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She had pretended not to notice Jake when he walked up the drive, but she could feel him looking at her. All her doubts seemed to vanish in the happiness of the gathering.
“They’re beautiful,” she said, lowering her face to the small bouquet.
“Youlook beautiful,” he said, and the back of her neck heated up.
“Thank you.”
“Look, the other day–”
Hannah shook her head. “Let’s not.”
He looked like he didn’t know what to say next. Silence filled the space between them. Then he said, “Would you like to dance?”
She was surprised by the request. She had never actually been asked to dance before. She hadn’t gone to senior prom, because she was so pregnant the school didn’t think it was appropriate. Troy had never asked her to any of the high school dances. Troy thought dancing was for sissies.
“Yes, I’d like that very much.”
The song was soft and slow, and other couples were swaying on the floor. He held her hand and placed his other lightly on the small of her back. She breathed in a clean, crisp, citrusy scent as she danced close to him.
“I’ve never seen a party like this for a christening before,” he said.
Hannah laughed and looked out at the crowd. “Jesse and Olivia always throw big parties for everything.”
“It’s nice,” Jake said, swaying her to the melody.
Something about the way he enjoyed the over-the-top celebration made her feel even happier, if that was possible. The cousins ran and giggled with Emma, the sisters all danced with their men, the whole town fawned over Mae, and Jake danced with his heartbeat so close she could almost feel it. Life couldn’t get any better.
After the song was over, Jake led her to the side, away from prying eyes. She looked around to see if people were watching them. They’d see her blush, for sure.
He looked down at her. “That was nice.”
“Yes, it was.” Their eyes locked, and something electrifying happened between them. A feeling she had never felt before. He slowly leaned toward her, as if he was about to kiss her. And at that moment, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Troy. He held a gift wrapped in pink paper, with a pretty bow on top. And he was staring right at her.
“I… I have to go.” She dropped Jake’s hand and headed toward the entrance before the others could notice the new arrival.
Of all the days Troy could have shown up to the house, why did it have to be today?
“What are you doing here?” she hissed as he stood there, looking at her in disbelief slowly shading to anger.
“Were you dancing with Jake Malloy?”
She glanced over her shoulder and saw Jake watching them, clearly concerned. She grabbed Troy’s arm and dragged him out of the tent.
“What do you want, Troy?”
He dropped his head, and only when she saw his shoulders shake did she realize he was crying.
“Troy?”
“Hannah, I am so sorry for the way I’ve treated you,” he cried out. “I love you and Emma, and I want to do whatever I can to be a family again.”
He knelt down on one knee and opened a black velvet box. Inside was a bigger, more elaborate diamond ring than her original Walmart band.
“Troy, where did you get the money for that?”
“I’m putting my life back together, for real this time.”
The same old promise that he’d broken over and over again.
