“Go on,” her mom said. “We’ll talk soon. You call me anytime.”
“I love you, Mom,” Jenny said.
“Love you too, chipmunk,” her mom said with a smile in her voice.
Jenny hung up and hurried out to Gael, her heart aching at the idea that she really couldn’t afford to have Erik in her life.
When she got out to the shop, Gael and his new friend started jumping up and down and pleading for a playdate at the park, huge smiles on both their faces, and the icy splinters in her heart began to melt.
This is who I’m doing it for,she reminded herself, looking at Gael’s beautiful smile.His happiness is worth everything.
15
JENNY
Jenny stood with Gael in the living room of their suite at the inn, smoothing back his hair and admiring his sweater.
“Do I look just right for a rehearsal dinner?” Gael asked.
“Yes,” Jenny said. “You look very handsome, just right for any occasion.”
“Thank you,” he told her. “You look very beautiful.”
She smiled, though her heart was a little heavy today. Ana had set aside this simple, pretty dress for her to wear tonight. It was a lilac wrap dress with just enough flowy fabric to float a little when she spun around. She honestly felt like a princess.
It’s not real,she told herself for the hundredth time.
“So how was your datereally?” Gael asked heragain. “Likereally,really? Did he tell you he’s in love with you and wants tomorrow to be a real wedding?”
Jenny smiled at Gael, whose eyes were shining at the romantic idea of her fake engagement magically becoming real. And he had no idea how close he was to hitting the nail on the head in terms of the feelings swirling between Jenny and Erik.
But there was no point letting Gael think something was going to happen if it wasn’t.
“Listen,” she said, sitting down on the sofa and patting the seat next to her.
He sat, his smile fading, but his eyes still trained on hers.
“This has been a lot of fun,” she told Gael. “And I do care about Erik, he’s an old friend, and I want the very best for him. But this is not a good time for me to have a serious boyfriend.”
“Why not?” Gael asked, looking scandalized.
“First of all,” she said. “I have you to look out for now. And Erik doesn’t even live nearby. I don’t see how it could work.”
“We could move,” Gael said.
She was so surprised that she just blinked at him for a second.
“I know that’s easy to say,” Jenny said, recovering. “But our lives are in Boston. You’ve always lived there. That’s where your school is, and your friends are there.”
“They have schools here too,” Gael said, shrugging. “And Ben Webb is my friend. I could learn to ride a horse, and hang out at the Center, and visit Miss Trudy and Mr. Ward.”
“Oh,” Jenny said.
“It’s nice here,” Gael went on. “Maybe when I grow up I’ll start a peach orchard. There’s plenty of space for one. You can’t start a peach farm in Boston.”
“That’s…true,” Jenny allowed.
“But you’re still saying no?” he guessed, his voice soft and sad.
