by Melody Grace
“OK, OK, I’ll go meet with them!”
“You will? Yay!” Evie hugged her, as Jules tried to be upbeat.
“It’ll do me good to get away,” she said.
Besides... Now that Reeve and her were through, what did she have left for her here in Sweetbriar Cove?
16
Two days later, Jules stepped off the plane in Chicago, ready to take the city—and Sojourn magazine—by storm. She knew it was just an introductory trip, and Susanna had made out like Jules was the one scoping them out, seeing if she liked them enough to commit to the job, but a part of her couldn’t help feeling like they could yank the offer at any minute and leave her back at square one. She didn’t want to wind up broke, unemployed, and dumped for the second time that summer; that would be too much for her already broken heart to bear.
She was going to make them love her if it was the last thing she did.
“Welcome!” Susanna greeted her in the lobby. “It’s so great to meet you. Was the flight OK?”
“Perfect,” Jules lied, leaving out the part about the screaming babies giving her a surround-sound headache for the entire journey, and how she’d wallowed in thoughts of Reeve with every mile. She pasted on a bright smile, and tried to push her heartache aside. “I’m so excited to meet the team.”
They headed inside, trading smalltalk about their backgrounds and travel experience, as Jules clocked the stylish, industrial-style warehouse building where the offices were based. It was like something out of a fashion shoot, all bare brick and open-plan, with massive steel girders and huge iron-paned windows, full of chic young people looking busy and relaxed. “You’ll have to excuse the mess,” Susanna said, friendly, as they passed a wall of boxes. “We only just moved in. Now that we’re absorbing the Boston office, we needed more space. But you’re lucky, this place is so much better, all this light.”
“Which isn’t a plus to some of us.” Another guy interrupted, introducing himself as the head of tech. He gave Jules a friendly grin from behind stylish black-rimmed spectacles. “I was perfectly happy in my dark, windowless basement, thank you very much.”
Jules smiled back. “Maybe you can build a fort here, with all the leftover boxes,” she suggested, “Bar the door, and keep the lights off.”
He laughed, and gave Susanna a nod. “I like her already. Try not to scare her off.”
“Me? No way. Come on,” she turned to Jules. “I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
She whisked Jules around, meeting everyone from the editorial staff to the business suits. Not that they were actually dressed in suits: Everyone was young and energetic, full of stories about travel mishaps and how much fun it was to work at the Sojourn family. “It’s like one big family. There’s Pizza Fridays, and the discounts are amazing,” one of the staffers confided.
“All you have to do is namedrop the magazine, and you get the best seats in every restaurant, and tons of complimentary drinks,” another agreed.
“Oh, and spa services at all the hotels!” someone else added. “I’ll make you a list, you can’t miss out.”
“Sounds great,” Jules agreed, still beaming. By the time Susanna had taken her through the benefits package and delivered her to her hotel to get settled in, her cheeks were aching.
“Jules Rivera… ” The receptionist checked her system. “We have you in the Skyline Suite.”
Jules paused. “I think there’s been some mistake,” she said, “I just booked a regular room—”
Susana interrupted. “We called in a favor and got you a little upgrade,” she said with a wink. “We just ran a big feature on this hotel, so they’re feeling generous. Just another perk of joining the team.”
Jules blinked. “Umm, thanks,” she said, and made plans to meet everyone for their regular Friday night drinks at a bar nearby.
“So you can get a feel for your new city,” Susanna said, upbeat. “See later!”
Jules rode up to her room, exhaling in a long breath now she was finally alone. It had been a long day—and it wasn’t over yet.
She’d left for the airport that morning, and the flight had only been a couple of hours, but it seemed like she’d travelled so much further, going from the quaint backroads and sleepy beaches of the Cape to this noisy, bustling city. It was a shock to the system, being back in the real world again. She hadn’t realized just how used to the smaller, slower pace of life she’d become until she was snapped out of it, back with streets full of taxis and traffic, and skyscrapers looming downtown. She felt like she’d just run a marathon as she stepped off the elevator; she needed a long bath and a nap if she was going to head back out on the town with the Sojourn staff tonight.
