Chapter 16

16

E merson was still in the habit of waking early and did so today. She decided not only to text Finley but to include Ivy and Harper, as well. She sent a group text to the three women, asking if they might be available to meet at Java Junction this morning for coffee around eight.

Finley responded first, saying that she was already going to be there because she and Holden would be meeting with Wolf at eight to discuss some things about the movie being currently filmed. She thought she would be free by eight-thirty, though. Ivy chimed in and said she could be there at eight-thirty. Harper responded, saying the same.

Glad she had included all three women, Emerson texted the group.

I will stop at the Bake House and grab some goodies for us. See you soon!

After showering and dressing, she worked on a few designs for cakes and then left for the bakery, speaking briefly with Rhiannon to touch base on how things were going. They decided to meet at the diner again on Monday for breakfast to catch up and talk business.

Frank pulled her aside and said, "Rhiannon was a great hire, Emerson. She doesn't take any crap, but she's also a very understanding person. And she's a terrific baker. Jill and I really like her a lot."

"I'm happy to hear that, Frank. She seems to be thriving in her new role. I'm glad it's working out for everyone."

Going to the front of the bakery, she grabbed a box and collected a few Danishes, along with some kolaches and donut holes. Waving to Jill, she crossed the square to Java Junction and entered. The line was already long for a Saturday morning. Dax was working, along with Scott Bartlett and two teenagers.

She joined the line and spied Finley at a corner table with Holden and Wolf. The director spoke animatedly, gesturing broadly, and Finley seemed just as excited as he was regarding whatever they were discussing.

Then she saw Ivy waving at her from a table in the center of the room. Her friend came over and said, "I've snagged a table for us. Here, let me take the bakery box so you have your hands free."

She handed the box to her friend and after a few minutes, stepped up and gave her order to Dax.

"Coming right up," he said, winking at her.

Emerson couldn't help but wonder about the wink. Had Ry already told Dax about them? She knew they went running together several mornings a week.

She went to where Ivy was seated and asked how her painting was going.

"I'm getting very close to the end. Clive is flying down here in two weeks to look at what I've painted since his last visit. He'll take those paintings back with him. That'll give him the bulk of what will be in the show, and he'll begin working on the layout for the exhibit."

"Ry told me he'd stopped by to see your paintings."

"Yes, he's always been very supportive of my art." Ivy smiled. "He even commissioned me to make a painting for his mom when I was in eighth grade. Shelly still has it hanging in their den."

Finley pulled out a chair and took a seat. "Meeting's over," she said brightly.

"You looked pretty excited as you spoke to Wolf," Emerson observed.

"He was looking at some of the mockups for the ad campaign I've designed. I can't believe I'm involved in marketing a Hollywood movie. Boy, my life sure has changed since Holden came into it."

Emerson couldn't help but feel the same about Ry and said, "I know what you mean."

"Just think, Em. This time last year, we were getting ready to go back to school. Creating lesson plans. Attending final workshops. Meeting with members of our team. And now look at how crazy different our lives are."

"How are senior portraits coming along?" she asked.

"I'm swamped. I'll still be able to squeeze in Ry in order to get the Blackwood BBQ site updated, especially that catering page. It's starting to look pretty amazing with all the foods he's come up with. Once I took shots of what he'd smoked, he let me take everything home. Holden was in heaven. You'll both need to check out the website and give me some feedback."

"We will," Ivy promised as Dax brought Emerson her latte.

Harper joined them, cup in hand. "Oh, my gosh. Have you told Ivy about last night's debacle?"

"What's going on?" her sister asked. "Did someone get jilted at the altar?"

The other three women laughed, and Harper said, "I can tell you don't get on social media often. We are everywhere this morning."

Ivy's nose crinkled. "That sounds bad."

"Actually, Weddings with Hart and the venue come off pretty well," Harper said, sounding relieved. "It's the bride and best man who are getting skewered."

The three of them recounted the events of last night's reception, finishing with how the groom announced he would be seeking an annulment, and the bride fled the room.

"The best man slipped out without a word," Emerson told Ivy.

"Oh, I know all about that," Harper said. "I went to check on the bride. She was crying a river of tears. Her mom and maid of honor were trying their best to comfort her, but all she wanted was the best man. She kept texting and then calling him, but he wouldn't pick up. It made her cry even harder."

"That was a little cruel of the groom," Ivy said. "Then again, he was betrayed by the two people he loved the most. I guess I can't blame him."

"I felt sorry for him, but I really felt sorry for Mr. Johnson," Harper said. "I even told him I would give him a discount on things."

"That was generous of you," Emerson said.

"He wouldn't' take it."

"Mr. Johnson also spoke to me last night," Finley said. "I'd already taken all the pre-wedding and ceremony photographs. He told me not to bother sticking around for the rest of the reception and guaranteed he'd pay my bill in full. I went ahead and sent him what I'd already photographed. Mr. Johnson told me while he would pay me now in full, his daughter would be reimbursing him. No matter how long it took."

"Same with me," Harper confirmed. "Mr. Johnson apologized for Ashley's atrocious behavior and said he hoped she'd finally learned her lesson. He admitted that he'd spoiled her terribly since she was their only child, but he did not raise her to act so poorly."

"I'd already been paid for both cakes," she said. "I assume Blackwood BBQ was also paid in full before last night."

"Yes, Shy also received payment, but enough of that," Harper said. "Let's talk about anything else except weddings."

"I did ask everyone to coffee this morning for a reason," she said, suddenly growing shy about her news. "I have something to share with you."

"Please tell me that you and Ry are finally together," Finley blurted out.

