Patricia flipped through the notebook on her lap, her brows furrowed and her mouth quirked. “Did I forget to put something on the calendar?” Her voice wavered.
Okay, so maybe he’d been a bit heavy-handed with his assistant. She was the best in the business and she took good care of him. He should remember that, especially now when he’d be asking her to basically facilitate his work from his hometown.
“This was a last minute thing. There’s an emergency at home.”
Her expression changed to one of concern. “Did something happen to your condo?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not being clear. I’m going home…to Oak Grove.”
She leaned back in her chair. “Oh.”
Yeah, oh. He hadn’t been home since he’d moved to Boston after earning his MBA from Wharton. His parents understood why he’d never been back, their visits always somewhere else or here in Boston. But his excuses felt flimsy as he considered the potential of never seeing his father again. “My father’s had a heart attack. It’s the busiest time of their year. I need to be there.”
“Of course you do. What can I do to help?”
For the next hour, he and Patricia came up with a plan. Most of the day to day items could be handled by Dan, his business partner. Jack would be available by cell phone during the day, and he’d work remotely early in the morning and after the farm was closed each night. Shoot, half of his clients were around the globe anyway, so he frequently worked odd hours. As long as he found Wi-Fi somewhere in the small town where he’d grown up, he’d be fine.
Two hours later, he slid into a leather seat in the first class cabin for the short flight to Philadelphia. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the collar of his starched shirt. Sure, he could have changed before leaving, but he’d worked hard for everything he’d earned, and everyone in Oak Grove was going to know it.
Three little bottles of scotch later and he finally dozed off, only to awaken to the thump of the wheels hitting the ground.
As he waited for his bag to spin around the carousel, his mind shifted to another day in this same airport under very different circumstances. The day his soul had been gutted by the only woman he’d loved when she’d refused to move with him to Boston.
That feeling stuck with him as he pulled onto the highway for the drive to Oak Grove, each mile bringing him closer to the life he’d left behind. He hadn’t had time to miss his hometown, and his parents visited him often. But there was one thing he’d missed.
Did Casey even live here anymore? He never asked his parents and they never shared—it hurt too much to talk about the loss. It just meant he was alone in his grief. He’d dealt by donning nerves of steel, refusing to allow himself to get close to anyone again. No one would ever hurt him the way Casey Patterson had.
An hour and a half later, he turned onto Main Street headed toward the town green. When he’d left, the park had comprised most of the center of town, with just a few businesses surrounding the natural green space.
Not anymore.
Rows of shops with brightly-colored awnings and cheerful signs lined two sides of the park in the center of town. In the decade since he’d been gone, Mom and Dad had talked about the new retail and the houses being built on the outskirts of town. But the image of Oak Grove he’d kept tucked away in his mind hadn’t changed.
New businesses meant more residents. That must be great for his parents’ lot. Maybe he could come up with a growth plan for the tree farm while he was here. Plans to diversify and share the burden so his dad could sit back and relax. He worked too hard. No wonder Mom had called. She couldn’t run the lot and take care of Dad at the same time.
If only she’d called when Dad first complained about not feeling well. Who was Jack kidding? His dad was so stubborn that he was probably fighting Mom to get out of bed right now. He and Dad were alike in that way, but in so many others, not so much. Dad didn’t understand why Jack couldn’t build his life in Oak Grove, for example. Oak Grove might be his father’s home but it wasn’t Jack’s. Not anymore.
It did no good to worry about that now. Other worries took precedence, like getting to his parents’ tree lot and seeing what had to be done to survive the holiday season. Decorations were starting to go up around town for the Christmas season, but the prominent spot in the town that normally held the Christmas tree sat empty. As though it waited for his return. Dad musn’t have taken care of that before his attack.
Jack rounded the town green and headed out of town. Before long, he passed the sign he’d been waiting for:
Murphy’s Christmas Tree Lot – 1 mile
A sense of peace washed over him. He’d worked alongside his parents during high school, college, and grad school, taking his exams early each year to spend the entire month of December helping out. Those last few years, Casey had been by his side. Like he’d expected her to be for the rest of his life.
He hadn’t known that last Christmas with Casey would be his last Christmas in Oak Grove. Just thinking about Casey shattered his fragile peace. He hadn’t thought about her in a long time and now that he was coming home, he couldn’t get her off his mind.
He drove through the gate posts a few minutes later. It had been a long time since he’d been here, and there had been changes in the intervening years. Cars filled the parking lot Dad had paved last year. Kids ran around wearing hats and mittens while others warmed their hands around the huge fire pit. He spied a few employees darting around, their bright red aprons and Santa hats singling them out from the customers.
Jack parked in the one remaining spot and stepped carefully along the dirt path leading to the cut-your-own tree section. They were doing good business and the customers appeared happy. Maybe Mom and Dad didn’t need him at home as much as he thought. Maybe he could check things out, make sure the manager had everything covered, and head back to Boston before…
He shook the thought out of his head. He’d have time enough to worry whether he’d run into his ex-girlfriend later. For now, he would find the manager and introduce himself before heading home. Mom had been elusive when Jack asked for the manager’s name, but he’d been too shaken over the news of his father to dig deeper. Now that he was here, he wished he’d pushed her harder.