Her future coworkers.
Jules swiped her keycard, wondering if this really was her future waiting in Chicago. Everyone seemed so nice, and the work was exactly what she loved: Spotlighting fun destinations and giving a boost to local businesses. It seemed like the perfect package, so why was a part of her still on the fence?
Then she stepped into the room and had to laugh. Because if this was her future? It was a serious upgrade. Jules looked around the lavish suite in disbelief. There were views of the city, an epic king-sized bed, and even a luxury hamper with food and treats, ‘Care of your new friends at Sojourn!’ She picked out a box of candy, and toured the rest of the suite before throwing herself down on the featherlight mattress, reveling in the luxurious linens.
It was a long way from the old Murphy bed and rattling fan back in her shed, that was for sure.
She was just deciding between a bubble bath or a shower in the jetted steam room when her phone buzzed with a new text from Evie.
Well? How’s it going?
Jules called her back. “There’s a bathtub in my hotel room that can fit five people,” she said, dumping a whole bottle of lavender foam into the spray.
Evie laughed. “They’re rolling out the red carpet, huh?”
“It looks that way… ” Jules kicked off her shoes, and slipped into an ultra-soft hotel robe. She’d never had anyone try to woo her so hard, and she still couldn’t quite believe it. After spending the summer getting one-line rejections, she’d never expected a welcome like this. “It’s not like they’re actually paying to impress me. It’s all freebies, or partnerships, or something like that,” she explained.
“Which you would enjoy full-time if you took the job?” Evie asked. “Jealous!”
Jules smiled. “But I’m not going to be living in the skyline suite if I move here,” she reminded Evie—and herself. “Moving here for real won’t be like a vacation. I’ll be renting an apartment, lugging groceries on the L, fighting for a machine in the laundry room… ”
“Meeting tons of new people, getting the professional respect you deserve,” Evie added.
“Right. That.”
Jules paused, looking around again at the foreign city outside the windows, full of two million strangers. Full of possibilities. A blank page, a whole new chapter in her life.
But no Reeve.
“Everything OK?” Evie asked, noticing the silence. “I would have thought you’d be in heaven right now.”
“I am, it’s just… I guess I’m just feeling a long way from home,” Jules admitted.
“Chicago’s only two hours from Boston,” Evie replied, and Jules realized she hadn’t been thinking of the city as her home.
She’d been thinking about Sweetbriar Cove.
“You’re right,” she said, then noticed the water level in the tub. “Whoops, I better go before I flood the place. That wouldn’t exactly be a great first impression for the magazine, a massive restoration bill. Talk later.”
“Have fun!”
Jules rang off. She brought the gift hamper into the bathroom, cracked open a bottle of wine, and sank into the steaming tub. She brought up a rental listing website on her phone and began to browse, looking at some of the neighborhoods Susanna had suggested for her budget, but no matter how much she tried to thi
nk about the future, her mind kept drifting back, to the past few months.
To Reeve.
Kissing him in the rain that first day at the vineyard. Laying beside him at the drive-in, wanting him so much she couldn’t breathe. The nights they’d spent tangled up together, gasping in pleasure—and the mornings that had followed, full of tenderness and laughter. Even thinking about him now, Jules felt an ache in her chest so deep, she had to duck under the surface to try and hide from the heartache. But even when she came back up, gasping for air, the pain remained.
She missed him so much it hurt.
Was he thinking about her? Did he regret losing her, even a little? Jules thought back to that last fight at the party, and wondered if she’d made a terrible mistake. She had no right to tell him how to deal with his family, and if he was determined to sever all connection to the vineyard, then that was his choice. It didn’t necessarily mean their relationship was doomed.
But if he cared, he would have said so, a voice whispered in her mind.
He would have come after her. He would have called.
When would she ever learn?
