4. Anna
Anna
O livia launched herself at Anna. “I’m here. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
Her friend’s embrace was enough to send her over the edge. Anna never let the world see her feelings unless it was happiness.
But Olivia? Olivia was Anna’s safe place, her shoulder to cry on, and her midnight call. Olivia was the one she could count on to be there for her through anything.
“It’s okay. I promise. We took care of everything and also managed to have Dean escorted out by Asa and Dawson.”
A laugh broke through Anna’s tears. “I wish I’d been there for that.”
“It was glorious. He was furious, and Misty cried enough to fill a kiddie pool.”
The unease was back. Misty had won in a way. Why did she feel sorry for the woman?
Relief and a gut-wrenching sadness warred within her. Dean hadn’t respected her enough to remain loyal. She might have high expectations for love, but Scripture said love was faithful.
She could have been trapped in a marriage with him. Yes, trapped would be the appropriate description of a relationship without fidelity.
“Back to square one,” Anna whispered.
“Stop that,” Olivia said, breaking the hug to look at Anna. “You’re an amazing person, and I know God has the perfect man for you out there.”
A chuckle shook Anna’s shoulders. “He got lost.”
Olivia laughed too, but it lacked mirth. “He’s not lost. God knows the timing too. It’s just not right this minute.”
Anna sighed. “I know. I’m trying really hard to be patient.”
Olivia rubbed her hands over Anna’s shoulders. “You’re doing great. Patience is tough. Just ask Dawson.”
Dawson had waited very patiently for Olivia to open her heart to him. He never pushed, but he never gave up either.
Now, Dawson and Olivia were being made to wait for a child to grow their family, and they were handling it well because they trusted God.
Why couldn’t Anna be that patient ?
Anna wiped her face, grateful that she hadn’t put on a ton of makeup before Dean’s secret came out. “How many men do I have to share my favorite color with before I find my person?”
Olivia’s lips pressed together in a thin line. “I don’t know.”
“That was a joke. You were supposed to laugh and tell me something encouraging.”
“Oh, I’ll be encouraging, but I think you need something a little different. You’ve always wanted to find love and live happily ever after, but what else do you want?”
Anna narrowed her eyes at Olivia. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been so focused on finding someone and making sure they’re happy enough with you to stay that you might have lost sight of what makes you happy.”
Anna swallowed. What made her happy? It wasn’t Dean. She hadn’t been truly happy in their relationship for a while. Hindsight was 20/20.
She loved her job, but it wasn’t always fulfilling. Clients at the law firm rarely thanked her for the things she did for them. Sure, she earned plenty of money, but what was she even doing with it?
Her fashion vlog was definitely a passion project, but that could all fall apart when her wedding sponsors found out she wouldn’t be wearing and featuring the custom gowns they made for her .
She’d have to pay them back. That was one thing she’d be doing with her money.
“Maybe you’re right,” Anna admitted.
Heels clicked rapidly down the hallway seconds before Hadley and Lyric entered wearing their navy bridesmaid gowns.
“Are you okay?” Hadley asked as she greeted Anna with open arms.
Sinking into the embrace, Anna took a stinging breath past the tightness in her chest. “I’m okay. Thanks for all your help today.”
“Don’t mention it. It was our pleasure,” Lyric said as she rubbed a hand over Anna’s back.
“Yeah. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this, but I really enjoyed seeing Dean getting put in his place,” Hadley said.
“We’re here for you, Anna. Anything you need,” Lyric added.
“The other ladies are too,” Hadley said. “Everly Lawson stepped in and took over as your wedding coordinator. That other lady was still taking orders from your mom, and Everly spoke up for you and put her foot down on a lot of things.”
“I wanted to hire her in the first place. Mom wanted someone else, and Everly was already busy planning weddings at Wolf Creek Ranch.”
Lyric continued rubbing Anna’s back. “We all pitched in to wrap things up. Everly told the guests to stay and eat since the food was already paid for. ”
“Good. I wouldn’t want it to go to waste,” Anna said, relaxing a little with her friends around her.
Hadley gasped. “Wait. What about your honeymoon? You should totally still go!”
“Definitely,” Lyric said. “You spent as much time planning the trip as you did the wedding. You deserve it.”
Anna’s spirits fell. Not only had she been planning the trip to Freedom, Colorado for months, she’d booked a bunch of extras she’d always wanted to do. She called it her bucket list. “My honeymoon? I can’t go on my honeymoon alone.”
“Bring someone with you,” Lyric said. “It’s within driving distance, so it’s not like they’ll need a passport or anything.”
That was one of Anna’s stipulations. Her crippling fear of flying had kept her from traveling with Dean. Maybe she’d have discovered his affair sooner if she’d been able to spend more time with him, but knowing she was afraid of flying hadn’t stopped Dean from jet-setting without her.
Now that the idea was in her head, missing out on the perfect trip she’d planned for their honeymoon would just be another crack in her breaking heart.
Anna threw her hands in the air. “Why would I bring someone with me? Because misery loves company?”
Hadley grabbed Anna’s hand and bounced on her toes. “No, you’ll be happy having fun and knowing you don’t have to put up with Dean’s bad attitude and philandering anymore.”
In theory. Anna had been looking forward to the things she’d planned for them. Was she really going to miss out on all of the fun she’d been looking forward to doing?
“Would anyone want to go with me?”
Olivia groaned. “I have to work. I already offered to cover three shifts for someone else this week.”
“I can’t. I work every day next week,” Hadley said.
“Jacob has basketball tournaments,” Lyric said. “I’d love to go, but I can’t miss his games. They have a shot at the championship.”
Olivia rubbed a hand over her chin. “Bella is super pregnant. She won’t want to be away from her doctor. Who else?”
Anna had plenty of friends but not many she would just call up and ask to go on a spur-of-the-moment trip with her. “I think that’s a sign. I’m not supposed to go.”
Olivia grabbed Anna’s hand. “Wait. Don’t give up yet. I’ll be right back.”
She darted out of the room with her heels clicking on the floor and her dark hair flowing.
Anna shook her head. “It’s fine. I have a big mess to clean up here anyway.”
Hadley spotted the coffee pot and pulled a mug from the cabinet. “I’m serious. Everly took over. We told her what happened, and she immediately turned on her professional face.”
Lyric appraised Anna with raised eyebrows. “You look great by the way. Beau’s jacket gives that hot dress a new edge.”
Anna gripped the lapels of the jacket and pulled the two sides tighter around her. It was officially becoming a source of comfort when everything was falling apart around her.
“It’s too big.”
Lyric grinned and gave Anna a playful wink. “Sure, but it looks good on you.”
The memory of wrapping her arms around Beau as they drove away from the church sent her heart racing again. Would she have been brave enough to leave if he hadn’t been in the right place at the right time?
Hadley raised a mug of steaming coffee. “I’m going to check on Olivia. I have a feeling she needs help.”