by Elsie James
I can’t believe what I am hearing. Tears flow down my face.
“What about your job? Bellissima? The initiative?”
“They don’t matter. You are my life.” He picks up Vulcan and holds his hand out to mine. “Do you want to come with me?”
Epilogue: Juni One Year Later
I address each envelope by hand in script. One letter to my parents, another for Jessa, Rachel, Hunter’s family, and of course one to my grandparents. Each envelope contains the photos of our elopement. A surprise we know our family and friends will cherish.
On the morning Hunter proposed, I woke up late after an all-night drive into our next town. Hunter’s side of the bed was empty except for a postcard. It took me a minute to place that the painting on the front of it was mine, one of the first I sent him so many years ago. I smiled at the realization that he kept a blank postcard for over a decade. On the back, he wrote a note asking me to step outside.
Opening the door of the airstream, I gasped. Ten years worth of postcards hung from the campground’s willow tree. Each one documenting a place in time, discontentment, wandering, searching. Each painting a beautiful mess, just as we were before we had each other. Hunter took my hand.
“I kept them. They were all I had of you. You leaving them blank allowed me to write messages back to you that I didn’t dare send. Flip them over.”
Reading the back of the first postcard, tears spill from my eyes.
“Dear Juni, Please come back. Love, Hunter”
I touch the next one, spinning it around.
“Dear Juni, You look happy but I can make you happier. Love, Hunter”
“Dear Juni, There is no one else for me. So I’ll wait. Love, Hunter”
I walked the hanging museum of my art and read every postcard. Each note provided more proof of Hunter’s fierce loyalty. A visual confirmation of his commitment to love me without compromise. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I flipped the final card.
“Juni, I want to marry you. Will you come with me on this journey?”
During the ceremony, Hunter and I stood beneath paper lanterns suspended from the trees of a small town park in Wyoming. Hunter promised to always support me in following my heart. I promised to never stop trusting him with my freedom.
The airstream has evolved with our relationship. The cork board to the right of the doorway is filled with evidence of lives touched. Thank you letters, artwork from students, and even a newspaper article cut from a small town newspaper highlighting the impact we’re making. I painted a large mural on the back wall, a storm cloud being moved by the wind.
Hunter commits himself to the distribution of his wealth into art education. We pull into the ninth small town on our map. So far, we have impacted the lives of over 700 kids. Rachel helped me develop a curriculum to leave with the teachers in each town so that the learning can continue long after Hunter and I leave. Hunter convinced the board to rewrite their art initiative and distribute the money to each town we visit, providing training and art supplies for local community members.
We set up shop. Vulcan has become our official mascot. He roams the crowd as Hunter gives his customary kick off speech. He uses the charm and wit that I have always loved about him. Making the people in the town smile and giving them the confidence to do this work. Hunter’s delivery is genuine; he means what he says.
We spend our night in the airstream. Me, on the floor sketching in my notebook, and Hunter, strumming beautiful melodies in the background.
THANK YOU
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Juni & Hunter’s story. My hope is that we can all live as freely as Juni. She is the best, isn’t she? I just love her spunky creativity.
I know you have a ton of things competing for your time and I’m so honored that you spent the last few hours reading my story. I put a little of my heart in each book. You can’t imagine the joy I feel when you connect with it.
If you have enjoyed reading Juni, please consider leaving a review. It doesn’t have to be long. Just a few words helps me immensely!
Juni is the third book in the Peony Pointe series. Keep reading for a sneak peak at Book 4, Rachel.
Hugs,
Elsie
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ALSO BY ELSIE JAMES
Peony Pointe
Jessa
Ainsley
Juni
Rachel
Candlelight Cove (Coming Soon to Kindle Unlimited)
Don’t miss Juni’s story in Peony Pointe Book 4
PREORDER RACHEL
Turn the page for the first chapter.
Chapter 1: Rachel
I tap my chime with a wooden dowel. The sound brings the chaos of my classroom to a sudden stop. “Ok kids, please grab your backpacks and coats. Time got away from me so it looks like I’ll be cleaning up for you today.” I chuckle to myself as I take in the scraps of paper, broken crayons, and lidless markers scattered across my classroom floor. It’s a mess I don’t mind cleaning.
“Miss Dawson, what about Sheldon? My job this week is Turtle Minder, I didn’t feed him today.” My sweet student looks up at me with concern in her eyes.
