Page 42 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

Maybe she’d made a terrible mistake. But if he’d really loved her as he said, wouldn’t he have fought for her? And if she’d broken up with him, why did she feel so... abandoned?

The mattress sank under Sarah’s weight, and she rubbed Laurel’s back for a long moment, letting her cry it out. How many tears would she have to shed to be rid of this awful ache in her chest? When would she get over him? Why had she ever let herself fall in love? It was awful! Her mother had been right. She’d never let this happen again. She’d been so stupid.

Sometime later her sobs ebbed, leaving her pillow drenched and her muscles weak.

“When was the last time you ate, sweetie?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’ve lost weight. If I didn’t see how much you were suffering I’d be jealous. Now, come on. Let’s get you in the shower, then we’ll get you in clean clothes and find you something to eat.”

“It’s too much. I don’t have the energy.”

“Look at me.” Sarah gently turned Laurel’s face toward her. Compassion filled her hazel eyes. “We’re going to get you through this. One thing at a time. Let’s get you in the shower, and we’ll worry about the rest later. Come on. I’ll help you.”

Laurel allowed Sarah to help her up and walk her to the bathroom.

But even after the shower, clean clothes, and a bit of food, she still felt hollow inside.

Laurel dragged herself through the following weeks. By sheer force of will she went to class, studied, and even went out with Sarah and her friends a couple of times. Mallory called often, sharing silly stories from the diner that took Laurel’s mind off her troubles. Mallory also needed her support. Though her mom was now living in a different state, that hadn’t stopped Darcy’s spiteful comments or manipulative behavior.

The ache in Laurel was starting to abate at least enough to allow her to breathe again. Every time she thought of Gavin she turned her thoughts to her goals instead. Despite her somewhat rocky semester, shewouldgraduate summa cum laude. Then she’d get a good job, buy a nice home, and be financially independent.

Before she knew it the semester was winding to a close and winter break loomed ahead. Her mom was going on a Christmas cruise with her boyfriend, and Mallory was busy with her work, so there was no reason to return to Riverbend Gap and torture herselfwith the sight of Gavin. Surely he’d moved on. He probably had a girlfriend already. Might even bring her home to meet his family. She didn’t want to subject herself to that.

But staying here in the empty dorm seemed ill advised. She was afraid she’d fall back into bed and tumble into that deep well she’d fallen into last month. So when Sarah’s family invited her to spend Christmas with them she jumped at the chance.

Christmas in Asheville was a nice distraction. The holiday passed in a flurry of events, home-cooked meals, and presents. Sarah’s family was warm and welcoming and Laurel’s mom FaceTimed with her on Christmas Day from some Caribbean island. She was having a fabulous time, and though Laurel had told her about the breakup, she’d never divulged the depth of her heartache.

Just after Christmas Mallory came down to spend a day with her. They ate lunch out, shopped the afternoon away, then went to the Biltmore to see the Christmas decorations. Laurel wandered through the gardens, amazed at the transformation. The conservatory was abloom with red and white poinsettias. On the grounds, white twinkle lights and Christmas greenery decked every available surface.

The day’s light was fading, the mountains in the distance just a silhouette against the evening sky. “I’m going to work here someday,” she reminded Mallory on the front lawn from beneath a massive decorated Christmas tree, lit with a zillion lights.

Mallory took her arm, pressing close. “You’ll be running the place by the time you’re thirty.”

As nice as the holiday was, Laurel was glad to return to her college routine. She was determined to make straight As from this point on. Focusing on schoolwork beat thinking about Gavin.Thisshe could control.Thiswouldn’t break her heart and leaveher in the fetal position.Thiswould get her one step closer to her dreams.

With the summer stretching ahead, Laurel applied for a summer internship at the Biltmore in the Human Resources department—there were no openings in horticulture at present.

Having no desire to return to Riverbend for spring break, she worked right through it, adding to her savings account. And the next week she received news that the Biltmore had offered the internship to another student.

The rejection left her in a quandary about where she would spend her summer. She didn’t have the money to stay in Clemson, and Sarah was going home. Laurel tried to convince Sarah and a couple of friends to share an apartment in Asheville, but they preferred to go home and save for tuition.

Much as it pained her, Laurel needed to do the same. So as June neared she contacted her old boss, Nancy Owens, and secured summer employment at the nursery. When the last day of the semester arrived, she went home for the first time since the breakup. Mallory was thrilled to see her and excited for a whole summer together.

Laurel’s mom, blooming with love, was a lighter, brighter person these days. Laurel was happy for her, but what had happened to all her reservations about men? And Laurel fervently hoped Brad wouldn’t break her heart.

But Laurel had her own life to worry about. The nursery was even busier this summer than last, so they gave Laurel all the hours she wanted—and Laurel wanted all the hours. It would go a long way toward expenses that weren’t covered by her scholarship, and it kept her from dwelling on Gavin—whom she’d heard was also home for the summer.

She was in the greenhouse, deadheading the tea roses when sheheard someone approaching from behind. She snipped a dead bloom from the cane at an angle, then opened her mouth to offer assistance.

“Hello, Laurel.”

At the sound of his voice, her breath caught in her chest. She somehow managed to keep hold of her shears. Steeling herself, she turned to face him.

He seemed taller than she remembered, but that couldn’t be right. His shoulders had broadened, though, under his rigorous training schedule. And that lovely jaw of his sported a five-o’clock shadow. He offered a tentative smile, those blue eyes laser focused on her.

The shears trembled in her hands. “What are you doing here?”

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