Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

I like you. A lot.

Those words had lived rent free in Diana’s brain since Emily showed up on Monday with enough provisions to see Diana through her illness. The truth was, she liked Emily a lot too. She liked Emily so much more than a one-night stand or even a friend, but even if she wanted to explore the possibility of a relationship with her—which she could admit to herself that she definitely did—she didn’t know if Emily felt the same way.

She did know Emily would never leave Crescent Falls, and Diana would never leave Boston, so the whole thing felt doomed anyway. If Diana could just keep her feelings to herself, soon enough she’d be back at home, far away from Emily and all the inconvenient things she made Diana want: affection, friendship, a hand to hold…not to mention the scorching hot sex.

By Wednesday, Diana felt well enough to go outside for a short walk. Her fever had subsided, and she was much less congested today. The inn was running smoothly without her, which boded well for its success after she went home. Next week, she would start interviewing candidates for the manager’s position. Once that person was hired and trained, Diana would return to Boston, hopefully by the end of October.

Except a little part of her dreaded leaving Vermont. Because Emily liked her. A lot. And every time Diana replayed those words in her head, she felt a warm flutter in the vicinity of her heart. She’d been so sure Emily wanted her to leave, that Diana was the only one catching feelings, and now she had to wonder…what exactly did Emily mean when she said she liked her?

Surely she was just talking about friendship. Even that sounded wonderful. Diana could use a friend. She longed to be part of the adventure group. How had Carter jumped into it so easily? Maybe Diana would have too if she’d gone to trivia night.

She was driving herself crazy cooped up at home, thinking about Emily.

After her walk, Diana called her psychiatrist to set up a virtual appointment. Getting sick had been a wake-up call. Obviously, she had reached the point where she needed help managing her anxiety. It was starting to control her life the way it had in her twenties, and it was probably time to go back on medication, at least temporarily.

With that accomplished, Diana was still feeling restless, so she decided to take a drive to the local garden store. She wanted to buy Emily a plant as a thank-you. It seemed like the perfect gift after Emily had been so interested in Diana’s plants. She wasn’t sure yet what she’d choose for her, definitely something bright and colorful, something that reflected Emily’s personality and might help inspire her art.

When she got to the garden center, Diana put on a mask to be safe, although she was pretty sure the virus had left her system. Today, she was just tired and had a lingering cough. As she wandered through the greenhouse, Diana passed over the rows of colorful mums and other fall blooms. She was looking for something Emily could enjoy all year long.

Her gaze caught on a selection of gerbera daisies, and right away, she knew she’d found Emily’s first plant. Gerbera daisies were relatively easy to care for and extremely colorful. Diana spent a minute researching them on her phone to know what kind of soil to purchase and what tips to give Emily for their care.

Then she perused the available daisies. Her attention focused on a smaller plant in the middle of the display with bright orange petals that faded to yellow as they approached the eye of the plant. Its coloring reminded her of the sunset, and she’d noticed that Emily favored those colors in her clothing and her art.

Diana fetched a rolling cart for her purchases, then placed the daisy plant on it, followed by a bag of potting soil and a red ceramic pot that would be the perfect finishing touch. She also got a bottle of plant fertilizer for Emily.

Satisfied with her purchases, Diana went home. She repotted the plant, pleased with the way it looked in the red pot. It was too bright for her taste, but she thought it suited Emily perfectly. And then, exhausted but satisfied, Diana went to bed early.

The next morning, she showered and dressed for work, relieved to feel mostly back to normal except for some lingering fatigue. She placed the cheerful potted daisy inside a box and set it on the floor of her car so it would stay put during the drive.

Instead of parking in the staff lot behind the inn, she took the little road that led to Emily’s cabin. She’d never actually seen Emily’s home up close, only from a distance, as it wasn’t included in the sale with the rest of the inn’s grounds.

