I let out a quick breath. “Are you sure you can’t take a few weeks’ vacation and come with me?”
Laughing, she shook her head and walked back to the kitchen. “I’m only a phone call away, and I’m here if you need me. Now, let me get this lasagna into the oven, and then you and I are going for a walk along the waterfront. If you’re leaving in a few days, I want to hit up that cupcake place and drown my sadness in chocolate buttercream.”
Two Weeks Later – The first week of November
The moment I drove past the sign that said, Welcome to Boggy Creek, population one thousand, six hundred and sixty-two, I pulled over onto the shoulder. I dropped my head onto the steering wheel and let out a long, painful groan. I had no freaking idea what to expect. Who would still be angry with me? Who would be happy to see me? Would anyone even notice I was back?
I drew in a few deep breaths and mentally prepared myself.
But then a light tap on my window made me scream and jump in my seat.
I turned and saw Hunter Turner standing there. He wore the same smile he’d always had, and I couldn’t help but smile back. He hadn’t changed a bit in the last two years.
With a deep breath, I unbuckled, opened the car door, and got out.
“Abby,” he said softly before he pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly.
I fought like the devil not to cry. A sense of relief washed over me at his warm reception. I wasn’t sure what I could expect when I came back. I knew people were aware I was the one who’d left Bishop. I was the one who’d broken his heart. And I wasn’t sure if Bishop had shared our loss or not.
“Hunter, it’s so good to see you.”
He pushed me back at arm’s length and gave me a once-over. “Why are you on the side of the road? Are you sick? Is everything okay? I have to admit, I was a bit shocked when these plates came back with your name.”
“I’m good. Nothing’s wrong. I think I was just a bit…emotional, that’s all.”
He frowned. “Emotional? Why?”
“Too many reasons to get into on the side of the road. How have you been?”
“Good. I’ve been good.”
A dog barked, and I looked back at his Police SUV. “Is that a…dog?” When I focused back on Hunter, I realized his uniform said K9. “You did it! You got a K9 partner?”
He smiled. “I did. That’s Jack.”
My smile instantly faded. “Wait. Jack?”
Hunter laughed. “It drives my dad crazy that I named my K9 Jack too.”
I covered my mouth with my hand and giggled. “I bet it does.” Then I chewed on my lip as we both stood there awkwardly. “Willa? How is she? I heard she married Aiden.”
“She’s great. Yeah, they’re married and expecting a baby in January.”
“Oh wow! That’s wonderful news.”
He nodded. “And what about you? How have you been?”
“I’ve been…okay.”
He pulled his brows in some. “Just okay?”
“Yep, just okay.”
“Are you here to visit your folks?”
I shook my head. “No, um…I’m actually moving back to Boggy Creek.”
His eyes went wide with shock. “You’re moving back?”
Chewing on the corner of my lower lip, I replied, “I am.”
“Wow. Well, that’s great news. I’m sure your folks are real happy.”
“I hope so. I know they’ve been needing some help with the flower farm, and with my mom struggling with arthritis, I figured it was time I stopped running.”
That took him by surprise, and he jerked his head back. “Does, um…does Bishop know?”
I shook my head. “I hate to ask you this, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell him. I’d like to talk to him first before he finds out I’m back and avoids me altogether.”
Hunter gave me a sweet smile. “He wouldn’t do that to you, Abby.”
I let out a grim laugh. “I’m not so sure about that. But I’m hoping he’ll at least speak to me.”
Something passed over Hunter’s face. It was like he wanted to tell me something but wasn’t sure he should. “Well…since everything’s okay, I’m going to let you go. Tell your folks I said hi and…I’m real glad you’re back, Abby. I mean that.”
“Thank you, Hunter. You don’t know how much I appreciate that. See you around?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you around.” He walked backward toward his police vehicle and lifted his hand. “Drive safe.”
When he slipped into his SUV, I turned and got into my own car.
Hunter drove by, and I saw K9 Unit on the side of his SUV in big letters, as well as the name Jack. I chuckled again.
After drawing in a few deep breaths, I put my car in drive, then pulled out onto the two-lane highway. Thirty minutes later, I pulled down the long driveway of Boggy Creek Seed Farm.
Home.
My mother was, of course, waiting on the porch for me. My father was nowhere in sight. When I got out of the car, Mom practically ran to me.
“Momma, should you be running like that?” I asked, allowing her to pull me into a tight embrace.
“When I haven’t seen my daughter in months, then yes, I’m allowed. I’m feeling so much better.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “I’ve been taking the medical marijuana, and it’s helping a lot with the arthritis pain.”
I tried not to laugh. “I’m glad, but, Momma, you don’t have to whisper. It’s legal to use medical marijuana.”
“I know, but I still can’t help but think about all those rainbow parties your daddy and I used to go to. It wasn’t legal then.”
Laughing again, I kissed her on the cheek and then looked past her toward the house. “Where’s Daddy?”
Her smile faltered for a moment. “He’s out in the greenhouse with Larry and Jax.”
“Jax?”
“Yes, she’s a horticulturist. She moved here a few weeks ago.”
I frowned. “Does she work on the farm?”
My mother laughed. “Oh no. She works for the state, and she’s doing some work over at the state park and around the area. Something about a beetle and the trees and some flowers being impacted by it.”
“A beetle? How weird.”
She simply went, “Mmmhmm.”
“And her name is Jax?”
“Short for Jacqueline.”
“Oh, cute.”
Looking nervous for some reason, my mother nodded. “Yep, cute. Come on in, let’s get you settled. I made up your bed with fresh linens.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
She waved her hand as if to dismiss me. “I did. I don’t even remember the last time you slept in that bed. At least ten or eleven months ago.”
“You didn’t, um, tell anyone I was coming home, did you?”
“No, of course not. You asked us not to, so we’ve kept it on the down low.”
Laughing, I asked, “On the down low?”
“Jax has a little girl, Ashley. She’s ten. She says that all the time.”