“Uncle Zake. Big Trouble,” Ella said, nodding.
“Ella, you know everything, don’t you?”
“We have to watch everything we say,” Holly said with a laugh. “Seriously, though, he knows he hurt you.”
Claire felt her stomach turn over. She averted her eyes and looked at the display of apples, thinking of Jake the other night at her house and then this morning at the doctor’s. He wasn’t what she thought. She looked over at Holly again. Ella nodded.
“I know he feels guilty.”
“He said he proposed and you refused,” Holly whispered as a produce clerk started unloading peppers beside them. Had Jake actually told her that? “Now, call me crazy, Claire, but isn’t that what you’ve wanted your entire life?”
She swallowed hard and looked away from Holly and focused on the pineapple display in the distance. “Yes, but not like this. How would you feel if you thought Quinn was just with you out of duty? Jake feels guilty because my dad is a minister. He doesn’t love me, Holly. We haven’t even had a decent conversation since all of this happened.”
“Have you given him a chance? Or have you just been so mad at him? I mean this is Jake, and he’s asked you to marry him. Couldn’t you at least try?”
Claire shook her head and looked away from her friend into Ella’s big eyes. “I’m not shutting him out. He’s going to be a part of our child’s life. But I’ve come a long way—you know that better than anyone. It’s taken me a long time to really feel like I’m worth something, and I deserve more than to be just this woman Jake is forced to marry. You know what it was like growing up with my parents always arguing. That’s what it would be if I just bowed to the pressure.”
“I know what you’re saying, but I also know Jake. And I remember the expression on his face when he came to our house.”
“Hey, whose side are you on?”
“Yours, always yours,” her friend said with a fierce frown. “That is why I want to make sure you’re not going to ruin your life because you don’t give Jake a chance. And personally I think you’re self-sabotaging.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. You refuse to believe Jake could love you. You’ve got it in your head you’re still the girl that—”
“Don’t say it. Not true. I just told you I’m not marrying him because I have too much respect for the person I’ve become,” Claire said, shaking her head vehemently.
“You may project this confident woman on the outside, but I know you. I know why there haven’t been any men—it’s more than just an infatuation with Jake. And I know for a fact that Amanda groping him at the barbecue brought out all those insecurities. But what if you’re all wrong about him? What if he wants more than just the baby? What if he really wants to try to have a relationship with you? You’re not even going to give him a chance?”
Claire thought of Jake’s hand on her leg today at the doctor’s, his genuine concern for her. Claire ruffled Ella’s hair. “I am giving him a chance. We are on speaking terms now. He even came to my doctor’s appointment this morning.”
Holly lifted her brows. “Really?”
“Yup. And Dr. Hopkins mentioned the whole eating thing in front of him, just to make my life even more absurd.”
“Oh, sweetie.”
Ella patted her hand and tried to mimic her mother’s expression.
Claire took a deep breath. “And after the appointment Jake demanded I tell him everything.”
“Did you?” Holly let out an exasperated noise as another shopping cart bumped into them as people tried weaving in and out of the aisle. She shuffled the cart over to the side, butting up to a display of cantaloupes.
“No. We were standing in the street and then his cell phone rang…,” Claire said, her voice trailing off.
“Just tell him the truth. I’ve gotten to know Jake and he’s not what I expected. He’s not as superficial and indifferent as I thought he was,” Holly said.
Claire met her eyes. “I know. I can see that. I can feel it,” she whispered. That was what scared her the most.
“You’ve got to try, Claire, especially for the baby.”
She nodded. “I’m going to,” she said, trying to convince herself as well as her friend.
“So, the night of our wedding, eh?” Holly said with a mischievous laugh and completely removing the seriousness of their conversation.
Claire couldn’t help but join in. “I’m never drinking whiskey again.”
“You know I think everything happens for a reason. All of this was meant to be. You and Jake were meant to be together. And this baby was meant to be. With all this drama, I haven’t even said congratulations!” Holly said, throwing her arms around her. Claire felt the comfort in her friend’s hug. “Are you happy?”