Chapter Twelve
“I want to thank each and every one of you for joining us today on a Friday afternoon. Take a moment with your eyes closed, now that you’ve worked through the strains of the day, using your body as it’s intended. Every time you come to yoga, you feed your body and mind. It’s a place where you can let everything go, and just be as you are for the last hour.
“Whatever you have to do later will still be there when you get out of class, so stay for as long as you like. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. Namaste.” The class echoed the word back to her, and Summer left her mat at the front of the class, crossing over to the reception desk. A few people were already getting up, rushing toward their dinner or whatever they had waiting for them.
Summer always talked to the classes about being mindful of rushing, and to slow themselves down at least once a day, to soak it all in, and allow themselves to catch up. She’d been ignoring her own mantra recently, and as she sat down, she closed her eyes and took five deep breaths.
When she opened them, she spotted Jake out front, standing beside his truck with coffees in hand. His hair was getting a little longer, and it fell into his eyes now, a light breeze blowing down the street. It was hot out, and the studio’s air-conditioning had been put to the test that week. So far so good, she thought.
“Thanks for the class,” one of the women she’d seen at the spin class said with a smile. Summer was slowly getting everyone back, even though a lot of them were still going to both. Maybe there was enough room in the Pines for a yoga studio and a spin class. To be honest, Summer was feeling like going back herself, since it had challenged her in different ways. Jake had even said he’d like to give one a try, and she decided to take him up on it. Knowing him, she’d be a hot sweaty mess, and he’d be calm and full of breath, his hair perfectly ruffled.
Speaking of Jake, what was he up to? His store should be open for another hour or so.
She waved at him, and he saw her, eyes lighting up. God, he was a beautiful man. It was like she’d dreamt him up and sculpted him from clay, her own personal perfect specimen.
“Goodnight, Summer,” a man said.
“Take care, Dennis. Say hi to Leslie for me,” she called to him as he slipped on flip-flops and walked outside into the heat.
The room was empty now, and Jake entered the studio, still holding the coffees. “I know it’s a little hot for this, but I thought you might want a pick-me-up.” He smiled a classic Jake grin, and she walked over to him, accepting the offered to-go cup from the Bean.
“You know, I have been craving a latte,” she said, taking a sip. He’d practically been psychic. “How did you know?”
“It’s called being a soul mate. One of my many powers, now that we’re intertwined for eternity. Actually, it’s my only power, knowing what you want for a beverage, but it’s a potent one.” Jake kissed her, and she flushed as his lips met hers.
“Is that what you came here for?” she asked with a sultry tone to her voice.
“No. Actually, I have a surprise for you.” Jake motioned for the door.
“I have to clean up,” she said.
“No you don’t. Just lock up. Kimber’s coming early tomorrow, and she’ll get it ready for the classes tomorrow, which she’ll teach, since you and I are going away for the weekend,” Jake said.
Summer was taken aback. “What? Where? I don’t understand. I have stuff to do. I don’t think I can.” She spouted all her rushed thoughts out in a blur.
Jake, the ever-calming force, set a hand on her forearm. “Kimber is taking care of the studio tomorrow. Haley said she has a list of things to do from your shared festival document, and she’ll highlight them off, so you can see what she did. Garrett and Clark are working at the store tomorrow, and we can come home Sunday first thing, so we can still work.” He looked her in the eyes. “Come on, babe. You need this. We need this.”
He was one hundred percent right. “Let’s do it.” She looked at her outfit: tiny shorts and a yoga top. She was showing more skin than an apple. “I need to change first.”
They headed outside, and he told her he’d wait while she threw something on. He’d already gone to the trouble of picking out some clothes for her to wear, and they were in a duffel in the back of his truck. Aspen watched her from the backseat, through the windshield, and she waved at the dog. The truck was running so Aspen could have air-conditioning.
