Chapter 9
ELODIE
Savannah throws a humorous glare over her shoulder at me for being on my phone. She’s standing in a white lace dress on a pedestal in the bridal shop. We’ve been here for two hours, and I’m getting antsy, to be honest.
Four of the five dresses she has tried on could be perfect for her special day. I’ve been watching with a mixture of excitement for her, secret envy, and nerves.
How Hayes and I have managed to avoid any mention of our kiss, I’m not sure how, but kudos to us. My mind is taking the brunt of twisted thoughts about it instead.
Sitting on the side between her aunt Bea and Sutton, we’ve been watching her in complete giddiness while we sip champagne.
Aunt Bea came up from Everhope and is staying with Savannah, and Sutton is in town from Baltimore, although she is looking to move back.
We all grew up together on the same street, although she was a few years ahead of us at school.
I bury my phone back into my bag. “I know, I lose points for the maid-of-honor duties,” I admit, and bring the rim of the champagne flute to my mouth for a sip.
“Uh-oh, Elodie might be fired from her wedding duties,” Sutton jokes, twisting her honey-brown hair into a bun on top of her head. She grins at me, and the laughter grows.
“Nah, it’s okay. She has her reasons,” Savannah assures me. “Any updates?”
I shake my head. “I’m not crazy. Am I?” It’s the first time Hayes is taking care of Lola alone. I’m not sure how it’ll go. Maybe she was a little weary at first but then relaxed. “It should be okay, right?” I glance around, hoping for reassurance.
He was back and forth all week on business trips, and we have had a few chances to all be together for an hour here or there, the three of us.
Now he’s back and wants to see Lola for a longer period.
When I mentioned that I had a sitter for Lola while I went dress shopping, he was quick to jump in.
No sitter was needed, and this would be a little stepping stone for him to be alone with her for a full day.
He’s with her now at my place after I spent a solid hour explaining everything and checking his diaper-changing skills, plus ensuring that Lola was comfortable with him before I left.
Savannah’s older aunt touches my knee. “It’s only a few hours. They will be fine.”
“Look at the bright side, you are now guaranteed a date to Savannah’s big day.” Sutton nudges my arm with her own. She’s always positive and bubbly. It’s surprising, as I don’t meet many lawyers who are.
Savannah turns to look in the mirror while a store attendant continues to fluff the skirt of the dress. “Very true. The maid of honor and the best man, no need for a plus-one at all. Except our Elodie only wants to co-parent.” She is teasing me now.
When Aunt Bea snorts a laugh, I look at her, brows knitted. “How is that funny?” I ask, my voice half-teasing, half-puzzled.
“Co-parenting can be the only way sometimes. But in this case? Dear, I’ve watched you grow up.
I’ve watched you become a mom. I haven’t seen you with Lola’s dad, but I’ve seen pictures of him.
Plus, Julian and Savannah were talking about you and him at breakfast when I woke up. I’m not sure your idea will work.”
I dart my gaze to Savannah via the mirror, trying to hide my embarrassment. “You were talking about me at breakfast?” I question, almost disbelieving.
Savannah pretends to check the sleeve of her dress. “I mean, you might have come up in conversation while Julian and I were drinking coffee. We didn’t realize that Aunt Bea was awake.”
Aunt Bea looks at her niece with a knowing smile. “Let’s not lie, Savannah. It was a full-fledged conversation. It can’t be surprising to Elodie that the man wants to try.” Her tone is gentle but clear.
That’s not unanticipated to me, but the fact that he's been talking about it with Julian is a little more confronting. From what I’ve learned about Hayes so far, it suggests he has plans. He gets what he wants, after all.
I swing my gaze between everyone in the room, and no matter what I could say to justify the situation, they have all formed their shared opinion already. “Can we not have this conversation right now?”
“Then we won't. We’ve just highlighted that we might be rooting for the chance… and in the long run, you have a guaranteed wedding date who happens to be the father of your daughter,” Sutton cheekily smiles but then her smile wilts slightly.
“Besides, even if you’re not together in that way, then I’m sure you two will be good friends.
Probably would even be one another’s platonic dates, anyhow. ”
“The wedding isn’t until the summer,” I remind us all.
Oh gosh, the idea that maybe we could be something by then, or maybe not at all and he has some gorgeous blonde on his arm, is causing chaos inside of me.
“My love life is no longer the topic of discussion today. Instead, I will shift focus to Sutton, who is lacking in that department.”
She’s about to protest, but my phone pings, and everyone quiets while I dig out my phone, and with one tap, I’m greeted with a selfie of Lola sitting in her highchair, eating a cut-up waffle and fruit, and Hayes is standing behind her, bent down, while he holds his arm up to use the phone. She has a wide smile.
Hayes:
They were out of blueberry bagels at the bakery. I negotiated her down to waffles with fruit.
I feel everything inside of me burst into complete elation. They’re doing fine and seem happy. My cheeks rise from the smile that keeps pulling on my mouth. Both ladies on my side lean in to peek.
“See? All is well.” Aunt Bea squeezes my arm and smiles, too.
“It is. I think he’s kind of a natural at this,” I say, because it’s becoming obvious.
Then my mind slips into another tunnel in my mind.
The one where I wonder what he could be like, as a boyfriend or a man who maybe one day finds me here trying on dresses, too.
The curiosity is a little more overbearing today than it has been in recent weeks.
Wedding dresses are confronting apparently.
Savannah clears her throat to bring all of our attention back to her.
“You can calm down. It’s not like he’s insisted you both get married for the sake of tradition.
He’s taking his time, which, if he works at Haven Crossroads and is a friend of Julian’s, then it normally equates to that he’s plotting something, but hey, we have champagne, and I need to pick a dress. So, shall we?”
Chuckling to myself, I agree with her plan. “Is this the one?”
She repositions her body in the mirror to gain a new angle. “I mean, it’s a snug fit but feels comfortable.”
“Really? We can see almost everything under the lace,” Sutton deadpans.
I wince because that was brutal, though a true review. The dress is lace from the waist up, with nothing underneath; her breasts are barely covered. Still, the details make it classy, and it's long-sleeved.
“Maybe we can check just one more,” her aunt suggests, and it’s clear she hates the dress.
Setting my champagne flute onto the side table, I quickly grab a throat lozenge from my purse pocket. I’ve been feeling a sore throat coming on all day. I watch as Savannah spins around and heads back into the dressing room with the attendant holding the train of the dress.
She’s having a big wedding. I never pictured her wanting that, but marriage is a compromise.
Her fiancé owns a billion-dollar company; everyone wants an invite.
He already bought a house in Everhope for Savannah so they can have their quiet weekends.
I try to recall my own wedding dreams but draw a blank.
Maybe they vanished when I had Lola. My life has reversed.
Now a man has entered my life, and with him, possibilities.
But first, we would need to date.
And to date, I would need to agree.
To agree, I would have to give a sign.
A sign that I’m debating whether I want to make.
Yet, every day, I’m getting closer to throwing in the towel and saying okay.