Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Wynn sat on the porch next to Garrick. They were close enough that their shoulders brushed every now and then. She felt foolish for noticing but so what? No one had to know about her borderline schoolgirl crush on her hunky neighbor.
“Nervous?” she asked.
Garrick kept his gaze on the street in front of the house. “Yes. Excited, too.” He glanced at his watch. “She should be here by now.”
“Don’t start worrying. She’s not late. Pregnant women have to pee a lot. I’m sure she’s made at least three stops on the drive from Phoenix.”
His mouth twisted. “I shouldn’t have let her come out by herself. I should have driven out to Phoenix, then brought her here. What if something happened?”
“What if something didn’t?” She smiled at him. “Let’s wait for the crisis before we panic.”
“You’re not panicked at all.”
“It’s important that one of us stay rational.”
He drew in a breath. “You’re right. Did I mention I’m nervous?”
“You did. It’s going to be okay.”
She hoped she wasn’t lying about that, Wynn thought, not sure how Joylyn’s visit was going to go.
She didn’t understand why Garrick’s daughter would have suddenly refused to see her father.
Maybe she’d been in a snit for a few weeks, but surely that would have blown over.
And where was her mother in all this? There was no way Wynn would have let Hunter act that way.
Family was family. Even if things were difficult, you made it work.
Of course that was easy for her to say—Hunter was her only family.
She wouldn’t turn her back on him regardless of what he did.
Nor would she let him turn from her. But she knew it was easy to have an opinion when she wasn’t intimately involved in the situation.
A light blue Prius pulled into the driveway. Garrick was instantly on his feet.
“That’s her.”
He crossed to the car in three long strides and pulled open the door. A very pregnant young woman slowly got out.
“Hi,” he said with a smile. “How was the drive?”
Joylyn was pretty, with blue eyes and medium brown hair. Her eyes were red, and if Wynn had to guess, she would say that Joylyn had spent much of the drive in tears.
She looked at her father without returning his smile. “How do you think it was? Awful. My back hurts, my feet are swollen and every driver on the road is an idiot. I can’t believe I’m going to be stuck here until Chandler gets home.”
Garrick took a step back. Wynn saw the confusion on his face, followed by hurt that he quickly hid. She stood and approached them.
“Hi,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m Wynn, your neighbor to the south.
” She shook hands with Joylyn. “Look at you. You’re what?
In your eighth month?” She grimaced. “Your back’s a mess, huh?
I have a fourteen-year-old, but I still remember how much my back hurt toward the end of my pregnancy. What works for you, ice or heat?”
Joylyn looked startled by the question. “Uh, heat.”
“For me, too. There’s a heating pad in the bathroom. It’s the extra big kind so you can cover a lot of area.” She smiled. “Your dad came to me for advice so he’d have what you’d need to be comfortable. Be sure to tell me if I forgot anything.”
“Thank you.”
Garrick moved closer. “Let me show you around. You must be tired from the drive.”
Her expression returned to peevish. Wynn expected another outburst, but she only pressed her lips together and stared pointedly at the house.
Garrick quickly added, “I’m really glad you’re here, Joylyn. You look great.”
“I look hideous and I feel worse. Being pregnant sucks.” With that, she pushed past them and walked into the house.
Wynn glanced at Garrick, not sure what to say. He had to feel terrible about what had just happened. From an outsider’s perspective, Joylyn was trying to be as difficult as possible.
“Don’t take it personally,” she said quietly. “It seems like she’s mad at the world.”
“I’m part of that.”
“Maybe, but right now she’s lashing out. Try not to engage.”
He looked at the house. “I really want her here. She’s my daughter.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
He nodded, then collected the luggage and carried it inside. Wynn followed, a sinking sensation filling her chest. Joylyn stood in the middle of the living room.
“Why aren’t there any Christmas decorations?” she asked. “Are you planning on ignoring the holiday? In case you’ve forgotten, it’s my favorite time of year.” Tears filled her eyes. “Or are you going to ruin that, too?”
He put down the suitcases. “It’s a couple of weeks until Thanksgiving.
We never decorate for Christmas until the Saturday after, and we don’t get the tree until at least ten days into December.
Honey, I remember all of our traditions and I want to enjoy them with you, like we used to. I’m glad you’re here.”
