by Sara Jolene
“Jackie. There isn’t anything. I swear it.” Jarred felt very uncomfortable having the conversation, but the more he thought about it, the more he knew it was inevitable. He’d known for a long time that Jackie wanted to give the two of them a shot. She’d never come out and said anything, but he knew. She’d been after him since high school, and as much as he’d often times wished he’d been attracted to her, he just wasn’t. She was a good friend, and he wanted it to stay that way. He also wanted her to know that she was lovely and deserved to have someone that wanted to be with her.
He took a few steps toward them. Phoebe smiled softly from behind Jackie. “Look…it’s always been Phoebe. You know that. Christ, you were there the first time. It isn’t you.” He pulled Jackie in for a hug. “You’re a great friend, and I don’t ever want that to change.”
He could hear quiet sobs coming from her as her shoulders shook. “I really am sorry.”
All three stood there for a long time while Jackie calmed down. Once she had, she pulled away from him and turned to Phoebe. “I really am sorry for what happened back in high school. Bridget and I can be…well, we can be not-so-nice sometimes. Especially when we team up.”
Phoebe laughed and smiled. It made Jarred’s heart skip when she did that. He loved seeing her smile. “That’s an understatement.” The two of them looked at each other and burst out laughing as Jarred stood there frozen, not sure what to do or say. He pulled in a breath and exhaled it as Jackie turned with her keys in her hand.
“Ohhhhhh no you don’t. We’ll take you back into town. You’re not driving. How’d you get Bridget to let you out of her sight anyway?”
Jarred stepped forward and put an arm around Phoebe’s shoulder as the three of them headed toward the driveway.
“Waited till she went to work.”
“She didn’t know you were awake?”
Jackie shook her head as tears started to fall again. “I stayed up on my own.” The two of them helped her into the car and shut the door.
“I’ll follow you over to her place.”
Phoebe looked up at him. He didn’t like the shadow in her eyes. She nodded and got into the driver’s seat of Jackie’s car. Jarred sighed. He wasn’t sure why that shadow had suddenly appeared, but he knew that he had to do something about it, and fast. He couldn’t let her overthink things. Jackie showing up that morning was probably the worst possible thing that could have happened. He felt horrible about the way things had been with her over the years, but he was confident that he had never led her on. He always told her straight that he wanted to be friends and nothing more. He tried not to be upset with himself that she felt she could change that. He also had to hope that Phoebe knew he hadn’t. That he’d always been genuine with Jackie. He needed Phoebe to know it was her, always had been, and always would be.
Epilogue
Phoebe held her breath with a hand over her eyes as Jarred turned her body so it was facing something exactly the way he’d wanted. “Okay…ready.”
Phoebe kept her hand over her eyes. “I’m not sure I want to look.”
After they’d taken Jackie home and gotten her settled, Phoebe and Jarred had ridden back to the house together. She’d finished getting ready, and he’d towed her out here. Wherever here was. He’d told her that they needed to talk. She knew they did. She’d actually been hoping to avoid it for a bit longer though. She was happy being with him and was terrified that once they talked, it would all go away. She knew once she opened her eyes, things would change irrevocably. “Come here.” She smiled with her hand still covering her eyes. She reached out with the free hand and clutched the front of his shirt, pulling him closer to her. She leaned forward as she tugged. Keeping her eyes closed, she dropped her hand and kissed him.
She wanted to stay in the place they were at. They had a good rhythm going. He knew she cared about him, and she knew he cared about her. They could do this for a while. They could just be. Nothing had to be decided about the lake right away. That was her biggest fear. She let that fear overwhelm her while she parted her lips against his. She held him close, trying not to let the fear turn to desperation. She didn’t want the land to come between them.
That morning, while she was showering, before Jackie had shown up, she had tried to think of ways that she could have both parts of her life. A way that she could keep the lake property and still be able to live in the city and be the lawyer she had always dreamed of being. She hadn’t come up with a great plan, though, and she wanted to wait to talk to Jarred about it until she did.
Jarred pushed away. “Come on, now. No more distractions. Open your eyes.”
He held her close. So close that she felt safe enough to whisper, “But it’ll change everything.”
Jarred nodded. “Probably.” He paused and squeezed her before releasing her and fidgeting with her position until it was just right again. “But change means progress, and we’ve already moved so far forward this weekend, why not leap?”
Phoebe swallowed and stood blindly, turning her head toward his voice. “Because what if we haven’t found our footing on this new ground yet and the next step is quick sand?”
Phoebe could hear the smile and the confidence in his voice when he responded. “Because I’m already over here, and I’m haven’t been buried yet.”
She couldn’t argue with that. She also knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. Taking a deep breath and holding it, she opened her eyes.
Phoebe gasped as she looked at the beautiful scene around her. There was so much to look at. There was a large white canvas tent, raised off the ground with beautiful antique lanterns hanging around it. Jarred stood in the flapped doorway, but behind him she could see a large four-poster bed covered in white linen. The wood looked smooth and soft with wear. At the foot of the bed, there was what looked like a large trunk. She also thought she could see a pair of comfy armchairs off in a corner.
