Longing for Lily

Lily Bloom is confident, capable, and better off alone. She experienced true love once, and she thinks she’ll never find it again. Instead, she throws her energy into building her event business at Storybook Barn, helping others take the dive into happily ever after.

Josh Elliot is the life of the party, with a successful photography business and wonderful friends. But there is something missing. He never had a doubt about the woman God made for him, but he failed her twelve years ago. Forever isn’t in the cards for them, but since she started hosting weddings at Bloom’s Farm, he is tortured with the unobtainable love of his life nearly every weekend.

Lily’s wedding venue and Josh’s photography business bring their worlds colliding once again, bringing old wounds to the surface and forcing the question: is what happened twelve years ago going to keep them apart forever? Or can God rescue the pieces of the love they once shared?

 Longing for Lily is Book 5 in the popular Bloom Sisters Series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but this family will have you coming back for more!

Bev Piper5.0 out of 5 stars Bloom Family Series

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022

Just finished reading the entire intriguing little series of love and Christian faith centered around all 7 of the siblings within the Bloom family. My favorite was Daisy, no Poppy……actually Rose, maybe…..truth be told, I couldn’t wait to start the next book & was captured instantly into what came next for the Bloom family. The leading of the Lord and their openness to listen to His direction was a reminder to me….continue to pray for His blessings, to thank Him for His love & forgiveness but most importantly to take more time to listen…..Looking forward to reading all of your books Tara Grace Ericson ❤️ May God continue to bless you!!

Lily couldn’t believe Josh was here. Well, the
truth was Josh had always weaseled his way into their family gatherings. All
her life, it was Josh and Hawthorne, Hawthorne and Josh. He had been around
nearly as much as her own siblings. Here he was again, crashing their family
Thanksgiving.

It was hard enough seeing him during the
weddings he had booked at Storybook Barn over the last year or two. Then he and
Hawthorne got all buddy-buddy again and he played Best Man at their wedding a
few months ago. Other than one brief, heated moment where Lily reiterated that
their past was better left in the past, the wedding had been uneventful. But
somehow, Josh just kept popping back into their lives. Lavender’s new
boyfriend, Emmett, was Josh’s roommate. Emmett hadn’t won himself any favors
when Lavender came to Lily crying about him a few weeks ago. It had all worked
out, but Lily was still skeptical.

Lily listened to the conversation happening at
the table, while she turned to the stove and packed up leftovers.

Lavender spoke up, “Oh, Josh! I’ve been meaning
to talk to you about something.” Lily perked up and turned to watch from a
distance. “I’m a bit behind on the project, but Lily and I were talking about
setting up a few recommended photographers for Bloom’s Farm.” Lily’s eyes
widened as her sister continued. Hadn’t she told Lavender not to ask Josh? “You
know, people who book events here have to use our photographers and in exchange they get a special rate from you?” Lily leaned back against the stove when she realized she had forgotten to give Lavender the names of other photographers to
ask.

“Why not let them choose their own photographer?” Hawthorne asked between bites of pecan pie.

Lavender easily flipped into business mode, and
Lily filled with pride at the confidence of her little sister. “For one, it’s
nice to give people a recommendation. The more a photographer shoots at a
location, the better they can capture lighting and good spots. Plus, if photos
from weddings here are only really beautiful photos, it protects our image.”

Josh nodded along. “Sure, sounds cool.”

“Lovey,” she referred to her sister by her
nickname, “I thought we had discussed a few other photographers? I’m sure Josh
is busy and doesn’t need our help to find clients.”

Josh shrugged. “Actually, I’d love to do more
weddings out here. It’s a great location. What do you need from me?”

“That’s awesome. It’ll be cool to have you out
here more often,” Hawthorne said.

Her mother clapped her hands together, “Oh, how
wonderful! Your photography and our event center are a perfect match!”

Lily wanted to push back but felt the eyes of
her family on her. There was no reason—as far as anyone else knew—that she
should care if Josh was a contracted photographer. Except there was far more
history between her and Josh than anyone around here knew about. Even more than
Josh knew about, actually. If he was going to be photographing weddings out
here more often, that meant seeing him more, which was the last thing she
wanted.

She pressed her lips together into a smile.
“Sounds great.”

Josh flashed her one of his signature grins, and
Lily turned back to the leftovers. He had always been far too charming for his
own good—and hers.

