Chapter Two
Annie stood motionless facing Josh across the counter in her shop. With the customers gone and her employees having left for the day, the room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop and Josh’s expression not only showed nervousness but apprehension and puzzlement. She’d caught him off guard.
They knew each other so well; this shouldn’t be so hard.
After a few grueling seconds, Josh broke eye contact and the awkward silence when he glanced down at his shoes, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans.
“Sorry for showing up unexpectedly at closing time like this but Brian sent me to take care of the bill for the cake. He had to work today.
Annie smiled because she knew exactly why he was there; her plan had worked beautifully. Now to keep him from turning and running as fast and as far as he could.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Josh jerked his head, looking straight at her in surprise.
“You are?”
“Yeah, I am. It’s really good to see you Josh.”
More than he knew.
“Okay, wait…did I come into the wrong shop?”
Hands on his hips now, he glanced around in confusion.
Annie laughed.
“Trust me, you’re in the right place, and really, I am glad to see you. You look great by the way.”
No time like the present to pour out her heart.
Deep breath.
“Josh, since you’re here, I have some things I really need to say before I lose my nerve so could you listen for a minute?”
“Okay…”
He stood completely still, never moving his hands from his hips or changing the expression on his face.
“I’m sorry.”
She exhaled, realizing this was going to be harder than she had imagined. Now she knew no amount of practice could have made this easier. Josh however took her pause as an okay for him to speak but she
quickly held up a hand, silencing him.
“No please, I need to do this, and I need you to hear all of it.”
Annie heaved yet another deep breath and forged ahead.
“I have so many things to say I’m not sure where to start.”
She twisted her fingers where they lay on the countertop.
“Josh, I was wrong about so many things while we were together. The awful way I acted toward you and the horrible things I said, it was a mistake. You didn’t deserve to be treated that way.
I was selfish and never once took your feelings into consideration.
I took you for granted and I was very wrong. ”
She almost laughed when his expression clearly turned to shock. He remained quiet so she continued.
“I was so focused on my business that I lost focus on us and everything that was important to you. I criticized you for the long hours you were putting in at the job you loved, but I was doing the same thing. Josh, you are an amazing detective, and I am so proud of everything you’ve overcome and accomplished.
I know I said a lot of awful things and I’m just so deeply sorry. ”
As a single tear escaped down her cheek, Annie closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, disappointed at how ridiculous he probably thought it all sounded by the horrified look on his face.
Or not…since he was approaching her with a smile on his face. Could it have been that easy?
“Thanks Annie, I needed to hear that.”
Josh reached for her hand with both of his, holding tightly. She was hovering on Cloud 9, his hands so warm and rugged, just as she had
remembered them. That is until she felt something foreign poking her
between their hands, something that felt a lot like paper…
Oh no.
Dread crept into every corner of her heart. He wasn’t really holding her hand because he wanted to. He was only doing what he’d promised his best friend he would do; exactly what she had planned for him to do. What she felt in her hand was a check. The check Brian sent him to deliver.
How stupid could she have been to think he might actually accept her apology?
She had failed.
Big time.
With no other option, she gracefully accepted defeat, pasted a smile on her face, which he would surely see through anyway, and grasped the check.
She fought back the tears, swallowed her pride, and thanked him.
Now she only hoped it would all end quickly.
She only wanted to lock the front door with him on the other side.
Seeming to read her mind, which was scary but predictable, Josh casually released her hand, simultaneously breaking her heart, and asked the last question she wanted to hear at this moment.
“See you at the wedding?”
Then, without waiting for her to answer, he turned and walked out of her shop. Annie stood weak-kneed until he was out of sight. He had just walked out of her life…again, and it was still her fault. Was this how it felt when lovers died of broken hearts?
For the first time, Annie would be going home early.
***
As Josh steered his Jeep away from the curb in the quaint little mountain town he’d grown up in, he was in shock.
He hadn’t anticipated Annie having that type of reaction to his visit.
