Ch. 28
Ruby pulled away and gave me a smile before holding up another dress for inspection. I shook my head, wrinkling my nose. Turning back toward the wedding gowns, I began leafing through them, memories of Jake still clouding my thoughts.
A couple of weeks after calling things off with him, I realized I'd made a grave mistake. Putting my ego aside, I broke down and phoned him the morning he was to move back to Texas. I felt compelled to apologize for acting like such an ass, and confessed how much I regretted ending things the way I had.
And just like Jake, he let me off the hook and said he understood. But he still had to leave.
We kept in touch for awhile after that but eventually drifted apart. Once school resumed, I was forced back into my familiar, chaotic routine, while Jake became reacquainted with college life. You'd have thought my full schedule would have relieved some of my heartache, but it didn't. Jake lingered in my thoughts for years to come.
Once I entered college, I didn't dwell on the past nearly as much. I'd gotten involved in campus life and my studies, finally deciding to major in medicine. I ended up dating quite a bit during those years, but never really had gotten serious with anyone. Not until I met Christopher.
Christopher...
We'd met during our residency at a small hospital just outside of Savannah, Georgia. Chris and I had fallen head over heels rather quickly and became engaged even quicker still. When I took him home to meet my family for the first time, they'd liked him immediately. Even Mags, who had confided that she'd noticed how my eyes lit up around Christopher almost as much as they had lit up for Jake. I sensed she still harbored the idea of Jake and me together. She'd always been such a shrewd little woman, who perhaps had more insight than I'd ever given her credit for.
Last year, Mags suffered a severe heart attack and died instantly. It had been such a terrible and unexpected blow--for everyone who knew her. We had always been so close, and I missed her more with each passing day. I could not believe she would not be there to watch me walk down the aisle.
My eyes scanned the row of wedding gowns, finally resting on one dress in particular. Bringing my hand up to it, I let my fingers trail along the beaded bodice, appreciating it's simple elegance. With it's feminine, off-the-shoulder neckline and stunning Chantilly lace detail, it had a glamorous vintage feel to it I simply couldn't resist. I had to remind myself to breathe. Gingerly, I lifted it from its place and held it up for Ruby to see.
"Oh, Addy!" she gasped, bringing her fingers to her mouth. "It's perfect." Embracing me once more, Ruby whispered, "Mags would be so happy."
My voice caught in my throat. I knew she was right.
I hadn't expected to see Jake at the funeral, but there he was, looking even more handsome than I had remembered. I knew then after all those years, I was still in love with him. Awkwardly, I approached him, not even knowing where to start. I had so many questions--like, was he married?
He was not.
Suddenly, I was thrilled I had not brought Christopher along with me. He'd wanted to come to the funeral, but for some reason, I declined.
Fate? I had to wonder.
Jake was genuinely upset about Mags' passing and offered his sincere condolences. She had been so wonderful to so many people, and there wasn't a dry eye in the very crowded house. He took me out for a drink after the luncheon that followed the funeral and we reminisced about the past and that one magical summer we had spent together when I was eighteen. He told me I had broken his heart.
Jake now owned a small ranch thirty minutes outside of San Antonio, Texas, and said that he worked for the city as an environmental engineer. Our exchange was uncomplicated and comfortable, as if the miles and years had never even separated us. We were both in town for the next couple of days and ended up spending most of it together. Before we went our separate ways, Jake professed his love to me and I could not stop myself from admitting the same. And he presented me with a gift...one I hadn't expected.
"What's this?" I asked, as I took the small burgundy box from his hand.
Jake slightly shrugged one shoulder and I could feel a twinge of mounting anxiety. "Just a little something I wanted to give you a long time ago, but never got the chance."
I crinkled my eyebrows, unable to imagine what it could be. Slowly, I lifted the top of the hinged velvet box and my breath caught in my throat. I looked up at Jake and studied him carefully, trying to make sense of the unexpected surprise.