* * *

Josh tried not to let it sting when Lily didn’t
return the smile. It had been like this for years, but she didn’t seem to be
softening toward him at all. Despite the half a dozen weddings he had
photographed at Bloom’s Farm over the last year, they were no closer to being
friends than they were twelve years ago when things fell apart.

He scooped a huge helping of whipped cream onto
his pie and turned to join another conversation. “What do you think of your
first Bloom family dinner, Em?” It had been a crazy coincidence when his
roommate’s online girlfriend ended up being Lavender!

Emmett laughed. “Actually, it’s great.
Everything Thanksgiving should be.” Josh nodded in agreement. From what he knew of Emmett’s childhood, there hadn’t been many happy family dinners in the
foster system. Josh knew he was blessed to have his parents, even though they’d
ditched him this year for some beach resort in the Caribbean. His sister Mandy
and her husband Garrett were spending Thanksgiving elsewhere, which left Josh
scrounging for leftovers at Bloom’s Farm.

Emmett deserved someone great. Even though he
wasn’t officially part of the Bloom family, Josh still considered Lavender like
a little sister. His glance flicked back to Lily. Hawthorne had been Josh’s
best friend all through middle school and high school.

And Lily?

She’d been his best friend’s gorgeous and
slightly older sister. Hawthorne had no idea just how close Lily and Josh had
gotten all those years ago, when Josh was barely twenty-one. He’d probably
string Josh up by his toenails if he knew.

It hardly mattered now. Whatever might have been
twelve years ago was ancient history. He’d give anything to do it over and make
better choices, but that was never an option. Instead, he’d be happy if he and
Lily could work together as colleagues, or better yet, as friends. He’d moved
on, hadn’t he?

“Hey, Lil,” he waited for her to turn and tried
not to smirk at her raised eyebrow. “Could we step outside and talk?” Her eyes
widened, and he saw something uncertain in her eyes. Fear? He stepped around
Lavender and Emmett toward her. “I’d like to discuss the photography contract
with you while we’re here.”

“Boo,” Hawthorne yelled from the table. “No work
on Thanksgiving.” Rose coughed and cleared her throat. Hawthorne waved his hand in response. “Taking care of the animals doesn’t count. You love it so much, it
barely counts as work.”

Daisy reached over and smacked her brother on
the back of the head. “Be nice, or she’ll make you clean the chicken coop.”

Laughter rang out around the table as Hawthorne
apologized profusely and entirely insincerely. Josh looked back at Lily,
separated from the group. “Want to take a walk?”

She hesitated, and Josh hated the insecurities
he felt waiting on her response. Finally, she nodded and set the dish towel on
the counter. She led him outside to the back deck of the main house. It had a
gorgeous view of the rolling hills, neat rows of harvested crops visible across
the pasture.

Josh hadn’t grabbed a jacket and the weather was
cool. Later in the evening, when the sun dropped below the tree line, it would
be downright chilly. He looked at Lily, who pulled her sweater tighter around
her tiny frame. Had she lost weight? She looked so delicate. Fragile almost,
though he knew from experience that she was tough as nails. Running weddings
was not for the faint of heart, and Lily could hold her own. But the usual
stern look on her face had turned wistful, and he longed to brush the piece of
fallen hair back behind her ear.

Josh cleared his throat. It didn’t do any good
to wish things could be different. “So about this contract. I meant what I
said, I’d love to do it. But if you aren’t comfortable, I can find my own business. I’m a big boy, Lil. Do what you need to do.”

She scoffed lightly and gave an exaggerated nod
to his towering height. “Yeah, I’d say you’re definitely big enough. Geez,
Josh. Are you taking supplements or something?”

Josh couldn’t fight the grin that crossed his
face. “Just too much time on my hands and a gym membership. Why? See something
you’re interested in?” He flexed his bicep under the rolled-up sleeve of his
button-down shirt.

Lily rolled her eyes. “Hardly. It’s fine if you
want to be one of the photographers. I’m sure Lavender can work up some sort of contract. We require our brides to choose from our list of vendors, you give
them a discount, yada yada.” Her silver bracelets jingled softly as Lily waved
her hands.

Josh nodded then gestured for Lily to go ahead
of him down the stairs from the deck to the grass. “Alright. I’m fine with
that. I’d like the freedom to bring other couples or families here for photos
as well, if that’s okay.”

Lily shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me. Just check in
with Hawthorne so he knows you’re on-site. We can probably get you a radio so
you can be in contact with everyone if you’re wandering around. Never know what
might happen.”

