by Rachel Lacey
The relationship between Rory and Lorelai reminded her so much of her relationship with her own mother. This show had always been one of her favorites. She laughed. She cried. She ate way too much ice cream. She snuggled a lot with her cat. Then she slept.
And by the time Monday morning rolled around, she felt ready to rejoin society. She was still hurting, still emotionally fragile, but life went on, with or without the man she loved. She’d always known she would probably lose him, although she’d never imagined he’d dump her in such a frustratingly unexpected way.
She took a much-needed shower and debated what to wear to her meeting with Angela Davenport at the future Silver Springs Lodge. She wanted to look nice, but she also had to go to work after. Finally, she decided on a pair of khaki cargo pants and a blue top.
She hopped in her car and drove to Silver Springs. The hotel site was on top of a hill with lovely views of the mountains surrounding it. Such a prime location must have cost a pretty penny. Emma didn’t know much about Angela Davenport other than that she wasn’t from the area. This seemed like an unusual project for an outsider. Emma’s curiosity was piqued.
She parked in the construction lot beside a string of other vehicles and got out, looking around for Ms. Davenport. She spotted the older woman coming out of the construction trailer and headed in that direction.
“Emma, I’m so thrilled you could make it,” she said, walking over with her hand outstretched.
Emma took it and shook. “Of course. You have a beautiful location here, Ms. Davenport. I can’t wait to see the lodge once it’s finished.”
“Call me Angela, please,” she said. “Let me show you around the building site to give you a feel for it, and then I’ll show you our mock-up of the finished product.”
“That sounds great,” Emma said, still having no idea why she was here but curious all the same.
Angela led the way across the construction site. Already the skeleton of the hotel was in place, beams and pipes and a whole lot of upturned earth. Emma’s eyes took in all the exposed red clay, already visualizing bushes, flowers, and walkways around the building.
“The lodge will face this way,” Angela said, indicating the sweeping valley in front of them. “Many of the rooms will have balconies overlooking the valley. We’re going for a very ‘mountain retreat’ feel here. We’ll have lots of amenities on-site for our guests to pamper themselves as well as a network of hiking trails into the mountains and down to the valley. I also have plans for an extensive garden area off to the side here.” She gestured toward the right-hand side of the property, where a large plot of land lay open and undisturbed, flanked by the valley on one side and forest on the other.
Emma imagined winding paths lined with lush flower beds. Benches for guests to sit, relax, and enjoy their surroundings or even read a book. Maybe flowering bushes along the outer edge to create a “hidden garden” feel.
It would be breathtaking.
Angela brought her to the construction trailer to show her mock-ups of the completed lodge. The garden area had been filled in with the most basic rendering of flowers and bushes.
“It needs fleshing out, obviously,” Angela said with a smile.
“It will be beautiful,” Emma told her. “The lodge looks amazing. It should be a great addition to the area once it’s open.”
“You might be wondering why I’ve brought you here,” Angela said, giving Emma a shrewd look.
She smiled. “I did wonder, yes.”
“Well, I was very impressed with your work on the new war memorial. I’ve gotten the chance to know Lucas and Mary Pratt while I’ve been in town, and they speak very highly of you. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’d like to hire you.”
Emma’s mouth popped open. “Hire me?”
Angela nodded. “I’d be so pleased if you would design and maintain our gardens for us. It’s very important to me to work with local professionals wherever possible. I’m from a small town myself, although on the West Coast. I’ve opened a string of hotels across the country, but not a chain. Each are independent, unique, and tailored to their surroundings. I like you, Emma, and your work is vibrant and exciting, yet reflective of the local flair.”
Emma’s mind was reeling. Designing the gardens for this lodge? That was a big job. Whoa…“You got all that from seeing the memorial gardens?” she asked faintly.
“And from talking with Lucas and Mary. They were kind enough to show me some of your other work.”
“Wow, Angela. I’m really flattered.”
