Chapter 13

Jo

My assistant manager looks perplexed.

"You're taking a week?"

I wince. "Sorry to leave you in the lurch, Adam."

In the produce section, Adam and I are arranging a display of local cider that's come in early. It's my favorite time of year to stock new things at the store. He's a good worker who moved here from Sweden several years ago. He sometimes runs into trouble with the local customs, but he's my best employee.

He smiles. "I can handle it. I'm just surprised, that's all. I've worked here for four years, and you've never taken a vacation. Nor a sick day."

I lift one shoulder in an attempt to be breezy. "Haven't I? I didn't realize…well, then I suppose I'm overdue. Just one question."

"If it's about the gourds, I already know, the prices are going up this year," he says.

"You're a good man, Adam. But no, I was going to say take special care with the cottage on Shadow Lane. I think they're on a honeymoon and don't want to be disturbed. So make sure you leave the bags on the steps and do not knock."

Adam gives me a knowing look. "Oh, trust me. I've already poked that bear. I won't make a peep."

"Good man."

At the end of my shift, I leave work with a bounce in my step, ready to tell Jakob the good news.

Or should I simply let him wonder? Shall I let him think I'm rebellious and rash by skipping work tomorrow altogether?

"What in the world has you smiling like that today?" I glance up to see my friend Sabine arranging festive autumnal flowers and greens in the planter outside the door of her pub. "Bet I can guess."

I pause my walk home to chat with my friend. "I'm taking a week off of work," I tell her.

Her grin widens. "Oh? You and that handsome devil going to travel to the continent? Fall in love in Paris?" Sabine sighs dreamily.

"Maybe," I say. "But mostly I think we're going to hide out."

She cocks her head, and I realize my choice of words.

"Jakob and I have a lot of catching up to do."

I haven't explained to her that Jakob and I used to be childhood friends, so this statement, too, puzzles Sabine.

However, I'm feeling the need to say less instead of more. Maybe it's because I feel protective of Jakob, under the circumstances.

"Enjoy your time off, love," she says with a wave. "And if he has any brothers, please send one my way!"

"Will do!" I say with a laugh, knowing very well the only brothers Jakob ever had were fosters—and they were not kind to him.

I get lost in thought the rest of the way home, my mind stuck on the cruelty done to Jakob by some of the other children he lived with.

How cold his life has been.

For as long as we're together, I'm going to plant warm, happy memories.

And I'm going to start tonight.