The House on Blackberry Hill (Jewell Cove 1)

A cloud darkened Josh’s face. “He took the kids somewhere. It’s been rough on the whole family. And Mark thought that Sarah needed a break.”

“I’m sorry.” Abby turned a little and rested her shoulders against the tree. “They’ll be okay, though, right?”

Josh’s eyes were somber. Abby realized she’d never really seen him smile or laugh. “I hope so,” he answered. He lifted his chin at the activity behind them. “This is quite something, you know. Foster House has been quiet for as long as I can remember. The town’s going to be talking about how you brought it back to life for a long time. Too bad you’re not going to be here to enjoy it.”

His gaze was just a little too knowing and Abby made sure she focused her attention on the guests and not him. “Ah, well. A last hurrah for the Fosters, I guess.”

“How long are you going to torture him, Abby?”

Her gaze snapped to his before she could think better of it.

“I know what Tom looks like when he’s in love,” Josh said. “And I know what he looks like when it’s killing him and it’s right there in his expression today.”

She saw Tom standing on the perimeter of the lawn, talking to someone. He had one hand stuck casually in his pocket. “He looks fine to me,” she replied coolly, but she probably wasn’t fooling Josh any more than she was fooling herself.

“He’s not fine. He’s waiting.”

“Waiting for what?”

Josh sighed. “Waiting for you to choose him. I loved my wife, Abby, but I know why she married me. I was a better prospect than Tom. Erin had money. Or rather, her family had money. There were … expectations. Tom never met those expectations. And she put those above her heart and married me. And then regretted it.”

“Josh,” Abby said quietly. Lord, how it must have hurt his pride knowing that. “I’m sorry.”

“Me, too. Turns out both Tom and I were second choice, just in different ways. You have to make him your first choice, Abby. I think especially because there are some similarities between you and Erin.”

“Similarities?”

He frowned. “You inherited a family fortune. You don’t need him. And Tom is used to being needed.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

She nodded. “I don’t know what Tom’s told you about me…”

“We’ve made up. We haven’t made it to baring our souls yet.”

Abby laughed lightly. “Let’s just say I had to get through a bunch of my own stuff first. And I do love him, Josh. I’m just afraid to be the one to take the first step. I’ve been afraid of … well, losing someone else I care about.”

They were silent for a few minutes. Then Abby spoke up. “I don’t think he wanted me to know, but he put an offer in on the house today. He’s so sure I’m going to run.”

“Have you given him a reason to believe otherwise?”

“I’ve been figuring things out.”

“God, the two of you make a pair. Stubborn fools.” Josh put his hand on her arm. “Don’t wait. Don’t let pride or fear stand in your way. Just be honest and tell him how you feel. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. But you have to try.”

She knew he was right and it terrified her to bits. “For someone who hated him a few weeks ago, you sure are pleading his case.”

Josh let go of her wrist. “No sense in both of us being miserable,” he answered, and while Abby was left trying to think of a suitable response, he walked away to join the party.

* * *

The afternoon dragged on. Tom drank two cups of punch that was a bit sweet to his taste, tempered it with black tea, and then simply wished for a cold beer. He made a show of eating finger sandwiches and tiny sweets with pastel frosting off antique china, made small talk with Abby’s guests, and answered questions about his renovations on the house. He managed to escape Summer Arnold’s flirting green eyes and instead spent some time with Sarah, who was smiling just a little too widely for him to be comfortable. And when four o’clock arrived and the crowd started to filter out, he figured he should probably head that way, too. And he might have hurried, except a very long evening seemed to be the only thing waiting for him.

He’d probably spend the evening on his deck eating one of his usual grilled burgers and pondering the significance of the u

niverse.