Page 5 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

“The gala is this weekend. I’m going to have to go to that tomorrow. I’ll grab a bunch of stuff before I come back Sunday morning.” I lug the heavier bag down the Victorian staircase.

“Oh shit. With Neil?” She scrunches her face.

“Don’t tell me you don’t like him either?”

“I mean. He’s… fine.” She rolls my bag to the dining room where Violet waits with a bag full of to-go goodies.

“Oh, are we talking about Neil? You deserve better, girl. And I’m so glad you asked because I didn’t want to give my opinion unsolicited.” She exhales.

“I didn’t ask.” I hold back a laugh behind a tight smile.

“Oh. Well. Shit. In that case… he’s fine.” She smiles big.

“Ugh. Rome hates him too. But, with this opportunity here in Balsam Cliffs, I don’t know what to do.”

“Um, excuse me. What opportunity?” Emma crosses her arms over her chest.

“Oh right. I wasn’t supposed to say anything so this stays between us, promise?

” Both girls stick out their pinkies to promise me they’ll stay quiet.

“Mr. Darnell wants to retire. We got to talking the other day, and he offered to let me have the first opportunity at buying the agency from him if I wanted to move back.”

“Ohmygod! Yes! Move back! We need you back here in Balsam Cliffs.” Emma runs over to hug me. “And you’d get to see Livvy girl all the time! She’d love it!”

“That is the best part of Balsam Cliffs.” I smile at the thought. I love that chubby little angel.

“And I get a new taste tester.” Violet starts toward the kitchen and we both wordlessly follow her to sit in her domain. Emma and I pull up stools to the large island in the middle and she slides fresh pumpkin muffins across to us.

“Okay, if I move back for good, we need rules. Like one muffin a day. Or you need to run with me.” I groan. Because they aren’t going to follow either rule.

“I think I know a man who’d like to get some cardio in with you.” Emma winks.

“Who!” Violet practically jumps out of her apron.

Emma stares at her like she’s stupid. “My brother? The one who can’t stand to be around her? Aren’t we all aware it’s because he secretly loves her and wants to jump her every time she’s around?”

Vi stares at her open-mouthed and I respond quickly, “Wyatt said the same thing. But I can promise you that Hunter Keaton does not love me.”

“Oh, right. Okay. So we’re in the denial phase. I got it now. Sorry, new to this whole girl gang dynamic.” Violet laughs, turning to the stove to stir whatever she’s making.

“Hunter doesn’t love me. Never has. Never will. Trust me on that one,” I say once more a little more emphatically.

Emma turns to look at me. “That sounds like it’s spoken from a real experience there, Eve. Got something to share with the group?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

My memories drift back unwillingly to my time with Hunter, more specifically my graduation night.

“I wish I could be there tonight. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get the leave. But I just got here and I’m not in the position to ask.” Hunter’s face fills my phone screen.

“I wish you could too. But soon enough I can be with you.” I spin the cheap bubble gum machine ring around my left ring finger.

“Three months, Peach. I’ll be home for the weekend to marry you, and steal you away to be with me for good. You won’t be able to get rid of me.”

Hunter proposed to me over the phone last night, the day before my graduation.

He told me to open the letter that came earlier in the week, and inside was a small ring.

I eagerly said yes, slipping the ring on my finger.

He still hasn’t been able to talk to Roman, but he’s going to do it before we get married.

So for now, everything is quiet and we’re the only two who know.

“Okay, girls, even though this girl gang thing is proving to be oh so fun, I’m going to head over to Wyatt’s so I can get settled.”

“You got this. And you just make the call we’ll be over with wine and ice-cream when you need it.” Emma offers.

“You got it. So, Sunday brunch with mimosas after a night celebrating with my parents and Neil?” I chuckle.

“Oh, I have the perfect waffle recipe to try out.” Violet chimes in.

“Oh, yes! Then a run to make all the calories go away.” I laugh at her while I walk out, not wanting to acknowledge how many extra calories are about to be in my diet.

It doesn’t take me long to unpack at the cabin, and I’m grateful to have everything furnished. Now all that’s left is to call Neil and end things between us before the gala.

Ugh.

Pulling out my phone I collapse on the couch in the living area, and hit call on my phone for Neil’s number. Settling in for one hell of a conversation about me staying here on an extended basis.

“Hey. I can’t talk right now. I’m walking into a client luncheon. I’ll call you tonight.” Click.