It was a small, white-paneled cottage with royal-blue shutters and an assortment of ceramic pumpkins on the front porch, all painted with brightly colored flowers. Diana smiled at the sight, wondering if Emily sold her painted pumpkins. She wouldn’t mind having one for her front steps back in Boston.

The cottage was situated in the middle of a sizable grassy yard that sloped downhill until the forest took over. Emily didn’t have a view of the mountains here like the rolling vista behind the inn, but she did have privacy, and with the grassy yard surrounding the cottage, it felt less closed in than Diana’s rental. Sometimes she felt like her cabin was about to be swallowed by the forest, whereas this cottage felt open and inviting.

Diana parked beside Emily’s SUV. After retrieving the plant, she walked to the front door and knocked. While she waited, she admired Emily’s painted ceramic pumpkins up close. Her favorite was one of the smaller pumpkins, covered in a variety of maroon, lavender, and white flowers.

The door opened to reveal a smiling Emily. “Diana? This is a surprise.”

“A thank-you for your help when I was sick, and also because you said you wanted a plant.” She held out the pot of daisies.

Emily gasped, clapping her hands in delight. “Oh, they’re beautiful! I love daisies. Thank you so much.” She stepped back, motioning for Diana to follow her into the house.

“I don’t want to intrude if you’re busy,” Diana hedged, because she wasn’t entirely sure it was wise for her to go inside Emily’s house. Although Emily seemed to have moved past her hurt feelings, this felt more personal than anything they’d shared since Diana bought the inn.

“You’re not intruding. I was about to have a cup of tea and sit on the back porch with my sparrow.”

“Your…sparrow? As in, a bird?”

Emily grinned. “Yep. I found him on the hill behind the inn this spring. He’d been attacked by some kind of animal, but the local wildlife rescue couldn’t take him because of an avian flu outbreak, so I nursed him back to health myself.”

Somehow this didn’t surprise Diana in the least. “Are you going to keep him, then?”

“He can’t be re-released because his balance is wonky from his injuries. You’ll see when you meet him.” Emily took the pot from Diana and set it on the coffee table in front of her sofa. “I want them here where I can look at them every day. So pretty.” She smiled at the pot of daisies. “Anyway, once the avian flu outbreak is under control, I’m still hoping to bring him to the sanctuary so he can have more room and other bird friends, but for now, he’s my buddy.”

“That’s sweet.”

“That’s me.” Emily led the way toward the kitchen. “What kind of tea do you like? I was going to have pumpkin spice.”

“Is that caffeinated?” Diana asked.

“Yeah. It’s flavored black tea.”

“Perfect. I’ll have that too. I’m still a little tired from being sick, so extra caffeine can’t hurt before I head into work.”

“Good thinking.” Emily lifted a tea kettle from its warming plate and filled two mugs with steaming water. She added a tea bag to each mug and handed one to Diana. “I’ve got sugar and honey too, if you want some, but I find this blend to be sweet enough on its own.”

“I don’t like overly sweet tea, so I’ll skip the sugar.”

Emily led the way toward the back of her house. “It’s gorgeous outside this morning. I just love fall. Come and meet Jack.”

“Jack Sparrow?” Diana couldn’t fight her smile.

Emily snapped her fingers, looking pleased. “You got that quicker than most of my friends. Yes, Jack Sparrow. I left him out of his cage when I answered the door, so just watch out for him when you go onto the porch.”

“You have a screened-in porch or does he just stay nearby?”

“It’s screened. I wish I could let him fly outside, but he’d be such easy pickings for any predator.” Emily held the door to the porch open, and a small brown bird flew straight toward her, chirping loudly, except he wasn’t flying straight at all. He kind of swooped and spiraled as if he wasn’t sure which way was up.

“Did he have a brain injury?”

“Something like that, I think.” Emily cooed to the sparrow as he landed on her shoulder. “He’s completely uncoordinated, but he seems happy, so I guess he’ll still have a good life, especially if he gets to go live with the other nonreleasable birds at the sanctuary.”