“I’m not sure if you have room in your schedule for a project of this size. Construction on the lodge is moving along quickly, and we hope to be open for business by the end of the year so I’m afraid I’d be monopolizing a lot of your time between now and then.”
“I’ll…well, I’m sorry. Lucas and Mary must not have mentioned that I’m leaving town next week. I’ve enrolled in the University of Georgia’s landscape architecture program.”
“Ah,” Angela said. “I didn’t know. My loss then.”
“If I weren’t leaving town, I would jump on this project in a heartbeat. It’s exactly the kind of work I want to do.” Emma felt a crushing sort of sadness settle over her that she wouldn’t get this chance. “I’ll be sure to stay here when I visit.”
“That’s very kind,” Angela said. “Well, I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor.”
Emma stayed for a few more minutes, talking with Angela, then walked back to her car in a haze of mixed emotions. That, right there, had been her dream job. Exactly the kind of project she wanted to work on. As she drove back over the winding roads to Haven, a niggle of doubt began to work its way through her.
What if she stayed? What if she opened her own landscape company now, sans degree, took this job, and made a go of it?
Was that totally crazy?
She picked up her phone and dialed Mary. “Why didn’t you tell her I was leaving town?” she asked after filling Mary in on her meeting with Angela Davenport.
“Where are you?” Mary asked.
“Almost in downtown.”
“I’m at the bakery. Swing by, and let’s chat.”
“Okay.” Emma drove down Main Street and parked at the commons near the new memorial. The red poppies made her smile every time she walked by, although today her smile was bittersweet. She entered the bakery and waved at Carly, spotting Mary at a table near the back.
“Your usual?” Carly called out.
“That would be awesome. Thanks.” Maybe a coffee and a cinnamon bun would help her sort out this crazy-confusing morning. Really, the last two days had been such a roller coaster. At this point, she had no idea which end was up.
“So,” Mary said when Emma had sat across from her, “I want to tell you a few things, and I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about them.”
“Okay,” Emma said, a vague sense of unease settling in her stomach. Carly swung by with her coffee and cinnamon bun, and she took a welcome sip of the hot brew.
“When we first started planning our retirement this year, Lucas and I had talked about passing Artful Blooms on to you,” she said.
“What?” The coffee mug nearly slipped from Emma’s fingers. She set it on the table with a clunk.
“You’re our protégée. We’re both so proud of you, and we knew Artful Blooms would be in great hands with you. In fact, that’s why we originally chose you to lead the memorial project. We were grooming you to take over for us. But then you told us you’d enrolled in college and wanted to start a new career for yourself in Georgia, and we were thrilled for you, Emma. We didn’t want to hold you back. You’re right in thinking that there are opportunities for you there that you just won’t find in a little town like Haven.”
Emma had no idea what to say.
Mary lifted her coffee cup and took a sip. “But after our conversation last week, I realized we’d made a mistake in not at least extending our offer to you. Artful Blooms’ custom
ers adore you and would love to continue working with you. Designing the gardens at the Silver Springs Lodge is the kind of project that could help really put you on the map around here. Truthfully, I’m not sure full-time college is your best investment right now. Sometimes when you’ve got momentum like this, it’s best to grab it by the horns and run with it.”
“Wow.” Emma took another sip of coffee, her insides gone strangely numb.
“Here’s another idea for you to consider,” Mary said, placing her coffee cup back on the table. “A degree is a definite asset, especially in owning your own business. There are a number of online universities these days, geared toward students like yourself, men and women who’ve already entered the workforce. You could work toward a business degree in the evenings while still doing the work you love during the day.”
Was Mary right? Maybe she could do as well, or better, getting a business degree online while she kept up her landscape design work. Not only that, but she could stay here in Haven, with the friends who’d become her family.
Her heart had been nudging her in this direction for the past few weeks, and now she had a real reason to stay, even if staying meant living in the same town as Ryan without having him in her life.
