“That doesn’t work for me, Jenns. I’m already counting the days until I can call you my wife.” He reached down and brushed a kiss on her forehead.
“I’m ready for it to just happen, too. I thought it was all going to be so simple. A small wedding at Izzy’s, the reception at Sylvia’s. But there is so much to do, even for such a simple wedding. Plus, I have to keep reeling Izzy in. She has such big plans.”
They climbed the steps to the porch, arm in arm. Greta came back outside with a tray of sweet tea and cookies. “I thought you two might like some tea.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Jenny sank onto the porch swing and Clay handed her an ice cold glass of sweet tea. He sat down beside her and slowly pushed the swing with one foot.
“I’m going to run inside and check on the girls. Make sure they’ve finished up their homework. Danielle was more interested in texting her friends than studying for her math test.” Greta paused at the door and looked back. “Glad you stopped by. It will be nice when you live right next door with Clay and the girls. I’ll miss having them here, but I know y’all want your own place. I’m so glad it worked out that you could buy the Franklin’s place.”
“I’m glad we could, too.” Jenny smiled at the older woman who had been as much of a mom to her as her own mother. Maybe more. All those years she’d dated Clay when they’d been teens, Greta had always been there for her.
Her own mother had always been held back by the strict rule book and criticism her father enforced upon his household. In the last few months she and her mother had become closer though, and Jenny was tentatively building a real mother-daughter relationship with her.
Greta walked inside and within seconds Clay had tilted her head up. His lips found hers and pressed a deep kiss against her lips. A rumbly sound of satisfaction escaped him. “I think we need some time alone, Jenns. I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Maybe we could have a date night?”
“How about a picnic down by the river? Alone. No kids.”
Jenny smiled. That was their place. A clearing by the river behind Greta’s place. “That sounds nice. Maybe this weekend?”
“I’m on call this weekend.”
Jenny sighed. “Of course you are. Maybe one night next week? Though I think I have a couple of meetings. I’ll check my calendar.”
Clay let out a deep sigh of frustration. “Well, the good thing about getting married, is at least I’ll get to see you every night.”
“And I’ll get to see your face every morning.”
Clay wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky we are to have found our way back to each other after all these years.”
“We are very lucky.” It had taken over sixteen years to find their way back to each other.
“And even though I missed Nathan’s childhood, I’m very glad to have my son now.”
“I’m sorry you missed those years, too. You know that. But I’m glad we have it all sorted out, that Nathan and I, and you and your girls, will soon be one happy family.” She leaned her head on Clay’s shoulder.
A swath of shimmering moonlight swept across the front yard and the stars danced up in the sky. A cool breeze began to swish the limbs on the trees, and she snuggled closer to Clay, absorbing his warmth. Jenny sat in silence with Clay, enjoying this perfect moment in contentment and peace.
A crashing sound came from inside the house.
“It’s not my fault.” Danielle’s voice filtered from inside.
Clay sighed. “I should go in and see what’s going on.” He stood up and took Jenny’s hands, pulling her gently from the swing.
“I should go now, anyway. I still have papers to grade before tomorrow.”
Clay stuck his head in the door. “I’ll be in in a minute. Don’t break the house apart before I get there. Just need to walk Jenny to her car.”
“Everything’s under control.” Greta called back.
Clay walked her across the uneven front yard and over to her car in the driveway. “Thanks for coming over.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss against her lips. Her heart raced and she swallowed back the emotions rushing through her.
She climbed in the car and pulled out of the driveway. The image of Clay got smaller and smaller in her rear view mirror as she drove away. Just as she reached the end of the drive, she saw him turn and head back into the house.
Suddenly she felt alone and bereft, adrift in a sea of emotions. Must be all the wedding plans, the stress of moving, and the crazy schedule of the school year. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.