Page 50 of A Brambleberry Summer

Jen sighed. “I still wish I could go back and do everything over again. I wish I had said no the very first time he asked me out.”

“I know. I am sorry.”

Rosa became angry all over again every time she thought about how one man’s arrogance and refusal to accept rejection had forced Jen to flee her life and live in fear.

She was so glad her friend seemed to be trying to put the past behind her and make plans for the future.

“And while I don’t think I am the best judge of character right now and don’t seem to pick well for myself, I do like Detective Townsend. He seems very kind and he is a wonderful father.”

Rosa could not disagree. She felt a little ache in her heart at the reminder that she and Wyatt could not be together. Soon, he and his son would be moving out of Brambleberry House.

“He is a good man and, I think, cares very much about helping people.”

She paused, compelled to press the situation. “He would help you, you know. You should tell him what is going on.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do. Wyatt is a man you can trust. While he is living here, he can look around for anything unusual. Like having security on site.”

“I suppose it is a little like that.”

Rosa nodded. “That is one of the reasons I agreed to let him move in. I was worried about you and thought it might make you more comfortable to know he is only downstairs.”

Jen gave her a sidelong look. “You mean it wasn’t because of those beautiful blue eyes?” she teased.

Rosa flushed and tried to pretend she was inordinately fascinated with clipping back a climbing vine. “Does he have blue eyes? I do not believe I had noticed.”

Jen snorted a little, which made Rosa smile. She was happy to be a subject of teasing if it could bring a smile to Jen’s face.

“You said you’re not interested in dating. Why is that?”

“I date,” Rosa protested. “I went out three weeks ago to a concert down in Lincoln City.”

“With a seventy-five-year-old widower who had an extra ticket.”

“Mr. Harris is very sweet. And also lonely, since he lost his wife.”

“You know you don’t have to take care of everyone else in town. You should save a little of your energy for going after what you want.”

If only it could be that easy. She knew what she wanted. She also knew she could not have it.

She didn’t have a chance to answer before a vehicle pulled into the driveway. She stood up, suddenly breathless when she recognized Wyatt’s SUV. She had not seen him since that emotional, passionate kiss the night before and wasn’t sure how to act around him.

He climbed out, and a moment later opened the back door for his son, who hopped out and raced over to them.

“Logan! Hi, Logan!” Addie made a beeline for the boy, who waved at her.

“Hi, Addie. Your hands are muddy.”

“I’m picking flowers. Rosa said I could, to help the other flowers grow better.”

“Remember, you should only pick the flowers when a grown-up tells you it’s okay,” Jen said.

She looked momentarily worried, as if afraid Addie would wander through the entire beautiful gardens of the house pulling up the flowers willy-nilly.

“I want to help pick flowers. Can I?” Logan asked Rosa.

“You will have to ask your father if he does not mind.”

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