* * *
Ryan cut the engine and climbed off his bike, praying he didn’t run into anyone on his way in because he was not fit for company right now. He’d been pissed off ever since he broke up with Emma, and a couple days to stew over it hadn’t helped.
He’d been an idiot, plain and simple. He had no idea if they’d manage to salvage their friendship after this, but did it even matter when she was leaving town anyway? Now he’d think of her every time he rode on his bike or visited the bluffs. Hell, even the rock face at Off-the-Grid. Every aspect of his life had been infiltrated with sweet, sexy, amazing memories of Emma.
She’d torture him from afar without even knowing she was doing it.
He missed her so fucking much already, and she hadn’t even left town yet. Dammit all to hell. How had he let this happen?
He’d just shoved the key in his front door when he heard someone coming down the stairs, dragging something heavy. It scraped and thumped down each step. Had to be Trent. Mark never made that much noise.
He turned to see Trent round the corner above him, dragging an enormous suitcase. Fuck. “You’re really going to LA? Just like this? Were you even going to say good-bye?”
Trent shook his head, a lock of hair falling over his eyes. “I’m going home.”
Home? “What?”
Trent shoved his suitcase down to the landing and shook his hair back from his eyes. “Iris dumped me. Are you happy now?”
Ryan stared, noticing for the first time that his brother looked as wrecked—and as pissed at the world—as Ryan himself felt. “I’m sorry, man. I’m real sorry to hear that.”
“Whatever,” Trent said, dragging the suitcase in the direction of his car. “This place blows. I’m going home.”
“You’re going back to Missouri?”
“Yeah, I am.”
Ryan followed him. “Yo, don’t leave like this, Trent. At least stay the night. You shouldn’t start a long drive this late in the day.”
“You’re as bad as Mom and Dad!” Trent wheeled on him, dark eyes snapping as he unleashed all his hurt and anger on Ryan. “Stop telling me what to do. Just leave me alone.”
Ryan stepped back as his brother’s words clawed at him, ripping at his heart. “I’m sorry, Trent. I just wanted to help. Don’t leave like this. Please.”
“Whatever,” Trent said again, sliding into his car and slamming the door behind him. “I don’t need your help or anybody else’s.”
The engine roared to life, and Ryan watched helplessly as his brother drove away.
Just leave me alone.
Those words hurt like a motherfucker. He’d lost Emma, and now Trent, and suddenly it felt like all the color had been sucked out of his life. He stormed into his condo, slamming the door behind him. Next thing he knew, he’d punched another hole in the wall, and now his fist hurt like a motherfucker, too.
* * *
Emma lifted her cotton candy martini and gulped from it. Tonight’s girls’ night out had changed from going-away party to “Ryan dumped me” commiseration to “dream job here in Haven” celebration. When Gabby offered to drive, Emma had jumped at the chance because she had no desire to stay sober enough to drive herself home.
Nope. She was getting trashed tonight.
To eliminate any chances of running into the guys—or really just Ryan—they’d taken their party to Jazzy’s Martini Bar in Silver Springs, and the change of scenery was just what Emma needed. Rowdy’s and even The Drunken Bear held too many bittersweet memories for her to handle right now.
“To Emma’s new job,” Carly said, raising her glass.
“And staying in Haven,” Gabby added.
They all clinked glasses. Seated around a bar-height glass table with her were Jessica, Gabby, Carly, and Mandy. The best friends a girl could hope for.
“It still hasn’t sunk in that I’m not leaving,” she said. “It’s been such a rock in the pit of my stomach for the last few weeks, dreading the move but knowing I needed to stick with the plan I’d set in motion.”
“Seriously, though, I can’t believe you’re taking over Artful Blooms. That’s such an amazing opportunity,” Carly said.
Mandy raised her eyebrows, and Emma winked at her. After she’d left Mary at the bakery, Emma had called Angela Davenport to accept the Silver Springs Lodge project, then driven straight to Mandy’s apartment. They’d spent the rest of the afternoon putting together a business plan.
