Chapter Three
The salmon sliced easily, and Summer dipped it into the butter and garlic concoction her mother had taught her to make. Jake chopped a few veggies into tiny pieces so they could add them to the risotto. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air of the small kitchen, and Summer poured the two of them a cup each.
“You still haven’t told me how the house is going. Anything to report in?” Summer asked, noticing Jake didn’t look up from the cutting board.
He shook his head slowly from side to side. “Nothing too serious. You should see the property this week. Just wait until next year when we get to be there for the start of summer. It’s going to be great.”
Just as she was about to prod him more on the subject, there was a knock on the door. Aspen let out a high-pitched bark, and Summer wiped her hands on her apron before shooting Jake a glance. “This isn’t over yet, and I forgot to mention, Garrett asked if we’d meet them tomorrow at Carpe Diem for drinks. He was being weird about it.”
She opened the door, revealing a smiling Haley and Chuck in casual shorts and t-shirts. Aspen wagged his tail from side to side and sniffed Chuck’s familiar hand.
“Hey, boy.” Chuck lowered near the ground and gave the dog some love.
“Come in. We’re just about to start dinner,” Summer said, and the young couple entered the apartment. Summer couldn’t help but notice how small it felt with four people, a dog, and a cat inside the apartment. She didn’t mind staying at Jake’s, but every once in a while, it felt like the walls were closing in half a foot on every side.
Haley set her purse down by the door and crossed into the kitchen. “Wow, the place looks so different.”
“I guess you haven’t been here for a long time,” Jake said, smirking toward Summer.
Summer supposed she had made a few changes, but nothing that crossed the line. It was still his place; it just had some feminine touches now. “Have a seat,” she said, motioning to the small table. “Coffee, anyone?”
Haley nodded. “Just a water for me,” Chuck said. “I have to be up early for practice.”
“Practice?” Summer asked while pouring a glass of water.
“Yeah. The high school team practices through the summer, and I decided to volunteer coach them while I’m back in the Pines.” Chuck accepted the drink, setting it down on the table.
“That’s great, bud,” Jake said.
“It gives back a bit, and it helps me stay in top shape, so it’s a win-win,” Chuck said.
“How about you, Haley? Anything new?” Summer asked.
Haley twirled her hair with a finger. “I’m trying to enjoy this summer, but I’m taking an evening course at school, since I started a semester behind. Other than that, I have Chuck here, so we’re making the best of it. And I’m still working for your mom, a few more shifts than while I was in school.”
Jake set his knife down and stirred the Italian rice in the broth simmering on the stovetop. “Sounds like you two have a busy schedule.”
“Sure, but it’s nothing we can’t handle,” Haley said, adding, “Guys, this looks amazing. Those cooking lessons have really been paying off.”
Summer nodded. Her mom had taken her idea and run with it. Every Wednesday night, the Hive’s quietest of the week, Barbara now was offering cooking classes in the kitchen after eight. Jake and Summer had been to three lessons so far, and Summer was amazed at how much her cooking had improved in such a short time. It was all about the basics.
“My mom is a great teacher once you get used to her,” Summer said, and they all laughed.
“How about you two? What’s been going on?” Chuck asked.
Jake took this one. “Things are busy. The hardware store’s still rolling along. You know how well the new product lines did last year? They’re doing even better this year. I added a whole fishing section too, and that’s been keeping Clark busy.”
“Then there’s the wedding planning,” Summer added. “Though I have to admit, my mom has taken a lot of the load off my shoulders. Somehow, she thinks she has more time for it than I do.” Summer wasn’t sure if she was upset by it, or relieved. Her parents were paying for the whole thing, and because of that, she didn’t want to rock the boat.
“You must be getting excited. It’s less than three months away!” Haley exclaimed.
“We are.” Summer caught the lack of excitement in her voice and changed the subject. “And Chuck, I heard you saw the house the other day.”
“I did. It’s going to be awesome. That view is spectacular. I hope we can have something half as nice one day.” Chuck’s hand reached across the table and settled overtop of Haley’s. They smiled sweetly at each other, and Summer could feel the love radiating between them. She glanced up at Jake, who noticed the young couple too. He gave her a knowing smile behind the other two’s backs, and Summer stifled a laugh.
“I have to get the salmon on,” Summer said, getting up to put the glassware in the oven.
They settled into conversation, eventually landing on the new spin class as dinner was served. “What do you think of it, Summer?” Haley asked.
Summer wasn’t feeling much better about the fact that the new studio was still taking a few of her students, but after talking with Trina, she at least had something of a plan moving forward. “There should be enough room in the expanding town for two fitness studios. We aren’t even close to the same category of wellness. I guess I’m just worried because I’ve noticed a drop-off in my own attendance.”
“They’ll all come back. You know how new things are. Bright and shiny, then people go back to what they know and love,” Chuck said, but that didn’t help. Summer wondered if Peaceful Pines was the new and shiny object that had now lost its luster, giving way to the next fad for good.
