here. In a city this size, she might even feel safe.
But she’d be alone all over again.
Of course, she wouldn’t have Ben even if she remained in Hidden Hollows. But she’d finally made some friends, and she liked most of her coworkers at the school. The principal was a wonderful boss, and Jade would miss her students. Yet perhaps most of all, she would miss the quaint little town that had—in its own strange way—helped her get back on her feet when she’d reached the lowest point of her life.
She realized, with a bone-deep certainty, that she would be making a colossal mistake if she moved away just to escape Ben. He wouldn’t even be her neighbor for long. The nature of his work was such that he would finish the Williams house, sell it, and move on. He’d told her himself that he didn’t intend on staying in Hidden Hollows. She really shouldn’t have pinned any hopes on the man.
She spent the night at the hotel in Asheville, then had breakfast at a lovely coffee shop not far from the theater. Making a note of the place, she decided to return there on her rehearsal days. Their red velvet cupcakes rivaled Millie’s, and that was saying something.
She drove home with pop music blasting through her car speakers. Jade loved her classical music, of course, but heartbreak and anger called for some good old Kelly Clarkson. The drive was gorgeous, with russet-colored trees lining both sides of the freeway. Fall had truly arrived, and Jade thought it might be time to visit a pumpkin patch to decorate the house. And bake more pumpkin bread.
The thought of pumpkin bread immediately reminded her of Ben, however, and a fresh wave of pain swamped her, tears threatening to cloud her vision. She dashed them away with the back of her hand and sniffled. It would take her a while to get over him. That was okay, but she wished she had a magic wand to undo the damage she’d caused herself by letting him into her heart again. Because it was her fault. She’d known exactly what she was getting into, and she plunged head-first anyway.
And all she’d gotten out of it was a magical first kiss. The fact was that she would measure all men against Benjamin Charles for the foreseeable future, and she wasn’t at all sure any of them would ever come close to being better than him.
A Mariah Carey song came on next, so Jade jabbed at the radio buttons until a fast indie song came on. She wasn’t going to mope. She’d go out with her friends, work hard, and live her life just like she had before Ben rolled into town. And she’d get over him, somehow. She had to.
What Jade didn’t count on was that the object of her worries lived right next door. She barely rolled to a stop in front of her house when he appeared from behind the Victorian. She took one look at him, put the car in reverse, and did an about-turn. Then she drove to Flap Jack Joe’s, where the diner owner, Doris, didn’t mind Felix sitting at the table in his cat carrier. The woman took one look at Jade and brought her a steaming bowl of soup and some cut-up chicken for Felix.
“This’ll make you feel better,” Doris rasped in her smoker’s voice.
Jade hadn’t even been sure she wanted soup, but one spoonful of the warm, starchy goodness settled her right down. “Thanks,” she called after the woman’s retreating back.
Doris merely lifted a hand in acknowledgment and returned ten minutes later with a teetering stack of pancakes. “Now, eat this.”
Jade didn’t protest. She dried her tears on a napkin and scowled at the mascara stains. She probably looked frightening, but given Doris’ unflappable calm, she likely wasn’t the first heartbroken woman to arrive at this diner craving comfort food. The pancakes were good, the syrup warm in the tiny cup, and even Felix didn’t seem to be too annoyed by his situation.
Over the next couple of days, Jade did her best to avoid Ben. She wasn’t proud of it, but she did what she had to in order to protect herself. She was just too raw, too hurt to deal with him, to listen to whatever reason he had to excuse himself. There would be time for that later when she didn’t feel like her chest was gaping open.
So she worked at the library, staying there until closing time. She left her house early and returned late. She practiced her violin in the empty music classroom in the mornings and drove to Asheville for her very first rehearsal with the full orchestra. The experience was exhilarating, and she floated on that high for hours after.
Millie and Hailey took her out for drinks at Miller’s, keeping an active watch on the tavern’s door so Jade could relax in peace and drink her margarita without having to look over her shoulder in case Ben walked in. He didn’t. In fact, judging by the progress she saw daily on the house next door, he’d thrown himself into work. He likely wanted to escape Hidden Hollows and was doing his best to finish the project as soon as possible.
Almost two weeks had passed since their non-date when Jade jogged up the street to her house and found Ben sitting on her front steps. His head was lowered, his elbows on his knees, and something moved inside her chest at the sight of him. She slowed down and pulled out her earbuds, debating whether she should turn and run away. But Ben lifted his head, and their gazes collided. He got up, and from the determined expression on his face, she suspected he might chase her if she tried to escape again.
With a sigh, she forced herself to move forward. Step by reluctant step, she neared him, then stopped at a safe distance. She didn’t want to smell that fresh-laundry-and-sawdust scent of him, nor did she want him to touch her. She wasn’t sure she wouldn’t crum
ble to pieces if he laid his hands on her.
“Jade,” he said, his voice tight. “Can we talk?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Sure.”
His face flushed with color. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you,” he began.
“I’ve been busy.”
Jade knew she was being petty, but he’d hurt her, and she wasn’t going to make this any easier for him. Why should she be the only one to suffer?
Ben blew out a long breath. “I’m sorry for being late last Wednesday.”
Jade narrowed her eyes at him. “You weren’t just late, Ben. You never showed up.”
“Okay, fair,” he said. “I had a work—”
“Yeah, a work issue. You texted to let me know, remember?” Jade pulled her phone from its armband and waved it at Ben. “I just didn’t think it would be more important to you than our date. But I guess I learned that lesson.”
He ran a hand through his hair. It was getting too long, and he looked tired, with dark circles under his eyes. Was he not sleeping? What was wrong with him?
No. Jade stamped down that line of thought. He wasn’t her concern, and if he wasn’t sleeping, that was his problem.
She shuffled to the side, and Ben turned with her so they remained face-to-face. With every small step, she got closer to her front door, waiting for her chance to escape.
“Jade, please.”
The earnest expression in his eyes nearly broke her resolve. She clamped her teeth together and prayed her lip wouldn’t wobble.
“All I’m asking is for another chance to make it up to you.” He stepped forward, his hand extended to her. “We’re good together.”
A strangled sob escaped her. Curse him—they were good together. So good, it would take her months to forget him again. She retreated up the porch steps, and Ben lowered his hand.
“This was your second chance, Ben. And just like in our senior year, you blew it. I can’t go through this again. I’m sorry.”
She turned and stumbled to her door, fumbling with the key to get inside. He didn’t follow her, but she still locked the door behind her and leaned against it as though it would help keep out the big bad wolf. The awful truth was, she didn’t really want to keep him out. She wanted Ben to be the man she thought him to be. The disappointment that came with the realization that she’d made him into something he wasn’t hurt so much.