Chapter 18
Jo picked at her food.
She’d almost kissed Jack. That was twice. Two times, her goofy self had managed to put herself within inches of his lips, and both times, she somehow managed enough willpower to slowly step away.
One minute, she was proud of herself. The next, she wanted to scream. Why were things so hard? She knew she had to return to New York. It’d been a discussion she’d had with herself since she left his shop.
There were brides who made appointments with her, some as far out as a year—Bridget had called earlier that day, and they’d added four more. Just a peek at her schedule would exhaust her. All that travel. All those interviews. While she loved the excitement of writing them, it was still a lot of work. She was good at what she did because she cared, and she could easily see getting burnt out.
Only Delia wasn’t taking that into consideration. Jo’s articles sold copies, and the magazine needed that if it wanted to stay in business.
It was also a year that she knew she wouldn’t be focusing on photography. Her plan was to move departments, get to know people in the industry… maybe slowly move in a different direction. Her five-year plan was quickly becoming a ten, maybe more. Did she want that?
A hand atop her caught her attention.
“Are you okay, Jo?” asked Serenity.
She took a breath and smiled. “Just lost in thought. I’m fine. Thank you for inviting me to come along for your bachelor party. I figured you’d want to wait until you weren’t eating for me to begin taking photos.”
Jo had already taken plenty of pictures. Of the bridesmaids’ arrival, the house Serenity rented for them, and their last dress fitting. There’d been a brief reprieve from the festivities while they got ready for the party. Jo and Serenity’s maid of honor left early to get things at the café ready, where Jo took even more pictures, and then they’d stopped in at the shops that would be staying open to get their scavenger hunt together.
“No, you’re not wrong, and I really need to reiterate just how much I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“It’s been my pleasure. Really, it has. You’re one of the sweetest brides I’ve ever interviewed.”
Her maid of honor, Zoey Davis, scooted her chair closer. “Serenity has always been like this. Even in high school.”
“High school?”
“We both loved Taylor Evans. Blond hair…” She sighed.
“Blue eyes,” Serenity added.
In union, they said, “And the hottest guy in Marshall High.”
Change out the name to Jack Turner, and Jo knew exactly what they were talking about. “I think every high school had one of those.”
“His name was Jack Turner,” Lucy said as she stopped next to Jo and looked down at her. “Remember all the times we’d daydream about his asking us out?”
“Shush!” Jo laughed.
“Wait, Jack Turner? Ethan’s brother?” Serenity asked, looking from Jo to Lucy and back. “Did you two go out a couple of weeks ago?”
Lucy nodded. “They sure did.”
“Lucy!” The blood rushed to Jo’s face so quickly, ice water wouldn’t have cooled it.
Zoey wiggled her eyebrows. “Ohhhh…. The plot thickens.”
“There’s no plot. Nothing is thickening. We’re friends, and that’s it.” She quickly determined the only way to get off the subject of her and Jack was to steer the conversation back to Serenity. “Besides, tonight isn’t about me. It’s about Serenity.” Jo looked at Zoey. “When did you know she was in love with Ethan?”
That was all it took. Well, sort of. Lucy gave her a look. Serenity eyed her, and Zoey seemed the quickest to take the hint, which Jo appreciated.
Just like the meet-cute, the story was cute. Serenity called Zoey right after meeting Ethan. It was interesting to hear it from a different perspective. Serenity said it wasn’t love at first sight, but according to Zoey, it definitely was, and lying to him really bugged her. Zoey had encouraged her to tell the truth but understood her hesitation. Serenity had just broken up with a guy a few months prior who had used her to get into parties so he could further his career. She’d been burned, and she liked Ethan. She just wanted to make sure he liked Renny. That was the name Zoey used for her. It was cute and sounded like a name that would have worked in school between friends.
Jo loved it. As far as article material, it was deepening the story. People would eat up the extra information because it would make it feel like they knew Serenity and because it made Serenity relatable. Not that most people were used for their fame, but people took advantage of others for far more insignificant things, and Serenity’s story would resonate with them regardless. People, no matter where they were, understood the excitement of something new, that tingle of attraction, the sprig of hope that maybe that serendipitous meeting would turn into the start of something.
“Okay, it’s time for the scavenger hunt!” Zoey said.
Jo smiled. “I’m going to stay at the café’—”
“Awww…” Emily said. “What?”
It was sweet that they seemed to genuinely like having her involved. “I’m going to help Lucy clean up and get ready for dessert and coffee.”
Madison gave a small pout. “That’s sweet, but I’ve really loved having you come with us. It’s not often I’m made to feel so welcome by someone. I’m a bit of an odd duck.” She softly laughed.
“You are not an odd duck. You’re eccentric,” Serenity said, correcting her. “Don’t believe a word she says. She’s not only beautiful, but she’s also sweet, loyal, kind to a fault, and the best cheerleader you could ever have.”
June nodded. “Out of the four of us, Maddy is the best, really.”
Emily vigorously nodded. “Yes, agreed.”
“They’re just trying to make me feel better.” She swallowed hard like she remembered something painful. “So, are we supposed to take candids?”
