Page 33 of Love’s Harvest (Lilace Lake #3)

The next day, Sarah told Aaron the store would be closing early, that she and Dani were meeting with her parents and a lawyer to draw up details for allowing Dani to buy into ownership of the store.

“I’ll come home as soon as I can,” Sarah assured him. “Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime? You seem to be getting better.”

“I’m starting to feel more like myself. I think Dr. Chambers will agree that I can go home tomorrow.”

“That will be a sad day for the girls and me,” said Sarah. “It’s been nice having you and the dogs here. We’ve all enjoyed it.” She wrapped her arms around him, trying not to think how empty the house would be without him.

The girls hugged Aaron goodbye and then Sarah got them into the car to drive to their school.

“Why did Aaron say he was going home?” asked Mia.

“Why can’t he stay with us forever and forever?” Emily asked.

“Aaron lives at his own house. He was just staying with us until his head injury got better,” said Sarah.

“But I want him to be with us,” said Mia.

“I know you do, but he has his own house to take care of. He can still come and visit us sometimes,” Sarah said, feeling as unhappy about the situation as the girls.

Even if she asked him to stay, she knew he wouldn’t.

He thought she needed time to trust him, but that wasn’t the issue at all.

It was her old wounds that had made both of them think that.

But now she had a better understanding of the past and how it had affected her thinking about the future.

###

As she and Dani entered the lawyer’s office with her parents, Sarah realized how much her life was about to change.

Seated on the opposite side of the conference table from her parents, she saw how much they’d each aged since her father had a stroke.

It was as if time, that had been so gentle to them, had raced to make sure they now looked their age.

She loved them. They deserved time away from the stress of the business, and owning part of the store meant that she had financial independence.

During the meeting, many topics were covered, including the subject of reducing store hours with no financial loss.

“With the Beckman Lumber Company opening early for the contractors and Home Depot in Concord, we don’t need to try to compete with them. We’re now offering more household items and services, and our customers don’t usually shop until nine or ten in the morning,” said Sarah.

“What are you saying?” her father asked her a bit defensively.

“I’m saying our customer base has changed within the last few years and our stock has changed to meet new customer demands. With Dani and me busy with our families, I think we should be open 9 to 5 during the week and Saturday, and 12 to 5 on Sunday.”

Sarah’s father stirred in his seat restlessly.

Her mother placed a hand on his arm to quiet him. “I think Sarah and Dani are right. When we opened all those years ago, it was a very different story.”

“We can hire staff to come in for extra hours during town celebrations and the like,” said Dani.

“This store has been at the center of this town since before it became the sophisticated place it is today. The reputation you have built with it is the one reason I wanted to become part of it. To carry on what you’ve created. ”

Sarah gazed at her wide-eyed. No wonder Dani was such a whiz at consulting. Both her parents looked as if they were about to cry.

“Well, then,” said her father. “It seems as if you two have thought of how you want to handle the store going forward.”

“But if the numbers are affected by the shorter business day, we’ll have to address that,” said her mother.

“Of course. It’ll be the four of us owning the business,” said Sarah. “I’m so very grateful to you, Mom and Dad, and to you, Dani, for making this happen.”

“Any other issues to resolve?” the lawyer asked, looking around the table. When nobody answered, he said, “Okay, let’s continue with the signing. The rest is clearly stated.”

###

After all the paperwork was signed, the four of them exchanged hugs and then Sarah said, “As long as the store is closed, I’m going home.”

When she pulled into her driveway, she didn’t see Lucy’s car. Puzzled, she went inside.

“Hello?”

Aaron came out of the kitchen. “I’m here. Watching the kids play in the backyard. Lucy called to tell me she was sick, and I assured her I’d pick up the girls and watch them here. We didn’t want to bother you when I knew how important your meeting was today.”

“That’s so sweet of you. Thank you.” Sarah gave him a hug which turned into a kiss, which turned into a deepened kiss that made her knees go weak.

“I really missed our alone time,” she said, catching her breath.

They walked into the kitchen and gazed outside.

Simultaneously, they froze. The backyard was empty. No girls. No dogs.

“Oh, my God!” said Sarah. “Where are the girls?”

She dashed outside.