“Can I help you find something?” The sweetest voice he’d ever heard rang out from behind him, and he froze. It couldn’t be.
He spun around. The smile on the woman’s face faltered. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped. “Jack.”
All color left her cheeks and she swayed. He reached out and caught her just before she hit the ground.
CHAPTER TWO
Warmth wrapped around her and she snuggled deeper into the feeling. But as her mind began to clear, her comfort gave way to confusion. She stretched her arm and ran into something…hard. Well, not exactly hard, more like firm.
Where was she?
All of a sudden, everything flooded back. Jack…was here…in Oak Grove.
She forced her eyes open, squinting at the bright sun. Deep green eyes that had haunted her dreams for years stared back at her. She bolted upright and her head swam.
“Take it easy, Casey. You’re still pale.”
She sank back into the lap of the one person who had always calmed her. At least until he left her behind and never returned. As soon as she settled against his chest, his arms came around her, holding her in place. He stroked her hair, much like he’d done all of those nights after…
No. Casey refused to dwell on a past she couldn’t change. And no way would she give Jack the satisfaction of knowing he had any kind of effect on her. Of course, she’d be a bit more convincing if she hadn’t fainted as soon as she laid eyes on him. And if she wasn’t sprawled across his lap right now.
She drew in a few deep breaths, squared her shoulders, and sat up slowly. “I’m fine.”
Jack chuckled but didn’t let go of her. “Stubborn as always, eh, Case?”
“Don’t call me that. My name’s Casey.” He had fo
rfeited the right to call her that the day he left her behind.
He raised his hands in defeat, but the corners of his mouth still quirked.
It was too difficult for her to put any emotional distance between them while she was on his lap. She scrambled to her feet and stepped away.
Jack rose in a much more deliberate fashion, like he hadn’t been at all affected by their meeting. Maybe he wasn’t surprised to see her. His parents must have mentioned her role. It was just a shame that it took Sid’s heart attack to bring Jack home after all these years.
Regardless, she’d been running this lot for almost three years, and she didn’t need Jack coming in and threatening everything she’d worked so hard for. He should go by the hospital, visit with his dad, and skedaddle on back to Boston or wherever it was he was making the millions he always swore he’d make.
If his clothes were any indication, he’d succeeded. Those were no off-the-rack suit pants that he brushed his hands down. God forbid a little dirt had gotten on them. Everything about him screamed “money.” That was the life he’d wanted and he’d gone after it. Without her.
To hell with him.
She squirmed under the intensity of his gaze.
“Why are you staring at me?” Okay, so she’d been staring at him, too. But his eyes had been locked on her since he’d stood.
He stretched his hand out, and her gaze followed as he slid his fingers toward her hair. She almost allowed her eyes to flutter closed, to sink into his touch, when he pulled back with a piece of shredded bark between his fingers.
Her heart beat rapidly. What was he doing to her? She always imagined running into him again. In her fantasies, she wore a glamorous dress and maybe he was in a tuxedo. She would stride into some fancy party on the arm of a handsome millionaire and show Jack exactly what he’d been missing. Instead, she fainted at the sight of him, and here he was, picking mulch out of her hair.
“Thanks.”
He stared at her another minute. She ran her hands down her hips. What was going through his mind when he looked at her? Sure, she’d put on a few more pounds since the last time he’d seen her, but not many. She jogged every day and ate healthy. She took care of herself. She had to. People depended on her.
Jack continued staring but said nothing.
“What?” Wow, that was brilliant. Couldn’t she come up with something a little more intelligent? Then again, Jack always had her tongue tied.
“I can’t believe you’re here. That I ran into you.” He wrenched his gaze away from her and scanned the lot behind her. For a just a moment, there was a vulnerability in his expression she hadn’t expected.
“Where else would I be?”
“I don’t know. Moved away somewhere, maybe.”
“No, Jack. That’s what you did. I’ve been right here all along.” Well, that wasn’t exactly the truth, but she didn’t dare bring up the time she was away, and how she came home with her tail between her legs.
A hurt expression crossed his face. Good. He deserved to suffer at least some of the heartbreak she had when he left her behind to grieve alone.
She crossed her arms. He didn’t have the power to hurt her anymore. “So what are you doing here, Jack? I presume you’re in town to see your father. He’s at the hospital.”
Jack slid his hands into his pockets, drawing her attention to…
Stop it, Casey. He’s your past. He left you behind, remember?
“I thought I’d check in on the business, introduce myself to the manager since I’ll be helping out while Dad’s laid up.”
Helping out? What were Sid and Jackie thinking, asking Jack to help? Sure, it was their business, but they’d been more than happy to ease into a hands-off approach these past years and allow her to manage things. She’d worked hard to build a good relationship with the fulltime staff who cared for the trees and the loyal crew of teens who filled in as seasonal help. They didn’t need Jack coming in and changing things up.
She stuck out her hand. “Casey Patterson. I’m the manager.”