“You’re probably right,” Summer said, taking a bite of the salmon. It was perfect, the right amount of seared and baked, just like her mother had showed her.
Chuck, having apparently sensed the change in Summer’s mood, changed topics. “Jake, how’s Clark working out for the store?”
Jake glanced over at Summer and back to Chuck. “He’s been great. Works hard. He’s definitely not as outgoing as you were, though. It doesn’t seem like he has a lot of friends around.”
Summer and Jake had talked about it before, and Summer recalled kids just like Clark when she was in school. He was a pianist; an artist. They often thought differently than the rest of the class, and because of it, stuck to themselves. She hoped Clark would break down some of his barriers, because going to Julliard was a great opportunity, and socializing while there would be an important part of the experience.
“That’s good to hear. About the work part, not the friends thing. Maybe I’ll invite him with us to the movies some night?” Chuck asked, looking at Haley.
“I wouldn’t mind. We could make it a group thing so he feels less awkward about it,” Haley offered.
Summer saw Jake smiling, happy someone was taking interest in his newest employee’s well-being.
The conversation steered to weather, baseball, and the kids’ college experiences, but Summer couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was changing, and that she was losing control.
*
“That was nice,” Jake said as he stacked the dishes into the sink. He began to fill it with hot water, adding soap while the faucet ran. Dinner had been delicious, and Jake was glad they were elevating their at-home culinary experiences.
Summer just nodded, and he could tell something was off with her. “What is it?” he asked, drying his hands off and wrapping them around her waist.
She leaned into his chest, and he kissed the top of her head. Her hair smelled wonderful, like ripe peaches on a sunny day.
“I’m worried,” she said, pulling away. He let her go.
“About what?” he asked.
“Everything.”
Jake leaned against the kitchen cabinets, the countertop digging into his hip. “There’s nothing going on that can cause that kind of morose overview of your life.” He hoped.
Summer smiled, but when she looked up, tears were in her eyes. “It’s just… I want to be strong about it all, but I feel like a little girl with no control sometimes.”
Jake felt like he was missing something. “What are you not in control of?”
She started to list them off. “There’s a new spin studio in town, Mountain Spin, and they’re taking all of my clients’ time and money, leaving me with half-empty classes all week. My mother is controlling our wedding, and I don’t seem to have any say in anything for it anymore. The house isn’t ready yet, and I’m worried that the yoga studio is going to go bust, and we’ll have a big new house and no way to pay for it.” She puffed air out of her cheeks, tears streaming down her face.
Jake was about to move in to console her, but she just threw her dishtowel down on the counter and waved her arms around. “And this place just feels too small! Like the walls are closing in on me, and I can’t breathe.” She sat on a kitchen chair and rested her face in her hands.
Jake knew about the spin class, but Summer had told him she was dealing with it, whatever that meant. He couldn’t believe she’d been bottling it all up for this long. “Babe, you can always talk to me about this stuff. That’s what I’m here for. If we’re in this for the long haul, I want to know what’s going on in your head all the time.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “You do not want to know what’s in this head all the time. You’d lose your mind.”
He crossed the kitchen and sat beside her. “Maybe, but at least we’d both be in the same boat.”
She took his hand and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m dealing with the spin studio. Trina’s coming to town soon, and we have a plan.”
“We’ll be fine regardless,” Jake said, trying to not think about the extra costs at the house that kept adding up. As it was, things were going to be tight for a while, and they definitely couldn’t afford to lose her studio.
“Will we?” she asked with a little contempt.
“Yes. We’re young, smart, and hard-working.” Jake squeezed her hand. “We will always be okay.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“And the wedding is ours. Do you want me to talk to your mother about it?” Jake offered as he cringed internally.
Summer laughed lightly. “I can imagine how that conversation would go.”
“I know, but if it would help, I’d do it,” Jake said.
“I love you, Jacob Morretti.”
“I love you too… Summer… Morretti.” He used his last name, and she stared him in the eyes.
“I haven’t heard that said out loud yet. It sounds… terrible.” Summer slapped him on the knee and laughed again. “What was I thinking? You’re going to have to change your name, Jake,” she joked.
Jake played along. “Fine, but I’m not sure Jake Phillips has the right ring to it. How about Jake Phillips-Morretti?” He raised his eyebrows playfully.
“Oh, Jake. Everything’s really going to work out?” she asked, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“It is. Starting with now.” He stood and picked her up, dangling her over his shoulder. She slapped him on his butt as he carried her out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. “I’m here to make you forget your troubles for the night. Tomorrow, we can start to work on them together. Like a team.” He flipped her onto the bed, and she giggled as he pulled his shirt over his head. “Any objections?” he asked.
She bit her lip, and as he crawled over to her, her face went serious for a moment. “Not at the moment. Thanks, honey.”
“Anything for you.” His hands slid her dress to the floor, and he kissed her lips, gently continuing down to the arch in her hips. She responded to his touch with a whimper. He laid her softly on the bed as he continued to pleasure every inch of her before feverishly undressing and enveloping her with his own aching need.
For a while, all their troubles were forgotten.