I look around for JJ, because it turns out I can’t find her either. Eventually I spot her, with her new beau, retuning from somewhere.
‘You missed my speech,’ I tell her.
‘You’re not going to care,’ she replies. ‘We were in the gardens – don’t ask what we were doing…’
I don’t need to.
‘…and I saw Jake,’ she says.
‘Oh my God, where?’ I reply.
‘Heading for the stables,’ she says. ‘If you go now, you’ll catch him.’
‘Thanks, cover for me,’ I tell her.
‘I’ll start with your drink,’ she calls after me.
I hurry across the grounds. Please let him still be out there. Please let me not be too late.
Outside, the night air hits my bare arms, cool and clean after the warmth and noise of the reception. The sky above Rosewood is dark but clear, scattered with stars – you just don’t see them like this in the city.
I follow the gravel path away from the party, past the gardens I’ve walked through a hundred times this week, all the way to the stables.
My dress brushes against my legs as I walk faster, then faster still, until I’m practically jogging – as fast as my heels will allow.
What if he’s gone? What if he thinks it’s all too messy? What if I’ve already missed my chance to make this right?
The path curves, and the stables come into view. I can see a light glowing from the doorway – someone is definitely in there.
I hold my breath as I head inside. When I see that he’s there, every drop of air drains from my lungs.
There he is, with Biscuits, hanging out.
For a second, I watch him. He’s so sweet with the horses, so loving and caring and kind. Then again, he’s like that with everyone.
‘Hi,’ I say softly.
Jake turns.
For a heartbeat, his expression is unreadable and it scares the hell out of me.
Then his eyes soften.
‘Hey,’ he replies. ‘You okay?’
The question is so Jake it nearly undoes me right there.
‘I’ve been looking for you,’ I tell him. ‘After this morning…’
‘Wedding go alright?’ he asks.
‘Yeah. It’s still going,’ I say. ‘It’s all gone really well. Andy and Cordelia are both really happy. The only thing missing was you.’
‘I went to see my dad,’ he replies. ‘Figured I had some things to figure out, and you had some things to figure out.’
‘Well, it’s all figured out at my end,’ I tell him. ‘And with Arty too – he says the place is yours, if you want it. He says we just need to go see him tomorrow, so we can get it all done and dusted.’
‘Look, Whit, I appreciate everything you’ve done,’ he tells me. ‘But I don’t think it’s going to feel right, buying the place, then you disappearing. He’s going to know I pulled a fast one. Even if my intentions for the place are good, he’ll always doubt me. Honesty matters.’
