Chapter Seventeen #2
She sat back in her chair. Her mom was talking to Wynn and Holly. Her dad was picking up the dirty plates and taking them to the kitchen.
He’d really come through for her, she thought.
First taking her in when her mom had kicked her out and then totally being there for her through birthing class and her horrible moods.
She winced as she remembered how bitchy she’d been when she’d arrived.
Part of that had been missing Chandler and part of that had been how hurt she’d been at what her mom had done.
She looked at her mother, wondering what combination of events had caused the other woman to toss out her own daughter. Had Joylyn really been that difficult to live with or were there other forces at work?
Maybe things weren’t as good at home as she’d thought. Maybe the boys were getting into trouble or there was tension in the marriage. Joylyn wasn’t sure and knew this wasn’t the time to ask. While she was still hurt by her mother’s actions, she didn’t feel quite so raw when she thought about them.
Her dad returned from the kitchen and walked over to stand by her chair. He looked uncomfortable as he cleared his throat.
“I made you something. I was going to bring it out when you were opening the other presents, but then I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want you to think I was trying to take over the shower or be more important than anyone else, so I waited. But I’d like you to see it.”
She laughed. “Dad, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know. I’ll be right back.”
Before he left, he glanced at Wynn, who nodded and got up to follow him.
“What is that about?” Holly asked.
Joylyn shrugged. “They’re sure acting mysterious.”
She had the brief thought that maybe they were going to announce their engagement, but then told herself it wasn’t that. Her dad would never do that at her baby shower. Plus he’d said he made her something. She had no idea what it could be. Her dad didn’t...
Wynn returned with a gift bag in her hand. Before Joylyn could ask about it, her father stepped onto the patio, a beautiful, wooden bassinet in his hands. He carefully set it on the concrete, then stepped back and watched her.
Joylyn stared at the incredible piece of furniture. The lines were simple but elegant. The light stain allowed the beauty of the wood to shine. There was a baby mattress in place.
She got out of her chair and crossed to the bassinet, then ran her hands along the smooth wood. It took only the lightest push to get it to rock.
“Oh, Daddy,” she murmured. “I don’t know what to say.” She looked at him. “You made this for me?”
He nodded. “I wanted you to have something special. You’re my little girl.”
She thought about all the time it would have taken him to build this for her.
She thought about all the years they’d lost because a bitter woman had lied to her and she’d believed her.
She thought about her own child and how much she already loved him, then she rushed into her father’s arms and hung on tight.
“Thank you,” she said as the tears started. They quickly turned into ugly sobs she couldn’t control, but no matter how much she cried, her dad didn’t let go.
“You’re welcome, Joylyn. I love you. I always will.”
She nodded, unable to speak. Eventually the waterworks stopped enough for her to catch her breath and dry her face. When she had a little control back, Wynn handed her a bag.
“Your dad got you this, too, but it seems a little anticlimactic.”
Joylyn looked in the bag and saw Winnie the Pooh bedding.
“It’s perfect,” she managed to say, trying her best not to start sobbing again. “I mean it, Dad. It’s wonderful.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it, little girl.”
Everyone took turns rocking the bassinet. Her mother congratulated her on the successful shower.
“It was a special day,” her mother said, looking a little emotional. “I’m so glad I was here.”
Joylyn hugged her. “Me, too, Mom.”
“I hope you’re not too angry about me sending you to stay with your dad.”
Joylyn didn’t know what she was feeling anymore. The anger had faded, but the hurt remained.
“Having me stay here turned out really well for all of us,” she said with a smile. “Besides, I’m sure the boys appreciate not having to be quiet in case I’m resting.”
Her mother bit her bottom lip. “They do miss you. I miss you, too. If you want, I can take some of the baby’s things with me so you have less to transport when Chandler gets home.”
“That’s okay. Dad’s going to drive back with us. What we can’t fit in my car, we’ll get in his SUV. It’s really big.”
Her mother looked at her. “Joylyn, did you want to come home now? I keep thinking you should be with your family when you’re so close to giving birth.”
A month ago Joylyn would have jumped at the chance to leave Happily Inc, but not anymore. “I want to stay here,” she said easily. “I’m settled with my dad, and there’s Holly’s wedding next week and my last birthing class. I’m good, Mom, but thanks for thinking of me.”
“You are still mad.”
“I’m not.” She drew in a breath. “We will have to talk about what happened, but not today, please. It was a perfect day. I love that you came to my baby shower. Can’t that be enough?”
Her mother studied her. “You’ve changed. You’re more grown-up.”
“Don’t you think it was time?”
“I don’t want to lose you, Joylyn.”
Joylyn thought about how her mother had let her walk away from her dad.
How she’d taken the easy road, rather than make her daughter do what was right, which was so different from how Wynn had handled the situation with Hunter.
Joylyn supposed everyone was flawed and made mistakes.
She sure made plenty herself, so she couldn’t judge.
“You’re not going to lose me, Mom. I’m right here.” Joylyn hugged her. “I’ll see you soon.”
Alisha didn’t look convinced, but she nodded. Joylyn sank back in her chair and thought that she was pretty darned proud of herself for how she’d handled that. Maybe this acting more mature thing was going to work for her.
***
Monday at eleven, Wynn left her office for the final girlfriend lunch of the year. They would take off the last two weeks of the year to accommodate the craziness of the season. She drove home to collect what she’d made and to wait for her ride.
Unlike the other lunches with a haphazard potluck menu, this meal was planned and everyone had a part. Silver provided a fun cocktail, while the food duties were shared. Wynn, who was still in a holiday baking frenzy, had offered to take care of dessert.