“Yes,” Jo said as she handed out the cameras. “Try to snap shots that are unexpected. Ones where you aren’t looking at the camera. Find those moments that will trigger memories years from now when you’re flipping through your photos. Okay?”
Excited chatter erupted as the women gathered their things and headed out for the hunt. The door shut, and Jo spun on her heels, exhaling heavily. “Okay. Whew.”
“They seem like a great group of friends.” Lucy began picking up plates, consolidating uneaten food, and stacking them.
“I don’t have anything negative to say. Even Maddy is talking more.”
“It looked like she was about to cry earlier.” Lucy glanced up.
Jo nodded. “She had a really rough breakup not that long ago.”
Lucy frowned. “Aw, that’s sad. She seems so sweet.”
“She is, and she has a large trust fund. The guy left her at the altar.”
“Oh, that is horrible. He’d only dated her for her trust fund?”
“Yep, and it left her devastated. Serenity tried to set her up with Ruger—Ethan and Jack’s friend, but Maddy wouldn’t come out of her room. They were trying to help, but she’s not ready,” Jo said and began gathering trash.
Lucy shook her head. “I can’t imagine.”
“I thought Craig cheating on me was bad, but to plan my wedding and find out my fiancé only wanted my money and dumped me… it would be horrific.” Jo paused, considered what she’d said, quickly pushing away the part where he’d left Maddy, and added. “I didn’t feel right asking her how he could have gained access to her account. The only positive is that the guy was caught before he could wire any money to his overseas account.”
Lucy mouthed wow.
“Right? Like an episode of Law and Order or something.”
The conversation died, and they worked together to clear the table. In the kitchen, Jo washed dishes while Lucy worked on the chocolate dessert flight. Serenity had asked to be surprised, and when Lucy asked Jo for input, that’s what they’d come up with.
Lucy had settled on white chocolate mousse, a dark chocolate tart with raspberries, a chocolate hazelnut truffle, and homemade chocolate ice cream with candied strawberries with a drizzle orange infused sauce.
Of course, once Jo found out what she was making, she’d made sure Lucy was making enough for her as well because there was no way she was missing out on that.
Jo’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She quickly dried her hands from washing dishes, fished it from her pocket, and a text appeared from her grandma. She grumbled under her breath.
“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked.
“Grandma has a meeting with Craig tomorrow morning to hear that offer he’s so desperate to tell us about.” She continued to stare at the screen as she scowled. That house wasn’t just a house in Jo’s mind. “I want to tell him to take a hike, but Grandma thinks we should hear him out.”
“Maybe…” Lucy paused. “Maybe hearing him out won’t be a bad thing.”
“You too?” Jo asked as she looked at Lucy. “Jack said the same thing.”
Lucy shrugged. “It’s a big house, Jo, and she’s the only one who lives there. She’s getting older. Maybe selling wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Maybe she could come live with you in New York.”
Jo hadn’t thought about it like that. That opened up a whole new line of possibilities. Grandma, living in New York with her? Jo could show her everything the city had to offer. They could try new foods together. Granted, Jo would be traveling a lot, but she wouldn’t be gone all the time. Maybe she could even travel with Jo. Her grandma could explore whatever city they were in while Jo worked. They could share the apartment easily. Jo had a spare room she could have, especially after she took Jo in as a kid.
All the memories from her childhood would be packed away, too. Wishing Well would be in her past for good. She wouldn’t be confronted with getting out of her mom’s car with her suitcase, watching the dust plume in the air as she drove away, the way her feet felt like lead as she walked up the steps, the hurt in her heart as she knocked on the door, or sitting on the porch weeks later as the hard reality that her mom wasn’t coming back hit her.
All that trauma. All that hurt and anger and agony… boxed up, never to be paraded out again.
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”
“Exactly. It won’t hurt anything.” She smiled. “Go into it…”
“Leaving the door cracked?”
A snicker. “Exactly. Leave the door cracked. You never know. Something good might happen.”
Or a rat could get in.
Still, the thought of Grandma moving to New York and living with her certainly did change her adamant stance against even hearing the offer. She hated the idea of selling, but what if she was being selfish?
Her grandma was getting older, and the house was huge. How much longer could Jo reasonably expect her to take care of that house? What if something happened and she hurt herself? What then?
Jo would never forgive herself.
Suddenly, the meeting didn’t sound bad at all, especially if it meant having her grandma in New York with her.
Her heart felt light for all of two seconds.
Jack.
If her grandma sold the house, there would never be another reason to return to Wishing Well. Jo would probably never see him again.
That didn’t sit well with her at all.
A future with no Jack? The finality of it. Sure, she’d kept him at arm’s length, but that was what? Two or three feet? Putting it in terms like no future made her heart hurt. Could she handle seeing him with someone else?
The thought knocked the wind out of her. The pull he had was growing stronger, and whether she wanted to admit it or not, she more than liked him. He terrified her though. Opening herself up to being abandoned and tossed aside.
Forcing the thoughts down, she concentrated on what her grandma needed. What was best for her? She’d have more clarity after the meeting with Craig tomorrow.
Until then, everything was on hold.