"That afternoon we spent together at my aunt and uncles house ... right after the Strawberry Festival, when we shared that bottle of wine," he explained in a soft voice. I knew what he was getting at. "Afterward, I went back to the fair and walked around for awhile, trying to clear my head. I knew I was in trouble. I hadn't meant to fall in love with you, that wasn't part of my plan, but I couldn't help myself. It was unavoidable. It was fate ..." his voice trailed off, thick with emotion.
"Jake--I'm so sorry, I--"
He interrupted, not allowing me to rehash my regret. "It's alright, Addison, you don't need to apologize. I understand why you did what you did." Jake studied me with those eyes. "Anyway, I found this and it made me think of you. I wanted you to remember our summer together and how happy we were, regardless of how it would all end. I wanted to leave you with something to remember the good times. Something that proved how much you meant."
My eyes filled with tears as I looked back and forth between Jake and the velvet box. I couldn't believe it. It really was one of the most thoughtful gifts I had ever received. I swallowed back a sob and tried to regain my composure. "I love it. I love you. I never stopped," I whispered, not trusting the sound of my voice. "Will you help me put it on?"
Jake reached over and gently lifted the thin, silver chain. I turned around and lifted my hair, allowing him to fasten the delicate necklace around my neck. I swiveled and faced him, my heart thumping in my chest, just as it had done so many times all those years before. "Thank you, Jake." I reached up and gave him a tight hug, still not able to believe his incredible sweet and undeniably romantic gesture. I stepped away from him and looked down, my fingers carefully lifting the small strawberry charm. "It's perfect. But... Why did you bring it with you now? How did you know?"
A sheepish grin suddenly spread across his face, revealing that dimple I found irresistible. "I brought it just in case. What can I say, Addison. You're a hard woman to forget."
Breaking things off with Christopher had been very difficult, but I'd had no choice. I was not about to lose Jake again. I had learned my lesson the hard way, and I was not planning on screwing things up for a second time.
It wasn't long before Jake proposed and, of course, I had said yes. We would be married the following spring in Lakeside, on my grandparent's farm, where we had first met. I knew that Mags would be there--if only in spirit.
"I still can't believe you're leaving me and moving to Texas," Ruby said, her eyes glistening with fresh tears.
Smiling at her, I replied, "I'm going to miss you, too, Ruby. But I promise we'll see each other as often as our schedules allow."
Ruby nodded her head and turned away, dabbing discreetly at her eyes. They say the first trimester of pregnancy can make the mother-to-be very emotional, but Ruby wore it well.
The only wedding request Jake had made was that instead of toasting to champagne on our big day, we would toast to strawberry wine. And I had to agree--it was the perfect choice.
I looked down at the beautiful garment lying in my arms and slowly walked over to the full-length mirror positioned in the center of the boutique. My breath caught as I held the wedding dress up against myself in the reflection. It was as if it had been made for me.
Just like Jake.
The End.
*Continue reading for bonus chapters told from Jake's POV!
This is the end of Strawberry Wine but the beginning of Jake and Addy's life together. I want to thank you all once again for joining me every week to watch this love story unfold! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I especially hope you're pleased with the ending.
The much longer version of Strawberry Wine is available on Amazon NOW! You'll get to see what happened during Jake and Addy's years apart and what brought them back together (there's also some new steamy scenes you won't want to miss)!
If you liked this final chapter--I ask that you please hit that star. Your votes and comments help get my story out there for others to read. Thank you again for making this experience so much fun! And if you'd really like to help me out, leaving a review of this story on Amazon would be very much appreciated. Most readers don't think of leaving reviews but they're so very helpful to debut authors like me. And I'd love you forever!!!
Now go and listen to the song ⪠Strawberry Wine ⫠by Deana Carter and think of Jake and Addy--it's in the media section at the top of your screen!
With Love and Gratitude Always,
Darly (aka Monrosey)
(Original draft approx. 38, 000 words. Soon-to-be published version, roughly 90,000 words.)