She’d been here before, Jules reminded herself. Falling for men who didn’t love her back; guys who were there for the good times, but not a moment after that. Hadn’t she wound up in Sweetbriar Cove because her last boyfriend had kicked her to the curb? She’d sworn not to fall into the same bad habits again… And lasted all of five minutes before throwing caution to the wind and leaping into Reeve’s arms.
She just couldn’t resist him.
The alarm on her phone sounded, and Jules realized she needed to hurry if she was going to make it to drinks on time. She got out of the bath and toweled off, then dressed quickly in a pair of stylish jeans and a drapey black shirt. She had a feeling flip-flops and cut-offs wouldn’t cut it here, and when she walked out onto the rooftop bar and found the crowd all looking stylish, sipping cocktails with the city views, she was relieved she’d spent the extra time on her hair and makeup.
“Over here!” Susanna waved her over to a table in the corner, already packed with Sojourn staff, and soon Jules was fielding all kinds of curious questions about herself.
“So, what’s your status?” Kyle asked, friendly. “Single, married, committed to your cats?”
Jules felt the question slicing through her chest. “Single,” she said quietly. “Recently.”
“Uh-oh, sorry,” Kyle winced. “But on the plus side, this is a great place for moving on. Lots of distractions around,” he said, as Susanna slid in next to them with another round of snacks.
“Are you trying to butter me up with cocktails and fried food?” Jules asked, changing the subject.
“Yup! How are we doing?” Susanna asked.
“Pretty good, to be honest.” Jules reached for a handful of fries.
“I was just telling Kyle how much I loved your portfolio,” Susanna added. “The whole small-town beach vibe… Tell me, it wasn’t really that idyllic there. You edited out all the ugly traffic and boring convenience stores, right?”
“No…” Jules shook her head, thinking back to ice creams at the beach, and her jam-tasting adventures. “No editing necessary. I’m afraid it’s one hundred percent charming.”
“Amazing. Maybe we should do a feature,” Susanna mused. “Throwback beach vacations, play up the vintage feel… ”
“I’d be happy to recommend some places,” Jules offered immediately, thinking of all the people she could give a publicity boost. “My best friend runs an inn there, the Beachcomber, and there are a ton of local businesses. The bakery is a must-see. Or is that, must-taste? The morning buns there are just… ” She kissed her fingertips.
“I’ll pitch it in our next editorial meeting,” Susanna said. “Or, you could do it yourself.”
Jules nodded. “Maybe.”
“Playing it cool,” Kyle teased. “Smart move.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Susanna elbowed him cheerfully. “I know you need to think things through, it’s a big move. But we need to fill the position ASAP, and I can’t hold it for you forever. Will you be able to let me know your plans?”
* * *
Jules promised Susanna she’d have an answer for her in a couple of days, and made the trip back to Cape Cod with the question burning in her mind. Was she really ready to start over from scratch again? She asked herself, as she drove the now-familiar highway down the coast and back into town. She’d never been one to shy away from new adventures; she had always leapt head-first into change, so why did this feel different somehow?
Maybe because she was older now, and knew that the wrong choice could lead straight to heartbreak and regret. She wasn’t an impulsive kid anymore. She wanted this choice to build something. To matter.
What did she want the next chapter of her life to be?
Jules slowed as she drove through the Sweetbriar Cove square. It looked just the same as when she’d left, except Jake and Noah were halfway up ladders by the Town Hall—taking down the old banners, and putting up signs for the upcoming peach festival.
“Do you guys even grow peaches around here?” Jules asked, calling up to them as she paused at the lights.
Noah looked down, and smiled. “Nope. Long story. Ask Debra to tell you.”
“You mean, so she can volunteer me to replace you?” Jules shot back. “Nice try!”
Noah laughed. “Evie’s at the pub,” he added. “We’re just heading over, too. See you there?”
