Secrets of the Great Oak

Chapter 26

The weekend was anxiously awaited by both Jake and Anna. When Friday morning rolled around, Anna packed a small yellow duffel bag for the weekend with Jake. She packed clothes for three days, her shower stuff, and a small bear that Maggie gifted her years and years ago. Anna never slept without it.

"I'll see you guys Monday," Anna shouted in farewell to her parents as she left the house.

"Tell Stella we said 'hello'," her mom called after her.

Anna smiled and nodded, waving once more before following Jake out the door and to his car.

"So, they think you're staying with Stella, huh?" Jake mused, leaning across the seat to give Anna a quick kiss before leaving her driveway.

"I wasn't sure they'd let me go if I told them I was staying with you..." She trailed off, taking in the beautiful spring day in full swing beyond the window. When his hand gripped hers, she turned back to look at him.

"I'm looking forward to this weekend." He smiled over at her.

"Me too," she admitted, squeezing his hand.

"So, by the time you're done with your shift, I'll be at my show. Is Stella picking you up from work?"

"Yes, mother hen, Stella and I are going to hang out for a little bit, and then she's going to drop me off at your place for the night."

"For the whole weekend," Jake corrected, throwing a wink Anna's way.

"The whole weekend," Anna continued. "And then tomorrow, you're going to go flirt with a bunch of Maggie's old friends to try and get some answers out of them, while I wait at home like a good little girlfriend."

"And then, when I come home, I'm going to be a very good boyfriend to you." The promise made Anna's toes curl in her shoes.

The old Buick pulled up to the coffee shop and Anna spotted Tam inside, through the window. Her whole body stilled. This was the first time she'd actually work with Tam in a week. Her stomach knotted itself.

Jake seemed to notice too. "Maybe you'll get to talk to her today."

Anna looked back over at him. "Do you think that you two should talk?" Her question seemed to catch Jake off guard as his eyes widened.

"I hadn't thought about it. But, that might not be a bad idea," he said, "Maybe it could reestablish a friendship between us."

"That would be great; if we could all hang out again."

Jake squeezed her hand and tugged on it lightly, effectively turning her towards him.

"I love you and I'll see you later." He brushed a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"I love you too." And with that, she walked into the coffee shop, not quite ready to face Tam so soon.

***

Jake pulled away from the coffee shop and fished his phone out of his pocket. Dialing Noah, he waited for an answer.

"Hello, my friend," came Noah's cheery greeting in Jake's ear.

"Hey, man."

"You ready for Saturday?" Noah prodded. By the tone of his voice, Jake could tell that Noah had a stupid grin plastered on his face.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready for Saturday. But, tell me what the game plan is anyway."

"Girls are coming to my place. There's booze. There's music. It's all set up."