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For the first time in her life Chelsea welcomed being alone and had decided to forge a personal life for herself in Madison with or without Jared.
She deserved a man who wasn’t afraid to love her with all his heart, and the only way she’d ever meet one was to look. She planned to start…she just couldn’t bring herself to start yet, but it would be soon.
What if she never met someone else she could love with all her heart, the way she loved Jared?
No, she wouldn’t consider that because the thought was too depressing.
But after carrying Jared in her heart for ten years, she didn’t have much hope of falling for someone else.
“What time are you supposed to meet your brother?” Leslie asked, tying off a black balloon. Although most of the room boasted brightly colored decorations, they’d opted to adorn a table just for Will with black crêpe paper, streamers, and balloons. As a gag, Chelsea had bought a silver crown and pasted a Birthday Boy sign across the front.
“At six.” She watched Leslie tape the balloon to Will’s special table. “I’ll have him here by six-thirty.”
“The guests are arriving at six?”
“Yes.” Chelsea smiled at her friend. “I really appreciate you playing hostess until I get back with my brother.”
“My pleasure.” Leslie’s cheeks brightened. “Will’s a wonderful man, and I’m sure he’ll appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into this for him.”
“Hey, you’ve worked just as hard,” Chelsea reminded her, giving credit where credit was due.
“It wasn’t any trouble.” Leslie’s gaze traveled around the room with pride. “Everything looks great, doesn’t it?”
“I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“My pleasure. I’d have gone crazy if I’d had to sit at home doing nothing a moment longer. Will won’t let me lift a finger. I’m pregnant, not an invalid.” She didn’t meet Chelsea’s eyes and her voice held an odd, dissatisfied note.
Were things not going well between her brother and Leslie? They loved each other. She knew they did. But, then, she was convinced she and Jared cared for each other, too, and just look at how far apart they were. Still, things would work out for her friend and her brother. They were expecting a baby and would find a way through whatever differences they were having.
A baby. Chelsea’s hand went to her abdomen. What would it be like to have Jared’s baby growing inside her? For his lovemaking to have given her a child?
It was possible. Although she wasn’t certain, she didn’t recall him having put on a condom. Yet surely he wouldn’t have risked making her pregnant when he so obviously didn’t want to have anything to do with her.
“You’d better go home and get dressed,” Leslie said, not commenting on where Chelsea’s palm rested or the faraway look she knew had settled into her eyes.
“All I need to do is slip on my dress. No big deal.”
“Yeah right.” Leslie smiled knowingly. “There’s going to be a certain doctor here tonight I know you want to impress.”
“There’s nothing between Jared and I. We went to lunch a few times and tried being friends,” Chelsea admitted, hoping her cheeks didn’t reveal what else they’d done. “But he reconsidered even that, and I’m tired of waiting. I’m through with him,” she murmured bravely, hoping that to verbalize the words could convince her heart.
“Oh, Chelsea, I’m sorry,” Leslie sympathized. “I’d hoped things would work out with you and Jared. He’s a fool if he can’t see what a wonderful woman you are.”
“I’m OK.” And she would be. With or without Jared, she’d manage just fine. Somehow.
Jared finger-combed his still damp hair. He’d grabbed a quick shower and change of clothes after leaving the hospital.
Lacey had looked good. For the first time in weeks he’d heard her laugh. She’d had reason to. Caden had spoken his first word today. “Mommy.”
The entire hospital had cheered at his major step in overcoming his injuries.
In many ways, Jared felt as if he, too, had won a victory in the boy’s remarkable recovery. In his mind he’d tangled up Lacey and Caden with Laura and their baby. Silly, as Laura had only been five months pregnant at the time of the car crash. But in his mind Lacey and Caden had been his second chance. His opportunity to make right what wrongs he could.
Caden had a long way to go, and he might never run any marathons, but with each day he regained more and more use of his body. With therapy, the boy would walk again.
Lacey wouldn’t have to live with the guilt that Jared did day in and day out.
He sighed, his gaze landing on Will’s special place of honor. His pal would get a kick out of his sister’s efforts. She’d decorated the ballroom with gusto, seeing to every last detail.
