Once Upon a Holidate, page 11
The unexpected act of kindness brought the ever-present tears back to the surface. Joylyn blinked them away.
“That would be really nice,” she said, her throat tightening. “I was a little nervous about going, so a friendly face would help.”
“Then let’s go. Want me to drive?”
“Do you know where my appointment is?”
“Yes. I use the same practice. All the doctors there are great.”
Joylyn got into Wynn’s car and fastened her seat belt. Some of her tension eased.
“How are you feeling?” Wynn asked as she backed out of the driveway.
“Good. The baby is very active, which I like.”
“Do you talk to your husband much?”
“We FaceTime a few days a week, but I still miss him.”
“You’re down to less than a month until he comes home, right?”
“I’m counting the days. I keep telling myself I should have stayed on base rather than moving in with my mom. I miss my friends there.”
“When will you go back?”
“Once Chandler’s home and his leave is done, we’ll get a new assignment and new housing.”
“It must be hard to feel settled when you don’t know where you’re going to end up.”
“It is.”
Wynn drove through the streets of town. Joylyn had a vague idea of where the doctor’s office was and appreciated that she didn’t have to worry about finding it.
“Are you going to stay with your dad until then?”
Joylyn glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
“I just wondered if you were going to stay in town here, rather than moving back with your mom. There will be three of you and from what I understand, the house is already full.” Wynn smiled. “I think your dad would be happy to have you stick around.”
Stay here? Joylyn had never considered that. She’d assumed they would leave the second Chandler got back, which was a week before the baby was due. Wynn’s point was a good one though—there wasn’t all that much room at her mom’s place. But staying here?
“He doesn’t want me here.”
“Your dad?” Wynn shook her head. “You’re wrong about that. He’s excited you’re staying.” She smiled. “He’s lived next door to me for about a year, but we never really said much more than hi until he found out you were going to be moving in. He came over and asked me to help get the house ready so you’d be comfortable. He had the bedroom set, but not any of the linens, and his empty kitchen was a total disaster.”
Joylyn didn’t know what to say to that. While she wanted to believe her dad was glad she was around, she just couldn’t.
“I used to be important to him,” she admitted. “Just not anymore.”
“Why would you say that? Your dad loves you, Joylyn. He’s so proud of you. I don’t know what happened before, but I would suggest you at least talk about it. Ask questions. The answers may surprise you.”
Joylyn didn’t want to fight, so she nodded, as if she would take Wynn’s advice to heart. The truth was, she didn’t care about questions or answers. Not when it came to her dad.
She put her hand on her stomach. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about being alone when you were pregnant. How did you handle that?”
“I didn’t have a choice. There wasn’t anyone else. I tried to save as much as I could so I could take off for three weeks after the birth, but I had no idea how much everything cost. Have you priced diapers? They’re really expensive.”
“I know, and babies need a lot.”
“More than you think—that’s for sure.” Wynn made a left turn. “I had a small inheritance from an old lady in our building. Ms. James. She’d never married and she didn’t have much when she died, but she left it all to me. She used to tell me I could make something of myself if only I’d put in the effort. It broke my heart to use that money to pay for food and rent. She’d wanted better for me.”
Joylyn glanced at her. “Like going to college?”
“Something like that. Certainly more than me getting pregnant the way I did.” Something flashed in Wynn’s eyes. “She would have been very disappointed with me.”
“What happened? How did you end up here?”
“Hunter’s father died. I didn’t know until a lawyer showed up at my front door to tell me there was a life insurance policy. I was three weeks away from being evicted, and when the man told me about the money, I couldn’t stop crying.”
“What did you do with it?”
“Paid my rent.” She glanced at Joylyn and grinned. “Bought diapers.” Her smile faded. “I got myself into a two-year graphics program at a local community college, and I worked my butt off to be the best student I could. After I graduated I got a job in the business and continued to learn the industry. When I found out about a business for sale in some little town I’d never heard of, I came to check it out. That was ten years ago.”
“You’re really brave.”
“No. I was scared every second, but I recognized the chance I’d been given. I was determined not to blow it. I wanted more than I had, and I was going to make it happen.”
Joylyn was pretty sure that was the definition of being brave. That if you weren’t scared, then there was no courage in the act. She wondered if she’d been in the same circumstances if she would have acted the same or if she would have crumbled and given up. She couldn’t think of a single time in her life when she’d been the least bit brave. Or even determined. If she were honest with herself, she had a feeling she would have to admit that when the going got tough, she found a place to hide until all the bad stuff went away.
Chapter Eight
Thanksgiving morning Garrick got up early to make the Waldorf salad. He’d gone to the grocery store the day before, shocked at the crowds and the long lines to check out. But he’d wanted to have all their traditions in place. He had ingredients for the salad and the blueberry pancakes he always made on the special morning. He’d also bought yellow roses—Joylyn’s favorite—for the kitchen table. He knew her plans were to return to Phoenix as soon as Chandler was home, so the week before Christmas she would be leaving. This was the only holiday he was going to get to spend with his little girl.
