Chapter Thirty-Nine
TALLY
T he minute I left the girls at their grandparents’ house, I missed them. I knew the days I’d get to be their nanny were soon coming to an end, and it broke my heart that I wouldn’t see them every day and get to be part of their lives.
I’d been looking forward to seeing Nora dance in her first recital in the spring. Ava was starting to learn to read, and I loved listening to her sound out the words or ask for my help when she couldn’t get it. And Piper was just the cutest little thing. She was learning so much, and her vocabulary seemed to be expanding all the time. I loved her little voice and the way she said Tally with a W sound in the middle.
And I missed Jake. That went without saying. Playing over each moment we’d shared together was excruciating, but I put myself through it daily. I wondered how long it would take to get over the worst of this heartbreak. Mom told me time heals all wounds, but I wished there was some kind of ointment I could slap on my heart to speed up the process. Extra Strength Bacitracin Heartbreak Ointment, perhaps. I needed to invent and patent that. I’d be a millionaire.
I fought back tears as I stood at the front of the aisle at the wedding rehearsal, watching Penny practice her bridal walk and listening to her and Lucas practice reciting their vows. I’d had plenty of daydreams about marrying Jake, seeing him stand at the end of the aisle, waiting for me, having the girls be part of our ceremony. Yes, it was premature—and maybe immature—to think such things since we only knew each other a few months and were only together for half of that time, but I couldn’t help it. He was the one I wanted to spend my life with, and now I was alone again.
After the rehearsal had finished, I sat down in an empty chair off by myself and waited until Penny said we could move to the room where the rehearsal dinner would be held. I looked around the room, admiring the detail of the old hotel ballroom with its high ceilings, ornate trim and crown molding, and sparkling chandeliers. This was probably the only place in town large enough to accommodate the massive guest list for their wedding.
“Is this seat taken?”
I looked up to see Dylan standing over me. “Oh, hey.”
“I saw you sitting over here and thought I’d come say hello. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
He motioned to the empty seat next to me, and I nodded .
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I was back there running the sound system,” he explained. “I run sound at church on Sundays and sometimes help with events around town. Ellie’s grandma gave my name to Penny’s mom, and the rest is history.”
“That’s cool.”
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’ve been better.” I gave him a hesitant smile. “I’m just glad you’re still speaking to me.”
“I was upset for a while. I thought we were getting along really well, so I was kind of surprised you blew me off like that.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve been honest with you from the beginning that I liked someone else. I’m not very good at this dating thing.”
“Who is?” he said with a laugh that showed his dimples.
“Good point.”
“So, if you don’t mind me asking … What happened with the other guy? Are you two together?”
My eyes widened.
He nervously rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I guess I’m wondering if I still have any chance.”
I was about to answer when someone suddenly tugged at my sleeve. I glanced over my shoulder and was surprised to see Ava’s smiling face.
“Ava? What are you doing here?”
My eyes darted around the room, and I spotted Jake, Nora, and Piper in the doorway. Jake’s eyes met mine just before he noticed Dylan and frowned .
“Daddy came to see you,” Ava said.
My heart skipped a beat. “He did?”
The girls ran from his side toward me, and he followed after. When they reached me, Piper circled to my other side and started climbing onto my lap, so I helped her up and hugged her tightly to my chest.
“Dylan,” Jake extended a hand to him.
“Jake, good to see ya.” They shook hands, and I felt the tension hanging in the air between us.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, worried about what had brought them there.
“Yeah, the girls wanted to see what a wedding rehearsal was like, and since we were originally invited, I thought it would be alright, but clearly, we missed it.” His eyes flitted to Dylan and back to me. “Sorry to interrupt your night.”
Nora looked up at her dad. “That’s not—”
“Let’s go, girls.”
Jake reached out and took Piper from my arms, and Ava pouted as he led them away.
“I want fwench fwies,” Piper whined.
“Shhh.” Jake attempted to quiet her.
I watched as they walked out the door, confused by their brief appearance. Then Nora came running back.
“We didn’t come to see the rehearsal. We came here to see you,” she said. “We came to get you back.”
My mouth fell open. “What?” It came out as more of a breath than a word.
“Daddy loves you.”
“Come on, Nora,” Jake called from the doorway.
“Please love Daddy again.” She gave me a quick hug and swiftly returned to her father .
Jake’s eyes locked with mine and held. Everything happening was now colored by what Nora had just told me, and he looked desperately sad. When they disappeared out the door, I sat there staring as if in a trance.
“He’s the one, isn’t he?” Dylan asked.
I couldn’t find words, so I nodded.
“Jake’s a good guy. I hope it all works out for you.”
“Thank you, Dylan. You’re a good guy too.”
