Shattered boards and splintered pieces of wood littered the ground around him. He knelt in the dirt to get a better look. He scratched his head. “That’s weird. It looks like it was broken right through.”

  A dark shadow crossed over him and he tilted his head toward the sky. Ominous charcoal-colored clouds lingered in the sky above him, looking angry and warring. They hardly moved in any direction and Jackson noticed how they increased in size as the color turned even darker. “Get to work before these clouds dump on you, idiot,” he said out loud.

  He quickly hammered at the broken boards and replaced the old shattered pieces with new, perfect ones. Subconsciously, his thoughts gravitated toward Caroline. The color of her green eyes drifted into his mind and he smacked the side of his head with his free hand. He winced at the self-inflicted blow. Pieces of conversations replayed until he shouted into the air around him, “Just leave me alone! You didn’t want me! Get out of my head!” He slammed his boots into the dirt and pieces flew in every direction.

  He hated that he had allowed himself to feel so much for someone who was never available to him. He also hated how he let himself believe that they could end up together. His heart had definitely convinced his mind that she would leave her boyfriend for him. And when she didn’t—well, everything changed. He stopped believing in love. And even though he allowed himself to date Sally from the bar, he didn’t allow himself to feel a single thing for her.

  Rain started to fall lightly as Jackson finished up the final board. He fastened the tools back onto his belt and headed toward the horse that watched his every move. The rain fell harder as each drop crashed into a branch, or leaf, the sounds building to a crescendo all around him. Lily pulled tightly at the reins with a nervous whinny, her tugging only securing the knot further.

  Jackson stroked her neck slowly, hoping to reassure her. “Okay, girl, we’re leaving.” He worked at the knot as lightning lit up the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. Lily refused to keep her large body still, clearly spooked by the storm. Jackson continued to fight with the knot until it loosened. He quickly unwrapped the leather from the tree as lightning blasted through the sky and struck the ground in front of him.

  He jumped back as Lily bucked violently and stood on her hind legs, half crazed. Jackson fought fiercely with her, but knew he was no match for a full-sized horse. She was out of control and Jackson did everything in his power to calm her and regain control. He wrapped the reins tightly around his hands.

  “It’s okay, Lily. Calm down. Calm down,” he shouted through the battering storm. He held onto her reins as securely as he could. He tried to pull her head down and hold her steady, but she wouldn’t stop bucking. Another bolt of lightning shot out from the now almost black sky and Jackson realized he couldn’t hold on any longer.

  He desperately tried to unwrap the reins he had just wrapped so tightly from around his hands. He knew that if he didn’t get them undone quickly, Lily could take off and he would be powerless to do anything except drag along behind her.

  Lily continued to buck and kick in fear as Jackson frantically tried to get loose. “Come on! Come on!” he screamed into the pounding rain and wind. “Almost got it,” he thought as Lily kicked one final time with ferocity. He watched helplessly as her back leg came into view. “Lily, N-!” he screamed as his body suddenly slammed violently into the ground below. Blood spilled from the side of his head, mixing with the rain and dirt. Jackson lay there motionless as Lily ran off, dragging the loose reins behind her.

  Jackson drifted in and out of consciousness. He tried to move, but didn’t have the strength. The rain fell mercilessly against his face and stung whenever it struck the open wound in his head. He closed his eyes and wondered if anyone would come for him, or if he would die in that field, all alone.

  Caroline’s face flashed in his mind and this time he welcomed the image. She smiled as strands of sun-streaked blonde hair fell in front of her eyes. I love you, he heard her voice say. Instinctively, he reached out to touch her, but the image faded. As he drifted between states of awareness, all he could think about was her. His eyes slammed shut and blackness enveloped him.

  ****

  Bailey bounced happily into Caroline’s bedroom wearing a dark blue, knee-length dress. Caroline stopped fussing with her hair and turned. “Wow, Bails, you look stunning!”

  Bailey twirled around. “Thanks! Now what’s going on with you?”

