Love in Greener Pastures

by Bretz, Amanda

  The band ended the song with a long, waning saw of the fiddle. Rick chose that moment to take Gabby in his arms for one last spin and dip her low to the ground. Gabby’s laughter was so infectious and genuine it could be heard over the band. Jake felt a smile appear on his face in spite of himself. It was nice to see her enjoy herself like this. It solidified to him that she would choose to stay in Clear Lake for good.

  ***

  “Hello,” Gabby said into her cell phone.

  “Hi Gabby, it’s Claire, from Chicago Style.”

  “Yes, hi, how are you?”

  Strange, what is she calling for? Gabby wondered. It had been nearly three weeks since her interview.

  “I’m great. Actually, I’m calling to talk to you about a possible freelance position that opened up, if you’re still interested in working with us?”

  Gabby gnawed on her bottom lip. Was she interested? A part of her was, even though the city had gotten to her on her last trip. Then again, how could she pass up a job like this twice?

  “Yes, I’m interested,” she told Claire.

  “Wonderful! I know when we talked last time you said you needed to stay close to your father, because of his health problems. I have a freelance opportunity at a sister publication for Chicago Style.

  “It’s for a smaller quarterly magazine we publish. We’re in need of someone who can focus on human interest pieces and I think you’d be a great fit.”

  Gabby felt her eyes widen. So far everything sounded too good to be true.

  “That sounds perfect. Would I need to travel to Chicago frequently for my articles?”

  “Not necessarily. For the most part, you could work from your home and email your stories to our editor. You would be writing four stories a year, and will be paid per article. I can email you more information and put you in touch with the editor you will be directly reporting to.”

  Gabby couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She would still be able to write for a bigger magazine, like she’d always wanted, and she could do so without having to abandon her dad in his time of need. She was so happy she thought she might do cartwheels.

  “Claire, thank you so much for offering me this position. I’ll gladly accept. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

  “I’m glad to hear you’re so excited. I’ll send you the information this afternoon. Congratulations, Gabby. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Thank you again. Have a good day,” she said as she hung up her cell. Gabby let out a whoop of joy. She couldn’t wait until tonight, when she could tell Jake the amazing news.

  ***

  “Mmm, dinner was so tasty, but I think I need more dessert,” Jake said as he nibbled Gabby’s ear.

  She burst into giggles and playfully batted him away.

  “Jake, that tickles!”

  “That’s the point,” he whispered in her ear.

  The two were lying in Jake’s bed under the covers. Gabby made dinner at his house and the two used the evening to spend some quiet time alone together. Gabby impressed Jake by whipping up a rich, but delicious meal of champagne risotto with mushrooms served with a pork loin and asparagus followed by her mother’s recipe for homemade tiramisu.

  Jake released her and rolled over onto his back. The evening had been so wonderful. Gabby’s cooking was incredible. Just having Gabby in his home for the night had pointed out to Jake how lonely it was living alone. Sure, he had Smudge, but there was no substitution for human companionship. As he stared at his bedroom ceiling it dawned on him what had happened. He rolled over to face Gabby once more and gazed into her eyes.

  “I love you,” he said softly.

  In her hazel eyes he thought he saw a little fear at first, but she clasped his hand and kissed him softly on the lips.

  “I love you, too. That makes what I’m about to tell you even better news,” she paused and Jake looked at her expectantly.

  “I heard from one of the editors at Chicago Style today. They offered me a freelancing job, and I accepted. I’ll be writing for another one of their publications, I haven’t got all the details yet, but it’s basically a quarterly community magazine and I’ll be submitting features for it. I’ll have to make trips to Chicago sometimes, but only for a day or two at a time.”

  Gabby started beaming as the magnitude of what she was saying hit her. She was getting everything she truly wanted. She would be able to stay near her father, not only now during his time of need, but for as long as she wished. She could make money doing what she did best, by writing for the paper and freelancing for the magazine. Lastly, she and Jake would continue seeing each other.

  “I learned something when I came home from that interview, Jake. I realized that is just what Clear Lake is, home. You were right all those weeks ago when you said I was trying to outrun my bad memories. I was, and in doing that I was wasting time that I have with my dad. I may not be able to lead a glamorous life here in Clear Lake, but I can still live my dreams.

  “I can still write for the Lake Breeze, and freelance for the magazine. I can visit the city when I have to go there on business and get my fix for fast-paced living. I can’t believe that everyone was right all along,” she said with a chuckle and shake of her head. “I belong here. It took me awhile, but I finally caught on.”

  Gabby broke eye contact for a moment and a small knot of fear formed in the pit of Jake’s stomach. He sensed she was holding something back from him. Had she really meant it when she said she loved him, or was she only saying it back because she felt she had to?

  No, he thought. He knew it was real. She genuinely loved him. That much he knew instinctively without her saying it in return. The air was filled with a quietness that Jake felt was growing in discomfort. He cleared his throat in effort to break the silence. Jake placed his hand under Gabby’s chin and gently guided her eyes to his face.