They sat in chairs that faced each other as Jack twittered and flapped around the porch. Diana gave her teabag a swirl and looked out at Emily’s backyard. The trees were an enchanting mix of fall colors, yellow and orange and red mixed in with the green .

Emily blew on her tea. “Glad you’re feeling better.”

“Me too. It knocked me on my ass for a few days, that’s for sure.”

“’Tis the season for getting sick, unfortunately.”

Diana stared into her tea. It smelled delicious, like pumpkin pie. “I’ve been under a lot of stress lately, probably took a toll on my immune system.”

“Because of the new job?” Emily asked.

Diana nodded. “Among other things.”

Emily was watching her closely now. She leaned forward in her seat. “Will you tell me what happened? Why you left Devlin Hotels?”

Diana felt her hackles going up, and she blew on her tea, making a concerted effort to push them back down. Emily deserved the truth, even if it was hard for Diana to speak it. “Shortly after you and I met back in June, I learned that my father had chosen my brother—not me—to replace him as CEO. Rather than see my career stall beneath him, I decided to branch out and start my own company.”

“Oh damn.” Emily sagged in her seat. “That really sucks. I’m sorry.”

Diana shrugged stiffly. “It is what it is, but it’s a bit of a sore subject for me, not something I enjoy talking about.”

“I understand. Thank you for telling me.” Emily’s expression was remorseful. “I…I’m sorry for doubting you when you first bought the inn.”

“You had every reason to doubt me. It’s fine.”

“Still.” Emily took a tentative sip of her tea and grimaced. “Way too hot. I wish I had trusted my gut where you’re concerned.” Then her eyes went wide. “Wait, is Carter’s dad the brother who got the CEO job?”

“Yes, he is.” And she was glad Emily knew the truth now, even if Diana was increasingly uncomfortable with the topic at hand. It was hard to share these things. Her parents would call it airing the family’s dirty laundry, something they avoided at all costs. Diana wanted to do better, though. She wanted to be better.

She and Emily fell silent for a few minutes, sipping tentatively at their tea. It felt like a comfortable silence, though, at least to Diana. She was mesmerized by the brightly colored trees surrounding Emily’s porch. Every gust of the mountain breeze sent yellow and red leaves swirling through the air. “I thought we had nice foliage in Massachusetts, but Vermont really takes it to a new level, hm?”

“That’s what I hear. I’ve never lived anywhere else, so I’m spoiled with all the natural beauty around me. Hey, speaking of fall stuff, are you coming to the fall festival this weekend?”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Oh, please come. One of our friends from out of town is coming up for the weekend, so we’re doing the fall festival on Saturday and a foliage hike to the falls on Sunday. The weather’s supposed to be perfect. It could be a great chance for you to show your face around town if you want a work-related reason to go, plus it’s just a lot of fun.”

“Isn’t the festival more geared toward families?” Diana couldn’t imagine what a businesswoman like herself would do at a fall festival, nor did she think it was a good idea for her to hang out with Emily and her friends. She hadn’t exactly fit in with them last time.

“Earlier in the day it is, but my friends and I go around dinnertime and stay late. That’s when all the adult fun happens. Even Carter’s coming! ”

“I know. I can’t believe he’s driving back up for the weekend.”

“Because he knows it’s going to be fun. Come on, I’ll make sure you have a good time. What do you say?” Emily’s pleading face was her undoing.

Diana sighed. “Okay. I’ll come.”

This was a mistake.

The grass beneath Diana’s feet had been trampled flat. Food trucks were lined up to her left, their generators adding a diesel hum to the ambient sounds of the evening. A row of porta-potties stood to her right, and in the distance, she could just make out the green expanse of a cornfield. She was surrounded by families with children toting pumpkins and ice cream, shrieking as they chased each other over the grass.

This was not Diana’s scene. Absolutely nothing here appealed to her in any way.

“Drew said they were meeting up by the Maple Madness truck,” Carter said.

