Without even thinking, I grabbed Jenna and kissed her forehead.

“Sir?” she said in a shocked tone.

“I need you to stay here for a few days and watch Parker for me. I’ll pay you double what you’re making now. I’m going to bring Emerson home, Jenna.” I smiled. “I’m bringing her back and she’s never leaving again unless I’m with her.”

“Go, sir. I’ll stay with Parker. Go get her!” She smiled.

I pulled out my phone and dialed my pilot.

“Hello, Mr. Parker.”

“Get the plane ready. We’re going to Bass Harbor, Maine.”

“When would you like to leave?”

“I’ll be there in an hour. I don’t have any time to waste.”

“Very well, sir. I’ll be waiting for you.”

I ended the call and dialed Phillip.

“Phillip. I need you to come get me and take me to my plane. I know where Emerson is and I’m going to bring her home.”

“Excellent news, Alex. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

Chapter 33

Emerson

I rented a cottage on the water in Bass Harbor, Maine. When I first arrived, I didn’t have a plan and I was lucky that Pine Cottages had one left to rent. It was small but quaint. It had a living area with a fireplace, which I was grateful for since the weather in Maine was getting quite chilly, a small bedroom with a queen-size bed, and a small kitchen area with a stove, sink, and refrigerator.

I spent my days walking along the rocky shores and watching the lobster boats drift by. I spent my nights missing Alex so much that it hurt. There wasn’t one second of the day where I wasn’t thinking about him.

“Hello, Emerson.” Mary knocked on the door.

“Come on in, Mary.”

She opened the door and handed me a fresh loaf of bread she had just made. Mary was the owner of Pine Cottages and we had quickly become friends. Her husband had passed away a few years ago and she never had any children. The cottages were everything to her. Sometimes at night, she would come over and we’d sit out on the screened-in porch, talking about life and drinking tea. I told her everything; the accident, my travels, and all about Alex.

“He still hasn’t shown up, eh?”

“No. But he will. If he knows me at all, he’ll find me.”

“So that’s what you’re waiting on? Him to find you to see if he’s the one to change your life and get you to settle?”

“Yep. I confessed my feelings to him in that letter and if he feels the same about me, he’ll come.”

“I still don’t understand why you didn’t tell him how you felt back in California.”

I gave her a small smile. “It’s complicated. He’s complicated. I’m complicated. But together, we’re uncomplicated. Does that make sense?”

She laughed. “Not really. But I’ll take your word for it.” She reached over and patted my hand. “I was thinking that maybe tomorrow morning you can help me in the kitchen. Maybe show me a thing or two you learned in Tuscany.”

“I’d love to.”

“Great. Then I’ll see you up at the main house around seven a.m.?”

“I will be there.”

****

Alex

Due to a slight mechanical problem, I couldn’t take off as planned and I was angry. The only thing I wanted to do was get to Emerson. But then I was faced with another problem. I didn’t know where the hell she was staying, so I called Adam.

“Hello.”

“Adam, I know where Emerson’s at.”

“Did you hear from her?”

“No. But she left her map behind.”

“Huh? That’s unlike her.”

“Exactly. She wants me to find her.”

“Where is she?”

“Bass Harbor, Maine.”

“How do you know she’s there?”

“When I took her back to your childhood home, she told me the story about your parents and the lighthouses. She hasn’t been to Maine yet. It was still circled in black.”

“I remember that story. Do you really think she’s there?”

“Yes. I do. I’m almost sure of it. I need you to look at her credit card to see what hotel she checked into.”

“Sorry, Alex. I don’t have access to that anymore.”

“Shit. Okay. I’ll figure it out. If I have to search every hotel in Bass Harbor and the surrounding area, I will.”

“Good luck. Bring her home, Alex.”

“I will. I’ll talk to you soon.”

I pulled up Google on my phone and searched Bass Harbor, Maine. The first thing that popped up was cottage rentals. My mind flashed back to when we were at her house. She told me that her parents rented a cottage on the water during their stay. Those cottages would be the first place I’d look.

Finally, the mechanical issue was fixed and the plane was able to take off. Since it was an eight-hour flight, I wouldn’t be getting into the Bangor Airport until three a.m. I sighed. Now I’d have to find a hotel since I couldn’t go around trying to find her in the middle of the night. Damn it, of all places not to have a hotel chain. I was going to have to do something about that. I dialed Simon.

“Hey, Alex. What can I do for you?”

“Hey, Simon. Do you by any chance have a hotel in Bangor, Maine?”

“Maine? No. I don’t.”

“Shit. You know, we really need to talk about opening one up there.”

“Why? What’s in Maine?”

“I’m going to find Emerson and I need a hotel to stay at for the night. I won’t be getting in until three a.m.”

“Ah. I see. What part of Maine?”

“I’m flying into Bangor.”

“That’s a really small airport. I’m not sure what hotels are around there.”

“I’ll find something. Thanks, Simon. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Sorry I couldn’t help. Talk to you soon.”

I sighed as I pulled up a list of hotels in Bangor. I stumbled across a Marriott. It would have to do. I booked my room and sat back, pulling up the video of us singing in the car on our way back from Napa.

****

It was nine o’clock in the morning when I hopped into the rental car I rented and headed to Bass Harbor. If I had realized that it was an hour and a half drive, I would have left earlier. Failed planning on my part. I followed the GPS and arrived at the first set of cottages in Bass Harbor around ten thirty. She wasn’t staying at any of those. Shit. The people there told me there was another set of cottages up about ten miles near the lighthouse. Pulling up to Pine Cottages, I saw a woman walking out of the main house. I parked the car and got out. She stood there looking at me.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have any more cottages to rent.”

“I’m looking for someone. I’m hoping you could help me out.”

She stood there, her eyes glaring at me as I approached her. The corners of her mouth curved upwards.

“Well, I’ll be damned. It’s nice to finally meet you, Alex Parker.” She held out her hand.

I tilted my head and narrowed my eye at her as I lightly shook her hand. “She’s here. Isn’t she?”

“Yes, and she’s been waiting for you. I’m Mary. I own this place. Come with me. I’ll take you to her cottage.”

I followed her down a short path. “She told you about me?” I asked.

“Oh yes. She even showed me your picture. That’s how I knew who you were. Emerson and I became friends quite quickly.”

“I’m not surprised.” I smiled.

“I just saw her this morning. She was helping in my kitchen. Teaching me a few things she learned in Tuscany.”

“She’s a wonderful cook.”

“She sure is. She made a pot of lobster stew the other night that practically knocked my socks off.”

When we approached a small white cottage, Mary knocked on the door.

“Emerson, it’s Mary. Open up, sweetie.”

No answer. She knocked again.

“She mustn’t be here.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring of keys. Inserting it into the lock, she opened the door and we stepped inside.

“You can wait for her here if you want. Set your bags down and relax until she gets back.”

“Thank you, Mary. I have a place I’m going to check out first. Maybe she’s there.”