She responded by sighing heavily. “Which room is mine?”
“The one across from the bathroom.”
Without saying anything else, she walked away. Seconds later a door slammed. Garrick stared after her.
“She hates me. I’m screwed.”
Wynn privately agreed, but knew saying that out loud wouldn’t help the situation. “What did her mom say when she asked if Joylyn could stay here?”
“She said the boys were a problem.” He looked at Wynn. “Alisha’s three boys are between the ages of fifteen and eleven.”
“Yikes. That would be a lot for Joylyn to deal with.”
“That’s what Alisha said when she asked if Joylyn could come here.”
Wynn wondered what Alisha hadn’t told him. “Did she mention her attitude at all?”
“No, although Joylyn seems really upset.”
“Like I said, it’s not personal.” But it was going to be a problem.
“She’s still mad at me and I don’t know why.”
“It’s been six years, Garrick. A lot has happened. Give her a little time to adjust.”
He glanced down the hall. “I will. I just hope...” He shook his head and turned to Wynn. “You’ve been great and I appreciate all your help, but I’ve got this.”
She knew that he was giving her a polite escape, but wasn’t sure he was going to be all right on his own. From Wynn’s point of view, Joylyn was making things more difficult than they needed to be.
“Tell you what,” she said. “I have to do my weekly grocery shopping today. Why don’t I pick up some steaks and chicken and a few salads?
You and Joylyn can come over. You’ll man the barbecue and I’ll ask Hunter to try to make friends with your daughter.
I know there’s a big age difference, but she’s used to teens his age.
Plus she might want to play video games with him or something.
I know he’d love an extra night of playing. ”
Garrick’s gaze met hers. She saw both desperation and gratitude. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to help. Plus the wine you brought last time was really good.”
He surprised her by wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tight.
The unexpected contact flustered her a little—not that she was complaining.
Being close to a big, strong man was really nice.
He was warm and solid and he smelled good.
She relaxed in his embrace and put her arms around his waist, wishing the act had been fueled by a little bit more than gratitude.
“Thank you,” he said, resting his chin on her head and proving her point. “I mean it. Thank you.”
Tingles began floating through her body. If he kept up the hugging, she would pretty much agree to anything.
“You’re welcome.”
He released her.
For a second she didn’t want to let go, but figured he had enough on his mind without dealing with her wayward advances. In his present state of distraction, he might not even notice if she came on to him, and she doubted her ego was up to that kind of rejection.
She stepped back. “Feel free to show up early. Anytime after four. And if you and Joylyn work things out and want a quiet dinner alone, just text me and let me know.”
His mouth twisted. “I don’t see that happening.”
She didn’t, either, but you never knew. “Think positive and know that if nothing changes, you have a steak to look forward to.” She smiled. “And pie.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Pie?”
“I’m in the mood to make one. I’m thinking berry.”
“Is there anything you can’t do?”
“I have flaws, but I like to keep them hidden.” Along with a couple of secrets from her past, she thought as she waved and headed for the front door.
***
Joylyn sat at the desk in the bedroom, trying not to give in to the rising panic she felt in her chest. No matter how much she felt as if she’d been exiled, she wasn’t trapped and she wasn’t in prison. She could leave anytime she wanted.
Not that she had anywhere to go, she thought, wiping the tears from her cheeks and wondering if it was possible to cry so much that a person got dehydrated. No matter how she felt, no matter how alone or scared or rejected, she had to remember the baby and do her best to do right by her son.
She placed her hand on her belly, trying not to think about the fact that if she wasn’t pregnant, she wouldn’t be suffering like this now.
She would be back in San Diego, going to college and working part-time.
She would still be missing Chandler, counting the days until he was home, but everything else would be easier.
If only she hadn’t panicked, she thought regretfully.
She could have stayed on base and continued living her life.
Except once Chandler had left, she’d gotten scared.
She’d felt so alone that moving back in with her mom had made the most sense.
But that hadn’t worked out, what with her brothers and having no support system.
Her mom was busy with her new family—she hadn’t had time for Joylyn. And then her mother had thrown her out.
Her phone buzzed. Joylyn picked it up and read the text from her friend Holly.
You get there okay?
At least someone remembered she was alive, she thought.
I’m here and it’s awful. I should never have left San Diego.
What did your dad say?
Nothing.