Chapter 44
Cool air washed over Jenna’s skin as she entered her apartment, a welcome relief from the July heat. After being relatively
sedentary all week, she’d had the bright idea of going for a three-mile jog. But the eighty-five-degree evening had whipped
her butt.
She dropped onto her sofa, sweat and all. She’d rehydrate, then shower. But at the moment she was too exhausted to even kick
off her tennis shoes. Perhaps she’d overdone it. But the Oreos had been a regular companion this week. Last night had been
a full-sleeve night. Not good.
She’d gone for a jog because she’d been desperate to escape her thoughts, which tended to hover around two subjects. Her mother’s
love life being one. It had been more than twenty-four hours since Jenna visited Gordon. She’d hoped her mom would’ve called
by now with good news. Jenna put it all out there, but it was in his hands now. With each hour that ticked by, her hopes sank
inch by inch.
The other intrusive subject was, of course, Tyson. Even the jog couldn’t distract her from missing him. She wished she could
just call him to chat—even as a friend.
But that was absurd. She couldn’t think of him that way now. Not when they’d been so much more. Not when her heart ached for
want of him.
She rolled her eyes at the melodramatic thought. Cheesy as it might sound, it was true. She took a long drink from her water bottle and was setting it back on the end table when her phone buzzed with an incoming call.
Tyson?
Her heart rate jacked right back up. Or maybe her mom.
A peek at the screen revealed the caller was neither. The spurt of adrenaline fizzled as she answered the phone. “Hey, Sofia.
How’s it going?” They’d talked earlier in the week, mostly just a postmortem on Tyson and Jenna’s relationship. Sofia had
been a sympathetic ear.
“Pretty good. I was wondering how your first week went. I know you were feeling a little overloaded the other day.”
“There’s a lot to learn, but I’ll get on top of it.” She’d actually been in her office a lot more than she’d anticipated.
Hopefully that would change once she stepped fully into her role.
“You’ll be amazing. I just wish you could be amazing a little closer to the island.”
“Me too. It’s a shame the cost of living has increased so much there.”
“It’s made things difficult for a lot of residents. So tell me how your talk with Gordon went yesterday.”
Jenna filled her in on the visit from start to finish while Sofia listened patiently. “I’d hoped to hear something from my
mom by now.”
“Maybe he needs a little time to process. You did all you could—and it was very courageous of you to hunt him down and confess
what you did.”
“It was the least I could do.”
“It’s in God’s hands now. Try to have a little faith.”
Sofia was always quick to remind her that just because something was out of Jenna’s control didn’t mean it was out of God’s control. A male voice sounded in the background.
“Is that Jack?” Jenna asked.
“He’s fixing the dishwasher.”
“Oh, I didn’t know he was a handyman.”
Sofia lowered her voice. “He’s not. He’ll try to fix the dishwasher, get frustrated, then give up and call the plumber. I
already have the number ready.”
Jenna chuckled. But inside she longed to have that in her life—someone she knew so well, someone who knew her too, and loved
her anyway. It had been pretty stellar for a while.
“How are you doing otherwise?” Sofia asked.
She meant in regard to Ty, of course. “I’m okay.”
“That wasn’t very convincing.”
Jenna sighed. “I try to stay busy. I just returned from a three-mile jog, which goes to show you exactly how desperate I am.
I love him so much, Sofia. I don’t know how it happened so quickly or so thoroughly.”
“Oh, Jenna . . .” Something foreboding vibrated in her tone.
It sent a jolt of dread through Jenna. Her heart beat out a heavy tattoo while she waited for Sofia to continue. When she
didn’t, Jenna said, “What’s wrong? Is Tyson okay?”
“He’s fine. I was just weighing if I should tell you something.”
“Well, you have to tell me now.” Jenna clutched a pillow to her chest as if it could serve as a barrier against whatever Sofia
was about to say.
“I stopped in AmaRin this afternoon and Ty was there.” The pause seemed to last eons. “He was in a corner booth—with Britt.”
Jenna hadn’t even realized his ex-wife was on the island. “Oh.” The thought of Ty with any other woman, much less Britt, made Jenna’s heart hurt. But meeting up with Britt didn’t mean anything. “I’m sure he was just
getting closure or something. The relationship ended pretty suddenly. He kind of spun out.”
“That’s true. That’s completely possible.”
She knew Sofia too well. “What aren’t you saying?”
“I was in the lobby and I didn’t have a great view of them. But they were holding hands across the table, Jenna. And the way
she was gazing at him, all moony eyed . . . it didn’t look good.”
It was impossible to believe Ty could’ve moved on that fast. “I don’t know what you saw, but I know Ty. He would never go
back to Britt. Certainly not one week after our breakup.”
“I didn’t think so. But I thought you deserved to know what I saw. You’re probably right. It was just closure, I’m sure.”
It was all innocent, no doubt. But eventually Tyson would find someone else. The thought of him moving on made her feel sick.
She’d finally fallen in love with the right person. But it hadn’t been enough.
“You okay?” Sofia asked.
“Yeah.” Her voice wobbled on the lie.
“Can I be honest, Jen?”
“Therapist honest or best-friend honest?”
“A little of both, I guess.”
What did Jenna have to lose? She was already miserable. “Lay it on me.”
“A while back you mentioned some counseling for those grief issues. Have you given that any more thought?”
“I assume you think I need it.”
“It wouldn’t hurt, would it? You and Tyson were so good together. I hate that you gave up something that made you so happy.”
“I didn’t even have to give it up—Ty just knew what was going on inside me. He practically read my mind.” She remembered Jason’s reason for proposing—because she just “needed a little push.” What a contrast.
“He knows you so well.”
“Being with him was everything I dreamed. It felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. But when he had that accident,
I realized it wasn’t enough.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It scared me so badly. I don’t want to give someone my whole heart only to lose him.”
“Like you lost your dad?”
“Yes!” It was hard to admit out loud. She didn’t want to believe she was such a coward. “My stupid fears got in the way, and
I let go of the man who was meant for me in every way.”
“Jen, this isn’t an irrevocable problem. Fear can be overcome. It might take time, but you’re strong enough to fight through
it and reach the other side.”
Was she? It sure didn’t feel like it.
“You can do this, Jen. Trust me on that.”
Jenna wiped a tear from her cheek. “Well, you are an expert.”
“I am, aren’t I?”
Maybe it was time. After all, if she didn’t overcome this fear, how would she ever have a healthy relationship? And if anyone
was worth the effort, it was Tyson. “All right. I’ll look into it.”
Her phone vibrated and she checked the screen. Mom. Had Gordon called her at last? “Hey, my mom’s calling.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Check back in later, all right?”
“Will do. Thank you, Sofia. I appreciate your help.”
“Anytime, friend.”
Jenna ended the call and accepted her mother’s, hope lilting her tone. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Hi, honey. You’ll never guess who’s here.” The smile in Mom’s tone said everything Jenna needed to know.
A grin spread across Jenna’s face as her mom told her about Gordon showing up on her doorstep this afternoon with an armful
of red roses. He’d told her about Jenna’s visit and confession and asked her mom for another chance. As the story unfolded,
Gordon chimed in with charming little snippets that made her mom giggle.
They both sounded so blissful, Jenna felt her heart squeeze tight.
And if, twenty minutes later when they got off the phone, a tear or two trickled down Jenna’s face . . . well, they were just
tears of happiness.