“About that,” Emma said. “Artful Blooms is actually going to be a joint partnership. Mandy and I are going in fifty-fifty.”
“What?” Gabby’s smile grew impossibly wide. “That’s so awesome!”
“Yep.” Mandy nodded enthusiastically. “It’s a dream come true for both of us.”
“We make a great team, and I’m going to work toward my business degree online in the evenings,” Emma said. “With the clients the two of us already have, the Artful Blooms name behind us, and the upcoming project at the lodge, we should be in good shape.”
“I’ve heard a lot of buzz about the Silver Springs Lodge,” Jessica said. “It should be a great way to get your names out.”
“Have you told Ryan?” Gabby asked, sipping from her lemontini.
Emma gave her a look. “Are you kidding? I haven’t seen him since he dumped me, and I don’t expect to…not for a while anyway.”
“I still can’t believe he did that.” Carly scowled. “The big jerk. Because you offered his brother some advice?”
“I don’t think that’s why he did it,” Gabby said with a shake of her head. “Not the only reason anyway.”
“I’d love to think you’re right, but…” Emma broke off with a shrug.
“The man’s thirty years old, and he’s never had a real relationship with a woman,” Gabby said. “You guys were in over your heads almost before you started sleeping together. I think there’s a decent chance he panicked and bailed before you left town.”
“Well—” Tears pooled in Emma’s eyes, and she took a furious sip of her martini. “It doesn’t really matter because he was such an ass about it. I don’t know if I could forgive him even if he asked me to, which I have no reason to believe he will. So…”
She finished off her martini, and Mandy signaled to the bartender to order her another.
“I’ll try my best not to make things awkward for our group.” Emma stared into her empty glass. “It’s inevitable we’ll be around each other since we share the same circle of friends. Eventually I’ll be ready for it, but I’m not there yet.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Jessica said.
“Does he know you’re in love with him?” Carly asked quietly.
Thankfully, the waitress placed another cotton candy martini in front of Emma at
that moment. She took a fortifying gulp before she answered. “I think he might.”
“Maybe I’m just an optimist after the way things worked out for Ethan and me,” Gabby said, “but I think Ryan has real feelings for you, too. He just has no idea what to do about it.”
Tears threatened again. Emma waved a hand in front of her face. “Enough about Ryan. What else is new?”
“I heard the guys might be adding a mud obstacle to this year’s Adrenaline Rush,” Gabby said.
“Bring it,” Mandy said, lifting her glass.
“I could do without mud,” Gabby said. “But count me in, and this year, I’m crossing the finish line.” Last year, Gabby had fallen from the climbing wall and sprained her ankle, ending her race early.
“You joining us on Team Flower Power this year, Jess?” Emma asked.
Jessica, who’d been rather quiet so far tonight, swirled her glass thoughtfully. “I’ll think about it.”
“You sound like I did last year,” Gabby said with a conspiratorial smile.
“It’s really a lot of fun,” Mandy said. “Team Flower Power seriously kicks ass.”
“It’s true,” Carly said with a nod.
Jessica shrugged, taking a sip of her martini. “Sure, why not?”
“If I can do it, you can,” Gabby said. “I actually made them change the date this year so that the Adrenaline Rush comes after our wedding. Otherwise, I was afraid I’d be getting married on crutches or, at the very least, all covered in scrapes and bruises.”
“Smart thinking,” Mandy said with a laugh.
By the time Gabby drove her home that night, Emma was completely sloshed and feeling much better about life in general. She staggered through her front door, poured herself a tall glass of water, then went into her bedroom to change into pajamas. She climbed into bed and turned on The Late Show to keep her company until she dozed off.
A motorcycle roared up the road outside, and she walked to her bedroom window out of habit. The bike kept going, continuing up the road and out of sight. Of course it wasn’t Ryan. He wasn’t coming, not anymore.