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Maybe that was part of my family’s problem—we had it too easy. We never worried about paying the mortgage. I’m not even sure we had one. It seemed like Momma’s and Daddy’s biggest worry was where we should vacation, foreign or domestic?
Ryder’s family knew what it was like not only to go without luxuries, but things like new clothes and cars that didn’t break down at least once a month. Just about everything they owned was a hand-me-down or bought used. Their mismatched furniture had an eclectic charm. But despite not having much in worldly wealth, they were the richest people I knew. They loved each other and God. They loved me. I hoped that was still true.
I picked up my phone and said a silent prayer before dialing their house number. Momma Jo didn’t believe in cell phones. With bated breath I waited for her to answer. After three rings she picked up. “Lord, someone better be dead, calling this late at night.” Oops. I guess it was ten there and they were early risers.
“I’m sorry for the late call, Miss Jolene.” I didn’t feel worthy to call her Momma Jo at the moment.
“Goodness gracious, girl, is this who I think it is?”
“It’s Shelby, ma’am.”
“Don’t use those fine manners with me. How are you, sugar?”
I sank into my pillows, relieved she even took my call. “I. Am. Sorry,” I choked out.
“I figured you would be, baby girl. Ya done made a mess of things, didn’t you?” She was never one to sugar coat things.
“Yes, I did.”
“Well, I’m still hoping to call you mine, so whatta ya goin’ do to fix it?”
Tears poured down my cheeks. After everything, she still wanted me. “I’m doing everything I can think of, even if it means backing off.”
“You always were a smart girl. Most of the time,” she added.
I deserved that one.
“Just don’t back off too much,” she continued. “The boy’s been pining for you for over a year now. A lot of bellyaching that I’m tired of hearing.”
A tiny laugh escaped me.
“I miss your laughter, sugar. Tell me how you’ve been faring this past year.”
“I’ve done my fair share of bellyaching too, but I’ve been good. I’ve missed you and Boone.”
“We’ve missed you too. Things haven’t been the same since you left. I think I cried a river last September on your wedding day that didn’t happen.”
I had too. I thought back to the organza gown with real pearl buttons and a chapel train. The one Ryder convinced me to sneak him into the bridal boutique and try on for him. My momma would have killed me had she known we went there together. That was anything but proper. I justified it because it wasn’t my dress; it was only the one I tried on. Mine was on order from the designer in London.
I’d never forgotten the way Ryder’s eyes had welled up with tears when I came out of the dressing room. The way he begged me to elope right then. He said he would have sold everything he had to buy the dress in the store and marry me that day. I wished I would have. After that is when things started falling apart. I thought maybe the whole seeing-the-bride-in-her-dress-before-the-ceremony-is-bad-luck was possibly true. Ryder started spending more time working, and apparently my parents upped their scheming. I did my part by falling for it all.
“Miss Jolene, I am so sorry. I thought . . . well . . . maybe I didn’t think, but you must know I wouldn’t have left him or you and Boone for all the world had I known the truth. I assume Ryder told you about what my parents did.”
“Uh-huh,” she sounded none too pleased.
“Those pictures broke me. Regardless, I should have been adult enough to face him.”
“Sugar, I’m not casting stones at you. Lord knows your momma and daddy were going to do what they could to stop that wedding. The pressure they put on you wasn’t ever right. And I warned my son the time he was keeping away from you was going to lead to a bad end. I didn’t think it would go this bad, but sometimes things have to come apart to go back together better and stronger than ever. That’s what I’m hoping for the two of you.”
I pulled up my sore legs and curled into myself. “I hope that too.”
“You’re going to have to do more than hope, baby girl. Promise me you’ll do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“My boy has a birthday on Wednesday. It’s the first year I won’t be with him to make his favorite cake. Can you do that for me?”
“The Chantilly lace and berry cake?” It was a special cake only made on his birthday, as it was quite expensive to make. Ryder looked forward to it every year.