“What is this?”
Jarred smiled hugely. “This…is the future of Clover Lake.” He moved aside and offered her a hand to help her up onto the platform.
Phoebe couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was absolutely perfect. It was beautiful and rustic but also modern. She tried to take it all in but, “How? When did you do all of this?”
“While you were gone this week. I worked while you were working.” Jarred came to her and wrapped his arms around her middle from behind. “This is only the beginning. I have so much more I want to show you.”
Phoebe was overwhelmed. “I can’t wait.”
She loved the excitement in his voice. “Yes! Come. Right over here. I brought everything out with us just in case. I thought it might help you to envision the whole thing.”
Phoebe sat in one of the armchairs in the corner. They were covered in soft floral fabric. She sank into it, in a daze as Jarred explained all the things he had planned for the property. It all sounded wonderful. She actually found herself getting excited, and then she remembered that in order for any of it to happen, she’d have to give up everything she already had. Her eyes started to well with tears. Her throat got sore and tight, and she didn’t dare open her mouth to speak. She didn’t want him to see how much the whole thing had upset her. She wasn’t very good at hiding it though.
“What is it? You don’t like the idea of changing the menu? We don’t have to. I just thought…”
Phoebe didn’t let him finish. She kissed him softly to silence him. “It’s all more wonderful than I can express. I’d love to see this place filled with families again. I think it’s time for a return to the days when families vacationed together, off grid. Kids need to be outside playing in the dirt, connecting with the world around them.”
Jarred smiled at her. “I agree, and I think Clover Lake can be that place.”
Phoebe nodded. “I do too. Which is why I think we should sell it.”
The smile immediately left Jarred’s face. “But why would we do that? You said yourself these ideas are great, and the
premise is something that is needed. We could be making a difference.”
Phoebe was breaking both their hearts with her words. She knew there was no coming back from all she was saying. The lake was holding them together at the moment. It was what brought their pasts into their present. Phoebe couldn’t help but think of Gram and how happy she’d be with the changes. She’d longed for the property to be full of people again. She believed in the power of it. “We both already do make a difference, Jarred. You are an amazing architect that spends his days devising eco-friendly buildings that will be around for generations to come. And I’m an attorney. Granted, that isn’t nearly as amazing as what you do, but it still helps. I don’t see a way to do both.”
Jarred got up from his chair and kneeled in front of hers. He took her hands. “First, I know you make a difference. We both do. But you’re wrong about what I do being amazing. It doesn’t fill me the way other things do. I know all this is sudden and crazy, but I think Rosalind did this for a reason. I think she knew that we needed to be together. That we should be a team.” He winked. “And not just as business partners.” Jarred dropped her hands and fished around in his pocket. He pulled out something small and held it in his hand as he looked up and searched for her eyes. Connecting with them, he opened his hand and held it palm out to her. “I don’t want you to give up your dream. I want you to have everything. I will work as a consultant for the firm and take on the lake full time.” Jarred paused and looked down at his hand. Phoebe’s eyes followed.
She gasped and held her breath when she saw a ring sparkling up at her from the palm of his hand. Jarred lifted it with his free hand and held it up. “I know this is soon, but it also isn’t. Phoebe Sullivan, I love you. Will you be not only my business partner but my partner in life?”
Phoebe had no idea what had come over her. The entire thing was completely crazy. They’d just started to get to know each other again. Not that they’d had a lot of time to get to know each other before even. It was crazy to think of running a business with him. Crazy to think she could live a divided life, half at the lake and half in Philly. Crazy to think that the man in front of her should be her husband, but she wasn’t thinking. And she didn’t care if it was crazy. Every particle in her body was screaming for her to answer, “Yes!”
Jarred jumped up and pulled her with him. He slid the ring on her finger as he captured her mouth, their kiss long and hard, filled with excitement. After a long while, Jarred pulled away, leaving them both breathless. He stared into her eyes. “We need to get planning. I think it should be us that first uses this honeymoon suite, don’t you?” He swept her up and spun her around.
She kissed him softly while they laughed together. Phoebe felt a peace come over her. She knew she was doing the absolute right thing, just as her gram had. She hoped she could see them. That she would see what the property would become and that she’d be watching as Jarred joined the growing list of Clover Lake Grooms.
Also by Sara Jolene
Mail Order Majesty
A Brides of Beckham Book
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 1
The Miner
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 2
The Hunter
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 3
Mail Order Maiden
A Brides of Beckham Book
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 4
Taming the Trainer
Cowboys and Angels Book 4
Wooing the Widow
Cowboys and Angels Book 8
Captivating the Carpenter
Cowboys and Angels Book 13
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About the Author
Sara lives in upstate New York with her husband, two children, and two chocolate labs. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with all things relevant to Irish folklore, Gilmore Girls, and 16th century Britain. Oh, and in her spare time can be found either in a kayak or anywhere in the woods. She holds BA degrees in both English and history, has a profound love of nature, and a deep passion for books. Writing allows her to weave her interests and experiences into new worlds, and she is excited to share those stories with her readers.
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