Cancer.
Inoperable.
She didn’t have long.
She’d kept it from me so as not to cause me any pain, but in the end, it really didn’t matter, because she was still gone. And I still missed her like I would a piece of myself.
Now I was back in the one place I’d sworn to myself I’d never step foot in again. Only this time, I didn’t have anybody at my back. This time I was well and truly alone.
I rose to my feet and started toward the sea of cars parked all around the cemetery. I shouldn’t have been shocked by the turnout for Aunt Maureen’s funeral, but I was. The fact that the whole town seemed to turn out to say their goodbyes to her made my heart swell at the same time it caused my eyes to burn with unshed tears.
To say my aunt was well liked would have been a gross understatement. For as long as I could remember, she was one of the most beloved residents of Hope Valley. Even during all the years she’d been gone she’d still stayed in touch with those closest to her.
Despite the decade spent living in Chicago, the tiny mountain town in Virginia was still very much her home. Like most everyone who’d grown up there, Hope Valley was in her blood. She never said it, but I knew she missed the place like crazy. I was grown, settled in my life and career as an emergency room nurse, so it was time for her to go back to the place she’d always loved so much.
When she moved back several years ago everyone was so damn happy, I thought the townsfolk were going to throw a party that would rival the New Year’s Eve celebration in Time Square.
It wasn’t much, but at least that settled my soul a bit, knowing she spent the past years surrounded by love and laughter with so many people she cared about. It would have to be enough.
“Temperance, honey.” At the sound of the familiar voice, I whirled around just seconds before I was pulled into a warm embrace so strong it lifted me off my feet.
I used to receive hugs just like that one on a regular basis years and years ago, and until that very moment, I hadn’t realized just how much I missed it. “Hey, Ralph,” I managed to eke out past the huge lump in my throat.
I’d been in town for a while, but every moment of that time had been spent by Aunt Reenie’s side. I didn’t want to waste a single second I had left with her. And by the end her pain was so acute I was scared to be away from her, so I hadn’t ventured outside the walls of her farmhouse, even going so far as to have our groceries and other household items delivered to us instead of shopping for them myself. Besides my trek to the funeral home to plan out where and how she’d be laid to rest, today was the first time in two decades I’d laid eyes on someone from my past, and Ralph was an incredibly welcome, if not bittersweet, sight.
“God almighty, girl, it’s damn good to see your face. Still as beautiful as always.”
The big bear of a man set me down, and the second his arms disengaged another pair took their place.
“Tempie, sweetie. I’ve missed you so much.” At the choked-up words spilling from Sally’s mouth, that burn behind my eyes grew more intense.
Sally and Ralph were the husband and wife duo behind one of Hope Valley’s most famous establishments, Evergreen Diner. I’d worked as a waitress for them back in high school before everything in my life started on a downward spiral, and they were two of the best people I’d ever had the privilege of knowing.
My voice came out as a weak whisper as I replied, “I’ve missed you too, Sal.”
Breaking from the hug, Sally took my cheeks in her hands and stared into my sunglasses like she could see right through them, sadness and loss shining bright in her eyes.
“I wanna tell you I’m happy to see you again, but I really wish it was under different circumstances, darlin’.”
“You and me both, Sally.”
“But I’m still real happy to see you,” she added quietly.
A smile I hadn’t thought I was capable of pulled at the corners of my mouth. “I’m happy to see you too.”
“Know you been back a while girl,” Ralph said, joining back into the conversation. “Hoped to see you at the diner, or around town at least.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry about that. I should’ve come to see you both sooner. I just couldn’t…” That lump came back with a vengeance. “I couldn’t leave her.”
“We know, honey,” Sally said on a sniffle, reaching up to bat at a few tears that had slipped down her cheeks. “And we understand.”
I wanted to give them something, anything. They’d been so amazing to me back then, that I found myself opening my mouth and speaking before I gave it a single thought. “I’ll be in town for a while to handle Aunt Reenie’s estate. I promise I’ll stop in while I’m here.”
I remembered Ralph always had a gift for lightening the mood, and I discovered right then that he hadn’t lost it in all the years I’d been gone. And in that moment I was more grateful for that than words could express. “Don’t suppose I could get you to tie the old apron back on and wait a couple tables, huh? Still the best waitress we ever had.”