  “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

  “I feel a little shy, I guess.”

  “Gabriella Maria Contessa Richards, I don’t believe you possess a shy bone in your body.”

  Gabby burst out laughing. Jake always knew exactly how and when to call her bluff. That was one of the many things she loved about him.

  “You’re right, I’m not shy. I guess vulnerable would more accurately describe how I’m feeling right now. I’ve never told anyone I loved them before, Jake. Never,” she repeated as she earnestly stared into his eyes.

  Jake wrapped her in a bear hug and Gabby buried her face in the hollow of his collarbone.

  “I’m honored to be the first,” Jake said solemnly. “I want you to know right here and now, I want to be both the first and the last.”

  Gabby raised her head and looked at him with large eyes.

  “‘The last’ as in, forever?”

  “Yes,” he said as he planted a passionate kiss on her lips. “I’m not, you know proposing now…but I can see it happening. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and I think you feel the same.”

  Marriage? The level of commitment Jake was intimating should have made her run from his bed. Had any other boyfriend said that to her, especially at this stage in their relationship, it would have scared the hell out of her. Instead of feeling the knee-jerk reaction of fear, she felt…happiness. She felt sure.

  “You know I feel the same, Jake,” she said as she snuggled closer to him.

  Gabby let out a contented sigh as she realized there was nowhere in the world she’d rather be than in Jake Harrison’s arms.

  Epilogue

  Gabby turned her car toward the north end of town and adjusted her rearview mirror. The chilly November temperatures had caused a buildup of frost on her back window. She depressed the rear defrost button and turned the knob on her car’s heater a notch higher.

  When she arrived in Clear Lake five months ago, she’d come to the town feeling a sense of dread. The past several months she’d spent in her hometown had not only flown by, but were now filled with joyous memories. She s
miled to herself as she remembered the two most recent happy times she had experienced.

  Less than one week ago, her father had started walking again, with the aid of his physical therapist. He still had a ways to go until he was once again self-sufficient, but he had made remarkable improvements. When Gabby watched him walking, tears had sprang into her eyes. Compared to where he’d been when she first came home, it was a miracle.

  As Gabby gripped the steering wheel to compensate for the road’s impressive curve, she smiled to herself as she thought of all the things her father would be able to do again now that he could walk. He’d begin working again in a few months. He could drive himself places. He’d no longer need a nurse. Gabby caught a flash of reflective light as her left hand moved along the steering wheel. She smiled at what would be her father’s biggest accomplishment since gaining the ability to walk again.

  He would walk her down the aisle next summer.

  ###

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Growing up, Amanda Bretz began creating stories before she could put pen to paper. When it came time to pick a career path, writing was a natural choice. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Florida Gulf Coast University and has worked as a print and online journalist. She currently resides in St. Charles, MO with her husband and is working on her next writing project. Thanks for reading her work. For more information visit http://www.amandabretz.com.

  Connect with Amanda Bretz online:

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/realamandabretz

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramandabretz

  Google+: https://plus.google.com/101025002317752988095/about

  Blog: http://authoramandabretz.wordpress.com/

  A preview of what’s coming late 2012: Love, Simplified.

  Synopsis:

  When workaholic Cecile Day realizes, (through a couple of unfortunate events), she isn't living the life she wants, she uproots herself and moves across the country to her family's ramshackle cabin in the Lake of the Ozarks. Leaving behind a wealthy fiancé, high-powered career and life of glitz and glam won't be easy, but what she gains is peace of mind, sense of self and lasting happiness. All things money doesn't buy.

  Upon her move, Cecile meets local handyman Ethan Morgan who helps her with cabin renovations. Over time the two begin a relationship, but when Cecile's ex-fiancé Parker Stone appears in her life again, she must choose between the two men. One can promise her a life of riches and comfort while the other can provide love, companionship and a simple, country life.

  Cecile must decide if she wants to go back to Parker and her affluent lifestyle, or continue seeing Ethan and live with the most basic necessity of all: love.

  Below is an excerpt from Love, Simplified:

  Cecile’s black Hummer took the steep incline to her parents’ cabin as though it were a mere dip in the road. After fourteen hours in the car, Cecile was glad to be on the gravel drive leading up to the house. As she heard the crunch of rocks and pebbles beneath her vehicle’s mammoth wheels she felt her heart rate speed up in anticipation. The cabin was almost in view.

  Just as swiftly as her heart had accelerated, it quickly sunk to the bottom of her stomach. Cecile flipped on her high beams to get a better look at the building’s dilapidated exterior. Time had not been kind to the small bungalow. Pieces of wood peeked through and marred the white paint like liver spots on an old woman’s face. The shrubs were nearly as tall as a grown man. The wood planks on the front porch rippled and bowed in many places.

  Okay, so I’ll need to make a few repairs, that’s what my Denver money is for, she told herself optimistically.