Emerson sucked in a quick breath. "What?"

Ivy placed her hand over Emerson's. "It's obvious to all of us how much he likes you, Em. Do you like him?"

"More than I probably should," she admitted to her friends. "We made it official last night. We are going to be seeing one another."

"Hallelujah!" Harper declared, throwing her arms around Emerson and giving her a big hug. "I told you he was interested in you from the moment he met you."

"He's just… so… so everything," she said, still unsure why Ry was attracted to her. "He's like that guy in the yearbook. You know. The senior superlatives. Most Popular. Most Handsome. Best All-Around. I can't for the life me understand why he's interested in me when he could ask out any woman in Lost Creek."

Ivy clucked her tongue. "How can you say that, Emerson Frost? You're gorgeous and one of the nicest people I've ever known. Why, Ry Blackwood is lucky that he has you."

Finley held up her coffee mug, and the others raised theirs. "To Emerson and Ry."

They clinked their cups together and sipped their coffees. Emerson then opened the box she'd brought from The Bake House, and everyone began selecting items to eat.

Dax came over and asked, "Any refills needed here?" He leaned over and snagged a kolache from the open box. "I saw you ladies toasting. What are you celebrating?"

Ivy beamed at her husband. "Emerson and Ry are together. Finally."

"Are you kidding? He and I ran together this morning. He didn't say a word to me."

"Don't blame Ry," Emerson said. "He was letting me tell my friends first before he said anything about us to anyone."

Dax placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Congratulations, Em. I think the two of you'll be great together."

She was happy her friends were so excited for her, but Emerson still worried that she wouldn't be enough for a man like Ry Blackwood.

Ry loaded up the van with all the food for tonight's reception and drove to Lost Creek Winery. He had been on a natural high all day.

Because of Emerson.

It was hard for him to understand how little she seemed to value herself, but he had to remember she had never had anyone in her corner for years. She had grown up with no support system, and it had done a number on her self-esteem. As he built a relationship with her, Ry also wanted to build Emerson's confidence.

He reached the winery and parked behind the event center as Dax pulled up beside him.

"Are the Lone Star Rebels playing tonight?"

"Nope. I'm just going to DJ the reception." His friend offered a hand, and Ry shook it. "I heard you and Emerson finally made it official."

He grinned from ear to ear. "Yes. It took a while to convince her. She's like a scared rabbit, Dax. So beautiful and talented— and yet so unsure of herself."

"If anyone can help Emerson blossom, it's you, buddy."

"Thanks. That means a lot to me, Dax. I'm not just saying that. I'm a little like Emerson in that I closed myself off from the world after Todd's death. I never grew close to any of my fellow soldiers. Yes, I had their six— and would've taken a bullet for them —but I never really made friends with them either."

He paused. "It's been different since I've come home to Lost Creek. From the first night I arrived, you, Braden, and Holden have been so welcoming. I was worried that I'd be like some outsider, and it would take a long time to find my place here again. The friendship you and those guys have offered has meant the world to me."

"I'm glad you came home, Ry," Dax said. "It's been great getting to know you. I hope that our friendship will be one of many decades."

He laughed. "So, you think we'll still be doing Wednesday night dinners and come hobbling in on our walkers in our eighties?"

Dax laughed. "That's exactly what I'm thinking. I believe the years will pass quickly. We'll have kids. Grandkids. And one day we'll look up. We'll all have gray in our hair— or maybe we'll be bald —but our friendship of many years will have seen us through the good times and bad."

A lump formed in his throat.

"If I had a beer in my hand, I'd raise it in a toast and say hear, hear," Ry said.

"We'll have to go out for that beer soon," Dax said. "In the meantime, let me help you carry things in."

It didn't take them long since tonight's wedding only had eighty people, including the wedding party and guests.

Finley showed up, taking a few pictures, and then pulling him aside, showing Ry more photographs she'd like to add to the website's home page and catering tab.

"You make my food look really appetizing, Finley," he praised. "And my mom wanted to thank you for framing those photos of me in my uniforms. She said for you and Holden to stop by the diner anytime and eat for free."

She laughed. "Oh, don't tell my husband that. He'll be there five days a week."

Emerson arrived, causing Ry's heart to skip a beat. He smiled at her, thinking about how everything had seemed right about her from the moment he met her. He wasn't a guy who devoted any time to thinking about love— much less falling in love at first sight —but his feelings were incredibly strong for this woman and had been from the beginning.

Dax helped Emerson set up the two cakes, and then she began helping him with the food prep.

Leaning down, she inhaled deeply. "Ooh. You've never made ribs for a reception I've worked. They smell amazing."

"I was a little surprised that the bride wanted to serve them. They can be pretty messy. Then again, Harper said this bride is pretty country, and most of the guests would be wearing jeans to the wedding. I guess they don't mind a little sauce. I also smoked some sausage and am preparing a chopped brisket sandwich for the plates."

"If you can, save a couple of those ribs for us. I've never tried them at Blackwood BBQ before."

"Oh, I planned to. I've got a whole picnic for us," he shared.

"You do?" she said.

He could hear both the eagerness and wistfulness in her tone and stopped what he was doing, going to her and slipping his arms around her.

"I plan to do all kind of special things for you, Emerson Frost," he promised. "Because you're worth it."

Ry kissed her tenderly, hoping his embrace and kiss conveyed to Emerson just how wonderful she was. He knew he was in uncharted territory with her. She'd never dated. Never had a guy do anything unique for her. It was if she'd been alone on an uncharted island her whole life, watching ships pass her by without offering rescue.

He aimed to change that.