Page 28 of The Wedding Run (The Wedding Letter #1)

Luke

I t’s not Roxie who is calling me. It’s Derek.

I consider not taking the call, but he is my friend and business partner. So, I answer, keeping my voice low. “Hey.”

“Are you with her?” Derek asks.

“What’s up?” I ask, sidestepping his question.

“Are you doing what I asked, what you agreed to?”

“What’s that?” I ask, knowing good and well what I promised.

“Are you talking me up, encouraging Libby to marry me?”

“She can make her own decisions.” I glance over at Libby as she wanders through the raised beds. I turn away and keep my voice low. “Look, Derek, she said it’s over. Let her go.”

There’s a long pause before Derek says, “I knew it. You’re interested in her.”

I scoff. “You don’t like to lose. No matter what it is. Even if you don’t care about her. But she isn’t a business or a piece of property.”

“If you don’t do what you promised, Luke–” Derek’s voice sounds like he’s pushing the words through gritted teeth.

“Then what?” I challenge. “Are you threatening me? My business?”

“Don’t test me, Luke.”

“Goodbye, Derek.” I click off my phone. It takes a minute to regain a calm demeanor. I roll my neck, lift my shoulders, and exhale slowly. Finally, I walk in Libby’s direction.

The closer I get, the more I realize Derek was right. I am interested in Libby, more than any other woman. I’m not worried about Derek’s threats or what he thinks he can do to my business, but I do worry about Libby. Is it too soon for her? Would she be rebounding? What does she need?

I’ll try once more to spark her interest in Derek as a test to see if she’s ready for another relationship.

“Everything okay?” she asks as I approach.

“Sure. Did you reach the photographer?”

She shakes her head. “I left another message. I looked at his website, which looks legit and very professional. I’m sure he’ll return my call soon. But I'll secure Charlie as backup.”

I motion toward the cabin. “Shall we?”

“Is Roxie all right?” she asks.

“Roxie?” Then I remember. “She’s fine.”

“Is this a hint you’re getting hungry?” she teases.

“Definitely.” I need to steer the conversation back to where it was. “What were we talking about before?”

“Oh,” she says, “families and businesses, and the pleasure in watching them grow. Like your town, your business, and even your garden. Don’t you feel that? Waking up the whole town of Storybrook with coffee?”

But I feel the burden of Derek’s request and my own uncertainty on my shoulders.

“What could be better than a great cup of coffee?” she says in a cheerful tone.

I stop midstride. “Did you say ‘great’?”

That lures a smile from her. “Of course, great. When you don’t have to make the coffee or do the clean-up, then it’s always great.”

“Hmm. You know,” I say, trying to incorporate Derek into the conversation when he is the last person I want to mention, “I bet someone else feels the same way about watching things grow and change. When Derek secures a property and transforms it into what it should have been, there must be great pleasure in that kind of success.”

Something in her expression shifts. The light in her eyes dims, and I feel a peculiar sense of hope.