By seven the salad was assembled and in the refrigerator, ready to take over to Wynn’s later that afternoon. He had batter ready for the pancakes and coffee brewing. As he wasn’t sure what time Joylyn would get up, he busied himself going online to study patterns for bassinets.
The idea had come to him a couple of days ago. He wanted to give his daughter something special for her baby. Joylyn and Chandler had a gift registry and he’d looked over that. There were a lot of great items, but rather than buy any of them, he was going to give the new parents money to use as they liked. But he also wanted to give them something personal. He’d always enjoyed woodworking and had made a few pieces of furniture. From what he’d learned online, a simple wooden bassinet wouldn’t be too difficult a project. If he got started this weekend, he should have it finished in plenty of time.
A little before eight, Joylyn wandered into the kitchen.
“Morning,” he said cheerfully. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” she said, her expression neutral.
He tried to find comfort in the fact that she wasn’t glaring at him. Progress. Of course it was still early—there was plenty of time for her to get pissed at him for no reason.
He poured her juice. “Do you want bacon with your blueberry pancakes?”
“Yes, please.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked as she took a seat at the table.
“Awful, but regular awful. Nothing worse.”
“Counting the days?” he asked sympathetically.
She rubbed her belly. “Being pregnant is harder than I thought it would be.”
He knew her doctor’s appointment the previous day had gone well, so there were no physical concerns about the baby, but just looking at her belly and the way her back bowed when she walked made him uncomfortable. He couldn’t imagine having to live it.
He was just about to pour the batter on the griddle when her phone chimed. Joylyn glanced at the screen before smiling at him.
“It’s Chandler. Can we hold off on breakfast?”
“Sure,” he said, even though he was already talking to her retreating back. She ran down the hall and disappeared into her room.
He stood at the counter, not sure if he should make his own breakfast or wait for her to come back. He figured there was a fifty-fifty chance of him picking wrong regardless, but he erred on the side of waiting. It seemed more polite.
As Joylyn took her call, Garrick carried his coffee out to the living room and stared out the big front window. He supposed he should be happy that things weren’t worse between them, but he sure wished they were better. He missed his little girl.
Okay, Joylyn wasn’t a child anymore, but it wasn’t about her being small. It was about them being close. He loved her and wanted the best for her, but he also wanted them to be friends. He wanted to know what she was thinking and feeling. He wanted to be a part of her life—only they’d been apart for so long, he didn’t know how to get them connected again.
About fifteen minutes later, she came out of the bedroom. Her eyes were red and swollen and her face was wet with tears.
“I hate this,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Being apart from him like this. He’s so far away. I miss him and I can’t do this without him.”
He instinctively reached for her. She jerked free of his touch.
“You can’t make this better,” she screamed. “You can’t. Just leave me alone. I don’t want to see you or talk to you. I don’t want to have Thanksgiving with you. Leave me alone. Just leave me alone!”
She returned to her bedroom and slammed her door shut. Even from the living room he could hear the sound of her sobs. He stood where he was and had absolutely no idea what to do next. Finally he walked into the kitchen and dumped the batter into the trash before changing into sweatpants and a T-shirt and heading out for a run.
* * *
Wynn looked around the kitchen, double-checking that she had everything handled. The turkey was in the oven and three pies were cooling on a rack. She had the casserole dish with dressing ready to go in the oven when the turkey came out. She and Hunter had already watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and now her son was curled up in the family room, watching the football game and reading comic books.
She crossed to the dining room to make sure that was ready to go, as well. She’d set the table earlier that morning, using her good china and the seasonal table linens. Instead of flowers as a centerpiece, she had small gourds running down the center of the table, along with red and orange leaves, a few pinecones and several beautiful seashells she added for texture. The largest shell she placed in the center was red, but the rest were cream and brown and pink, blending with the autumn colors of the linens.
The side table was set up to serve as the buffet. Wynn had all her serving pieces out to make sure there was room for everything. Renee and Jasper were bringing a sweet potato casserole and Drew, Silver and their daughter Autumn had offered to provide green beans and fresh rolls that Silver and Autumn were making fresh this morning. Garrick, of course, had his Waldorf salad.
She liked the idea of a full table at the holidays. Friends that were her family. It gave her a sense of belonging and showed Hunter the importance of community.
She heard her front door open.
“It’s me,” Garrick called.
Her body reacted with a bit of a tingle and a happy lift to her heart. She smiled as she met him in the living room.
“Hi,” she said, stepping into his arms for a hug and a kiss. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving.” He held out a foil-covered bowl. “I bought some wine,” he added. “I left it on the porch. Let me go grab it.”
She took the salad into the kitchen and found space for it in the crowded refrigerator. Holiday meals were always a challenge. She had a countertop convection oven she’d bought at a garage sale a few years back. It was plugged in and sitting on the kitchen table, ready to heat any extra sides that showed up.