Studying the melting snow left behind after a couple of days of sunshine, Sarah saw footprints heading to the back gate. “They’ve escaped!” she cried, running to the gate which she could now see was unlatched.

Aaron was at her heels. “The river! The dogs love the water.”

In her haste, Sarah slid down the embankment, landing on her hands and knees. In the distance, she could see the bright pink jackets of the girls as they followed the dogs cavorting alongside the moving water.

“Girls! Stop!” she called, hurrying after them, slipping on some of the stones and rocks near the water’s edge in her haste.

She saw one pink jacket enter the water and cried, “No-o-o-o!”

Aaron swept by her and raced to where the girls and dogs had stopped. Seconds later, he was in the river, swimming after Mia who thrashed about in the water.

Luke followed him into the water while the other two dogs waded in.

Sarah reached them and saw that Emily was crying hysterically as she watched Aaron and Mia.

A few feet down the river’s edge, Aaron emerged carrying Mia.

Sarah raced over to them, sobbing, “Oh, my God! Is she alright?”

“Quick, give me your coat for her. We need to get her up to the house to warm up.”

“Mommy!” Mia cried, holding out her arms to her.

Sarah hugged her, wrapping her coat around her, but didn’t take her in her arms. She knew Aaron was faster than she’d ever be.

Aaron took off at a run, his agility in full view as he danced around rocks and stones to get back to the house.

Sarah grabbed hold of Emily and followed as quickly as she could.

The dogs, including Luke, who was dripping wet, galloped ahead of her.

Aaron had left the sliding glass door open for them.

Once they were inside, Sarah closed and locked it. She could hear the sound of running water and found Aaron in the bathroom.

“We need to get her out of her wet clothes and let her soak in tepid water and then gradually raise the temperature.”

Mia was sobbing and when she reached for her, Sarah, on her knees, hugged her tightly while Emily clung to her backside. “You’re going to be alright, thanks to Aaron. Quickly, we need to get you warmed up. That river is dangerously cold.”

“I want to get in, too,” said Emily, taking off her clothes.

“Keep close to your sister,” Sarah said, watching as the two of them clung to each other.

Aaron handed her his cell phone. “I’ve got Dr. Chambers office on the line.”

“Thank you.” Sarah took the phone and talked to the nurse, who conferred with Emmett.

When the nurse returned to the phone, she said, “Emmett says you’re doing the right thing. Make her a hot cup of cocoa, keep her bundled up after she’s out of the tub, and watch for any adverse effects. The fact that she was in the water for so little time is important.”

Sarah sat next to the tub watching the girls, her heart still pounding at all she might’ve lost.

After they were out of the tub and dressed in warm pajamas, Sarah went to find Aaron.

“How are the girls?” he asked, looking worried. “I’ve gone outside and locked the gate. I also put an extra coil of wire around the gate latch and the post so it can’t be opened again.”

Sarah felt the floor give way beneath her feet. She hadn’t realized she was falling until she felt Aaron’s arms wrapped around her.

“Hey, steady there. It’s okay now,” Aaron said in a soothing tone.

Suddenly, all the emotions she’d stored inside to keep from frightening the girls emerged in loud, racking sobs that shook her body so hard Aaron had to hold on tight.

“You saved her! What would’ve happened if you weren’t here? I don’t know how you did it. We’re so lucky you were here. It’s where we want you all the time.”

“It’s where I want to be,” said Aaron, giving her a loving gaze. “I love you, Sarah, and I love the girls.”

She caressed his face between her hands. “You think I didn’t trust you; but it was me. I didn’t trust myself to show you how much I love you because I can’t believe we’re together again. It’s what I’ve wanted for so long.”

“It’s what I’ve waited for,” said Aaron.

“Is this what you call Love’s Harvest? Letting our love grow like this?” she asked, staring into his dark eyes.

“You could say that. It’s taken us years to get here, but it feels so right.”

As his lips captured hers, they were unaware of the girls standing beside them until Emily said, “Kisses are good.”

Sarah and Aaron pulled apart, and as if they’d orchestrated it before, each one pulled a girl up into an embrace until they were all hugging one another.

“Hugs are good too,” said Sarah, wondering how she could be so lucky. She wasn’t sure what the future would bring, but she knew the four of them could handle anything together because she and Aaron had harvested a lasting love.

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