That was a good thought. Josh wasn’t surprised
Lily would consider every possible contingency. They strolled across the yard,
then along the edge where the mown lawn bordered the longer prairie grass and a
barbed wire fence separated them from the expanse of pasture. “Sounds good.”
The wind whipped through Lily’s hair, and she turned toward him to push it away
from her face.

Everything inside him wanted to reach for her
hand. He was itching to say all the words that had been unsaid for twelve
years. “Lily, I—” He choked on the words and stepped back.

“It was a long time ago, Josh,” she whispered.

He shut his eyes to the pain her words triggered. Sometimes he wondered if he imagined their past, because she seemed
so unaffected by it. It was difficult, and yet reassuring, to know that she
wasn’t as cavalier as she seemed.

“We’re not that old yet,” he responded. “At
least, I’m not. You, on the other hand…” His attempt at humor fell flat and
earned him a pained look from Lily. “Look, all I’m saying is it hasn’t been
that long. Maybe… it isn’t too late.” It felt like yesterday when they’d tearfully agreed to part ways in the loft of the barn. The mistakes they’d
made—mistakes he’d made—seemed insurmountable at the time.

Lily turned away, her gaze focused on some
distant point across the pasture. He studied her profile, hoping she’d look
back at him. She didn’t look back, and when she spoke again, her voice was
stronger. “If we are going to work together, it has to be as friends. Nothing
more. Whatever history we have has to stay in the past, Josh.”

He swallowed the knot in his throat and nodded.
“Yeah, okay. It’ll be like it never happened.” If only that were true. Maybe if
it had never happened, he’d actually have a chance to win her over. He’d never
questioned that Lily Bloom was the woman for him. It was true twelve years ago,
despite their carefree attitude at the time.

It was true now, too. But there were consequences of sin, and he would deal with the consequences of his for the
rest of his life. He hadn’t been the man Lily needed him to be back then. And
clearly, he wouldn’t get the chance to try again.

Which meant he’d be working in close proximity
to the one woman he could never have.

At weddings.

Almost every weekend.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

They’d wandered a fair distance away from the
house, down the dirt road toward Storybook Barn and the Bloom’s Farm Bed and
Breakfast run by Lily’s sister Daisy. He could see the event barn standing tall
on a hill near the entrance to the farm. “You’ve done an amazing job out here,
Lil.”

“Thanks.”

She didn’t elaborate, and Josh shoved the
disappointment back down. Lily rubbed her arms over the sleeves of her sweater
and he realized how far the sun had dropped while they walked. “We should
probably head back to the house. It’ll be dark soon.” They turned around and
started the unhurried walk toward the main house. “I’ll be back out here in a
few weeks for the Anderson-Smoak wedding on the twenty-third.”

Lily snorted and Josh chuckled before commenting, “She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?”

Lily’s eyebrows jumped as she shook her head.
“I’ve worked with some high-strung brides over the last few years, but Jenny
Smoak takes the cake. Or she would, except she is insisting on macarons and petits fours.”

Josh laughed at Lily’s dramatic accent of the desserts.

Lily looked at him with an exasperated eye roll.
“Seriously, that’s how she says it. Macarons.”

“I’m sure she just wants everything to be
perfect. Which, since you are in charge, it will be.” Jenny was definitely a
bit…demanding. When clients were difficult, he tried to remember the money that
was being spent and the memories being made on the special day.

Lily sighed. “I know it’ll be fine. It always is.” Josh wasn’t sure what had happened to the carefree young woman he’d fallen in love with in high school. But compared to his memories, Lily always seemed
sad and slightly upset.

He stopped in his tracks and turned to her,
setting a hand gently on her arm. “Are you happy, Lil?” Were those tears
swimming in her eyes or was he imagining things?

Lily stepped back, and he ignored the urge to
close the distance again. “I’m fine, Josh. This business is everything I
dreamed of. I might complain about a bride every now and then, but this is what
I want to be doing.”

Josh held up his hands in surrender at the
defensive tone in her voice. “Okay, okay.” He ducked slightly to look in her
eyes. “I still care about you, and I want you to be happy.”

“I don’t need you to care about me, Josh. We tried
that before. I just…I just need you to take pictures, okay?”

Josh pressed his lips together and tried to
ignore the barb of her words. He took a few steps backward, widening the gap
between them. If she didn’t want him to be any more than a business colleague,
then that’s what he would be. Even if it killed him to see the pain and shadows
in her eyes. Even if he’d once been able to make her smile with just a word.
That was a long time ago. Clearly, she’d moved on.