CHAPTER SEVENTEEN #2
While Will felt a shaft of disappointment, he knew that if she needed the rest, it was best to just let her be. They could have their dinner another night.
“Well, guess I’m eating supper here after all,” he said as he grabbed a plate.
~*~*~
Amy woke slowly, groaning as she rolled to her back.
Her body ached in places it hadn’t in a very long time.
She lay there for a moment before she turned onto her side and pushed into a sitting position.
Thankfully the nap she’d taken had refreshed her, but she hoped she wasn’t too late in getting ready for dinner with Will.
She’d only planned to rest for a few minutes after finishing the clean-up.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she pushed back the mass of curls that slid over her shoulder as she reached for her phone.
She flipped it over to see the time. Six o’clock.
Well, it looked like it might be a late dinner, but hopefully Will would understand and forgive her tardiness.
She pulled off the fairy costume and dropped it on the floor on her way to the bathroom.
After removing the painting Rose had applied on her face, she redid her makeup and left her hair loose.
Not sure where they would be going, she decided on a jean skirt that ended just above her knees and a sleeveless button-up shirt in soft pink. She slipped on a pair of white sandals and grabbed her purse before heading out of her room.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she realized that the house seemed way quieter than she would have expected. Maybe everyone was outside. She walked down the stairs and found the kitchen clean and empty of people. When she grabbed the handle of the back door, she found it locked.
Dread filled her as she pulled her phone out again and looked at the time.
Now it said six thirty…AM. She’d not only slept through her date with Will, but she’d slept all night.
Shoulders slumped, she sat down at the table.
How could she have done something so dumb?
She’d only planned to lie down for a few minutes.
Her feet and back had been aching, so she’d taken some pain pills before lying down.
Clearly her body had decided it wanted more than just a nap, and apparently the adrenalin let-down had guaranteed she slept the whole night.
What did Will think? Their first date and she’d missed it.
“Well, if it isn’t Sleeping Beauty.”
Amy turned to face her brother, a scowl on her face. “Really?”
Josh grinned. “You look very nice. Going somewhere?”
“Shut up.” Amy pushed her phone to the center of the table and got up to make herself some coffee.
Dressed in a pair of athletic shorts and a t-shirt, Josh leaned against the counter. “You know, he understood. He was disappointed, sure, but he knew you were tired. Lance said you’d been up since before seven.”
Amy shot him a wary look as she started the coffee pot. “He told you about us going out for dinner?”
Josh nodded. “He sent Rose up to check on you after we got back from dropping off the stuff at the church. Apparently you were one passed out fairy.”
She pulled a mug out of the cupboard. “You want coffee, too?”
“Sure.”
After putting two mugs on the counter, she stood watching the coffee drip into the carafe. She felt an arm around her shoulders and looked over to see Josh watching her, his expression serious.
“You really feel something for Will?”
Amy turned her gaze back to the coffee. She wasn’t sure she was ready to have this discussion with her brother without at least one cup of coffee under her belt. Thankfully she was spared from having to respond when Lance joined them.
“Hey, you’re up early,” he commented when he saw Amy.
“Funny. I actually thought it was six o’clock PM. As in, last night. Imagine my surprise when I realized I’d just slept twelve straight hours. So yeah, I’m up early. Or late. Depending on how you look at it.”
Lance chuckled. “I think that’s a first.”
“And hopefully the last,” Amy commented as she pulled another mug from the cupboard. Once the coffee was done she poured it into the three cups. “At least I’m ready for church in plenty of time.”
It wasn’t long before others began to join them in the kitchen. Since she was up and ready, Amy tackled making breakfast for the group. Charlotte showed up and insisted on helping out with the pancakes while Henry set out plates and cups and then cut up some fruit.
“Are you staying with Jessa?” Cami asked Lance. “I’d be happy to hang with her if you’d like to go to the service.”
Lance’s brow furrowed. “I usually stay with her, and we watch the live feed together.”
“Why don’t you go this time? I’ll watch with her.”