Kneeling on the ground, I lean in towards her and whisper. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll get your backpack ready to head out to the bus and you go make sure Sheldon has his dinner.” She grins at me.
“Deal!” Pumping her fist in the air she hops towards the tank. Her pony tail bouncing with each step.
As she scampers away, I can’t help but be thankful for this moment. This classroom is a dream come true for me. With its brightly decorated bulletin boards and green leafed plants spending time here hardly feels like work. I couldn’t have been paired with a sweeter group of students in my first year of teaching.
Checking the time I make my way to the front of the classroom. I tap my chime again to regain their attention. “Class, what do we say to Miss Juni for helping us today?” I ask expectantly.
“Thank you.” My second graders reply in unison.
“You’re welcome. I can’t wait to see you next Friday.”
Juni is a natural with my students. They are one hundred percent engaged in her art lessons. but that’s my friend for you. She’s been the same since we were in elementary school ourselves, completely captivating.
“Please line up.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, my class dashes to the door. Standing single file in line, they wait for my instruction. As I scan the face of each student, I’m filled with pride. These seven year olds will without a doubt change the world one day. I feel lucky to be a small part of their journey. Juni and I walk my students out to the school bus line together. I high five each of my students as they leave for the day.
We head back into my classroom. I pick up the broom and sweep while Juni gets to work cleaning the desktops, a thoughtful and totally unnecessary gesture. “Rach, you’re a really incredible teacher. I’m so glad you’re finally doing this,” Juni says with a smile.
“Thanks, I love it. I can’t believe it took me five years to get here. Teaching is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”
“I know it was a painful journey, but I’m happy for you.” She smiles at me knowingly.
Not wanting to get into it, I change the topic
. “Did you see the sign on our downtown library?”
“Is it really closing?” Juni asks wide eyed. “That’s devastating.”
“I know. I can’t even think about it. I can’t guess how much time I’ve spent at that library over the years.” Growing up just a few blocks from it, my sister and I walked there as kids and took refuge there as teenagers. “To have them lose funding seems impossible. It’s where I fell in love with reading.”
As children, we didn’t attend our neighborhood school. My sister and I were driven up the hill to a private school each day by my father. He used the time to remind us of the sacrifices he and my mother made for us. On the weekends, we didn’t have friends close by to spend time with so we escaped to the library. It was our sacred place where we explored the world through books.
“It breaks my heart to think about my students not being able to experience it the way I did.” In fact, the thought of the majestic building becoming vacant makes me want to cry.
“Me too. My first art lessons happened in that building. My parents drove me down the hill every weekend for them. It was the thing I looked forward to the most.” A look of nostalgia that matches my own crosses Juni’s face.
“Thanks for coming today by the way. How much longer do I get you before you take off on your next adventure?” Juni and her fiance Hunter travel the states teaching art lessons to kids. But thankfully they come back to Peony Pointe often. When they do, volunteering in my classroom is always on the top of Juni’s list.
“Oh, we’ll be here for a few more days.”
My phone buzzes on my desk. “It’s my mom, I better take this.”
“You’re fine, take your time.” Juni moves towards the back of the classroom. She picks up an empty bin and rounds up rogue markers.
“Mom, hey.” I pace back and forth. The sound of my mom’s voice has a unique way of both comforting me and putting me on edge.
“Rachel, how are you? I didn’t hear from you at all this weekend. I left you two messages, your father and I were worried sick.” Doubtful. She was worried sick. I would guess my father was in the garage rebuilding a carburetor.
“Yes, Mom I know. I sent you a text. I was busy settling in. I’m still unpacking and it’s the start of the school year so things are a little chaotic.”
“Still unpacking? It’s been three months honey and that apartment of yours is tiny. Let me come do it for you. I can show you the best way to organize your silverware.” Of course she can. I roll my eyes thankful she can’t see me and turn on my essential oil diffuser.
“Mom, I’m taking my time. I’ll stop by this weekend.” I attempt to cut her off unsuccessfully.
“I just worry about you. Now that you don’t have Spencer and all. I don’t like to think of you in that tiny apartment all alone.” Spencer, I wince at the name.
