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That’s when a thought popped into my mind, and I returned my attention to my mom. “While you’re not wrong about the way Jesse feels about me, I’m curious about how you managed to figure that out in the time that we’ve been here. It’s not even been a full hour.”
My mom let out a laugh. “Sawyer, he came to watch you perform in the high school play during your sophomore year. I knew then that he was a good guy with an eye for you.”
I stared at my mom, dumbfounded.
There had been no questioning that there was a bit of a flirtatious vibe between Jesse and me back in high school, but I never believed he was interested in me. I certainly didn’t think, at least not at that point, that our relationship was anything that would have given her the impression he was interested in me.
“And let’s not forget the letters the two of you sent when Jesse was a recruit,” Mom continued. “I didn’t read those letters, obviously, but I saw the look on your face. I knew all I needed to know about how he made you feel.”
This was supposed to be a happy occasion, but the tears that were welling up in my eyes might have suggested the opposite. My mom had known for years what Jesse meant to me, so it was no wonder she hadn’t realized that he and I hadn’t spoken after I left town.
Likely wanting to give me a minute to pull myself together, my mom shifted her attention to the man sitting beside me. “You should have seen the way her face lit up when she got those letters in the mail from you.”
Jesse wrapped his arm around my back until his hand settled on the opposite shoulder. He squeezed me there and replied, “It was the same for me whenever I received one of her letters. And you aren’t wrong about my feelings for your daughter. I feel like I’ve loved Sawyer for a lifetime.”
“I know you have,” my mom returned.
That was all it took. With the conversation the two of them were having, I couldn’t control it any longer. I broke down into a fit of full-fledged sobs. Jesse didn’t hesitate to curl me into his body, so I could cry in his chest while he offered me the comfort of his embrace.
“She’ll be alright in a minute,” Jesse told my mom as he continued to hold me.
“Wrapped in your arms, I have no doubt about that being the case, either,” my mom assured him.
I cried harder.
Eventually, I pulled myself together—though it took longer than the minute Jesse had indicated it would—and the three of us had a wonderful afternoon together. In the end, my mom was thrilled to know that I was in Steel Ridge to stay.
Once again, I couldn’t say I disagreed with her.
I was back at work.
It was late on a Tuesday afternoon, two days after Jesse and I had gone to my mom’s house to have lunch and spend time with her, and things were slow at the pub. It wasn’t uncommon or out of the ordinary for that to be the case, considering the day and time. It was, however, perfect for finding some time to catch up with my coworkers.
Unfortunately, despite how wonderful things were going in my life, it seemed as though that wasn’t the case for all the people around me.
Deanna was having an awful day, and I knew she needed someone to talk to. I didn’t know if she’d want to share, but I couldn’t sit back and do nothing.
So, when she’d returned to the bar area after dropping some appetizers and a couple of beers to some guys who’d come in, I asked, “Is everything alright?”
Immediately, Deanna shook her head and answered quietly, “No, it’s not.”
“Do you want to talk about it? I’m happy to listen,” I offered.
She sighed just as Cam walked up. “Lance wants to take a break,” Deanna shared.
My eyes slid to Cam, and I wondered for a moment if I’d been working here for the last few weeks and hadn’t been introduced to someone. I quickly realized that was ludicrous and asked, “Is Lance your boyfriend?”
Deanna nodded. “Well, he used to be. It seems he doesn’t want that any longer.”
“Shit, Dee, I’m sorry,” Cam lamented.
Despondency was written all over my new friend’s face. I felt awful for her. “How long have you been together?” I asked.
“Two years.”
Wow.
I couldn’t imagine what she was going through. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”
