by Kat Brookes
“I can’t see myself ever wanting to step away from baking,” she told him, meaning it. It was a passion that ran deep for her. “But I could combine the two,” she added with a grin. “I could create my own version of a fortune cookie, filling them with printed slips of paper offering helpful advice. Like Be Kind to Others, or It’s Never Too Late to Say You’re Sorry.” That last one, especially, hit home for her.
“How about Sometimes You Just Have to Follow Your Heart?” Jake suggested, sounding so serious Addy had to force herself to remember that he was only offering cookie advice ideas. Nothing more.
Following her heart was something she couldn’t do. Not right now. Maybe ever. She had only just gotten Jake’s friendship back. To ask for more could cost her the comfortable ease between them if Jake didn’t reciprocate her feelings.
“Addy,” Jake said, drawing her from her thoughts, “you missed the turn.”
“What?” Glancing back, she saw the opening in the pines that lined that section of the orchard, beyond which was the pond. “Oops.” She turned the ATV around and then drove through the gap in the pines. “It’s been a while since I was back here.”
“Go ahead and pull up closer to the pond’s edge,” Jake instructed. “I’d like to be close enough to see into the water.”
She laughed. “Boy, you really are a trusting soul.”
“I have faith in your driving ability,” he replied. “Faith in you.”
Her heart melted at those words. Tears threatened to blur her vision. “That means a lot,” she told him. “And I feel the same way about you.” She eased the ATV up as close to the water’s edge as she felt safe doing and then cut the engine. “It looks so different here,” she said, glancing around.
“It’s been a few years since you’ve seen it,” he agreed. “Trees are a lot bigger. And the grass around the pond isn’t quite as beat down as it used to be when we used to fish here as kids.”
“It’s still such a serene place,” she said with a contented sigh. “And the view is so beautiful. I’m so glad you thought to come out here.” It was only then she recalled his reason for taking a ride. Addy turned to find Jake watching her.
“Definitely beautiful,” he said.
“Um, the view is out there,” she said, her arm doing a broad sweep of the pond.
“Not the best view,” he countered with a grin.
Her heart gave a little flutter. “When did you become such a sweet-talking flirt?” It was so hard not to be led astray by his playful teasing.
“Just speaking the truth,” he told her. “If that’s flirting, so be it.”
They teased each other often, but this was different. More exciting. It made her feel surprisingly off-balance. “Are you attempting to distract me from our reason for coming here?” Because if he was, he was doing a great job of it.
“Ah, you’re referring to the secret I promised to share with you.”
“Yes,” she said impatiently. “So stop with the flattery and tell me whatever it is.” She added with a smile, “Please.”
He leaned back against the seat, tucking his arms casually behind his head. “Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about your cookbook lately. I know how much this project means to you and wanted to do something to help make it a success.”
“Jake, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he said. “That’s why I suggested to Momma and the rest of the family that we carry copies to sell at the market. Everyone agreed.”
“That’s so sweet,” she said, deeply touched. To think that Jake put so much effort into supporting her dream. It showed how far they’d come. How much he cared.
He grinned. “It gets sweeter. We’d like to hold a signing for you at the market before you head back to Atlanta. Of course, that depends on whether or not you can get print versions delivered here in time.”
Tears sprang to Addy’s eyes. What better place to launch her cookbook than in the very place where she’d first discovered her love of baking—his family’s peach market! Turning to Jake, Addy threw her arms around him in a grateful hug and then froze, quickly easing her embrace. “Your shoulder,” she worried.
“Is much better,” he assured her. “Feel free to hug away.”
She lifted her gaze to his, and in that moment something shifted between them. And then Jake was kissing her. Or maybe she had kissed him. However it had happened, it felt like she had waited a lifetime for this moment.
When they eased apart, they both sat in stunned silence, their gazes locked.
“I’m sorry,” Addy said, feeling the need to apologize. She had allowed her feelings for Jake to carry her away. What if she crossed a line she shouldn’t have crossed?
“Don’t be,” Jake told her with a tender smile. “As far as I’m concerned, that kiss was long overdue.”
Addy had never felt so giddy in her life. The sweet and completely unexpected kiss that they’d just shared, followed by Jake’s admission that he’d been wanting it, had butterflies fluttering about wildly in her stomach. The feelings she’d been tamping down where Jake was concerned joyously pushed their way to the surface of her heart. There were so many reasons for her to put an end to this shift that was happening in their friendship, but Addy couldn’t bring herself to point them out. Instead, she said, “I agree.”
Chapter Eleven
Jake had been sitting out on the front porch for close to an hour, soaking up the sunshine and thinking about the kiss he’d shared with Addy by the pond days earlier. The fact that she’d eagerly returned his embrace told him she was finally seeing him as the man he’d become, rather than the boy she’d known. Finally. He’d waited years for that revelation to occur to her. To move beyond just friendship with Addy.
