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’ customers 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.
* * *
