Chapter 28

twenty-eight

ANDREW

The next day, I glanced at my watch. Jacob would be here soon to take me to dinner. I grabbed a casual jacket and, for what seemed like the twentieth time, studied my reflection.

My black jeans and shirt would suit any of the casual dining options in town. If Jacob wanted to go somewhere more formal, I’d change the jacket I was wearing to the one Mom had bought me last Christmas.

Thinking about my parents made me reach for my phone. A few weeks ago, they’d flown to Israel for a vacation. My mom had always dreamed of visiting the Holy City. And, now, six months after they’d booked their airfares, they were staying in a hostel in the middle of Jerusalem. Their days were spent walking for miles and enjoying the company of people from around the world.

I found the latest email from my dad and smiled. He’d included a few photos of their travels to the Old City. I touched the screen and smiled. My mom’s short gray hair was a tangled mass of curls. My dad had grown a beard.

By the time I’d scrolled through the photos, I felt a lot calmer. My parents had always been a steadying influence on my life. They’d raised me to think for myself and be true to who I was. For a while, I’d lost sight of everything they’d taught me. But not anymore. After my manager stole my songs, I only listened to people I trusted. And I always double-checked anything that didn’t make sense.

I turned off my phone and walked into the living room. I wasn’t joking when I’d told Jacob I hadn’t been on a date in years.

Starting a photography business had been hard work. When I wasn’t building my portfolio or working on commissions, I was meeting potential clients. Having any kind of social life outside of my female friends wasn’t easy.

I jumped when a truck’s headlights lit up my living room.

With a pounding heart, I picked up my wallet. It was silly to be worried about going on a date but, with everything that had happened over the last couple of days, I couldn’t help it.

What if a reporter or overzealous fan found me in Sunrise Bay? Would they respect my privacy or do what most people had done—exploit me to get what they wanted?

Before Jacob was able to knock, I opened the front door. His white shirt accentuated his broad shoulders and made me sigh.

“You look beautiful.”

I stared at the daisies he held toward me.

“I picked these from my garden.”

“They’re lovely, but you didn’t have to give me flowers.”

“I wanted to start our date the right way.”

My smile wobbled as I took the daisies. “In that case, thank you. Do you want to come inside while I find a vase?”

With a quick nod, Jacob followed me through the living room and into the kitchen.

I opened a cupboard and tried to think of something interesting to say. But my mind was as blank as the chalkboard beside the refrigerator.

When inspiration hit, it wasn’t the world’s most awe-inspiring question, but it was better than feeling like a tongue-tied teenager. “Did you do anything exciting today?”

“I saw Doc Martin. I told him I was interested in working here.”

My hand froze above the vase. “Was he okay with that?”

Jacob smiled. “He looked as though he wanted to hug me, but I guess that happens in a lot of small communities.”

“We’re not as small as we used to be,” I told him. “Even our school’s bursting at the seams with new enrollments. The county’s spending a lot of money on our roads, but we need more services to cope with the larger population.” I placed the daisies in the vase and grinned. “As soon as you tell everyone you’re working from the clinic, you’ll have a long line of patients waiting to see you.”

Jacob stuck his hands in his jacket pocket. “I still have some paperwork to complete before I can officially work in Colorado. If the clinical director in Boulder doesn’t want to hire me, I won’t be working from anywhere.”

“I don’t think that will happen. There aren’t many doctors who are happy to work this far from a major hospital.”

“Except me.”

The serious expression on Jacob’s face made my smile fade. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? It’ll be a big change.”

“I can’t work in refugee camps forever.” He stepped closer to me and held my hands. “I want to make Sunrise Bay my home, and I’d like you to be part of my life.”

“What if you change your mind?”

“Jenny was in the clinic when I saw Doc Martin. She said she’d chain me to a chair to keep me here.”

I sighed. “I knew there was a reason I liked her so much.”

Jacob gently squeezed my fingers. “And there’s a reason I like you, too. But if we don’t leave in the next few minutes, you’ll miss your surprise.”

“What kind of surprise?”

“The kind that takes your breath away. You’ll need a warm hat.”

I frowned. “Where are we going?”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

I studied my jeans. Both were fine for a restaurant, but not much else. “Do I need a different jacket?”

Jacob shook his head. “What you’re wearing is perfect.”

Taking him at his word wasn’t difficult. Especially when he was looking at me as if I was the most important person in the world.

Opening the hall closet, I found a hat buried on a shelf. There were only two more things I needed. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

When I returned and he saw what I was holding, Jacob frowned. “I can understand why you’re taking the camera. But why the backpack?”

“We’ve already made two trips to the hospital. This time I’m prepared for anything. I’ve got bottled water, snacks, two sweaters, two sleeping masks, and two sets of earplugs.”

“Are you sure the kitchen sink isn’t hidden in there, too?”

I grinned. “It wouldn’t fit.” And for the first time that night, I knew everything would turn out okay.