  “I don’t know what the hell to do with my hair.” Caroline turned back to the mirror.

  “I’ll do it for you,” Bailey said as she reached for the hot curling iron.

  “Thank God.” Caroline watched as pieces of her long blond hair were twirled delicately around the heated iron.

  “It’s the last time I’ll ask, I promise. But have you heard from him?”

  “Not since that day.”

  “How long has it been?” Bailey tested.

  “Almost twelve weeks.”

  “Still counting, eh? Well, that’s healthy.”

  “Shut up.” Caroline laughed.

  “How are you holding up?” Bailey asked with an edge of seriousness.

  “It’s hard,” Caroline admitted honestly, “Shouldn’t I be freaking over him by now?”

  “Maybe you’ll never truly be over him…”

  “Well, that sucks. Aren’t you supposed to make me feel better? This IS my engagement party you know.”

  “Well, maybe you’re engaged to the wrong guy.”

  Caroline whipped her head to glare at Bailey. “Ow!”

  “Don’t move! You can’t whip your head around like that when I have your hair all tangled up.”

  “Bailey!” Caroline chastised.

  “I’m kidding. Gosh, calm down,” Bailey seemed nonchalant while she continued to fuss with Caroline’s hair. “There. Perfect.” She admired the reflection in the mirror.

  “Oh, that does look nice.” Caroline’s usually slick straight hair had been transformed into varying lengths of thick, wavy curls. The sides were pulled back loosely with jeweled clips that sparkled. “Thank you.”

  Bailey helped her slip into her black party dress, making sure not to mess up her hair. Caroline dug around in her overly stuffed bag and pulled out a pair of silver heels still wrapped in plastic.

  “Nice shoes,” Bailey commented.

  “I knew you’d like them.”

  They heard the doorbell ring and the sound of Clay’s familiar voice, followed closely by the sound of his parents, echoed down the hall. “Show time,” Caroline said and took Bailey by the arm.

  Clay’s jaw dropped when he saw Caroline walking toward him. “Wow, baby, you look gorgeous!”

  She feigned a smile and leaned in to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself,” she said, admiring the charcoal gray dress pants that accompanied a surf brand button-down black shirt.

  “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. It’s great to see you.” She hugged both of his parents who beamed with approval.

  “It’s great to see you, Caroline. You look beautiful.” The overly animated tone made the butterflies in Caroline’s stomach come alive. Her knees started to weaken as nerves took over her previously calm body.

  “Jan, is that you I hear?” Caroline’s mom yelled from the kitchen.

  “Yes it is, mother of the bride!” And with that, Clay’s mom rushed through the kitchen door.

  ****

  Lily galloped toward the farm and Jackson’s father noticed immediately that his son was absent from the horse’s back. He bolted out the front door and toward the horse that had finally slowed down to a nervous trot. “Lily…come here, Lil.” He noticed the mud-covered reins dragging on the ground and his heart sank. He looked into the distance for his son, but there was no sign of him.

  “Where’s Jackson?” A slender woman shouted from the front porch toward her husband.

  “I don’t know. Something’s not right, hon. Lily came back without him.” His brown eyes narrowed with worry. “You stay here, I’ll go find him.”

  He hopped onto the waiting horse and took off toward the far side of the property line where Jackson had been working. The rain dumped water at them with ferocious intensity as the lightning and thunder spooked Lily, even in a full gallop. “Jackson!” He screamed his son’s name while he rode, hoping to hear anything in response.

  “Where is he?” His father frantically turned his head in every direction, his eyes intensely scanning the surroundings. He rode to the broken fence, which he noted had been fixed, but still saw no sign of Jackson.

  “Jackson!” He shouted and quickly quieted his breath as he strained to listen over the pouring rain and Lily’s heaving breath. The horse led him near the tree where she had been tied and he noticed broken branches and upturned mud littered the ground. That’s when he spotted him. Just a shoe, at first.