“Sure,” Jules agreed, and drove on. All she’d eaten that day was limp airport sandwiches and potato chips, and the thought of one of Riley’s burgers made her mouth water. She circled the square, searching for a parking spot; it seemed like everyone was out, enjoying the evening. Lila and Poppy were on the green, playing with their kids; Aunt June was strolling with that grizzled musician, and Reeve was crossing the street—
Jules hit the brakes automatically, coming to a sudden stop. The car behind her sounded an angry honk, barely avoiding rear-ending her.
“Sorry!” she waved out of her open window. Her heart was pounding, but when she looked back at Reeve, she saw it wasn’t even him at all, just another tall man with tousled hair—looking at her like she’d lost her mind.
And maybe she had.
Jules exhaled, pulling over and just sitting for a moment, waiting for her racing pulse to slow. What was she doing? She didn’t even know if Reeve was still in town. He’d probably finalized the sale to Nick, and boarded a flight back to California, the way he’d always wanted.
He was already long gone, off to start the next chapter in his life—without her.
Wasn’t it time she did the same?
Jules swallowed back her heartache and got out of the car. She was still in her travelling clothes, jeans and a casual T-shirt, but it was Saturday night on the Cape, and there was never a dress code at the pub. She slipped in the front door, and immediately saw her friends, clustered by the bar.
“Jules!” Evie waved her over excitedly. “How did it go? I want to hear everything!”
“Did you see the Bean?” Rose asked, “And Wrigley Field?”
“And eat at one of the old Mob restaurants?” Cassie pitched in.
Jules laughed. “No, I didn’t do any sightseeing, there wasn’t time for that. I just visited the offices, and walked around a little.”
“Jackson’s done some travel photography for the magazine,” Cassie said. “Apparently, they’re really prestigious.”
Jules nodded. “It’s a dream job. They said they had hundreds of applications.”
“And they picked you,” Evie said proudly. “Which just goes to show they have excellent taste.”
Jules smiled. “Enough about me, what have I missed here in town?”
“In the thirty whole hours that you’ve been gone?” Rose laughed. “Absolutely nothing.”
“That’s not true!” Cassie exclaimed. “There was a big spat at the council meeting yesterday about the gazebo res
toration. Some tourist was caught trying to shoplift a three-foot scale model of a whaling ship from the gift shop. Ooh, and Aunt June is getting hot and heavy with Spike—”
“Spike?” Jules repeated.
“The bassist from the band,” Cassie explained with a grin. “He rides a Harley and has tattoos. We think it’s June’s rebellious phase, dating a bad boy.”
Jules laughed. “I think Spike’s the one who needs to watch out. What happened to the shoplifter?” she asked.
Cassie grinned. “Earl tripped him with his cane, the guy went flying into a stall of local honey. With the way the ants descended on him, it almost seemed cruel to haul him off to the precinct, too.”
Jules shook her head, smiling.
“See? How can you think about leaving?” Rose joked. “You’d miss the non-stop adventure, and fast pace of life.”
“Hush you,” Evie elbowed her. “We agreed.”
“Agreed what?” Jules asked.
“That we wouldn’t be selfish, and try to convince you to stay,” Rose replied. “Even though we’re all going to miss you.”
Jules felt a welling of emotion. “I’d miss you too… ” she replied, looking around the pub. She could see familiar faces everywhere; people she hadn’t even known at the start of summer, who were now friends, sending her waves and smiles. She knew that if she stopped by the bakery in the morning, Summer would have put aside a cinnamon roll for her, and if she felt like some iced tea and gossip, she could drop in on Rose and help her wrap a dozen bridal bouquets. She’d arrived in town at the start of the summer thinking it would just be a short stay; a stop-gap until she got her life back together, but somehow, the place had crept up on her without her even noticing, until the thought of leaving filled her with regret.
And Jules had a sudden realization. She was wrong when she’d thought there was nothing left for her in Sweetbriar Cove. There was this: Friendship. Community.
A place that felt like home.
“I’m not taking the job,” she decided suddenly. But maybe she’d known deep down all along, and that was why she’d been hedging giving her answer to Sojourn, because just like that, a weight seemed to lift from her mind. “I’m not moving to Chicago. I’m staying right here.”