Diana pressed her lips together, wondering if he would be upset if she feigned a work emergency and bailed. It was six o’clock, and the festival was as loud and crowded as she’d feared. Already, she could feel her anxiety building. “Maybe I should?—”

“Nope.” Carter interrupted before she could get the words out. “I know what you’re thinking, but this will be fun, Aunt DD. At least go say hi to the group and see how you feel afterward.”

“Okay,” she relented. Carter was right. She should at least say hi to everyone before she made her excuses and left.

“I really want to try one of these maple creemees I’ve been hearing about. Or maybe an apple cider donut. Maybe both?” He grinned, motioning toward one of the trucks.

Diana looked toward the maple-themed food truck he had indicated, and her gaze landed on Emily, who stood beside the truck, wearing a flannel shirt in shades of orange and burgundy and matching, burgundy-colored jeans. She was laughing about something with Alexis, and Diana felt a punch of adrenaline in her stomach. Okay, so there was at least one thing at the festival that appealed to her.

Carter was already walking in that direction, so she fell into step behind him. She hadn’t been sure what to wear and didn’t want to ruin her running shoes if the field was muddy—they’d had some light rain yesterday, after all—so she’d worn black jeans, her thickest sweater, and the hiking boots she’d bought back in June for her ill-fated attempt to reach the summit of Crescent Peak.

Emily waved as they approached. “Hi, guys! So glad you came.”

“My aunt is super skeptical right now, so you’ve got probably five minutes to convince her to stay,” Carter joked.

Diana bristled to have her insecurities laid out like that. It made her sound snobbish. Diana didn’t talk about her anxiety. She’d been raised to keep this kind of thing to herself, and while she was trying to do better, it was hard to break old habits…especially when she was already feeling anxious.

“Those burgers are calling my name. Catch you later.” Carter jogged off to join Tom, Maddie, and Drew in line for one of the food trucks.

Emily turned to Diana, amusement twinkling in her eyes. “Why am I not surprised this isn’t your scene?”

“Because you once saw me get lost on my way up a mountain?” Diana returned, surprised to feel her lips twitching with the urge to smile.

“You got an A for effort that day, though. Okay, lucky for you, I’ve been coming to this festival my whole life, so you have the absolute best guide for the evening. We’re going to have fun. I promise.”

Diana bit her lip. She rarely did things because they were fun. She sought out activities that were productive, or relaxing, or even pleasurable…like a one-night stand. But fun? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done something with that particular goal in mind.

Her gaze settled on a gaggle of children running by with half-melted ice cream cones in their hands. It wasn’t that she didn’t like children. She’d always been a doting aunt to her nephew, but if she could choose an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday evening, it didn’t involve being surrounded by kids who’d had too much sugar and were shrieking at the top of their lungs. The noise prickled between her shoulder blades, increasing the tension there.

Emily tsked. “No judgments. Not yet. There’s a reason we waited until six to come. The families have had their fun and will be leaving soon. The adult portion of the evening starts after dark.”

“Really?” Diana hadn’t imagined being here after dark. What could they possibly do here that late?

Emily nodded, hooking an arm through Diana’s as she led her toward a purple food truck. “First, we’re going to enjoy some amazing food and local cider. There’s a live band starting at seven. Maybe some dancing?” Emily glanced at her, and Diana’s pulse kicked at the thought of dancing with her out here under the stars. “And once you’re a little tipsy, the real fun begins.”

“Real fun?” Diana already felt tipsy from being this close to Emily.

“Mm-hmm. There’s moonlight pumpkin picking, and if you’re really feeling adventurous, my personal favorite: the haunted corn maze.”

“Why would anyone want to go pumpkin picking in the dark?” Diana asked. It made no sense. The whole point of pumpkin picking was to choose one you liked the look of.

“Because it’s fun,” Emily told her, as if this made perfect sense. “We use flashlights, and someone inevitably gets spooked by a weird shadow, which honestly makes it even more fun. And in the morning, you get to see what your pumpkin actually looks like. I’ve gotten some really weird ones, and some really awesome ones.”

