by Marie Landry
“The thought had crossed my mind,” Jasper says. “But I’m sure. I’ll leave the keys in the ignition in case you need to make a quick getaway.”
Now I do laugh as he opens the door and climbs out. Maynooth hops off my lap and into the driver’s seat. His pal takes the opportunity to scramble into my lap, nearly knocking the air from my lungs in his excitement at the change of position.
Jasper is almost to the porch when the front door flies open and a man with a long gray ponytail and denim overalls steps out. I’m relieved Jasper won’t have to climb the porch stairs because, like the rest of the house, they don’t look all that sturdy. Jasper says something while gesticulating toward the car; the man, who I’m assuming is Mr. Willis, cranes his neck in our direction and gives a curt jerk of his head. Staying where he is, Jasper turns back and nods at me. I hug the dog in my lap and open the door for him to get out. Maynooth climbs over me, pausing as if for his own hug. I tell him not to run on the highway anymore as I give him a tight squeeze and then let him out to join his friend.
The dogs lope toward the house, their ears flapping around them like wings. Mr. Willis opens the front door and the dogs waddle up the stairs and into the house. With my car door still open a few inches, I can hear Jasper speaking, although I can’t make out what he’s saying. Mr. Willis lets the front door slam and turns back to Jasper, crossing his arms over his chest and grunting out a reply.
Finally, Mr. Willis goes back inside and Jasper picks his way across the grass and down the driveway, keeping his eyes trained on the ground. As he gets closer, I can see his lip is curled and his nose is wrinkled in disgust.
“What happened?” I ask after he’s back in the driver’s seat.
He glances toward the house. The door is still closed, although Mr. Willis’s silhouette is evident behind the screen. He’s watching us. Jasper doesn’t say anything as he starts the car and backs onto the road. Once we’re on the highway, he lets out a long breath and glances briefly in my direction.
“I told him we found the dogs running on the highway. No relief, no gratitude, nothing. I suggested he might want to keep them tied up when they’re outside, and that they should have collars with their information in case they get loose. He told me to mind my own business and said something about fancy big city folk always poking their noses where they don’t belong. I don’t know what came over me, but…” He pauses, glancing at me again, this time with his face scrunched up. “I said yes, I was from the big city and I was a lawyer who should perhaps get in touch with my friends from animal rights about his mistreatment of those two dogs.”
A bark of surprised laughter escapes me. “What did he say to that?”
“I’m not certain he believed me, but he did say he’d be sure to keep them in the house or tied up when they were outside with him from now on.”
More laughter spills out of me. The ridiculousness of this whole situation catches up to me and now I can’t stop laughing. A quick glance at Jasper shows him chuckling and shaking his head. “Jasper Perry, dog rescuer,” I say around my giggles. “Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“For all the good it likely did,” he says, still laughing softly.
“Hey, don’t sell yourself short. You did what you could. Who knows how many people passed those dogs on the highway and kept going? Assumed their owner would catch them or someone else would stop to do something?” As the words spill out of me, it hits me—not for the first time—what a good person Jasper is. A genuinely good, kind-hearted person who wants to help, whether it’s people he cares about or random dogs that think a busy highway is their playground. “You’re amazing, Jasper.”
A hint of color touches his cheeks. “Thank you, Willow.” He clears his throat and adjusts his hands on the wheel, his grip tightening then loosening a few times. “I’m still not telling you where we’re going, though.”
My giggles return. This man—this wonderful, kind, enigma of a man—never ceases to surprise and amaze me.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“This looks like a film set. Like…like Stars Hollow or something out of a Hallmark movie.”
I stand in place and do a slow turn, taking in my surroundings. Jasper and I are in a small town called Honeywell Hollow. Upon arriving, we went directly to the house Jasper rented so we could get settled, and so I could shower and change out of my muddy, dog-hair-covered clothes.
