The Sweet By and By (26 page)

“Can you take me to Rachel's?” A ghost sob shivered across her shoulders.

“If that's what you want.” Mama flicked her cigarette into the passing night. “It's going to be all right, Jade. You're destined for a beautiful life.”

“I didn't even get to be Jade Colter. Not even for a day. I really wanted to be Jade Colter.”

“You practiced your signature, didn't you?”

Why did she have to make fun? “When will I know it's been annulled?”

“Don't you worry about it. Go on with your life as if Dustin Colter never existed. The Colters and I will see to it.”

As Jade leaned against the window, a fresh batch of tears spilled down her cheeks. Go on with her life? It would be easier to fill a jar with moonbeams.

Twenty-two

The Blue Umbrella was busy. Tourists flooded the streets for the last day of the Hollow's Fall Festival. Max called every hour. “Only six working days left, Jade. Call him.”

Cradling the phone on her shoulder, she handed a purchase to a customer with a smile. “I will, I will,” she muttered into the receiver, “but the shop's been really busy.”

“The moment Lillabeth comes in, call him. Jade, please, every minute that goes by gives him time to think of how to complicate our case.”

“And why would he do that? He walked out on me, Max.”

“Thirteen years as a lawyer . . . I've seen the unbelievable when it comes to relationships.”

“Okay, okay. When Lillabeth comes in.” Jade pressed End and shoved her phone into her pocket.

By the time Lillabeth arrived an hour later, business had settled down, but the shop was a mess. Lillabeth started straightening right away. “Was it double coupon day?”

“Panicked Fall Festival tourists.” Jade smiled, taking a pull from the register and stuffing it into the money bag. “I'll be in the office.”

Easing the door closed, Jade pulled her phone from her pocket and opened the desk drawer for the Froggers napkin. Under her desk, Roscoe slept, curled and comfy over a heat register.

After calling Dustin, she'd feed him and then find his leash for a walk. She needed the time and space.

Before she could dial the Iowa number, her phone rang. Must be Max. An hour had passed.

“Jade, Sean Dunham. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No, no.” Jade kicked around her desk chair to sit, tossing the money bag on the desktop.

“Final week before the wedding. Hope all is going well.”

“Did you need something, Sean?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. Put your name on the River Street property deed.”

“Ah, very clever. To be honest, Sean, I haven't even thought of it.”

“Understandable, but if you're interested, I can bring the papers up to you.”

Jade took the money from the bag and started separating cash from checks. “What's going on? Why are you so intent on selling me this property?”

“Just want to see a good businesswoman get a break.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I don't have the time or money.” At least that kind of money. The big pile of green on her desk made her happy. This month's bills would be paid.

“Jade.” Lillabeth poked her head through the door. “Someone's here to see you.”

“Look, Sean, I need to go—”

“June put up the money, Jade.”

She stood so fast her desk chair shot into the file cabinet. “What did you say?”

“It's already purchased. Just sign the papers. A wedding gift, I imagine.”

“No! No, no, no.” She snapped her phone closed. Who did she think—She dialed Max. “Your mom bought the River Street property.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Dunham property, on River Street, the one your mom took me to see the other day.”

“So she bought it? Did you call—?”

“She's trying to force me into taking it, Max. I guess she needs a project after the wedding.” Jade didn't need this today. Not the imprint of June Benson's nose in her back. She'd listened to her once.
Send your Mama the invitation, Jade
.

Now look . . .

“Sean is ready to drive the papers up here. What is wrong with her? Why does she have to manipulate people into doing what she thinks they should do?”

“Did it occur to you that she might want to do something nice for you?”

“By forcing me to expand my business after I told her I wasn't ready?” Jade was too worked up to cry.

“Let's make a deal. I'll talk to her. You call Colter.”

“Sure, take the easy one for yourself.”

“Jade, babe, please. I know it's hard. Like diving into icy water on a really hot day. Hold your breath and jump.”

A knock resonated from the door. It eased open. “Lillabeth, just a second—” Jade reached for the knob as the door swung wider. She lowered the phone as Dustin Colter walked into her office.

