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She said, “Thanks for taking my trash,” and left her classroom. She left the building, and she drove back to her little cottage in a quiet suburb. Bea had lived out in the country, with miles and miles of fields and farmland. Cass had once owned a big, beautiful home on the western border of town, edged with woods. Lauren had lived in an older part of town near the beach, and Joy had loved going to each of their homes for Supper Club.
Her place sat on the smaller end of the scale, but it had a big lot which she enjoyed working in. Her flowers, trees, and bushes always made her smile, and today was no exception.
Bessie lived near the farms on the northwest side of town, and Sage had moved into a condo in downtown Sweet Water Falls after her divorce this past year. With only the three of them left, Joy had grown closer to Bessie and Sage, and they’d started a monthly luncheon outside of Supper Club they hadn’t told the others about.
Cherry Forrester had come to the first one, and Joy really was content with her life here.
She was.
She one-hundred-percent was.
Maybe if she told herself that enough, it would become true, because a pinch had started in her stomach, and it would not let go. She got out of her car and went inside, intending to do her afternoon gardening before she started dinner.
Her life was normal. This was what she did every other day of the week.
Somehow, today wasn’t just another day of the week. Hilton Head was an hour ahead of them, and Scott might already be getting ready for his date.
Her stomach flipped and churned, and Joy had to do something about it. With a shaking hand, she filled a glass with water and gulped it.
Then, without changing her clothes or taking another moment to think, she started typing out another message to Scott. Either he’d seize onto it and agree, or he’d reject her and go out on his date tonight.
Joy had to know either way, because if she was this skittish right now, she knew she’d never sleep tonight thinking about him having already gone on the date.
No, that couldn’t happen, and she had to let him know why he should forget about whoever he’d planned to take to dinner tonight and instead sit home on his couch and text with her.
“Dear Lord,” she prayed as she read over the message. It revealed everything. It left her bare and naked for him to see all the way into her heart. He wouldn’t have any questions about where she stood once she sent this message.Ifshe sent this message.
“If this isn’t the right thing to do, stop my finger now.” She moved it slowly toward the send button, and all she heard was the pounding of her heart.
So she sent the message.
28
Blake looked up from his phone. “The food will be here in thirty minutes,” he said to Tommy. “I’m going to run over to Lauren’s and see if she’ll come eat with us.”
“Okay.” Tommy didn’t look away from his computer.
“You’ll be okay here?”
“I’m fine, Dad.”
Blake nodded, though his son had his back to him. “Okay.” He watched him for another few seconds, then turned and left. Tommy was fine, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t fighting a battle in his head and his heart.
Blake knew, because he was. He wanted to smooth everything over for the boy, but he couldn’t. They’d gone to the middle school here in Hilton Head today, and he’d gotten registered for classes. He wouldn’t go until Monday, so he had a three-day weekend ahead of him, and Blake had already called Sandra and told her he wouldn’t be in the office tomorrow either.
Things with Tommy had settled. His room was a little fuller, as was Blake’s garage, but he was moved in completely. They had groceries, electricity, a school schedule, and a plan. They were cool and safe, and now Blake had to get Lauren back into his life.
It was early for dinner, but that only meant their food would arrive faster and he could spend more time with Lauren once he got her back to the house. He didn’t dare think to himself that she might not come. That she might not forgive him for missing their three-month anniversary.
He left the house, his eyes barely seeing if the lights were green as he drove to her house. It didn’t take long, and he pulled up only ten minutes later. Another perk of being out before most people left work—less traffic.
His pulse raced in circles, making him-lightheaded. Still, he told himself to get out of the SUV and up to the door, and he did just that. The doorbell rang as the garage door started to lift, and Blake turned back to the driveway.
Lauren’s car started; he went down the steps. Then the sidewalk. She didn’t back out, and then the slamming of a car door met his ears.
She came out of the garage, and Blake’s whole world burst into flames. “Lauren.” He jogged to her, not even taking time to absorb the confused expression on her face as he swept her into his arms. “My sweetheart.” He held her right against his chest, enthused as she giggled and wrapped her arms around him too.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “Things have been so crazy, and you’re going to die when you hear everything, but I’m sorry.” He pulled away and looked at her, the energy between them vibrant and crackling. “I missed our anniversary. I hated thinking of you here, waiting for me. I know you’re mad. But you can’t shut me out. Not again. Not when we’ve come so far already.”