“I don’t need a pumpkin. The inn’s already fully decorated for fall.”

“But you should go moonlight pumpkin picking anyway, Diana, because it’s fun .” Emily smiled, looking so happy and carefree, Diana imagined she would have fun if she stayed with her for the evening, but was that a good idea? She was trying so damn hard to keep her attraction under wraps, and if she got tipsy and stumbled around a darkened pumpkin patch with Emily…well, she’d probably either end up kissing her or having a panic attack.

Before she could decide how to respond, they were in front of the purple food truck, which boasted the best Asian fusion cuisine in Vermont. Ten minutes later, Diana had a curry bowl that smelled delicious, while Emily had gone with stir-fry. Then they were on their way to the next truck, where they each got a hard cider.

Emily led her to a picnic table near what Diana now saw was a stage where a band was currently setting up. Tom, Maddie, and Carter were already at the table, burgers and drinks in hand. Carter was laughing at something on Tom’s cell phone, and Diana’s chest warmed to see him making friends and looking so happy.

He was undeniably more confident and energized since he dropped out of college. Maybe he really had needed a change. Maybe none of the adults in his life had realized how unhappy he was. She could look back now and see the signs of strain, but she hadn’t realized how serious it was at the time.

“He looks happy, huh?” Emily said, obviously having noticed where Diana’s attention had drifted.

“He does.” She sat next to Emily, placing her food and drink on the table.

“He seems to fit right in here,” Emily commented before taking a sip of her cider. “Too bad he’s not staying longer.”

“I’m sure he agrees with you,” Diana said. “He’s completely taken with Crescent Falls.”

“Unlike you.” Emily shot her a look before taking a bite of her stir-fry.

“That’s not fair.” Diana sipped her cider. It was just a little bit tart, but bursting with rich apple flavor, and she felt the warmth of alcohol as she swallowed. Delicious. “There’s a lot I like about Vermont, but there’s a lot I miss while I’m here too. I’m a city girl at heart.”

“I’m going to try to change your opinion tonight.” She gave her a smile so sunny, Diana was already convinced, at least where Emily was concerned.

“You’re welcome to try,” she responded.

“Challenge accepted.” Emily’s smile turned slightly naughty then, and it made Diana’s heart beat so fast, she felt flushed under her sweater.

Drew sat across from them. “Em, is Alex coming tonight?”

Emily nodded. “She and Frankie will be here after they close the store at seven.”

“Cool.” Drew popped open the paper container he’d brought with him, revealing a cheeseburger and fries. “Hi, Diana.”

“Hi, Drew.”

Talia and a brunette Diana didn’t recognize joined them at the table. “Hi, guys. Diana, this is Margo. She’s visiting from Chicago. Margo, Diana’s the new owner of the inn.”

“I’ve heard all about you. Nice to meet you, Diana.” Margo extended a hand, her expression warm and friendly. “Alex and I were college roommates, so she keeps me up to date with what’s going on in town.”

“Ah.” Diana shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Margo.”

Emily turned to Talia. “Ready to terrify us?”

What in the world did that mean?

At Diana’s obviously confused expression, Talia laughed. “I’m working in the haunted corn maze later. I’m not allowed to tell you what my role is, but let’s just say…there’s a chain saw involved.”

“A chain saw?” That sounded a lot more intense than what she’d been imagining.

“Awesome,” Emily said enthusiastically. “I have yet to get through the maze without screaming. What do you think, Diana?”

“I think not.” No way did she want to be chased by someone with a chain saw, even if she knew the person behind the mask was Talia.

“Oh, come on. At least stay for a dance?” Emily gave her another of those smiles that were always Diana’s undoing. Maybe she could stay just a little bit longer.

“Maybe,” she relented.

“How about this: I’ll take you around and introduce you to everyone you should know as the new owner of the inn, and then you’ll let me have a dance before you leave?”

How could she say no? “Okay. Just one dance.”