“The girl, with the, uh”—he motioned to the top of his head—“sunglasses said I could come on back. I told her I was an old friend.”

“Max, I'll call you back.” Jade slipped her phone into her hip pocket. “Dustin.”

“Long time no see, huh?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I had to see you.” Dustin had the same blue spark in his eyes, only deeper and more intense. The aura of his strength was tempered by a distinct meekness.

“How did you find me?”

Roscoe snorted, poking his head out from under the desk. Spying a visitor, he crawled out and sniffed Dustin's shoes.

“Once your fiancé called, it wasn't too hard.”

“I was about to call you.” She motioned to the Froggers napkin on her desk.

“You look good.” He kept his gaze tight and polite. “Still beautiful.”

“You didn't drive from Iowa to see if I looked good.” She folded the napkin and put it back in the desk drawer.

“I live in Saint Louis now.” He twisted, glancing around. “Can we go someplace . . . to talk?”

“Jade?” Lillabeth knocked, then entered. “Mrs. Sparks wants to talk to you about her mantel clock on consignment. She claims I'm not doing my job as a saleswoman and directing customers to her merchandise.”

“I'll be right there.” Jade stepped around Dustin. “Can I get you anything? The bathroom is directly across in the storeroom. We have a soda machine out front, free coffee next to it. And, oh—”

“I'm good, thanks.” He hesitated with his smile.

“Be right back.” She exited the office, inhaling Dustin's woodsy fragrance. As she walked across the shop, her legs wobbled and her heart wondered where to go from here.

Dustin waited for her on the bottom step of the loft stairs with Roscoe's head on his knee. “What happened to his eye?”

“Hit by a dump truck. Max and I rescued him.” Jade stooped to touch her nose to the dog's. “It was our first date.”

“Lucky dog.”

Jade grinned—smoothing her hand over Roscoe's snout. “Max drove to the vet like a man on fire, Roscoe wrapped in his Armani button-down, bleeding on the imported leather of his new Mercedes.”

When she glanced up, Dustin's attention wasn't on the dog but on her. Jade rose, taking a step away. “Let's walk over to the park.” Through the shop to the front door, she called, “Lillabeth, call if you need me. Oh, feed Roscoe, then take him out, please.”

The slate gray day was stiff with cold. Midnight blue clouds floated over Whisper Hollow. A fortress against the sunlight. Pulling on her jacket, Jade led Dustin across Main and down Broadway toward Laurel Park.

They walked in silence until Dustin said, “Lovely little town.”

Crossing the park oval, she motioned to a cluster of benches nestled against an evergreen. “We can sit here.”

“Whisper Hollow is you. Jade Fitzgerald of Whisper Hollow, Tennessee.” His deep laugh was fast and short.

“What makes you say that?” Jade sat on the bench a good foot from him.

“Unique, quiet, classic. American.” Dustin leaned with his elbows on his thighs. “And I liked the sound of Jade Fitzgerald of—” He stopped, staring out over the park. “I remember when you worked at Mr. Wimple's Country Store.”

“Rachel and me.”

“You still in touch with her?”

Jade huddled against the nip in the air, tucking her hands under her arms, sniffing away the sting in her nose. “Not since college.”

“I haven't seen Stu since the summer after graduation.”

“The friend you met in fourth grade? Who would be your best friend for life?” She leaned against the back of the bench. Dustin had been overconfident about what he wanted in life—Stu's friendship, Jade's love. “Give up on me, sure, but Stu? That's low.”

“I didn't give up on him. We just drifted.”

Jade stood. “I need a hot drink.” His presence knocked too hard on the closet door protecting all her tossed-in skeletons.

“Sounds good.” Dustin walked with her to Froggers, quiet. Probably wondering what possessed him to drive down here on the spur of the moment. Jade ordered a tall hot tea for her and a coffee for Dustin, then took a seat at the round table.

“I saw Aiden a few years ago at Wal-Mart.” Dustin poured a small creamer and a packet of sugar into his cup.

“He never mentioned it.” Jade slapped a Splenda packet against her fingers before ripping it open. “Mama said your dad died.”