He’d spent the past several days mulling over their situation and trying to come up with a way to make a relationship work for them...if Addy were willing to give things a try. Keeping her happiness in mind, he’d come up with a plan. If only he could keep the doubt that seemed determined to creep into his thoughts at bay. Like what if he’d only imagined Addy’s response to his kiss? Maybe she had just accepted it to keep from causing him the embarrassment of her rejection. Then he’d recall the brief glances she’d cast in his direction when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. The blush that spread across her cheeks when their gaze would meet, and the smile that always followed, made him more determined than ever to win Addy’s heart completely.
A car coming up the road pulled Jake from his musings. He looked to see Reverend Hutchins pulling up to the market. No doubt to pick up his weekly pie. The reverend waved in greeting as he stepped from his car.
“Afternoon, Reverend,” Jake called out, returning the wave.
The preacher cast a brief glance toward the market before turning and heading across the yard to where Jake sat watching him from his wheelchair.
This was the man who had found a place in his momma’s heart. One that had only been held by his daddy for more years than Jake had been alive. But he felt no resentment toward the man. Reverend Hutchins had made her smile again. He just prayed the reverend’s intentions were the same as his momma’s.
“It’s good to see you out enjoying the day.”
“Winter will be here before we know it,” Jake replied. They were already into November. “No sense wasting a day like this by sitting inside.”
Reverend Hutchins nodded. “Agreed. How are you feeling? You look well.”
“I’m getting there,” Jake replied. “Patience has been a hard-to-grasp virtue through all this. Lots of prayers sent up.” At least there had been since he’d stopped blaming God for Corey’s death and had returned to church. The support he’d received there had made him grateful to be a part of the faith community.
“Understandably so,” Reverend Hutchins said. “The body heals at its own pace. I know I told you how sorry I was
after you came home from that trip, but I’d like to say it again. Ever since our church received word about the attack, I’ve been filled with so much guilt.”
Jake hadn’t expected that. “Why? You had nothing to do with the shooting.”
“I approved your going on that trip to the Republic of Congo to help build the new schoolhouse. There were other mission trips, safer destinations, that I could have agreed to have our program be a part of,” the reverend explained. “You have no idea how many talks I’ve had with the Lord, trying to ease my conscience.”
“I knew where I was going,” Jake said. “Knew the risks. Don’t suffer any more guilt on my behalf,” he told the reverend.
“I’ll try my best,” the older man replied. “What I need to do is focus more on how blessed we were that there weren’t more lives lost that day.”
Jake nodded, thinking of Corey. It wasn’t nearly as painful as it had been to think of his friend. Opening up to Addy about that loss had served as a balm to the festering wound Corey’s death had left in his gut. “I’ve been trying to do the same.” He met the reverend’s gaze. “Momma doesn’t know anyone was killed in the ambush that day, does she?” Had that been something they’d discussed during their get-togethers? She’d never made mention of it to him if they had.
The reverend shook his head. “If you had wanted to share the details of that day with her, you would have. It wasn’t my place to do so.”
“I appreciate that, Reverend. Momma was upset enough as it was when she’d learned I’d been injured. I didn’t see any reason to upset her further.”
He glanced toward the market and then back to Jake. “I think it was the right thing to do. I also know that if your momma had lost you that day, I’m not sure she could have ever recovered from it. You children are her heart.”
“You seem to know her pretty well,” Jake said.
“We’re very good friends,” the reverend answered with a nod.
“How good?”
The reverend blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I may be way off base here, but I’ve always felt that I could be open with you.”
“You can,” the older man replied. “And I’ll answer that honestly. I think your momma is the kindest, most giving woman I know. I admire her strength and dedication to her family and to God. I can sympathize with what she went through after losing your daddy. I lost my wife the year before I took over at the Sweet Springs church. Your momma and I have had many talks over the years, sharing our feelings of grief over the loss of our spouses, and from that a special friendship has grown between us.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. I had no idea,” Jake told him. He’d just assumed the reverend had never married. “I’m glad Momma had you to talk to.” Just as he’d shared his deepest pain with Addy. Everyone needed someone they could open themselves up to—good or bad. “I’ll be honest, too. I think Momma feels more than friendship toward you.”
His face lit up, telling Jake the depth of the reverend’s feelings toward his momma. “You do?”
“She’s never actually said anything,” Jake hurried to clarify, not wanting to give false hope. “It’s just a feeling Mason, Violet and I all have. I’m only telling you this because I don’t want to see Momma get hurt.”
The reverend offered a kind smile. “Neither do I. Nor had I wanted to assume my feelings were reciprocated, which is why I’ve never pushed for more than friendship from her. Because I’d rather have our friendship than risk having nothing at all.”
That was how Jake had felt about Addy, until he’d come to realize that the risk was worth taking. And that’s what he’d been doing. Showing Addy in any way he could how he felt about her. Helping her with her cookbook, showering her with compliments, and letting her know how much he enjoyed spending time with her. “Again, it’s not my business,” he said, “but I think you should consider taking that risk and letting Momma know how you feel.” Just as he intended to do with Addy, because everyone deserved the chance to have true happiness in their life.