He gave me his charming, good ol’ boy smile from beneath his scruffy beard, and I had no choice but to return it. I gave his offer a second of thought and actually found myself liking the idea. “You know what? I might just take you up on that,” I replied, visibly surprising them both. “It’ll give me something to do while I’m here, so I’m not just sitting and wallowing.”
“Well, we’d love to have you, baby girl,” Ralph announced. “But you know, times ever get a bit too rough for you, you just pick up the phone and call us. We’ll be there in a flash.”
God, he was too much. “Thank you,” I croaked through a ball of emotion. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
With a few more hugs, they said their goodbyes a minute later and headed for the same beat-up junker van they’d driven even back when I was a kid. A few more people I remembered from growing up stopped to offer their condolences, and I acted accordingly, offering smiles and thank yous that I certainly wasn’t feeling as I slowly inched my way toward my rental car.
By the time I hit the driver side door I was more than ready for this day to be over and done with. But as soon as I reached for the handle, I felt that prickling along my skin again.
My head slowly swiveled of its own accord, turning until my eyes stopped on Hayes, in all his glory, standing against a shiny silver Sequoia.
I gave myself the chance I hadn’t at the gravesite, taking in this version of Hayes Walker, twenty-one years older and even bigger and more commanding than he’d been back in the day. And he’d been damn big and commanding back then, even as a nineteen-year-old.
To top all that off, he was wearing a charcoal gray suit with a pale blue button-down, both of which looked like they’d been tailored just for him. The only hint of the country boy I’d fallen in love with was the black cowboy boots on his feet. I didn’t know whether or not suits were his gig now, but if they were, he wore them well.
His dark hair was trimmed close at the sides, but a little long at the top, and it was styled like all he’d done was hop out of the shower and run his fingers through it. And damn if that didn’t work really well for him.
He still had the same square jawline and prominent cheekbones, but there was a more liberal five o’clock shadow than there had been when he was nineteen. But the thing I noticed most was how much bigger he’d become.
There was still a glimpse of the Hayes I used to know, but now there was just so much… more. I could practically feel the power radiating off of him from 10 yards away.
My breath hitched when he lifted his arm and pulled the aviators from his face. Those eyes were just as beautiful and intense as I remembered, and I felt a quiver work its way down my spine and center right between my thighs at the sight of those rich chocolate browns.
I don’t know how long we stood there like that staring at each other, but then he jerked his chin up and flicked out two fingers before rounding the hood of his truck, and just like that, the spell
was broken.
I shook off the haze that had enveloped me, pulled the door open, and climbed into my car.
I’d survived my aunt’s funeral.
I’d survived seeing the only man I’d ever loved for the first time in over twenty years.
I’d survive a while longer in a town that held so many painful memories.
Or at least that’s what I hoped.
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Discover Other Books by Jessica
HOPE VALLEY SERIES:
Out of My League
Come Back Home Again (coming March 2019)
Wrong Side of the Tracks (coming May 2019)
The New Normal (coming July 2019)
THE PICKING UP THE PIECES SERIES:
Picking up the Pieces
Rising from the Ashes
Pushing the Boundaries
Worth the Wait
THE COLORS NOVELS:
Scattered Colors
Shrinking Violet
Love Hate Relationship
Wildflower
THE LOCKLAINE BOYS (a LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP spinoff):
Fire & Ice
Opposites Attract
Almost Perfect
THE PEMBROOKE SERIES (a WILDFLOWER spinoff):
Sweet Sunshine
Coming Full Circle
A Broken Soul
CIVIL CORRUPTION SERIES
Corrupt
Defile
Consume
Ravage
GIRL TALK SERIES:
Seducing Lola
Tempting Sophia
Enticing Daphne
Charming Fiona
STANDALONE TITLES:
One Knight Stand
Chance Encounters
Nightmares from Within
DEADLY LOVE SERIES:
Destructive
Addictive
About the Author
Born and raised around Houston, Jessica is a self proclaimed caffeine addict, connoisseur of inexpensive wine, and the worst driver in the state of Texas. In addition to being all of these things, she’s first and foremost a wife and mom.
Growing up, she shared her mom and grandmother’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.
When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can usually find her with her kindle in hand.
Connect with Jessica now
Website: www.authorjessicaprince.com
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Out of My League: a Hope Valley novel Page 27