“Yeah, heart attack.” Dustin cupped his hands around his coffee. “Hit us all pretty hard. Mom closed up the house and moved next door to Sydney.”

“I'm sorry, Dustin.”

“I was hoping you'd come to our class reunion last year.” He picked up his coffee and rose from the bench. “Can we walk?”

“It was my first summer in the shop.” Jade matched his stride, staying beyond the circle of his fragrance.

“About half the class came.” Dustin drank, shaking his head. “We got to telling football stories and—”

“Dustin, why'd you come here?” She stopped at the edge of the oval and gazed out over the park. Workers were already putting Christmas decorations on the giant evergreen at the center of the oval.

“I told you. I wanted to see you.”

“Just like that? Thirteen years of silence, and suddenly it's like, ‘Hey, I think I'd like to go see the ex'?”

“No, I never expected to see you again. At least not up close, maybe at a distance. Then I got a call telling me I was still married to you.” He took a step, pausing to see if she was moving with him.

But Jade's cell blurted from her pocket. She tugged it free, wanting it to be Max. He chose now to stop calling. “It's Willow. I'll call her later.” Jade slipped the phone into her hip pocket.

“Take it if you need to.”

“It won't be a short call. She's in Chattanooga with Mama getting her dress for the wedding altered. Probably wants to gripe at me, and—”

What was she going on about? Jade started forward, crunching dead leaves underfoot as the wind skidded them across her path.

“I've thought about that night at my parents' house a thousand times.” Dustin fell into step with her. “My stomach has been in knots, and I'm ashamed.” He swirled the contents of his cup, took a gulp, then tossed the remainder on the ground. “I drove by your house every night for a few months, hoping to work up the courage to knock on the door and ask your granny if I could see you.”

“Your mom wouldn't let me talk to you when I called.”

“She was convinced you tricked me into marriage. For a few months, she met me at the door every night with this pained expression, expecting me to tell her you were pregnant.”

“Lucky her. I wasn't.” Jade sipped her tea, the drink hot on her tongue. Dustin angled toward a trash bin and tossed in his cup.

“A few times, I hoped you were. We weren't exactly careful toward the end.”

“What would you have done?” She thumped the bottom of her cup, her pulse sounding in her ears.
This isn't happening.
“If I'd told you I was pregnant?” Jade motioned to the merry-go-round and cut to the right. Mr. Hannity was bringing up the lights.

“I'd have done the right thing.” Dustin gazed at her, his thick hair falling over his forehead, tousled by the wind. “Stayed.”

“You promised me forever, Dustin. Not with conditions. Not until-I-get-a-scholarship or only-if-you're-pregnant.”

“I know, and I'm sorry, Jade. You should've seen my house once the wrestling scholarship came. Everything changed. My parents talked of nothing else. Especially Mom. I think she felt really guilty for spending my college money on Sydney's wedding.” He zipped up the front of his jacket and ran his hand over his hair. “If you'd have been pregnant, Mom and Dad wouldn't have fought me.”

“You had a chance to stay with me. Dustin, you walked out. You left me.”

Jade's words powered through her, scraping the sides of her soul with a sharp, twisting pain. Her abdomen burned. Light began to fade from her countenance, and for the span of a hundred heartbeats, she couldn't get her bearings. Tiny needle pricks stabbed at her lungs until she couldn't breathe, and her thoughts swam through brackish emotion.

In an instant, she wasn't walking next to Dustin, but standing in the background, watching herself from a distant corner of the park. Her knees buckled, and she dropped to the concrete, throwing open her jacket, gasping for cool air.

Dustin knelt in front of her, his lips moving,
Jade
,
Jade
, but she couldn't hear him. His grip was strong on her arms, but she jerked away. Her cup tipped from her hand, and the warm tea splashed on her jeans.

Brainwaves fired:
Run. Panic.
But she couldn't command her limbs. The park spun around her. Dustin was talking to someone. People were staring.

Jade gripped her praying hands medallion. The surface was warm against her skin.
Help me, God, if You can. Help me. I can't be crazy.