The reverend looked surprised. “And you and Mason and Violet would be all right with that?”
“We would,” Jake told him. “We talked it over among ourselves and all agreed that should something start up between you and Momma, we’d be happy for you both. I can’t think of a better man for her to have in her life.”
A sheen of moisture filled the reverend’s eyes. Clearing the emotion from his throat, he said, “That means a lot, Jake. Thank you.” Holding out his hand, he said, “I think it’s time for me to let your momma know where my feelings lie.”
Jake took the offered hand. “Something tells me we’ll be needing to set one more place at our table for our Sunday dinners.” Two more if things worked out with Addy the way he hoped they would. Because he was about to follow the advice he’d given the reverend and take a heart risk of his own.
* * *
“Jake!” Addy said with a gasp of surprise as she stepped from her car. “Where’s your wheelchair?”
“Back at the house,” he replied with a smile. “I came over to let Momma know we were heading into town.”
“Where did those come from?” she asked, worriedly eyeing the crutches braced under his arms. “Should you even be up on your feet? And what about your shoulder?”
He chuckled. “I picked them up on my way home from therapy the other day. Right after I received the all-clear from my therapist to get them. My shoulder is good. The leg still has a way to go, but at least I’ll be able to get around without having to rely on everyone pushing me from this place to that in a wheelchair.”
“I didn’t mind,” she told him.
“I know you didn’t,” he said with a warm smile. “And you have no idea how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me.”
His smile started a swirl of butterflies in her stomach. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“You definitely did that,” she said, forgetting just how tall he was. However, bent over as he was to use his crutches, brought his face much closer to hers. It made Addy remember the special moment they had shared. Had her wishing he would kiss her again.
“I have a surprise, too,” Addy said, barely able to contain her excitement.
“Must be something really good,” he noted, “if that smile you’re wearing is any indication. Would it happen to have anything to do with your cookbook?”
“Yes,” she blurted out. “It’s done! Uploaded and set to go up for sale in one week! At least the digital version will be. The print version will take a few days longer to be available for order.”
A wide grin split his face. “Addy, that’s wonderful news! If I weren’t still learning to master these crutches, I’d be giving you the biggest bear hug right now. What do you say I treat you to a celebratory dinner while we’re in town?”
“I’d like that.” She wouldn’t have minded being pulled into his embrace either. But dinner would be wonderful as well. There was no one she wanted to celebrate with more. Jake had been there for her more than she could have ever hoped for. Smiling happily, she walked alongside Jake as they made their way out to her car, making sure to keep enough distance between them that she wouldn’t accidentally bump his crutch.
“So what’s next?” he asked. “Now that your book’s ready to go.”
“There’s so much to do now,” she said as she moved to open the passenger door for him. “I’ll need to order bookmarks, set up some sort of online promotion to get the word out and order some print copies for sending out to reviewers.”
“Wow,” he said as he lowered himself carefully into the car. “That’s a lot. I’d offer to help, but I know nothing about that side of publishing. I’ll have to stick to taste testing recipes for you,” he said with a grin.
“I didn’t know much about it either,” she admitted as sh
e carefully fed the crutches into the back seat. “Thankfully, there’s a ton of info out there on the internet to guide me in the right direction.”
Addy hurried around to the driver’s side and slid in behind the wheel. “Talk about a day filled with surprises.”
“With more to come,” Jake muttered as they pulled away from the house.
“More?” Addy replied with a glance in his direction. Jake was looking out the window, a wide grin spilling across his face. What was he up to now? It made her think back to the first time she’d seen him after her return. He had looked at her with such an icy gaze that she had shuddered inwardly. They had come so far. She had learned just how precious a smile could be. Jake’s, in particular.
“I can hear your thoughts churning,” Jake said, looking her way. “You might as well give them a rest. A surprise is a surprise. That means I’m not going to tell you what it is ahead of time.”
She laughed. “Easier said than done.”
True to his word, Jake kept his secret locked up tight the whole way into town. He had her pull into an empty parking space between the hardware store and the beauty shop. Braden was waiting for them in front of a vacant storefront that sat between the two other businesses.
Jake didn’t wait for Addy’s help. He was already up, balancing on one foot as he secured his crutches under his arms. “You got it?” he asked Braden.
His best friend nodded. “Got it.” Pushing away from the wall, he started toward them.
Got what? Braden’s hands were empty. Addy looked to Jake questioningly.
“Those wheels,” he said, grinning.
“Afternoon, Addy,” Braden said when he reached them.
“Afternoon,” she replied and then watched as Braden pulled something from his pocket and handed it over to Jake.
“Appreciate it,” Jake told him.
“Any time,” Braden replied. “New transportation, I see,” he said, nodding toward the crutches.
Jake nodded. “I’m getting there.”
“Well,” Braden said, looking Addy’s way. “I’d best let the two of you get to that surprise Jake has for you.” With a wave, he headed off down the sidewalk in the direction of the flower shop.