She’d decided on a cookie-based treat, mostly because everyone loved her sugar cookies.
After playing with a couple of frosting variations, she ended up with a sugar cookie fruit tart.
The sugar cookie stood in for the crust and the frosting—a custard buttercream—was the filling.
She topped each cookie with blueberries and raspberries, along with a bit of sugar glaze.
She’d saved the largest bakery box from Joylyn’s shower and had put the tarts inside. Now she carefully carried them to the door and waited.
Right on time a large black limo pulled up. The plan was to enjoy the cocktails and not go back to work afterward. The limo was going to take them home, so no one had to worry about driving.
Natalie jumped out of the car and hurried up the front path to help with the box while Wynn closed the door behind herself and made sure it was locked.
“Hi,” Natalie said cheerfully. “I’m ridiculously excited about our lunch.”
“Me, too. I love our regular get-togethers, but this one is special.”
Natalie glanced at the house next door. “I wish Joylyn had been able to join us.”
“Me, too. I texted her this morning, just to confirm she was still tired. She said she was feeling too lazy to get herself together enough to come with us.”
The driver held open the back door for them. Wynn took the box from Natalie so her friend could slide in.
“She’s really pregnant,” Natalie added, when they pulled away from the curb. “That has to be exhausting.”
Wynn was sure that was most of the reason Joylyn had elected to stay home, but she also had the thought that her new friend didn’t want to intrude on what was a special event. Wynn had told her she was more than welcome, but Joylyn had insisted she was not up to the day.
They drove to the animal sanctuary and picked up Carol, then made their way to Weddings Out of the Box, where the lunch would be held. Drew was dropping off Silver with her supplies, and Cade had agreed to deliver Bethany to the lunch.
When they arrived, they found Silver, Bethany, Renee and Pallas in the large open area where most of the weddings and receptions were held.
A long table had been set up by the windows.
A green, red and black plaid table runner topped a white tablecloth.
Long, low centerpieces of red and white roses were accented with pinecones and greens.
A second table had been set up to hold the Secret Santa gifts.
Wynn carried her cookies to the kitchen area.
Servers were at work, getting the prepared food ready for the lunch.
She returned to the main room and greeted her friends before adding her gift to the pile.
The rules of Secret Santa were simple—the gift had to be inexpensive and fun.
Everyone drew numbers out of a hat, and that was the order the gifts were chosen.
If you were last and ended up with your own gift, you got to take a gift from someone else in exchange for yours.
Wynn had found a cute wooden penguin at an estate sale. The little guy looked like he was about to burst into penguin laughter at any second, and she knew he would be right at home on anyone’s desk.
“This is so fun,” Pallas said. “Merry Christmas, everyone. As you can see, we’re going to have a delicious lunch.
We’ll start with Silver’s cocktail. I can’t wait to find out what it is.
Then butternut squash soup with cheddar biscuits.
Blueberry chicken salad with more biscuits, and Wynn’s sugar cookie tarts for dessert. ”
Everyone moaned.
“That sounds amazing,” Bethany said. “I’m not sure my soup is up to the challenge.”
“At least you got to bring something,” Natalie said with a pout. “I didn’t bring anything.”
“You were away at a show,” Renee pointed out. “You got home at midnight last night. When were you going to make a dish?”
Wynn patted Natalie’s shoulder. “Next year you’ll get the entrée.”
Natalie brightened. “I’d like that.”
“Cocktails,” Silver said, picking up a tray of champagne glasses. “This is called a Wallaby-Darned.”
Carol laughed. “Seriously?”
“That’s what they tell me.” Silver served each of them. “The basic ingredients are champagne, vodka and peach schnapps.”
Renee leaned close to Wynn. “That explains why we all have rides home,” she murmured.
Wynn laughed. “They sound delicious.”
They took their seats at the table to talk for a bit before the meal service began.
“I heard the baby shower was so fun,” Pallas said. “I wish we could have been there.”
“It was great.” Wynn took a sip of her cocktail and decided it was so good, she was going to have at least two. “Joylyn was so appreciative of everything. Thanks again for the loan of the table and chairs.” She looked at Carol. “And thank you for helping me.”
Carol waved away the words. “It was fun. I never get to do the party stuff. Plus we never get to help you. You’re always helping us.”
The comment surprised Wynn. “You help me.”
“We don’t,” Silver told her. “You’re so together all the time. You rarely need anything.” She held up a hand. “I’m not complaining. I love that my friends are all self-sufficient, but it’s nice to be able to give a little something. Like Holly’s wedding.”
“That’s coming together,” Renee said. “I met with her Saturday morning and she is such a sweetie. I can’t wait for her big day. The wedding is going to be perfect.”
Bethany asked if everyone had already decorated for Christmas and the conversation shifted, but Wynn didn’t join in.
She didn’t think of herself as particularly together, but it was nice that her friends viewed her that way.
She tried to be a good person and take care of business.
She loved her friends and her son and her life.
Only it was no longer enough. She wanted more. She wanted love and more babies, and she wanted them with Garrick.
The truth had been standing in front of her for a while now. Yes, they hadn’t known each other that long, but it wasn’t as if she didn’t know a lot about him. His past, his work, his daughter all spoke to the kind of man he was. He loved deeply—the question was, did he want to love her?
“You okay?” Natalie asked.
Wynn smiled. “I’m great.”
She turned her attention back to her friends and the fun of the day. She would think about Garrick, and what she wanted, later. She would come up with a plan to tell him how she felt and then hope he wanted the same things she did.
Doing so meant risking her heart, but she knew it was time for her to take a chance. She’d forgiven herself for her past—now she had to be willing to embrace her future and all the possibilities it offered.