He doesn’t even give me the chance to greet him. What if it was an emergency? He’d never know. Why is it that everyone in Balsam Cliffs sees right through his perfect boyfriend front, but no one else can tell how much I feel like I’m drowning with him and in my life in general.

I feel like I’m being handpicked and groomed for this perfect little life with the father in politics, a boyfriend who dotes on me in public, makes good money, but ignores me in private, with a good little job in the city that doesn’t require too much effort until I can get married and pop out a kid or two.

I like my job. I like my clients. I don’t want this life that is being built and curated for me, though. I want to control my future again, and I can’t do that in Portland with my parents and Neil.

I pick up my phone once again, but this time for a very different phone call.

“Mr. Darnell here, how can I help you?”

“Hi Mr. Darnell, this is Evelyn Thomas. Do you have a minute to meet with me this afternoon?” I take a deep breath. Not believing that I’m doing this behind Neil’s back, and my parents.

“Evelyn! So lovely to hear from you. Of course I have a minute. How’s one o’clock sound? We can meet for lunch at Emerald Roasters?”

“Sounds perfect. I’ll meet you there.” We end the call with reminders of what to bring for our meeting.

I look at my watch, only two hours to kill. I pull out my laptop to get some work done, and go through some emails from the last few days.

The more work I do, the less I focus. My mind is on Neil and our lack of relationship. Sometimes I feel like he won’t actually care that I’m staying here, as long as I show up when it’s important. As long as I fill this role of dutiful girlfriend, and daughter no one will actually miss me.

Fuck, it’s been a week and I’ve barely gotten any calls from Neil unless they were about a mutual client, or the gala. And texts are few and far between too.

Me: Neil, we need to talk. I’m not coming home.

Neil: Eve, you know I’m in a meeting. Stop trying to throw a tantrum because you aren’t getting attention. I’ll see you tomorrow.

That’s me. Queen of the temper tantrums because I want something more in life.

I roll my eyes so hard it actually hurts. Mom would be pinching my thigh or the back of my arm if she was here to see it. Her usual control methods.

I go back to working until it’s time to leave for my meeting with Mr. Darnell at Emerald Roasters.

The chill in today’s air is cooler than it has been. I grab my chunky knit sweater off the chair to wrap around me. Wyatt’s property is on the orchard side of the Peterson’s farm and the smell of the apple trees wafted into the cabin’s open windows all day.

I am so excited that I will be here for this year’s Harvest Festival.

It’s been too long since I came home for one.

They were always my favorite part of the year growing up.

Apple picking at the Peterson’s farm, then heading to the pumpkin patch put on by the local church, followed by live music on Main Street lined with vendors. I love it. Every second.

Wyatt told me to use the four wheeler next to the house if I wanted to instead of driving my car to town, so I take him up on the offer.

His house is far enough that it makes walking take a bit longer, but driving doesn’t really take long enough.

Four wheelers and snowmobiles downtown aren’t strange here in Balsam Cliffs since they’re so connected to all the trails.

A lot of people will pop off the trail for a coffee or lunch then go back to riding.

Getting the trails connected to the inn was a huge deal in town when we were kids.

I park the four wheeler in front of Emerald Roasters and rush in. I want to beat Mr. Darnell so that I can get his favorites and have them ready at the table.

“Afternoon Evelyn. It sure is nice to see you so often these last few days.” Esther greets me.

“Hi Esther. It’s sure nice to be here more often. I’m here to meet Mr. Darnell. Do you think you could add whatever he orders to my tab?” I hand her my card.

“Absolutely can do, deary. That’s so sweet of you, but you wouldn’t be buttering him up for anything in particular would you?” She waggles her eyebrows, waiting for the next gossip to hit.

“Thanks! I’m going to go grab the table.” I walk off, leaving my card to pay the tab at the front desk. She can wait to get her gossip from Mr. Darnell.

I don’t wait long before he shows up with his briefcase full of hopefully the documents I need to do my research. But even without it, my mind is ninety percent made up.

“Evelyn, I’m so glad you called me.” He takes the seat across from me, reaching out to shake my hand.

He begins to pull papers out of his briefcase, producing a packet that he easily could have emailed me. But I’m back in small town America, and this is just how things are done now. In person, at the local coffee shop.

“I’ve got all the paperwork you need to make an informed decision. If you want to look them over, I’ll go order and then we can review any questions you might have.” He smiles at me, and does just as he said he would.