He was pretty proud of himself that he could muster the strength, especially while touching her, which always made him weak and warm all over, to thank her and walk away.
What his heart was telling him to do was wrap Annie in his arms and never let her go but his head protested.
He hated the way they’d ended their relationship but in the little amount of time they actually saw each other between their schedules, all they ever did was fight.
Nothing he did was the right thing or good enough according to her.
He couldn’t recall now how long he’d even put up with her selfishness before everything blew up and he’d walked out.
The real kicker was that he loved living with her. Before their careers got so time-consuming, they had a lot of fun together. She really had a great sense of humor and knew how to make him laugh. That was one of the many things he found important in a relationship.
He’d also never stopped loving her, and he knew that without a doubt now, after seeing her, touching her again.
But could she really have changed? Human nature is a quirky thing.
There’s no way he would go back to living that same life again.
Loving her didn’t mean he was willing to risk his happiness and the things that were important to him.
She’d given a really convincing, heartfelt apology but he wasn’t sure it could be that easy for him.
She’d have to try a little harder…years in a relationship that should have been give and take, 50/50—not he gives, she takes.
They needed to open up the lines of communication and talk. A lot.
The reception really wasn’t the place for them to have quiet time alone to hash out their past but what alternative did he have?
She looked surprised that he’d allowed her to pour out her feelings and with little more than a thank you, he was out the door.
He had to admit he felt a little bad and it was a risk, but he hoped she would still show up for the reception.
Annie wasn’t the type to skirt her responsibilities, and her best friend also wouldn’t be happy if she weren’t there.
It was just who she was so she would suck up her pride and paste a smile on her face no matter how hurt she was. He sure hoped anyway, he was counting on it.
Ever since Brian had asked him to do the favor, Josh had been doing a lot of hard thinking about how he could make it work in his favor.
True enough he’d been keeping his distance, but he hadn’t any clue what was going through her mind.
He’d left her hanging and hadn’t talked to her until today.
She’d had a lot to say too, and he’d never expected it.
He only wished he hadn’t waited til the day before the wedding to show up.
Since she wasn’t in the bridal party and would be working at the reception setting up the cake, they wouldn’t see much of each other but once he got to the reception, he would make every minute count.
He grabbed his phone and dialed his buddy Brian.
“Hey man, yep dropped off the check.”
He blew out a laugh when Brian asked how it went.
“I won’t lie, I debated long and hard about not going at all and giving you some excuse. I knew your bride wouldn’t be happy if I backed out so I decided to just go through with it. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Annie.”
He listened to his friend while he sat at a stop light waiting to turn.
“Yeah she was friendly. Threw me for a loop too. She actually apologized and was glad I stopped by.”
Another brief pause.
“I know right? I had to make sure I’d gone to the right shop.
Hey, do you think you all can do me a favor?
I know your wife-to-be has a lot on her plate tonight and I’ll see you later back at my place, but do you think Julie might be able to give Annie a quick call?
I don’t want her to say anything about me obviously, but when I left, she looked pretty hurt. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
Josh slowed to turn into his parents’ driveway, shutting the engine off so he could talk.
“No, I didn’t do anything to her. I barely said two words. She talked; I listened. I thanked her, gave her the check, asked her if I’d see her at the wedding and left.”
His friend was questioning what more they could possibly do.
“Just call. They’re friends and women, they’ll think of something to talk about. Maybe she can vent some of that wedding frustration or that you’re being a jerk. Heck I don’t know, I just want to be sure she’s doing alright.”
Brian agreed that he’d talk to Julie and they’d check on Annie.
“Thanks bud. I have to get showered for the rehearsal. See you later.”
Feeling fairly good about things, Josh found the house key, dumped his duffle bag in the hall outside the bathroom in his parent’s house and turned on the steaming water. He was house sitting while his mom and dad were off on a two month long pre-retirement vacation.
Josh studied his clean-shaven face, hoping like hell things would go according to some sort of plan tomorrow. Not that he had one. Did he need one? Probably.
“Fingers crossed we don’t screw this up.”