“If you’re sure,” Lance said, not sounding one hundred percent convinced.
“I’m positive. You’ll just have to help Josh with the kids.”
“Oh, well, in that case...” Lance grinned. “Just kidding. I’ll talk to Jessa about it when I take her breakfast up.”
Amy handed him a plate with a couple of pancakes on it. “There’s fruit there, too.”
Once breakfast was done and cleaned up, people scattered to get ready for church.
Amy settled down at the table and enjoyed another cup of coffee.
Before leaving, she went back up to her bedroom to grab her Bible and then joined Lance in his truck with Julia.
She’d debated texting or phoning Will to apologize but figured she’d wait to do it in person.
She was talking with Charlotte and Henry in the foyer of the church when she felt small arms grasp her hips in a tight hug. The familiar embrace brought a smile to her face. “Hey, sweetheart. How are you?”
“I’m great! Daddy said I had to remember to thank you for my party. Since you were asleep last night.”
Amy dropped down on one knee, so she was at eye level with Isabella. “Did you have a good time?”
“It was wonderful. The best day ever.” The little girl’s voice cracked as she flung her arms around Amy’s neck. “Thank you.”
Amy closed her eyes as she hugged her close. “You are very welcome. I had fun, too.”
Isabella released her and stepped back. “I loved being a fairy. I wanted to wear it again today, but Daddy said no.”
Amy glanced up to see Will standing behind Isabella.
He looked so handsome in his pleated black slacks and white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
Her heart skipped a beat as their gazes met.
He held out his hand, and she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to help her back to her feet.
He smiled, not releasing her right away. “Good morning.”
“I am so sorry about last night,” Amy said. She described her morning, glad to see Will didn’t seem upset at all about what had happened.
He reached out and ran his fingers along her cheek. “It’s all good. I know you were tired. Maybe we can try again soon.”
Amy nodded. “Definitely.”
She glanced at Charlotte and Henry, suddenly remembering their presence. Even though Will had told her that they wouldn’t have a problem with him moving on, it still surprised her to see wide smiles on their faces.
“Why don’t we go in and find seats?” Will said.
They found an empty pew, and Will stepped back to allow Charlotte and Henry to go in first. Amy followed Isabella in as she wanted to sit between her grandmother and her “best friend.” As Will settled on the pew next to her, his leg bumped her and nerves fluttered to life in her stomach.
Their choice to sit together was pretty much an all-out declaration that they were together, and she wasn’t oblivious to the glances that were sent their way.
The rest of the family found seats in the pews in front of them, and once again the Collingsworth clan took up a large section of the left-hand side of the church. Amy felt bad that Jessa and Cami couldn’t have been there, too, but she knew it wasn’t worth the risk to Jessa.
As they stood to sing, Amy gripped the pew in front of her to keep from swaying into Will. She had dreamed of moments like this. Being in church with him. Singing and worshipping together.
They sang familiar songs, some going back to her childhood, but as they began one in particular, a memory hit her like a wrecking ball. The pain it brought took her breath away and made her stomach heave. She swallowed hard, but when her hands started to tremble, Amy knew she needed to leave.
Keeping her head bent, she said, “Excuse me.”
“What’s wrong?” Will asked in a low voice as he moved to let her past.
Without saying anything, Amy hurried as fast as she could to the back of the church and out into the foyer.
She headed to the bathrooms and straight into an empty stall.
Thankful the toilet had a lid, she shut it and sank down.
How could a memory shake her up so badly?
Had it been because her emotions were already so near the surface that this particular memory had pushed through so easily?
Every pain she’d felt back then had flooded her with scalding hot hurt.
She hadn’t wanted to come to church that day.
The pain of seeing Will and Delia together had been still so fresh that she hadn’t wanted to be anywhere near them.
Especially in a place where she’d dreamed of being with him in just the way Delia was.
But her parents had insisted, so she’d gone and tried to look anywhere but where they were, just two pews ahead, seated with his family.