Garrick joined her, a bottle of white wine in each hand. “They’re already chilled.”
She looked at him, noting the tension in his jaw. “What happened?” As Joylyn wasn’t with him, she could make a couple of guesses but figured she should hear the whole story from him.
“She’s not coming.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea.” He put the wine on the counter. “She was okay when she got up this morning. Not superfriendly, but not hostile. Then she got a call from Chandler. After that she was crying and screaming and didn’t want anything to do with me. She wouldn’t eat breakfast or talk to me. When I asked her to come over just for a few minutes, she screamed at me to go away.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. I don’t know what’s wrong, and I don’t know how to get through to her.”
“You need to talk to her.”
“I’ve tried.”
She looked at him without speaking.
“You’re saying try harder?” he asked.
“I am.” She stepped close and rested her hands on his waist. He pulled her close and hugged her.
“Kids are difficult,” he murmured. “Even when they’re grown up.”
“Yes, they are. But you love her, Garrick. You’ve got to keep pushing until she lets you in.”
“I know. I’m the parent and all that, but I have to tell you, the rejection is tough. Sometimes she looks at me with such loathing, I wonder if she wishes I was dead.”
“She doesn’t. You’re her dad.”
The doorbell rang and they stepped apart. Wynn let in Jasper and Renee, along with their dog Koda. The old guy sat politely until Hunter came running.
“Koda! Happy Thanksgiving.”
The dog’s tail wagged as Hunter collapsed to the floor and wrapped his arms around the dog. Then Hunter glanced up at Jasper and Renee.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” he told them. “Thanks for bringing your dog.”
Renee glanced between them. “You really should think about getting—”
Wynn shook her head. “Don’t even say it. I don’t need one more thing right now.”
Jasper shook hands with Garrick, then kissed Wynn’s cheek and handed her a ceramic frog container filled with a leafy plant. “Not for the table. I know you do your own thing for that. Maybe for the windowsill.” He started for the family room in the back. “Got the game on, Hunter?”
“Uh-huh. It’s tied at seven.”
“Come on, Garrick. Football.”
Garrick glanced at Wynn. “The age-old division of the sexes. Let me know when you want me to pull the turkey out of the oven.”
“I will,” she murmured, carrying the plant into the kitchen.
Renee trailed after her, then put the sweet potato casserole on the counter. “He does know this isn’t your first Thanksgiving, right? That you managed to wash, season and stuff the turkey, not to mention get it in the oven, all by yourself.”
“He’s trying to be helpful.”
“I know, but they’re so unaware of what we do in a day.”
Wynn pulled a pitcher of orange juice and a bottle of champagne out of the refrigerator. While the guys had a few beers as they watched the game, she and her girlfriends would sip on mimosas. Hunter had the thrill of soda pop in the house. It was a holiday tradition that he looked forward to.
Wynn had just opened the champagne when the doorbell rang again. She and Renee greeted Silver, Drew and Autumn. Drew made his way to the family room while Silver and Autumn walked into the kitchen.
“There’s soda,” Wynn told Autumn.
Autumn laughed. “Hunter must be excited.”
“He is,” Wynn said with a smile. “How’s school?”
“Good. I’m doing really well in my math and science classes.”
Silver put her arm around her daughter. “She got into a STEM school. They have a fairly rigorous application process, so we’ve all been crossing our fingers.”
Renee sat on one of the stools by the island. “What’s a STEM school?”
“The academic focus is science, technology, engineering and math,” Autumn said. “I want to be a chemical engineer.”
Silver grinned proudly. “I know. Where did she get that?” she asked with a laugh.
“Oh, Silver. You’re smart, too. And Drew. I get it from you guys.”
With that, she left to go hang out with Hunter. Silver watched her go.
“She’s amazing.”
“You and Drew should have more kids,” Renee offered.
Silver sighed. “Maybe. We’re talking about it. At first he just wanted to focus on getting to know Autumn, but now he’s mentioned having more kids.” She looked at Wynn. “What do you think?”
Wynn handed her a mimosa. “Why are you asking me?”
“You have a child almost the same age. Would you start over again? Have more kids?”
“I don’t know. It’s never come up.” Wynn passed a drink to Renee. “When I moved here, I was terrified of failing so all I thought about was raising Hunter and making my business successful. I didn’t date for years or think about having more kids.”
“But that’s all different now,” Renee said. “You’re successful, you have a network of friends. Were you waiting to fall in love? Did you want a partner this time? Because while you make being a single mom look easy, I doubt that it was.”
Wynn sipped her own drink. “Having a partner would make a difference.” But she’d never let herself go there. She hadn’t dated—not in the conventional sense of the word. She’d had relationships that were kept separate from her life with Hunter. The guys never met him and weren’t to let him know they even knew his mom. Jasper had violated those rules when they’d been together, and she’d ended things without a backward glance.
