Page 16 of The Summer I Stayed
Chapter Nine
Jake
“You know, I’ve been wondering about something,” Maggie says, breaking our silence.
I glance at her with a quirked eyebrow. I’m a man who usually likes the peace and quiet, but I’m also intrigued about this woman sitting before me.
“And what’s that?” I find myself asking, my voice low and casual.
“Did you always want to take over the family business?”
Her question catches me off guard. I stare at her, studying the genuine curiosity glinting in her eyes. She’s waiting patiently for my answer, seemingly unfazed by my silence.
I let out a sigh. “No, not always.”
She tilts her head to the side. “So what changed?”
I shrug, wrestling with the decision of whether or not to share more. But there’s something about her that makes me want to open up. Perhaps it’s just the quiet simplicity of this moment—the balmy sunshine, the lapping waveson the lake shore, Maverick napping at our feet—whatever it is, I find myself speaking.
“I guess, somewhere along the line, it wasn’t whether I wanted to or not. It just became a part of me.”
She studies me, a thoughtful look in her eyes as she takes another bite of her sandwich. I expect her to ask another question, but she doesn’t.
“I had other plans; I wanted to be an architect,” I admit, surprising myself with the amount of honesty. “I wanted to design and build things, not just fix them. But life…life has a funny way of taking you where it wants you to go instead of where you want to.”
“Yeah.” Her voice is soft, her eyes spark with an admiration that stirs something in me. “Do you ever miss it? The idea of what could have been?”
I think for a moment, letting the question sink in. It’s not something I’ve thought about in a long time. “Sometimes. But it’s not something I regret. It’s what had to be done. I like what I do now and wouldn’t change it.”
She nods her head in understanding, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress. “Why did it have to be done?” she asks curiously.
“I had a plan. College. A girl. Life in the city. But then my dad got sick, and I couldn’t leave my parents behind. So I stayed. I took charge of the hardware store so mymom could help my dad get better. But the girl…well, she wanted to pursue her dreams in the city. My dad got better, and I guess I could have left then, but I stayed,” I say, forcing a chuckle.
“Wow, that’s...that’s really admirable, Jake,” she whispers, her eyes filled with respect.
I shrug, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “It’s what anyone would’ve done.”
She shakes her head. “Not everyone would’ve. It takes a lot of courage and sacrifice to give up your dreams for someone else.”
I don’t quite buy into that. “It was family. They needed me.”
Maggie’s soft grin is full of understanding. “Still, it takes a big heart to do what you did. It’s commendable, Jake.”
I scratch at the back of my neck, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the praise. It’s odd how a few words from Maggie manage to stir a warm feeling inside me that I haven’t experienced in ages.
“Your turn.” I nod toward her.
She looks at me questioningly.
“You asked about me. Now I want to know about you.” My voice is husky and sincere.
“Well, what do you want to know?” A smile plays on her lips.
“Everything.” The word slips out before I can stop it. I expect her to laugh or maybe raise an eyebrow at my audacity, but she doesn’t.
“I grew up in Charlotte in the same house until I left for college, which is where Steven and I met. We got married young and had kids. Now they’re grown. Matthew is a pro golfer, and Alison is off to college.”
“And the blog?”