Despite knowing our location, I still didn’t know what Jasper’s secret plan was until a few minutes ago when we arrived at the town park. Knowing how much his future sister-in-law loves all things autumn, Jasper has arranged a fall-themed photoshoot for Gwen and Evan with himself as the photographer. The couple didn’t want to spend money on engagement photos, and they booked a bare minimum package for the actual wedding photography. Jasper knew they weren’t satisfied with that, though.
“I offered to pay for a larger package with the photographer, but they turned me down,” he told me after he explained his plan. “They said all their friends would take pictures throughout the ceremony and reception so they’d have plenty of great shots. They deserve more than a few professional photos and a bunch of dark, blurry phone pictures, though. Then that day at the farm when you mentioned wanting to put together an album for them, this idea was born.”
A section of the park has been cordoned off and someone has decorated the gazebo and surrounding area with bales of hay, pumpkins, barrels and tins of colorful fall flowers, and strings of lights. It really does remind me of Stars Hollow, which is perfect because Gwen loves Gilmore Girls. The pièce de résistance is the old-fashioned red truck parked to one side of the gazebo. Gwen’s dad had one just like it; when the weather was nice, the two of them would drive all around town on Sunday afternoons, letting people hop in the back for rides and then stopping at the park for a picnic that anyone was welcome to join. I nearly burst into tears when I saw it.
“This is incredible,” I say now, still completely stunned by the scene before me. “Gwen is going to flip her lid when she sees all this. How did you manage it?”
Jasper glances over my shoulder, and I turn to see a man ducking under the rope that’s been erected to keep people out during the photoshoot. When he straightens, my eyes widen at the realization this guy bears a striking resemblance to Oscar Isaac. He smiles broadly at us as he approaches, going straight for Jasper and gripping his hand in a hearty handshake.
“Everything to your liking?” he asks, releasing Jasper’s hand and clapping him on the shoulder.
“It’s perfect. I can’t thank you enough.” Jasper turns to me, prompting the Oscar look-alike to do the same. “Willow, this is an old friend of mine from university, Liam Doherty. He and his friend Nathan own a repair business together and do odd jobs around town, which include very specific favors for old friends. Liam, this is Willow Stewart. She’s…a dear friend of mine, and also a friend of my brother and his fiancée.”
My brain snags on ‘a dear friend’ so it takes me a second to hold out my hand when Liam reaches to shake. After we exchange pleasantries, I ask, “You set all this up?”
“I had some enthusiastic helpers,” he says with a grin. “When people found out what I was doing, they jumped in to do what they could. Mrs. Murphy, the woman who rented you the house you’re staying in? She also owns Sweet Escapes on Main Street, and she said to tell you to be sure to come in tomorrow before you leave town so she can treat you to some hot drinks.”
“That’s lovely, we’ll be sure to do that,” Jasper says. We stand around chatting for a few more minutes, during which Jasper invites Liam to join all of us for dinner tonight. When Liam leaves, Jasper suggests a walk around the park to put in time while we wait for Gwen and Evan to arrive. As we stroll, admiring the fiery red and orange trees, he tells me about the time a few years ago when he rented a house in Honeywell for the annual Perry Christmas getaway.
“I should have known better than to choose a place so far north in December,” he says. “A bi
g storm hit and we were snowed in for days. Everyone was so angry with me, especially when we ended up being here for New Year’s Eve too. We made the best of it, though. We weren’t able to leave town, but we were able to explore Honeywell, and we spent a lot of time playing outdoors in the snow the way we did when we were children. It ended up being one of my favorite Christmases.”
A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have been able to picture Jasper playing in the snow. I would have imagined he’d be the observer: staying at a distance, probably even reminding his siblings to be careful and not get too rowdy. Knowing him, I’m sure there was some of that, but I can also envision him building a snowman with his siblings, making snow angels, maybe even indulging in a snowball fight. And then when everyone was inside, making sure they were all warm and dry, gathering them around the fireplace with hot chocolate and baked goods.
Thinking about it makes my throat clog with emotion. I want to step into that scene and be part of it. I want to belong with the Perrys always, belong to them and to Jasper. The last few weeks have shown me what it could be like. I’ve been trying hard not to think about what happens after the wedding when all these group events are over.
