Over the clack of balls, I tell Garrett about calling Alejandro, about finally taking that first step. He listens intently, nodding occasionally. “That’s great, man,” he says, sinking a solid eight ball. “I’m really glad to hear that. I’ve noticed Ember’s been different the last couple days. There’s a smile on her face, and a light in her eyes that I haven’t seen in a really long time.” I watch as he chalks his cue. “Just… don’t screw it up this time, alright?” His gaze meets mine, a mixture of brotherly concern and a stern warning in his eyes. “You deserve to find some peace too. Talking to someone… it’s the right move.”
“I know,” I reply, watching the ball roll across the green felt. “I don’t intend to. She does deserve happiness, Garrett. More than anyone I know.” I lined up my shot, my eyes focused on the ball.
After our game, we’re back at the table, Richard is talking about the riding program. “We’ve got a couple of horses at the stable thatwould be perfect for beginners. And there’s two that might be good for more advanced riders.”
“You know,” Garrett chimes in, taking a swig of his beer, “you should definitely talk to Ember about getting the word out. She’s got connections with the local schools, the kids’ programs around here. She’d be great at getting families involved.”
I felt my heart skip a beat at the mention of her name. We hadn’t even started to really mend what I’d broken, so I wasn’t sure Ember would be too quick to help me. On the other hand, it was for a good cause. “Yeah,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ll mention it to her on Friday.”
Chapter 21
Ember
It was Friday. The day of my date with Colton. Just one. My stomach fluttered with a nervous energy that felt both unfamiliar and disturbingly familiar. Could I really do this? Could I open myself up to him again, after all this time, all this hurt? Trusting him felt like stepping out onto a frozen lake, the terrifying potential it could crack and send me plunging into the icy water.
It felt surreal, almost laughable, that after all these years of knowing each other, this was our very first official date. All that history, all those unspoken feelings, all the pain—and we were just now going on a “first date.” It felt like a lifetime of build-up for something so simple, yet so monumentally terrifying.
Yet… lately, I couldn’t deny he had been different. He was showing a genuine effort. Dad had mentioned his plans for the horseback riding program for kids, and Garrett said he told Colton to ask me for help with getting the word out. He still hasn’t asked for my help, but I got a surge of excitement at the prospect. It was a wonderful idea, something that would bring so much joy to the community. And then there were the long hours he was putting in for Habitat for Humanity, building the Moore family’s home. When I stopped by the other day, I watched Colton from my car before I got out, and even from a distance, I could see the strain on his face sometimes, the way he seemed to move a little stiffly.
I was starting to see glimpses of the man I had fallen in love with so long ago. Hope was beginning to bloom in my heart, I wanted to allow myself to feel again, to believe that maybe, just maybe, we could find a way to start over. Colton and I never got our chance at being together in that way, but we were always friends. There had always been a deep connection between us, one that started to change as we got older. But as hopeful as I was, there was still a voice in my head telling me to be cautious.
I spent the morning uploading the next video in the cooking series Mom was doing. This week she made Mississippi pot roast, using potatoes and peppers from the farm. She also made her delicious raspberry-peach pie, the crust made from scratch of course.
Reading the wonderful reviews that were pouring in filled me with a sense of pride. I couldn’t believe how many people were tuning in each week to watch Mom’s cooking. And thanks to the positive response from the videos, we had already received over a hundred subscriptions for the Farm to Table meal kits. Things were really looking up.
Later that afternoon, I tagged along with Avery to take Lila to the local library for the kids’ book club.
While Lila joined the other kids for story time, Avery and I found acouple of comfy armchairs in a quieter corner.
“You seem… distracted,” Avery said, nudging me with her elbow. “How are you feeling about your date tonight?”
I sighed, a nervous flutter in my stomach. “I don’t know, Avery. I agreed to one date with Colton. But a huge part of me is already thinking about the prospect of it being more. And I hate how excited I get, because I can’t stop that little voice in my head telling me to not get my hopes up. I did before and got my heart broken. I can’t go through that again.” I chewed on my lip, the familiar anxiety tightening in my chest. “He said he’s going to get help, talk to someone. That’s… big. But is it enough? Is it real? Or are they just words he thinks I want to hear?”
Avery reaches over to squeeze my hand, her touch is warm and reassuring. “Hey,” she says softly, her usual playful demeanor replaced with genuine empathy. “It’s okay to be excited, Em. And it’s okay to be scared. You guys were so young back then. Life throws some serious curveballs, and sometimes people don’t know how to handle them. I didn’t know either of you then, but it seems Colton is really trying, Em. Just take it one step at a time. One date. See how it goes. You’re strong. You’ll be okay no matter what happens.”
Just then, a familiar face comes walking over. It was Lori. I knew her from seeing her around town, mostly at the library where she worked, and she’d even been out to the farm a couple of times. We weren’t close like me and Avery, but she was very friendly and was someone I’d like to get to know.
“Hi, Avery. Ember,” Lori said, her voice soft and a little hesitant. “Lila’s enjoying story time, I see.”
“She is,” Avery replied, gesturing towards the group of children. “She absolutely loves coming here. Starting a kids club was a great idea the library had.”
Lori smiled, her gaze then turning to me. “How are you, Ember? I saw your mom’s latest cooking video online. That raspberry-peach pie looked absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try it.”
“Oh, thank you, Lori,” I said, smiling proudly. “It’s a family favorite. We’ve been having a lot of fun making those videos.”
Our conversation was suddenly interrupted by a burst of loud laughter erupting from the children’s story time circle. Avery chuckled, shaking her head. “Seeing how much fun they’re having makes me think we need a women’s book club.’”
My ears perked up at Avery’s words. A women’s book club? The idea was instantly appealing. I was about to second Avery’s suggestion when Lori cleared her throat, a hesitant but excited look on her face.
“Actually,” Lori began, her voice a little shy, “I’ve actually been thinking about starting a women’s book club. I’ve even jotted down a few ideas for books. There’s still a lot to figure out, and I’m not sure how many people would even be interested.”
Avery grinned, while her eyes lit up. “ Well I’m interested. A women’s book club. Some adult time. No sticky fingers, no demanding little voices. Yes, sign me up. And,” she leaned in grinning from ear to ear, lowering her voice, “maybe we can even read some really dirty, smutty books!” She winked, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Lori’s blush deepened, but a small, shy smile formed on her lips.
“Lori, that’s brilliant!” I exclaimed. “I’d love to join too!”
Lori’s shy smile turned into a genuine grin. “Really? Oh, that’s… that’s wonderful!”
“Absolutely,” Avery chimed in. “We could meet somewhere likeRose’s Bean and Brew?”
