Heidi paused, let out a laugh that sounded like it ripped from her soul as she stood up. “I woke up this morning and realized the date – see, about this time, I should have been making the biggest mistake of my life. It’s my wedding day, and I’m not sure I can handle much more of anything else right now without having a mental breakdown.”
Jack collapsed in his seat, shocked, as Heidi turned to look at him with a pained smile on her face that almost looked like a grimace.
“It’s not you – it’s me,” she said hoarsely.
“I understand,” he replied in a hushed, flat voice,realizing she must have loved that other guy quite a bit to feel this angry.
“Well, I don’t,” Mimi interrupted, plainly causing both of their heads to swing around and look at her in shock. “Do you have to be told everything – step by step? If a horse throws you, you get back on and show them who’s the boss or find another horse – while gelding the first one.”
“Oh my gosh,” Jack muttered, rubbing his forehead in dismay – only to hear a strangled laugh bubbling up from Heidi where she was seated beside him.
“I can’tgeldhim – but it would be funny.”
“Sure, you can - not physically but mentally,” Mimi stressed confidently. “When someone hurts you, the best thing you can do is succeed. Be happy somewhere else or with someone else. You brag about it, taunt them with your joy, and show them exactly what they missed out on – and celebrate the fact that they can never hurt you again.”
The clock on the wall ticked in the silence. Jack stared at his grandmother in sheer amazement and awe because she had this uncanny way of turning things around for her benefit – and his. He’d been so horrified that Heidi was supposed to get married today, felt such a sense of loss because she was obviously not over this man, but then… this.
“Don’t let your ex win,” Mimi said softly. “Women play the game better than that – and it’s okay to get sidetracked for a moment, but never forget who you are, what you are, what you can be.”
“And what’s that?” Heidi asked, her voice tiny and hushed – in so much contrast to that earlier angry woman that he realized his grandmother was reaching her, saying what she needed to hear. It had to come from another woman, someone she’d bonded with, someone she trusted – and Heidi didn’t trust him… yet.
“You are a gorgeous woman who has her whole life ahead of her, a phoenix that rises from the fire with glory, someone who’s capable of burning brightly and shining no matter what… You just need a little shove to fly, my pretty birdie,” Mimi offered, squeezing her hand. “And a you’ve already found a safe place to land…”
“But…”
“But nothing,” Mimi interrupted gently and then looked at him. “Jack – go get the truck so us girls can have a private chat.”
“It’s okay…”
“Jack –go.”
He didn’t have to be told twice. His grandmother was obviously in favor of him dating someone; she’d suggested a few women in the past that he’d shot down, and she hadn’t pressed him again – until now. Mimi obviously really liked Heidi and wanted her to stick around. Every time Heidi had mentioned leaving, his grandmother’s eyes had shot to him to see if he was in favor of this.
He wasn’t.
Walking out the front door, he put his full faith in whatever happened next, whatever was said between his grandmother and Heidi – because he simply couldn’t compete. The woman he was fond of was shutting him down simply because he was a guy… and nothing would change that. As he got to the main house, he grabbed his notepad of things to pick up at the store and his keys. He’d take the truck because today was his off day, and what he needed to purchase wouldn’t fit in the cruiser.
It wasn’t as plush, but it would get the job done.
Putting the truck in reverse, he pulled out of the grass and onto the old brick-paver driveway that made a U-shape in front of the old Victorian house he’d bought and rolled forward. Spotting Heidi, he lifted a hand and saw hernervous smile once again as she nodded, walking toward him. He saw her cast a nervous glance over her shoulder – but nothing stopped her. As she opened the door to the truck, she climbed inside and sat there for a moment staring straight ahead.
“Are you okay?” he asked politely. “I just need to get a few things and…”
“I’m not – but I will be,” she interrupted coolly, before turning to look at him. “You mentioned spending the day together?”
“I did,” his chest clenched in awareness, hope, and understanding as her eyes searched his. She gave him a slow nod a moment later and reached for her seatbelt, clicking it into place.
“All right, Prince Charming – show me what you’ve got.”
Jack’s breath escaped him in a rush as her words slammed into him with precision. She looked less than happy, but she was giving him a chance to spend the day with her, take her out, and have a conversation – all of it.
Suddenly, going to the hardware store didn’t seem like such a good idea.
Seven
HEIDI
Heidi thought sellingoff her things and taking off had been the craziest thing she’d ever done – but apparently not. No, it was dating a stranger from some small town on the day you should have been exchanging vows with the biggest loser in the world. It hadn’t hit her fully until she looked up from her plate, saw the calendar on Mimi’s wall, and it clicked like an explosion in her head, heart, and soul.
