“I kissed you in the gazebo.”
“Jackie,” he said, setting his jaw. “Level with me. Because you’re sending me really mixed signals… If you don’t want to do this, then I’m good. I can take it if you’re not as wild about me as I am about you.”
Hope’s spirits flagged. “That’s not it,” she whimpered. “I’m totally wild about you.”
“Yeah?” he asked with a cockeyed grin.
“Yeah.”
He searched her eyes. “Then what’s the problem?”
“If I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe me. What’s more?” She lifted a shoulder. “You’d be mad.”
“At you?” He appeared incredulous. “Doubtful.” He held her tighter. “Try me?”
She pursed her lips. “What if I was…someone that I’m not?”
His forehead creased. “I’m not sure I follow?”
“The woman you got to know in Boston, Jackie Webb. She’s the woman for you.”
“It sounds a little weird referring to yourself in third person.”
“Humor me.”
“O-kay.”
“I think it would be better if we could erase all this…everything that’s happened these past few days.”
He gave a worried frown. “And why would we do that? Jackie, listen.” He pulled her closer, so close she could feel his heartbeat. “These past few days have been some of the best days of my life. And you know what I suspect?” He reached up and held her chin, diving into her eyes. “I suspect ‘that woman in Boston’ might not have been the right fit for me. But the woman I’ve gotten to know in Blue Hill is. Can’t you see, baby? You don’t have to pretend any longer.”
“What?”
His hand slid into her hair. “It’s you that I want—the real you.”
“Me, me?” she asked on a breathy sigh.
“You, you.” His mouth moved nearer, and her knees went weak.
“Tag! You’re it!” A couple of Girl Scouts darted past them, chasing after a third one, and Hope nearly lost her footing.
“Whoa, there.” Brent grabbed onto her elbows to steady her.
“Girls!” the scout leader warned testily. “I told you! No running!”
“That was close,” Brent said, talking about Hope’s near fall.
“Yeah, very,” she said, meaning things in another way. This was so hard, and she was liking him so much. But he wasn’t her fiancé; he was Jackie’s.
“Hey.” He placed his palm on her cheek and leaned toward her. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I think so.” But honestly? In her heart she wasn’t so sure.
…
When Hope returned to the carriage house, it was after nine thirty. She and Brent had missed breakfast, and he’d had to dash off on his sailing trip, since he’d already been keeping the others waiting. At least she finally had her phone back. She needed to contact Jackie to fill her in on a few things.
Hope entered the kitchen just as her mom came in from the deck through the sliding glass doors. Ava was dressed prettily in a funky zebra-stripe-patterned jumpsuit with a huge crimson sash used as a belt. She wore chunky seashell earrings, a clamshell necklace, and strappy red sandals to complement the sash.
“Where on earth have you been?” she asked, noticing Hope’s sweaty outfit. “It’s nearly time for our meeting with the wedding planner. I was just heading over there now.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. Brent and I went out for a run, but Eleanor hasn’t arrived yet. I’ve just come back from the main house, and the downstairs was pretty empty.”
“Have you heard from Jackie?”
Hope pressed a button on her phone, and a slew of texts appeared, a whole bunch of them talking about—Instagram? What?
“She wants me to take photos,” Hope told her mom. “Document the meeting with the wedding planner.”
“For the wedding album?”
“I think for social media,” Hope said, continuing to flip through messages as she headed for her bedroom. “There’s too much to read here.” She glanced up at Ava. “I’ll grab a quick shower and change and give Jackie a call before meeting you up at the house.” She sent Ava a questioning look. “If I’m a few minutes late, do you think you can stall them?”
“Of course, hon. Of course.”
Hope nodded in thanks.
When she turned away, Ava asked, “Are you feeling all right?”
Hope glanced back over her shoulder. “Yeah, why?”
Ava’s eyes glimmered with intrigue. “Your aura’s changing colors. Looks like it’s turning pink.” A smile crept onto her lips. “Are you sure you’re not the one meant for Brent, and not Jackie?”
“Mom! How could you say that? Jackie will be here tomorrow! And, by that time, her aura will be even pinker than mine. Extra pink. Super-duper pink! Flamingo pink, probably.”
Ava shared a doubtful look. “I suppose we’ll see.”
The moment her mom sashayed out the door, Hope called Jackie. And, ugh. It went straight to voicemail. So, she decided to text her instead.
Scanned through your texts.
Will read in detail later.
Wedding planner meeting in a few.
Okay on insta. Username and password, please?
Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
Let me know when!
…
At a little past ten, Hope joined the others in the main house, where she found the meeting taking place in the dining room. She glanced around the table, apologizing for running behind schedule, encountering the one unfamiliar face.
“Jackie.” A poised blonde wearing a business jacket with a fake gardenia pin on it held out her hand. “Nice to see you again.”
Hope shook hands with her across the table. “Elaine.”
“It’s Eleanor.” The wedding planner smiled tightly and glanced down at the tablet she’d brought along with her and which rested on the table. “I see we have both the moms.” She perused Grandmother Margaret. “And the grandmother.”
“It’s Mrs. Albright, dear,” Margaret said tersely, and Hope couldn’t blame her. Eleanor didn’t project the coziest vibe. In fact, she seemed a tad hostile. Hope was almost afraid to ask about taking snapshots, although she figured it would be safer to request permission.