“It’s Gwen,” Jasper says, holding up his phone. I blink, coming out of my daze. Jasper is looking at me with his brows drawn together. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, fine, sorry. I was just…daydreaming. Gwen called?”
“Texted.” He’s still looking at me with that same concerned look. “She says they just arrived at the house and will be here shortly.”
A rush of excitement zips through me. “I can’t wait to see their reactions. I’m so happy I get to be here for this.” I bounce on my toes, clapping my hands.
Jasper’s worry evaporates and he laughs softly at my exuberance. “I’m glad you’re here too.” He takes a tiny step closer. His arms twitch at his sides and I realize he’s hesitating in initiating a hug.
I close the space between us and wrap my arms around him tightly. While he struggles to show affection, I struggle to stop myself from showing too much. It’s getting harder and harder to keep my feelings concealed. I’ve been telling myself it’s because confessing my feelings for him has the potential to make things incredibly awkward, especially this close to the wedding. If I’m being really honest, though, I’m afraid of rejection. Of him smiling kindly and saying something like despite being flattered, he only sees me as a friend.
All of Jasper’s usual stiffness has dissolved and he’s holding me close. When he shifts, I expect him to release me; instead, one hand lifts to rub lightly at my back through my thick sweater. I melt against him, pressing my face into his shoulder and closing my eyes. It’s been too long since I was held like this. Even if it doesn’t mean anything, I’m going to soak up every second of it.
“Do you want to sit in the gazebo while we wait for Evan and Gwen?” Jasper asks, his breath tickling my ear.
I stop myself from asking him to hold me a few minutes longer. “Sure.”
He releases me in what feels like slow motion. He takes a minuscule step back, his hands sliding from my back to my upper arms. My breath catches when our eyes meet. His face is close, his mouth only inches away from mine. We’re both frozen in place, staring into each other’s eyes. When Jasper’s gaze dips down to my lips, the change in him is visible immediately. His hands drop from my arms and he takes a quick step back, his cheeks flushing.
Huh. All this time I’ve assumed Jasper only sees me as a friend, but I’ve never reacted like that to a friend…
Jasper takes a sudden keen interest in a nearby squirrel, so I step around him and mosey over to the gazebo. I climb the steps and sit on the top one so I can admire the photoshoot setup and also watch for Gwen and Evan. Jasper joins me a minute later, leaving a few feet of space between us.
The silence that hangs around us isn’t our usual comfortable kind. Maybe Jasper is as affected by me as I am by him, and he’s just been better at hiding it. I have a feeling we share the same fears of rejection and abandonment.
Wanting to regain the light mood from a few minutes ago, I say, “I wonder how Maynooth and his friend are doing.”
Jasper chuckles. “I forgot to tell you Mr. Willis called them by name as they went inside.”
“Oh?”
His lips twitch. “Ruff and Scruff.”
The “ha!” I release is so loud, it startles birds from a nearby tree. “You’re kidding. Those are…interesting? I prefer Maynooth, although now I feel bad we didn’t name his friend too.” I pause and Jasper nods. “I really do hope they’re okay.”
“Mr. Willis seemed more careless than anything. They’re obviously well fed and they weren’t wary of us in the least, so I doubt they’re abused in any way. Just given far too much free rein.”
“Have you ever had a dog, Jasper?”
“No, although I’ve always wanted one. When I asked for one as a child, my parents said it would be too much to add a dog into the mix in a house with seven people. Years later, I discovered their refusal was actually because of Evan’s allergies. Our parents didn’t want the rest of us to blame him for us not having a pet.”
“Your parents sound wonderful,” I say, and he nods again, smiling wistfully. “Could you get a dog now?”
“I could,” he says slowly. “My building allows pets. I’m gone such long hours for work, though, and it doesn’t seem fair to keep a dog cooped up alone in my apartment. Maybe someday.”
I make a hum of acknowledgment and lean back, supporting my weight on my hands. My finger catches on a rough spot on one of the gazebo floorboards, and I yank my hand back with a hiss. “What the hell is up with me getting splinters lately?” Luckily this one isn’t as deep as the one at Nansom Farms was, and I’m able to pluck it out easily.