“Go. I’ll pull around back and get you in two minutes.” Jake got into the truck, and she headed down the block toward the entrance to the hardware store. She had no idea where they were going, but she was excited. This was her living in the moment, and she was grateful for the opportunity.
*
“Hope you don’t mind the air on. Aspen gets a little hot back there.” The windows were shut, and Aspen was lying down in the back, happy as a clam as they hit the highway heading out of the Pines. Traffic was light; more people were coming into the Pines for the weekend than leaving.
“I’m happy with that. I’ve never seen it this hot in the Pines,” Summer said. She was so cute in her open plaid shirt, a white tank underneath, and short denim shorts. It was the perfect look for their destination, though she didn’t know it yet.
“I remember some warm ones where I lived, but nothing close to this hot.” Jake was happy he’d followed through on his idea. It had been a long week, and even though Summer’s mood had been better, he knew she needed a small break. So did he, if he was being honest with himself. Two nights in a log cabin in the woods were just what the doctor ordered.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” she asked.
He shook his head, took a sip of his coffee, and smiled. “Nope. It’s not far, just an hour west.”
Jake could see her calculating where they might be going, but if she figured it out, she didn’t let on. Summer turned up the radio, and Jake sang along to a bad country song. When they’d first started dating, she’d claimed it was terrible music, but now she sang beside him, hitting the notes much more effectively than him.
Another song came on, one she apparently knew all the words to, and they belted it out, laughing as they drove sixty-five down the highway.
Eventually, they neared the cabins, and Jake turned on his GPS to let it guide him there. It kind of ruined the surprise, but Summer pretended not to pay attention to the voice telling Jake where to go.
The landscape was beautiful out here; tall trees stretched as far as the eyes could see. They passed a campsite, which displayed a FULL sign. The summer was in full effect, and Jake doubted there would have been an empty campsite in the state that weekend. The only reason he’d been able to get the cabin they were staying at was because he knew the owner.
She’d come in for some supplies on Tuesday, and got a call canceling a non-refundable reservation while she was standing at the sales counter. Jake had tried not to pry, but when the call was over, he’d asked what it was all about. She told him, and he’d offered to take the cabin for the weekend. She was only too happy to let him have it for half price, since she was already keeping the other guy’s money.
The roads turned to gravel, narrowing the further along he drove, and the sun was beginning to lower in the west, cutting through the treeline to shine into his eyes. He put sunglasses on and slowed down, knowing there could be wildlife crossing at any moment.
Before he knew it, the sign for Cozy Cabins was on his right, and he turned, catching the happy expression on Summer’s face.
“How quaint,” she said sweetly. “I love this, Jake.”
The cabins were far apart, trees separating the properties. To the right sat a long lake, and Jake kept moving until he found cabin twelve.
“This is it.” He threw the truck into park and got out, opening the back door for Aspen, who was only too happy to take off exploring. He didn’t go far before lifting his head to see where his owner was. When he was content, he went back to sniffing the path leading to the cabin.
“You hit the jackpot here. Look at the view.” Summer pointed to the lake, which was only forty yards past the cabin. They had their own private dock, with a canoe tied to the end.
“It looks like we get another canoe date,” he said, grabbing their bags. He brought them to the door, found the key under a chair cushion where Andrea had said it would be, and unlocked the place.
“This is great.” Summer entered first, and he followed her in. Everything was wood. The cabinets were pine, the long, thick logs were visible inside and outside the cabin, and the ceiling was vaulted, open and airy. A lone ceiling fan lazily rotated above.
“I’ll go get the supplies,” he said, which entailed food for the weekend, wine, and of course all the necessary ingredients for s’mores.
The evening air was muggy, and it took him two trips to bring everything in, vigorously sweating by the time he was done. “Aspen!” he called, and the dog ran to him, looking like he was having the time of his life. “Come inside and check out your cabin.”
The dog obeyed, happily running inside. Jake walked in, closed the door, and found a naked Summer waiting for him by the bedroom door. It was going to be a great weekend.