Shock crossed his face. “You’re the manager?”
“Yep. Have been for nearly three years now.” Take that, Jack.
Jack scrubbed his hand over his clean-shaven jaw. This man before her was not the boy she’d fallen in love with. He was so much more. His shoulders were broader, his arms thicker, but his smile lacked the warmth that had always turned her insides to mush.
Her heart skipped a beat. You are not allowed to have feelings for Jack Murphy. Not again. Remember what he did to you last time.
“Mom and Dad didn’t tell me.”
“Well, you’d have known if you’d visited.” That wouldn’t be all he’d have discovered if he’d bothered to come home.
“I’ve, uh, been busy.” His feeble attempt at rationalizing his absence wouldn’t work on her. “And besides, it’s not like I haven’t seen them since I’ve been gone.”
“Meeting your parents in Philly doesn’t cut it, Jack. Making them always leave Oak Grove to see you. You left them behind.” They weren’t the only ones he left behind, but she wasn’t about to admit to the hurt that still consumed her from time to time.
“Regardless, I’m here now.” He spun in a circle. “Lot’s doing great. How are the trees this year?”
“We have a good crop of white pine and blue spruce. It was a rough summer for Douglas firs, though.” Why was she talking to him like he had any business sticking his nose into the goings on at the tree lot? He made his decision when he left ten years ago.
Casey was the manager and his parents treated her like a daughter. Would that change now that Jack was home?
“What about the tree for the green? I saw the empty spot when I drove by.”
Her heart lurched. The tree on the green was usually up by now.
“Sid, uh, didn’t get that done before his attack.” She couldn’t share with Jack the fear that had coursed through her when she’d found Sid lying on the ground on the way to the tree he’d picked out this year. How she’d flashed back to another day, another loss, and it had nearly given her a heart attack of her own.
She paced over to the row of trees at the edge of the clearing and swiped at her eyes. She refused to cry. Not in front of Jack. She may never live down fainting at his feet, but she sure as hell would prove that she was no wilting flower. The farm was in capable hands—hers—and she didn’t need his help.
He stepped up beside her. “So, how have you been?”
What, he wanted to chat now? Her head spun from his bouncing around from topic to topic. “Fine.”
She turned toward the office but he grabbed her arm. “Casey, wait. I’m trying to talk to you.”
She jerked her arm away before the heat of his touch could soak into her soul. Why did he still affect her this way? She was over him, had put everything about their relationship behind her. Or so she believed. “Then talk. Nothing’s stopping you.”
“Where’s this coming from Case-, uh, Casey?” At least he corrected himself before she had to remind him again that he didn’t know anything about her anymore. Little things, like she hated being called Case. And bigger things, that she wasn’t ready to share with him.
“Where’s it coming from? Like you have to ask. You left Oak Grove ten years ago. You left me. And you have to ask where this is coming from? You don’t bother to come home in all that time, and you expect me to fall at your feet when you do?”
He raised his eyebrows. His mouth quirked into that little smile she used to love. For just a minute, he looked like the boy she’d fallen in love with. The one who had broken her heart when he left. “As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what you did.”
“I was surprised to see you, that’s all. I’m not anymore.” Didn’t he have anything to say about his dad almost dying? That it took a crisis to bring him home, and he’d come here before actually checking on his father? “If that’s all, I have work to do. We’re pretty busy today.”
She stomped to
ward the safety of her office. She’d grab a few minutes alone before dealing with the next challenge life planned on throwing her way. Jack always had the ability to knock her off-kilter and today was no exception.
Unfortunately, the man in question fell into step beside her. “You’ve done a good job, Casey.” His voice was soft, gentle. Much like it had been growing up, during their stolen moments in the back of his truck down by the river. And that one night that ended with tragic consequences.
“Thanks. Is that all?” She waved her hand to dismiss him, hoping he’d take the hint and walk away.
“Yeah, I’ll get out of your hair for now. I’m heading to see Mom and Dad. But I’ll be back.”
She wasn’t sure if his words were a threat…or a promise. She’d had enough of his promises to last a lifetime.
Click here to borrow or buy One Last Gift from Amazon!
Want to know the day Nancy’s next book is released? Sign up for my mailing list!
Join my fan group to talk about my books and participate in exclusive giveaways!
*** Help a KU author... If you borrowed this book, don’t reset your book to the first page. Did you know that if you do, the author does not get paid for your read? Thanks ***
Books by Nancy Stopper
Oak Grove Series:
Last Call
One Last Risk
One Last Dance
One Last Chance
One Last Objection
One Last Gift
Harper Family Series:
Chasing Dreams
Chasing Hope
Kindle Worlds:
Dreams Come True in Laguna
part of the Laguna Beach Kindle World
Acknowledgements
Justin and Maddie’s book has been the most difficult story I’ve ever told and it took almost eight months from the time I put the first words on the page until it released. Starting with a couple who had already fallen in love and gotten married was a challenge, but finding a way to make their love fresh and exciting while addressing the real struggles that they faced kept me up at night.
Chasing Hope Page 37