“Do you want me to go get—” Jasper starts, but I wave him off, knowing he’s going to ask if I want the travel-size First Aid kit he carries in the car.
“No, no, it’s fine, thanks.” I pull my cross-body bag around to the front and fish out my trusty hand sanitizer. After slathering it on, Jasper takes my hand, cupping it in both of his as he examines it. I have a flashback to that day at Nansom Farms when I got a splinter from the ladder. Jasper inspected my hand then too and I told him I’d let him kiss it if it made him feel better.
I don’t say anything now. Apparently I don’t have to. He raises my hand to his mouth and presses his lips to my finger. I swallow a gasp and then hold my breath. Jasper’s gaze lifts to meet mine, his eyes dark and serious, searching. Something in my chest expands, making me feel light and giddy and…hopeful?
Despite being distantly aware of the sound of car doors slamming, I don’t pay any attention until a shriek brings me back to the present. Jasper reluctantly releases my hand. We turn in unison to see Gwen dashing across the park with Evan trailing behind her. Her hands are over her mouth and her eyes are wide and bright as they scan the setup around the gazebo.
“What is this?” she squeals when she reaches us.
Jasper waits until Evan joins us where we’re now standing at the foot of the gazebo steps, and then explains the plan to them. Gwen bursts into tears, throwing herself into Jasper’s arms. Evan and I laugh, even though tears have filled my eyes. I love seeing Gwen so happy, and it hits me all over again how incredibly thoughtful Jasper is. Even Evan looks emotional, so I turn to him and give him a hug while Gwen continues to embrace Jasper.
“And you!” Gwen says, spinning to face me once she’s released Jasper. “You were in on this too?”
Before I can respond, she tackles me in a hug. I laugh breathlessly as I wrap my arms around her. “I honestly can’t take any credit. I was just along for the ride.” I meet Jasper’s gaze over Gwen’s shoulder. His cheeks are flushed again and his eyes are shining as he smiles at us. My heart swells with a mixture of affection for these three people and gratitude that I get to be here for this experience.
“I hate to break this up, but we should get s
tarted while the light is good,” Jasper says.
“Oh! Okay.” Gwen whirls around, grabbing Jasper’s hand. “First, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you and this seems like the perfect time.” She takes a deep breath, looking from Evan to me and then Jasper. “I’d like for you to walk me down the aisle on Evan’s and my wedding day.”
Jasper stares at Gwen as if she spoke in a foreign language and he’s struggling to translate. His mouth opens and a string of nonsensical sounds come out, followed by a stammered, “Oh, well, I mean, is that really…? Shouldn’t you…? Surely there’s someone better suited. Someone you’ve known longer. Perhaps Hugh?”
“Hugh is officiating, remember? I think it’d be kind of hard for him to pull double duty. And even if he wasn’t, I want it to be you. I want someone I love to hold my hand, keep me calm, and be there to prevent me from turning into a blubbering mess as I walk down the aisle. Evan and I talked about walking in together since we’re not sticking to tradition in other ways, but he said he wants to stand at the end of the aisle and watch his future bride walk toward him.”
I wish someone would hold my hand right now and stop me from becoming a blubbering mess. The look of love that passes between Gwen and Evan nearly takes my breath away.
“So, Jasper,” Gwen says. “Don’t make me get down on one knee before I ask again because you know I will.” She lets out a shaky laugh that echoes Jasper’s. “Will you walk me down the aisle? It would mean so much to me. To both of us.”
“I’d do anything for you, Gwendolyn,” Jasper says softly. He turns her hand in his and lifts it to kiss her knuckles. “And I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle.”
Gwen lets out another wobbly laugh and swipes at the tears streaming down her face. “That’s settled then. Thank you.” She puts her arms out for another hug and Jasper enfolds her in a tight embrace. When he pulls back to kiss her temple, our eyes meet and I see his are swimming with unshed tears.