He twisted his lips to the side. “Not the guy for you, though, I guess.”
I gave him a little smile. “I hope we can still be friends.”
“I hope so too.”
“You’re in my seat,” Jessa told Dylan as she approached.
“There are a bunch of empty chairs everywhere.” I pointed to the row ahead of us.
She sat down in that row and chuckled. “Just joshing ya.”
“I should go anyway.” Dylan stood and held his hand out to me. “See ya around, Tally.”
I shook his hand. “See ya, Dylan.”
Jessa turned around in her chair. “Did I see Jake and his daughters leaving?”
I pressed my lips together, fighting back my emotion, and nodded.
Ellie suddenly plopped down in the empty seat beside me. “Jake was here?”
Tears sprung to my eyes.
“Oh, Tally.” Ellie pulled me in for a hug. “What happened?”
“Nora said they came here to see me, that her dad loves me and wants me back. ”
Ellie gasped as she let go and gaped at me. “What?”
Jessa’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t he tell you?”
“Well, Dylan was here.”
“Good. He deserves to be jealous,” Jessa said.
“What if it’s true? What if he really came here because he wants me back?”
“Too bad. His loss.”
I gave her a look of disapproval. “Jessa, sometimes I get so tired of your doom and gloom attitude about guys. Not all guys suck, okay.” My volume raised. “There are some great guys out there, and if you would stop looking at all of them as the enemy, you might realize you’ve known some really good ones all along.”
She stared at me for a few beats, then looked away, twisting the end of her ponytail around her finger.
“This is my life and my future happiness, so could you please say something that might help me right now?”
Penny walked up in the midst of our conversation. “Wow, Tally, you’re really worked up. What did I miss?”
“Jake wants Tally back,” Ellie explained.
“We don’t know that for sure,” I said. “That’s just what Nora said.”
“I say go talk to him,” Ellie said. “You won’t know unless you do.”
“But what if I go there and Nora had it all wrong? I don’t want to be humiliated and hurt all over again. Kids misunderstand sometimes. Nora misunderstood something she saw once, thinking her dad liked Ava’s teacher when he didn’t. What if she only thought he meant he loved me but she misinterpreted it? I’m scared of making a fool of myself and ending up worse off than I am now. ”
Jessa had been quiet since I snapped at her, and she finally spoke. “You should let him come to you. He’s the one who broke things off. If he wants to make things right, you need to wait for him to do it.”
I started to reply, but she held up a hand.
“And I’m not just saying that because I think guys suck. I heard all you said, and I don’t want you to go through any more pain when it comes to him. So, I say wait. Let him do the hard stuff.”
“But if Nora was right,” Penny said, “then he already did come to her.”
“And then he left,” Jessa replied.
“Part of me wants to run after him.” I breathed in deep and let it out. “Please tell me not to. Because my hopes are so high right now. But if he doesn’t come, then I’ll know Nora was wrong.”
“Don’t stop holding onto hope for happiness,” Jessa said. “Never lose that. It’s one of the things that makes you who you are.”
I liked sentimental Jessa. She rarely showed up.
“Hey! If Nora’s right and Jake comes to get you back, maybe we can have a double wedding,” Ellie declared.
Our serious moment was broken up by laughter.
“Nobody has double weddings, except on soap operas,” Jessa said.
“Wouldn’t it be so romantic, though?” Ellie’s voice was so swoony.
“Sorry, but if I ever get married, I want the entire day to be about me and my husband,” I told her.
“I want a small wedding with just family and a few close friends,” Jessa said. “I don’t want a bunch of people watching me all day. That sounds awful. ”
“Wait! Hold the phone!” Ellie’s mouth fell open. “Did Jessa just share with us her dream wedding?”
“I think she did,” Penny said.
We all laughed as Jessa scowled.
“Whatever. I’m never getting married anyway,” she snapped.
“Oh my gosh! Can I help plan it?” Ellie asked.
Jessa shook her head. “There’s nothing to plan.”
“First, we need to find you a groom.”
“Can we please drop it?”
“I’m picturing Jessa in a wedding dress right now, and she will look gorgeous.”
“Ellie, stop!”
“Okay, okay.” Ellie held her hands up in front of her. “I’ll drop it.”
“Thank you.”
“For now.”
Jessa gave her a dirty look.
Lucas came up behind Penny and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Are you girls going to join us for the rehearsal dinner? Because I’m sure I can find a few people who will be happy to eat your meals.”
“We’re coming.” She reached up and touched his face, and he planted a kiss on her cheek, and my heart ached for Jake.
We headed off to dinner, and I told myself not to get too excited about the possibilities, but it was too late. My body hummed with anticipation the entire night, wondering what the future held.