Her Small-Town Romance. Jill Kemerer

does your age have to do with your safety? Tell me you didn’t hire a stranger to unload the truck when you got to town. He could have murdered you.”

      “Actually, I did hire a stranger. I googled ‘moving companies who hire serial killers’ and requested the freakiest-looking guy they had.”

      White noise didn’t cover the icy stillness. “That’s not funny, Jade Marie.”

      “Just my twisted attempt at a joke.” She added Stop baiting Mom to her mental to-do list.

      “I don’t approve of you taking unnecessary chances, and I’m not pleased you moved to the middle of nowhere.”

      When had Mom ever approved of her decisions? “Don’t worry, when I arrived in Lake Endwell, I hired a reputable service to unload the truck. Yes, I checked their references. They did a good job. Anyway, how is Gerald? Have you two found a breakthrough on the cancer trial yet?”

      “He’s fine, and negative on the breakthrough, but we’re working on a fascinating hypothesis...” Excitement colored her mother’s words. Jade’s stepfather, Gerald, and her mother worked in Lyons, France, for the World Health Organization. Both renowned cancer researchers, the two were perfect for each other. Jade’s father, on the other hand, was a celebrated heart surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, where he lived with his second wife, a board member of a nonprofit for underprivileged children.

      Brilliant. All of them.

      And generous.

      Good people.

      Sometimes Jade felt bad her exceptional parents had produced such an ordinary child. She’d brought home Bs and Cs on her report cards. Flunked math in third grade. Didn’t make varsity tennis. Didn’t win a single match. She’d chosen a nonmedical field of study. She hadn’t even graduated with honors. It was a wonder her mother still talked to her. Her father certainly didn’t.

      “...the cells stopped replicating... Jade, are you listening?”

      “Yes, Mom.” Jade wadded a piece of packing paper and looked for a wastebasket. She opened the cupboard under the sink. Did she own trash bags? Nope. She tossed the paper on the floor. “I hope the replicating thingy gets the results you want.”

      “Not a ‘thingy.’ It’s... Never mind. The world is relying on us. Now, listen, this move of yours might not work out, and I think you should consider an alternate plan. We’ll get you settled in an apartment in Paris. Gerald’s sister’s friend works at a prestigious advertising company. It would mean working at an entry-level position in marketing, but you’d have a job. Just don’t...”

      Jade held her breath. Don’t say it, Mom.

      “Just don’t settle.”

      Her shoulders drooped. She’d heard it a million times. At first, she thought it meant something good, that she was special and deserved more, but as she matured, Jade realized her mom actually meant, Don’t disappoint me.

      Her mother sighed. “This T-shirt thing was acceptable while you were in college, but you need to think of your future. And the world’s future. We’re all in this together, you know. How will T-shirts help society? Think about it.”

      “Okay, Mom. I will.” Society always ranked high on her mother’s list of priorities. “Listen, I’m practically wading in boxes. Can I let you go? I’ll never get them unpacked if I don’t.”

      “Certainly.”

      “Give my best to Gerald.”

      “Will do. Au revoir.”

      Jade pressed End on her phone and set it on the counter. She didn’t want to save the world. She just wanted to design some shirts. Was that so wrong?

      Mom meant well. Truly, she did. And she had a point about helping society. Did the world need another gift shop? Probably not. But designing T-shirts all through college had been fun. More fulfilling than advertising. An entry-level job in marketing sounded awful, even if it was in Paris. And Mom and Gerald lived five hours away. Five hours or fifteen hours wouldn’t make a difference. Jade would be on her own in Paris or Lake Endwell.

      Alone and lonely.

      The past two months without Mimi clawed at Jade’s chest. She grabbed a framed photo of them off the floor and carried it into the living room. Using her sleeve, she swiped the dust off an end table, placing the picture on top.

      Mimi, you would tell me to go to the park today. You’d encourage me to open the store. You’d tell me I’m brave. I won’t let you down.

      She glanced at the clock. She had just enough time to meet Bryan.

       Chapter Three

      “You made it.” Bryan waited for Jade as she approached the pavilion. Part of him had hoped she wouldn’t show up today. But the other part, the irrational side, had been searching the parking lot for her cherry-red compact car.

      “I made it.” Jade’s pale face and jerky movements said it all.

      If the forest was too much for her, Bryan could at least say he tried to help. He’d move forward with his class guilt-free. And if she did make it into the woods? She’d be one more student to add to his spreadsheet along with the hours and skills he taught each week. He’d typed and printed fliers after church this morning, and Dad and Aunt Sally promised to help distribute them to local businesses tomorrow. Next Saturday would be different. He’d have a full class. With or without Jade.

      “I did some research about overcoming fears.” Bryan gestured for her to join him. She trembled beneath her puffy black vest. She’d pulled her hair back in some sort of braid. Black jeans and a pair of lace-up hiking boots completed her outfit. She looked cute. And terrified. “Have you heard of exposure therapy?”

      “Yes. I’ve heard of it. One therapist wanted me to try flooding.”

      “Then you’ve been through therapy? I read about flooding. Total immersion, right? That’s kind of extreme.” He pushed up the sleeves of his fleece pullover. The websites he’d skimmed last night had given him ideas how to help her, but he didn’t want to push her or accidentally make things worse. He wasn’t used to offering advice unless it had to do with an automobile. “I figured you were basically trying the exposure method by coming to my class, so you might try some gradual things I read about on a few websites.”

      She wrapped her arms around herself. “Sure. I’ve read them, too. Step one, look at pictures of trees. Step two, watch a video of the forest. Step three, come to Evergreen Park.”

      “See,” he said, smiling. “You’re already a quarter-way through the list.”

      “Remind me again, what’s step four?”

      “Honestly, I don’t know. I didn’t memorize them, and I forgot the printout at home. But if you want, we’ll go to the blue path.”

      She blinked rapidly, and he heard her breathing quicken.

      He straightened his arms, palms out. “We’re not walking on the path. Just standing at the entrance.”

      Her fingertips fluttered to her throat. “Okay.”

      They strolled along the grass. The weather was still cool, and the air hinted at rain later.

      “Sorry my sister barged into dinner last night. My family can come on kind of strong.”

      “I like Libby,” she said softly. “She’s welcoming. And Jake seems nice.”

      “Yeah, he is. He’s good for Libby. Keeps her grounded. She’s good for him, too.” Bryan glanced at her. “Are you doing okay?”

      “So far.” She moved stiffly. “How many times have you taught Outdoor Survival 101?”

      “None.