  Cecile lifted her eyes and looked out the moon roof in her SUV. The celestial sky was pure onyx, with only a sliver of a silver moon. She reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a flashlight, then cut the engine and slid out of the tall vehicle. The weeds were so overgrown, she feared she may see a snake between her short walk from the car to the house. With a fear of the creatures that bordered on text-book phobia, she walked along the flagstone path and up the few steps to the porch moving her hand from left to right causing the flashlight’s beam to spray out in a wide arc across the lawn.

  If I see a snake, I’ll kill the slippery little bastard, she thought. The wooden porch creaked and groaned with each step she took. Relieved that she’d made it to the front door without seeing one of the reptilian creatures, she inserted the key into the lock and turned the handle. At first it didn’t budge. She had to give it a hard shove before the door would open.

  The moment she stepped over the threshold into the dark, dank cabin, Cecile was overtaken with the smell of mildew. She knew it was due to lack of use and held her hand over her nose. She deposited her suitcase in the middle of the kitchen floor, flipped on a light and began the task of prying open the windows. The place needed fresh air.

  And, she thought as she eyed the interior critically, a lot of elbow grease.

  As she walked toward the window, Cecile spied cobwebs with dead spiders ensconced in their netting. She pushed with all her might and forced the window open, the weathered wood scraping against the window frame. As outside air poured into the cabin, a cloud of dust flew into Cecile’s face. She coughed and sputtered and looked down at the countertop covered in several inches of dust and dirt. She ran a quick index finger through the grime and was revolted at the amount that latched on to her. Ick.

  She turned on her heel and walked the short distance from the kitchenette area to the living room. She opened the French doors that led out to the deck in an effort to clear the musty atmosphere inside. That was a mistake, she thought. The screens had holes in them the size of half-dollars. Good thing it was late October, with winter coming she wouldn’t use the doors much anyway. Oh well, I’ve got until next spring to worry about replacing those, she reasoned. She shut the doors and resolved to inhale the dusty, musty cabin air for the time being.

  Cecile eyed the living room sofa, which was covered with a tattered old bed sheet. She pulled the grimy sheet off and plopped down onto the couch. Aside from the filth, the interior of the cabin hadn’t changed. Cecile gazed at the large, cast-iron potbellied stove that served as a heat source for the cabin. She and Camille had spent many cold winter evenings on the wood floor in front of the stove with a steaming cup of cocoa and books or puzzles to entertain them. Occasionally their father would play a game of checkers with each of them in turn. Cecile sighed to herself as she indulged in a moment of melancholy and nostalgia and remembered those family evenings.

  The time the family spent at the cabin always seemed so fun. Looking back, the four of them never did anything extravagant or special while at the cabin, but instead indulged in simple pleasures like cooking together, reading and playing games during winter and swimming in the lake during summer. As she reminisced about the past, Cecile felt her eyelids getting heavy, and unless she wanted to sleep on the couch, she’d need to get up and finish unloading her SUV so she could get to bed. In preparation of the dark unknown, Cecile grabbed her flashlight and headed toward the front door.

  Cecile made one more trip out to her utility vehicle to grab her pillow and a few blankets she’d brought with her. The house was grungy, but it was the warmer, and not to mention more comfortable, choice than sleeping in her car. She’d simply put one of the clean blankets down on top of the bed and use the other two to cover herself. A shower before bed sounded heavenly, but she lacked the energy to drag her shampoo and conditioner out of her bag. Cecile had been up for almost twenty-four hours. At this point her need for sleep far outweighed her need for good hygiene. Tomorrow morning, she’d make an inventory of the supplies she needed and head into town to pick up groceries and some basics. Luckily, after talking to her sister, Cecile had decided to bring all her cleaning supplies and household items with her.

  Cecile made her bed and quickly shut and locked the kitchen and living room windows, leaving only the bathroom and bedroom windows open. Althou
gh it was probably pointless, she double-checked to make sure both the front and French doors were locked. Calm down, it’s not like you still live in the city, she told herself. She’d spent her entire childhood coming to the cabin and had never felt scared. The same families had occupied the neighborhood of five cabins for as long as she could remember. Unlocked doors and open windows were common place at the Lake.

  She could probably leave her doors and windows unlocked and would be perfectly safe, but it wouldn’t be smart, she was a single woman alone in a cabin that hadn’t been occupied in years. Times may have changed since her last trip to the Ozarks. Cecile was in the master bedroom kicking off her tennis shoes and was about to change out of her travel clothes and into pajamas when she heard a knock on the front door. She paused, momentarily alarmed. Who could be knocking on the cabin door at nine-thirty in the evening?

  Should she answer it? If she didn’t, maybe they’d get the hint and just go away. As she weighed her options, she heard a second knock. Her visitor was certainly persistent. After she heard the second rapping noise on the wooden door she knew she had to answer it, if only to get some peace and quiet. She wished she had some sort of weapon. A gun or a switchblade. She’d even settle for a baseball bat or a golf club at this point. She looked around the kitchen and living room for something she could use in self-defense, just in case the neighborhood had went to hell in the past few years.

  “Who’s there?” Cecile called to the door.