  “Jackson?” His father leapt off the horse and ran over toward what he hoped was not his son’s body. “Jackson! Oh my God, Jackson!” Jackson lay in a small pool of blood, still unconscious. Terrified at the sight and unsure of what to do, he reached for his cell phone and dialed 911.

  “Hello? I need an ambulance at the Parks Ranch. My son is unconscious and he’s bleeding from his head. What? I’ll check.” He bent down and grabbed his son’s wrist.

  “Yes, he has a pulse. I’m not sure how long he’s been out. I don’t know what happened; I found him like this. No, I won’t move him. Hurry. Please.” Tears started to fall from his eyes as for once in his life, he felt completely helpless. He disconnected the call and quickly called his wife.

  “Honey. I found Jackson, but he’s unconscious. Calm down. The ambulance is coming, but you’re going to have to help them find us. We’re at the far end of the property line. Where the broken fence was…do you remember where that is? Yes, near the old tree. Just wait for them. I don’t know, honey. Calm down. I know. I love you too.” He ended the call as soon as he could. He was too scared to deal with a frantic woman at the moment and he knew he would be useless at trying to calm her down.

  ****

  Crowds of people milled throughout Caroline’s parents’ modest backyard where white tables were arranged, each one covered with a crisp white linen. A solitary white candle surrounded by blood red roses adorned the center of each, where matching red, silk napkins sat perfectly folded beneath hand-written table cards.

  Caroline was stunned into silence, noting each new detail, her mouth constantly agape. “Our parents are insane,” she whispered into Clay’s ear.

  “You don’t like it?”

  “It’s so pretty. It’s just a bit much, don’t you think?”

  Clay looked around. “I think it’s perfect.” He placed a careful kiss on the top of her head. “Your hair looks really pretty.”

  “Thanks, babe.”

  She held on to Clay’s arm as they walked through the yard, thanking everyone for coming.

  “I don’t know half the people here,” Caroline confided into Clay’s ear.

  “Me either.”

  “Is this what our wedding’s gonna be like? A bunch of strangers sharing our special day?” Caroline’s stomach started to roll.

  He stopped walking and turned to face her. “No. We won’t let it.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.” He kissed her hand. “I think I hear your phone,” Clay said as he craned his neck in the direction of the house.

  “That’s weird. I thought I left it in my room.” She strained to listen until she too heard it ringing. “I hear it, too. Oh well, they can leave a message.”

  “What if it’s important?” Clay’s mind always seemed to be on work. It didn’t matter what they did, where they were, or what happened around them. He always made time for the office.

  Caroline’s mind instantly flashed to a scene in the future…the two of them at a soccer game, watching their son play. Clay’s phone rings and he once again apologizes for having to leave. He gives Caroline a quick kiss on the cheek before running off. All the while, their son is watching their dad leave his game for the umpteenth time. Her heart breaks a little as the scene in her mind fades.

  “You’re right. I’ll go see who it is.” She knew it wouldn’t be her office since they all knew she was out of town for the weekend. Nothing she did there was so important that it couldn’t wait for her return.

  She found her phone on a table near the back door, but didn’t recognize the number that was displayed. Her heart dropped when she realized it was the same area code as Jackson’s number. “Hello?” She quickly scooted inside the house for some privacy.

  “Caroline?”

  “Yes,” she responded cautiously. “Who’s this?”

  “I’m sorry. This is Alex, I’m one of…”

  She cut him off. “I know who you are. You’re one of Jackson’s friends. What’s up, this isn’t really a good time.” She peered out of the glass door and glanced over at Clay, who shrugged his shoulders in her direction. She gave him a quick wave and a smile to ward off any worry and watched as Clay turned and continued his conversation.

  “I’m sorry, but um…listen. Jackson got into a really bad accident. He’s in the hospital and I just thought someone should tell you.” Caroline’s pulse quickened at the fear and worry in Jackson’s friend’s voice.

