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“So, your unwillingness to consider a relationship is sadder than my disinterest in one because youdidactually want to get married and have kids.”
Charli frowned, then stared down at her glass, spinning it gently between her hands. “At least I have Layla. Might not get the marriage or more kids, but I’m blessed to have her.”
“Life takes twists and turns we might not expect,” Janessa said. “And who knows what God’s plan is for us. We just have to be willing to accept that plan.”
“And if it ends up being God’s will for you to get married?” Charli asked.
Janessa shrugged. “I assume He’d change my heart and perspective about it.”
Aria’s arrival interrupted the heavy conversation, and Janessa was glad. Hopefully, Charli wouldn’t keep asking about Will like she’d threatened to. It was annoying to Janessa and put thoughts in her head that she didn’t need.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Will purposefully arrived later than usual to the committee meeting on Monday night. He was hoping to avoid another conversation with Daphne’s grandmother. If she’d approached him in the first few weeks following the breakup, hearing that she preferred him to Daphne’s new boyfriend would have thrilled him.
Even more recently, if someone had asked him if he’d feel better if someone had said that to him, he would probably have said yes. But then it had happened, and he’d had a revelation.
He just didn’t care.
That relationship was over and in the past now. Daphne could come up to him tomorrow and say she wanted to get back together again, and Will would tell her no.
However, the likelihood of that happening had been non-existent from the day of the breakup, which was why he’d probably been able to get past the relationship. Accepting that there was no hope gave him the ability to focus forward. At least once the initial heartache had faded enough.
All the things she’d said she hated about him were still present in his mind. He’d had plans to spend some time ruminating over them to see which were valid and which were just her own issues with him. However, since he wasn’t in the market for another relationship, he hadn’t rushed to dissect his personality.
Will paused in the doorway of the room, glancing around before stepping inside. Unfortunately, Rhonda must have been watching for him, because she made a beeline for him as soon as he appeared.
“Will, darling. How are you?” she asked with a warm smile.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like the older woman. In fact, he’d always enjoyed talking with her and her husband. They’d been friendly and welcoming of him as Daphne’s boyfriend. Probably because they’d known him since he was a child. Like Eva, they’d been long-time members of the church.
“I’m doing well, thanks. How are you?”
“As well as can be expected for a woman my age.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“So, have you contacted Daphne at all?” she asked, her expression earnest.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen.” Will hated to disappoint her, but he needed to, or she would continue to pressure him about it. “Daphne made it quite clear there would be no chance at repairing the relationship, and she’s moved on. I’ve moved on as well.”
“You have a new girlfriend?” Rhonda asked. “Is it Janessa?”
“Uh… no. I don’t have a new girlfriend. What I meant was that my feelings for Daphne have changed. We no longer love each other, and that’s okay. I’ve accepted that, and I’m not looking to go backward in time.”
“I just wish she’d realized what she had in you,” the woman said, sadness filling her expression. “It’s difficult to see her with this new man. He’s arrogant and somewhat disrespectful.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m afraid that it doesn’t change anything for me.” Will hated to shut the woman down, but he didn’t want to keep having this discussion. “I hope you understand that there is no chance of me changing my mind about this. Please don’t keep asking me about it.”
The woman didn’t look upset with his bluntness, just sad as she nodded. “I won’t. I just had to try.”
Will gave her a quick hug, then went to get a cup of coffee. Janessa was even later than he’d been, showing up after he’d sat down. She grabbed some coffee and a cookie, then made her way over to sit next to him.
They didn’t have a chance to do more than exchange smiles before Evelyn started the meeting. Now that most of the big decisions had been made, the meetings were a bit more tedious. There were more discussions over the little things, like what color napkins to buy or if they were going to have pickles on each of the tables.
None of that interested Will, and he was starting to feel like the meetings were a waste of time. He understood there were decisions that needed to be made, but he didn’t feel like they needed him to be part of making them. There were clearly people who cared about those details. He just wasn’t one of them.
Neither was Janessa, by the sound of things. She wasn’t giving any sort of input to the discussions going on in the meeting. Thankfully, they only had to endure three more weeks of the meetings before it was showtime.