*
The fire crackled loudly as the knot on the log burst. They could hear soft music playing from the neighbor’s cabin, but Summer was surprised by how quiet everyone was around them. She shifted her gaze from the flames to the water, which was sitting still in the dark, the crescent moon reflecting off the glassy surface.
Summer took it all in, letting the serene environment encapsulate her. Jake had been passionate, caring, but urgent earlier; afterward, they made grilled cheese and opened a bottle of wine before heading outside for a fire.
“Ready for the s’mores yet?” Jake asked, and she nodded, not really wanting the sweets, but he’d obviously gone to a lot of work to make the weekend special.
They sat in wooden Adirondack chairs, Aspen dozing between them until he heard the rusting of a bag.
“I could get used to this. I’m surprised we don’t have a fire ban out here, but I guess it’s a bit damper in these parts,” Summer said.
“I think this area had a few inches of rain recently. You know, I went to the house this week and installed a fireplace in the yard. I got your dad’s help, and we had it done in no time. I may have borrowed a couple of bricklayers from the house for an hour while they were there.” He pulled out his phone and showed her a picture. The fireplace was round, made from different-colored pale stones, and it sat in the center of a stone pad, which was also round, and a foot wider than the fireplace on all sides.
“That’s awesome. What made you do that?” she asked.
“You were working every night, and I had the time. I figured we’d want to spend a lot of time outside once we move in, so I might as well do it right away,” he said.
She couldn’t have been happier with him at that moment. “You always know just what to do. I love you, Jake Morretti.”
“Right back at you, babe.” He finished a s’more off, sealing the golden marshmallow between the graham crackers.
Summer took it but waited a moment before taking a bite, knowing it would be hot. The sweetness hit her tongue in an instant, and she was glad he’d suggested them. It had been years since she’d had one.
“You’re going to make a great dad,” Summer said, unsure where the thought came from. She wanted to take it back, not sure they should be having this conversation now.
“You think so?” he asked, not prodding. She liked that about him, but this wasn’t the time to stay silent. Why not talk about the tough stuff? She’d been thinking about it more recently. She was getting older, no longer a twenty-something, and they were about to be married, and were moving into a forever house. If they couldn’t talk about kids now, then what were they even doing?
“I think we should have a family,” she said with a single nod of her head, as if it was final now.
“Is that what you really want?” Jake asked, his face a series of dancing shadows in the firelight.
Summer turned her knees to him, so they could look at each other straight on. “It is. I can’t really imagine us going through life without creating a mix of both of us. Plus, I’ve seen you in action, taking care of a kid, and it’s sexy.”
He laughed. “You won’t think that after two hours of sleep and a bag full of dirty diapers.”
Summer leaned forward, setting her hand on his thigh. “I will always think you’re sexy.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. I do think we should wait a couple years, probably. So we can get the businesses optimized, and all that,” Jake suggested.
Summer was glad to hear this. “That’s a weight off. I was crossing my fingers you weren’t going to want to get right at it. We need a honeymoon period with just us for a while first. Maybe we can even do a little traveling together.” The only real trip they’d done was a few days in New York, and she’d loved that time with Jake. She wanted more of it, more times like they were having now.
“It’s a plan. I’ve been thinking about it too but didn’t know how to broach it again. I’m glad you brought it up. I think we can keep practicing, though, just for good measure.” Jake got out of his chair, leaned over, and kissed Summer. His permanent three-day scruff rubbed against her face in a familiar fashion, and she kissed him back gently, then deeper.
Aspen barked, and they broke apart, laughing at the dog. “Don’t worry, Aspen. No s’mores for you, but I did bring you a bone.” Jake fished in his pocket, bringing the natural treat out for his dog, who accepted it greedily.
“Thanks for bringing me here. You always know what I need.” Summer curled her body back into her chair to watch the flames dance as Jake settled another birch log onto the hot coals.