  She walked into her room, closed the bedroom door, and sat on her bed. “What do you mean? What kind of accident? Is he okay?” The phone trembled in Caroline’s hand and goose bumps rose on her bare arms.

  “No, he’s not okay; we don’t know if he’s going to make it. It was a pretty bad accident. He was at the farm on his horse. We’re not sure what happened, but he’s in a really bad way, Caroline. I just thought you should know.”

  Caroline’s body numbed and her mind went blank. All she kept hearing in her head were Alex’s words repeating, “We don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

  “Caroline? Are you there?” Alex stopped the words from playing in her mind one last time.

  “I’m here. Where is he?” She swallowed her pride.

  “Albany Memorial.”

  “Okay.”

  “He loves you, you know.”

  “I know,” she admitted.

  “Okay. Well, I just figured someone ought to tell you,” Alex explained with an uncomfortable edge to his otherwise kind voice.

  “Thank you so much, Alex. I really appreciate it.”

  She hung up, her mind instantly filled with clarity. The idea of staying at this stupid party she never wanted in the first place seemed beyond ridiculous. How could she celebrate anything when Jackson was possibly dying in a hospital room on the other side of the country?

  Afraid the guilt might stop her, she refused to over-analyze what she was about to do. But the truth—her truth—could no longer be denied. She promptly changed out of her dress and into more comfortable clothes. She grabbed her purse and a jacket, and then went outside to look for Clay.

  She spotted his confused expression as he rushed to meet her. “What’s going on? Where are you going?” He took in her change of clothes with a disapproving glance.

  “I’m so sorry, Clay, but I have to go.”

  His brows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean, you have to go? Where are you going? Caroline? What’s going on?”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll tell you everything later, I promise. I’ll call you.” She ran toward the front of the house, refusing to look back.

  She heard her mother shout, “Caroline, honey, where are you going?”

  Pangs of guilt coursed through her as the beautiful party decorations and the trouble her parents had gone to flashed in her mind. But she didn’t stop running. She couldn’t. She’d explain it all to her parents later and prayed they’d understand.

  Bailey stood next to a buffet table and watched the scene unfold with a bright gleam in her eyes. She brought her wine glass to her lips and hesitating, lifted it in a subtle toast to Caroline, before taking a satisfied sip.

  As Caroline drove to the airport, the realization that she had left Clay alone in her parents’ back yard to pick up the pieces of her disappearance hit her. Thankfully, it was brief before it was hastily replaced by thoughts of Jackson. She parked her car, raced inside, and inquired about the next flight to New York.

  Luck, fate, or whatever you want to call it seemed to be on her side as the ticket agent informed her that seats were still available on the next flight. “Perfect. I’ll take one.”

  She pulled out her “for emergencies only” credit card and charged the one-way ticket on it. Her stomach flipped at the thought of a five-hour flight. She heard Alex’s voice repeating how Jackson wasn’t okay. They weren’t sure what happened, but he was in a bad way.

  How could she have been so stupid? How could she have tried to pretend these past few months that none of it mattered…that there was no Jackson Parks? She would never forgive herself if something happened to him.

  The ping of an incoming text broke her concentration. “What’s up?”

  Bailey’s question forced Caroline to remember the party she had just ditched…and Clay. She’d never go through with this flight if she allowed herself to think about the upcoming consequences of her actions.

  She responded, “So sorry, Bails, Jax is in the hospital and apparently he’s not okay. Flying to Albany now.” Five seconds after she hit Send her phone rang, making her jump from the ringtone that played.

  “What? What happened to him?” Bailey freaked.

  “I don’t know. I got a call from one of his friends telling me that he was in the hospital and that he was in a bad way. A BAD WAY, Bails. How could I have been so stupid?”

  “You’re not stupid. And just for the record…you’re doing the right thing.”

  Bailey’s reassurance gave Caroline a brief moment of peace. “Thank you. Oh geez, how’s Clay?”