know what to do differently for next time.”
I smile at the excitement in her voice, her passion igniting one of my own. It’s contagious. “Okay, I will.”
I jot down the list of ingredients and simple directions. After she finishes she asks what the special occasion is.
“Actually, it’s for a date,” I say carefully.
She gasps. “Really? Oh my gosh, that’s so darn excitin’. Anyone I know?”
I shift in my seat, unsure of whether to tell her or not. I hate to put her in a bad place since she would have to keep it from Sawyer.
“Are you sure you want to know the answer to that?” I ask.
“Well, I most certainly do now.” She laughs.
“Promise not to tell my brother?”
There’s a long bout of silence.
“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good. Maybe not.”
“It’s probably better you don’t,” I say softly.
“It’s not Grant, is it?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Oh good. Well…oh the heck with it. Tell me anyway or I’ll die from curiosity.”
“It’s Jase Crawford.”
“Holy Toledo,” she shrieks. “Are you messin’ with me right now?”
A soft sigh escapes me. “No. And I know what you’re thinking.”
“Oh, I’m not so sure you do.”
“You think it’s a mistake, just like Jesse. But if it is, Grace, it’s the best one I’ve ever made. It’s nothing serious,” I add, not only lying to her but myself. What I feel for Jase is serious, more than I care to admit. But I’m sticking to the deal, even if it kills me. “We’re just spending time with each other before I move, and…it’s been really great. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“Oh, Sam. I can hear it in your voice,” she says softly, her words parallel to Jesse’s. “If he’s good to you and you’re happy then that’s all that matters.”
“He is…real good to me.”
“I believe it. I only met him that one time, and it’s one I will never bring up around your brother or it’ll set him off.”
I cringe just thinking of my brother’s reaction.
“Lord knows none of us needs to see that,” she continues. “But even in the short time that I met him, I could tell Jase was a good guy. He actually reminded me a lot of Sawyer, which is why I think they butt heads so much. The world isn’t big enough for both of their egos.”
I chuckle. “Now that I agree with.”
There’s a thoughtful pause between the both of us.
“You know, something my mama always said was to let your heart lead you and you can never go wrong. Follow it, Sam, and see where you end up.”
My throat thickens at the sound of her sad voice as she talks about her late mother. “Thanks, Grace.”
“Anytime. Let me know how your pie turns out.”
“I will. I’ll call you back this weekend.”
“Sounds good. Take care.”
“You, too.”
The rest of my day passes in a blur, Jase never far from my thoughts or heart.
Once the last child is picked up, I rush out of the school and drive straight to the u-pick farm that’s located just on the outskirts of town, wanting to get the freshest peaches for my pie. It’s owned by the McNallys, a sweet elderly couple who have been longtime residents of Silver Creek.
Unfortunately, when I pull up, Mr. and Mrs. McNally are parked outside the metal gate, locking up the property.
Shoot! They’re closed already?
Mrs. McNally waves to me while sitting in her car as she waits for Mr. McNally to finish locking up.
Waving back, I put the car in park and step out, keeping one foot inside.
“Well hello, Miss Samantha,” Mr. McNally greets me.
I try not to cringe at the use of my full name. I never liked it much before, but since Grant I do even less now.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. McNally,” I greet them both with a smile. “I guess this means you guys are closed for the day?”
He gives me a regretful nod. “I know it’s a little early but we have our granddaughter’s year end recital this evening.”
“How lovely,” I tell him. “Well, no problem. I was hoping
I smile at the excitement in her voice, her passion igniting one of my own. It’s contagious. “Okay, I will.”
I jot down the list of ingredients and simple directions. After she finishes she asks what the special occasion is.
“Actually, it’s for a date,” I say carefully.
She gasps. “Really? Oh my gosh, that’s so darn excitin’. Anyone I know?”
I shift in my seat, unsure of whether to tell her or not. I hate to put her in a bad place since she would have to keep it from Sawyer.
“Are you sure you want to know the answer to that?” I ask.
“Well, I most certainly do now.” She laughs.
“Promise not to tell my brother?”
There’s a long bout of silence.
“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good. Maybe not.”
“It’s probably better you don’t,” I say softly.
“It’s not Grant, is it?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Oh good. Well…oh the heck with it. Tell me anyway or I’ll die from curiosity.”
“It’s Jase Crawford.”
“Holy Toledo,” she shrieks. “Are you messin’ with me right now?”
A soft sigh escapes me. “No. And I know what you’re thinking.”
“Oh, I’m not so sure you do.”
“You think it’s a mistake, just like Jesse. But if it is, Grace, it’s the best one I’ve ever made. It’s nothing serious,” I add, not only lying to her but myself. What I feel for Jase is serious, more than I care to admit. But I’m sticking to the deal, even if it kills me. “We’re just spending time with each other before I move, and…it’s been really great. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“Oh, Sam. I can hear it in your voice,” she says softly, her words parallel to Jesse’s. “If he’s good to you and you’re happy then that’s all that matters.”
“He is…real good to me.”
“I believe it. I only met him that one time, and it’s one I will never bring up around your brother or it’ll set him off.”
I cringe just thinking of my brother’s reaction.
“Lord knows none of us needs to see that,” she continues. “But even in the short time that I met him, I could tell Jase was a good guy. He actually reminded me a lot of Sawyer, which is why I think they butt heads so much. The world isn’t big enough for both of their egos.”
I chuckle. “Now that I agree with.”
There’s a thoughtful pause between the both of us.
“You know, something my mama always said was to let your heart lead you and you can never go wrong. Follow it, Sam, and see where you end up.”
My throat thickens at the sound of her sad voice as she talks about her late mother. “Thanks, Grace.”
“Anytime. Let me know how your pie turns out.”
“I will. I’ll call you back this weekend.”
“Sounds good. Take care.”
“You, too.”
The rest of my day passes in a blur, Jase never far from my thoughts or heart.
Once the last child is picked up, I rush out of the school and drive straight to the u-pick farm that’s located just on the outskirts of town, wanting to get the freshest peaches for my pie. It’s owned by the McNallys, a sweet elderly couple who have been longtime residents of Silver Creek.
Unfortunately, when I pull up, Mr. and Mrs. McNally are parked outside the metal gate, locking up the property.
Shoot! They’re closed already?
Mrs. McNally waves to me while sitting in her car as she waits for Mr. McNally to finish locking up.
Waving back, I put the car in park and step out, keeping one foot inside.
“Well hello, Miss Samantha,” Mr. McNally greets me.
I try not to cringe at the use of my full name. I never liked it much before, but since Grant I do even less now.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. McNally,” I greet them both with a smile. “I guess this means you guys are closed for the day?”
He gives me a regretful nod. “I know it’s a little early but we have our granddaughter’s year end recital this evening.”
“How lovely,” I tell him. “Well, no problem. I was hoping
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