The Only One for Me(52)
Nathaniel smiled, stood up and patted Chris on the back. “Don’t give up on love, son.”
Chris stared out into the pool while his father joined the women inside. He now owned the largest, grandest home in all of Danville, which was exactly what he’d always wanted. So why wasn’t he happy about it?
* * *
“Corra, that dress is stunning.” Sharon zipped up the back of Corra’s dress. Corra stood in front of her bedroom mirror staring at her knee-length, lavender, chiffon halter bridesmaid dress that was perfect for the July heat.
She was so excited about Tayler and Rollin’s wedding she had to model the dress again for Sharon.
“So what shoes are you wearing?” Sharon asked. “You need something sexy, yet simple. You don’t want to take away from the dress.”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find something by next week. Time is running out.”
Sharon rummaged through Corra’s closet pulling out shoe after shoe. “Oh, my God! These are amazing.” Sharon held up Corra’s Jimmy Choos.
Corra reached out and gently took the shoe from her friend. The minute she held it, she remembered the last time she had them on. The memory brought a smile to her face. She held the shoe against her chest.
“Those are the shoes Chris gave you, aren’t they?”
Corra nodded.
Sharon got up from the mound of shoes around her and walked over to sit on the edge of Corra’s bed. Corra followed her with her back to Sharon so she could unzip the dress.
“Don’t you want to try them on to see how they look with the dress?” Sharon asked.
“I don’t need to. They’re perfect. Get me out of this dress before I start crying all over it.”
Sharon unzipped the dress. “You haven’t had them on since you came back from Vegas, have you?”
Corra shook her head and wiggled out of the dress.
“Then you definitely need to wear them. They’re fabulous.”
“But Chris gave them to me and he’ll be there.”
“Good. Maybe seeing him again will bring you to your senses. That man is the best thing that’s happened to you since Katie was born. And I know. I’ve listened to you complain about the quality of men you’ve met over the years. Corra, Chris was good to you. So he made a mistake. No man’s perfect.”
“He made a big mistake.”
“Yes, and I’m sure he’s apologized a thousand times. Come on now, you said yourself he was bonding with the kids. And Eric’s been spending quality time with them since the incident as well. All’s well that ends well, right?”
Corra hung her dress up and changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. “Sharon, you don’t have any children, do you?”
Sharon crossed her arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If you did you would understand the level of fear I went through that night. Something I never want to feel again.” She turned off the closet light and closed the door.
Corra followed Sharon out of her bedroom. Down the hall Sharon stopped and turned around.
“You know, I may not have any children, but I wouldn’t be so stubborn that I couldn’t recognize a good man for my children when I saw one. A man who’s everything I’ve ever wanted.” She turned back around. “But then again I don’t have children, so what do I know.”
A lump formed in Corra’s throat. The constructive criticism she dished out is what she valued most in her friend.
* * *
Sunday afternoon, everyone showed up for Jamie’s last baseball game. Corra was overwhelmed by the support. Before the game Rollin threw balls with Jamie as he’d done all season. There was no sign of Eric, or Chris. Not that Corra expected to see Chris, but deep down she had hoped he’d show up.
When Jamie came up to bat Corra sat on the edge of her seat. His doctor had diagnosed him with intermittent asthma, which if treated properly could be controlled. She cheered when her baby hit a home run. It didn’t look like his asthma diagnosis was going to keep him out of the game.
After the game, the team celebrated at a local ice cream shop. Corra and Katie joined them. In the middle of the celebration, Jamie came over and sat with them.
“Mom, do you think Chris was at the game?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, honey, I didn’t see him.”
“Is he ever coming back?” Katie asked, holding her ice cream cone up to the sky.
Corra closed her eyes. She’d done the one thing she had no intention of doing. She’d brought a man into her life, introduced him to her kids, and now he was gone. Her stomach churned with disgust. She set her cup of ice cream down. How the hell could she have done that?