“Jack? Are you still there? I said—”
“I heard what you said, Erica.” The way he said her name made her catch her breath and then she felt a moment of breathless panic.
“You probably don’t want to. You’re very independent and you like your own space as much as I do and—”
“Erica.” There was a smile in his voice. “Breathe.”
“Oh.” She pressed her hand to her chest. She could feel her heart thudding. “I’m breathing.”
“Why would you think I don’t want to?”
She felt as uncertain as a teenager embarking on her first relationship. “Because that isn’t what we do.”
“That isn’t what we’ve done up until now, but I seem to recall being the one to suggest I stay last time we were together.” His voice was low-pitched and intimate. “Remember that evening?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes.”
Thinking about it brought a rush of heat to her cheeks. Jack, his mouth on hers in the shower. Jack’s hands spinning magic over her quivering body. It had been overwhelming and she’d wanted him to stay almost as much as she’d wanted him to leave.
“I wanted to stay,” he said. “I’ve wanted to stay for a long time.”
She opened her eyes, feeling as if she was seeing the world for the first time. “How long?”
“Months.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“I was playing it cool. I know you’re cautious about who you let into your personal space.”
Her legs felt wobbly and she sat down in the chair. “Jack?”
“Yes.”
She licked her lips. “What if I were to invite you into my personal space?”
“You have no idea how long I have waited for that invitation. Where are you now? Vermont. How long would it take me to get to Vermont? Too long, dammit, and I have a meeting in an hour and I’m in court tomorrow morning. Anyway, you’re with your girlfriends and if you haven’t had a pillow fight yet you probably still need to schedule that in. I don’t want to intrude on your book club week. When we’re together, I want your full attention.”
She felt awareness tighten in her stomach. “I have a suggestion.”
“Make it.”
She took a deep breath. It was a crazy idea. “You don’t have to say yes.” And it suddenly occurred to her that there was so much about his life of which she knew nothing. “For all I know you’re seeing someone else—”
“There isn’t anyone else, Erica. Just you. And I’m saying yes. Now you just need to tell me what I’ve said yes to.”
Just you.
She closed her eyes. Maybe it was a crazy idea, but she was going with it.
TWENTY-TWO
Claudia
“I’ve connected with two of our suppliers this morning. You have a brilliant network here.” Claudia sat in a corner of the kitchen with Hattie, going through plans for the week.
“It really mattered to me that we kept things local as far as possible. And it’s a way of supporting and becoming part of the community. We all need each other.” Hattie took a sip of her coffee. “This cappuccino is delicious, by the way. And the chocolate Christmas tree on top is art. Did you do it?”
“I have hidden talents.” Claudia opened a file and pushed it to Hattie. “I was thinking that we should make more of what you’re already doing. Tell people about it. At the moment we tell people where their food is coming from, which is great, but we could do more.”
Maybe she shouldn’t have said we. After all, the inn belonged to Hattie, not her.
She held her breath as Hattie picked up the file and turned the pages.
“You’ve done a detailed background of each supplier. Photographs. Their story. It’s so human. Real.” She turned another page. “A map of how to reach their farm.”
“Only the ones who offer tours and sell to the public,” Claudia said quickly. “I’m not suggesting we encourage stalkers. And obviously, we would need to check with them first. It would be collaborative. I thought maybe in the summer we—you,” she corrected herself, “could have evenings when you showcase the produce of a particular supplier. And maybe offer cookery classes to small select groups. Just an idea.”
“It’s a brilliant idea.” Hattie flipped the page and smiled. “You’ve included the Petersons.”
“Good photo of Noah, don’t you think?” She saw Hattie’s cheeks turn pink.
“Yes.”
Claudia didn’t probe. It really wasn’t her business and she was the last person to offer advice on relationships.
“Are we inviting suppliers to dine in the restaurant? Because we should.”
“Involve them more?” Hattie was scribbling frantically. “You’re right. This is all great, Claudia. Can I ask you another favor?”
“Of course.” Claudia finished her coffee. “Anything.”
“I’ve written a job description for the head chef job. Would you take a look?”
Claudia felt her bubble of enthusiasm deflate. She hated the idea of someone else taking over the kitchen at the Maple Sugar Inn, which was ridiculous because she was on vacation and leaving in a few days. “Sure. Email it to me. I also thought maybe we could—” She broke off as her phone rang. “Sorry. I thought I’d switched it off.” She picked it up and saw “John” on the caller display.
John?
Her mouth dried and her fingers shook slightly. They hadn’t spoken since the day he’d walked out on their shared life six months earlier.
“Take it. We can finish this later.” Hattie stood up. “I’ll give you privacy.”
Claudia didn’t ask how Hattie knew that this phone call needed privacy.
She waited for Hattie to leave and then took the call.
She said nothing, because she honestly didn’t know what to say.
“Claudia? Claudy?” His use of his pet name for her made her wince. Pet names were for people who cared for each other, and he’d made it clear he didn’t care for her.
“What do you want, John?” All the misery and insecurity she’d spent six months blocking out came rushing back.
“It’s good to hear your voice.”
Her knees shook and she felt a rush of longing and immediately hated herself for it. This man had treated her with no respect. “If you’d wanted to hear my voice, you could have contacted me at any time.”
“I’m sorry. I behaved badly and I know I have a lot of work to do to persuade you to forgive me. How are you?”
How was she? She’d been doing just fine until she’d answered this call. And what did he mean, forgive him? What made him think she’d forgive him? And why did he want her to?
“What do you want, John? Why are you calling now, after six months of silence?”
“You’re angry. I can understand that. I wasn’t expecting this to be an easy call. I deserve everything you throw at me.”
If he’d been in the room there were plenty of things she might actually have thrown at him. “I’m busy. Can we make this quick?”
“Where are you? I expected you to be in the apartment when I arrived, and my key isn’t working.”
She tightened her grip on the phone. “You’re in the apartment?”