“Mom, I know you’re disappointed. You loved Spencer.” Or at least she loved the idea of him. My parents orchestrated ways for us to spend time together for years before we actually dated. My mom always inviting him over for dinner. Dad asking him to stop by the shop as if Spencer cared at all about cars.
“I did. When you were with him I had a crystal clear picture of your future.” Ah yes, the all too familiar dream of me as a wealthy trophy wife thrills her.
“Try to trust me for once, it’s better this way. And I’m 31. Being alone all night, reading, lighting my candles and watering my houseplants is kind of what I live for.” I know it’s not romantic but it’s the truth. I’m content on my own and the simple things make me happy.
Not liking what she hears, Mom changes the subject. “While I have you, let me tell you about your sister. She’s taking the boys for a photo shoot. She wanted them to wear blue. Blue! I told her there’s no way my grandson’s are wearing anything but-”
“Mom, let me call you back when I get home.” I begin packing my bag, ready to get out of here for the day. Looking at Juni, I gesture towards my phone. She understands my mom’s overbearing nature all too well having witnessed it over the years.
“Why can’t you talk now? It’s three and your class has been gone for fifteen minutes.”
“Juni’s here mom. She’s helping me design a bulletin board.”
“Oh Juni. Wonderful, hold up the phone so she can hear me.” Smiling at my mom’s predictability I put her on speaker and point the phone towards Juni. My parents have always loved her and truthfully who wouldn’t. “Hi Juni, how are you?”
“Hi Mrs. Dawson,” Juni responds with a laugh.
“Bye Mom, I’ll call you tonight. Love you.” I say in an exaggerated tone.
“Love you, honey.”
My mom is what they call, ‘extra’. But I’m grateful for all my parents did for my sister and I growing up. I hang up.
“She still loves Spencer huh? How is that even possible?” Juni exhales with a chuckle.
“I know,” I say shaking my head.
“Speaking of Spencer, how are you transitioning? Do you miss him?”
“Is it bad if I say no? It all just got so out of hand. First the traveling. Then the over the top wedding plans and talk of settling down massive estate. None of it was me. It exhausted me even just thinking about it. All I wanted was a simple ceremony with a few close friends and family. A small house with a fenced yard and a little reading nook. That life with Spencer was thrilling for awhile But I don’t know how it got so out of hand.”
“I’m really glad to hear you say that. You weren’t yourself for a long time and it’s so nice to have the real you back.”
A blaring beep echoes throughout my classroom. The fire alarm is deafening. I cover my ears and yell over the noise to Juni. “The student’s are already gone, it can’t be a drill. We need to leave.”
We walk out into the hall where we are greeted by a swarm of teachers. Being the only elementary school in downtown Peony Pointe, we have a large student population. I’m so thankful that none of them are present. Following our building safety protocol we head out of the back doors. We walk towards the far corner of the field where we wait for instruction.
“Is the building actually on fire?” Juni asks putting on her purple sunglasses.
“Who knows. But we’ll be out here for awhile while we wait for the fire department either way.” As soon as the words fire department leave my mouth a thought flashes across my mind. Greyson. I wonder if he’s still volunteering with the department. Probably not. And even if he were, I don’t think I’m ready to see him. I know that running into him is inevitable now that I’m living back in Peony Pointe. We will eventually cross paths but I hope the first time I see him I’m not at work. Even though five years have passed I still tear up at the thought of him moving on.
“Ooh, I can’t wait to see some firemen. Maybe they’ll show up shirtless. Maybe you can check out one of the hoses.” Juni laughs at her own joke and so do I. Then turning to me with a serious expression she asks the question I’ve been dreading. “When do you think you’ll be ready to go on a date?”
“A date? Like with a human that’s male? Not for awhile. I’m not interested right now. I’m enjoying spending time on the things I care about. Besides, I’m a bad picker. What is it with me and men who don’t stick around?” Instinctively I take my long brown hair out of the messy bun on top of my head and smooth my dress.
“The right one will,” Juni says reassuringly.
A heavy thought sits on my chest. “But what if he didn’t?” The words slip out before I can catch them.
“Rach, Spencer wasn’t the one for you. I’m so glad you gave him the ring back.”
But I wasn’t thinking about Spencer.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elsie James is proud to be a lifelong curvy girl. She writes stories about beautiful, strong, women who always find their happily ever afters.
Her books are romantic, sweet, and steamy with a whole lot of heart.
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