Twice Loved (31 page)

“Oh that would have been smarter.” Mike pipes up. “Hey Lori… Haley.”

“Hey Mike.” Haley and I say together. We share a smile with each other since we spoke together.

Noah opens the back door and follows the other two out back. It’s not long before the bell rings again. Haley looks at me.

“I’ll get it.” I tell her reassuring her that she doesn’t have to be the one to greet Jake which is the only one yet to arrive.

“Lori.” Jake greets as I open the door.

“Jake… please behave tonight.” I plead with him. The last two times he’s been around Haley he’s been a little pushier about talking to her. He’s not given up on winning her back. In some ways I’m impressed with his tenacity. Yet I wish he would learn bulldozing his way in is not the way to win Haley back. Not that I’m sure he can win her back.

“You’re no fun.” Jake mock whines. “I get it tonight isn’t the night to do it.”

“No it isn’t this is about celebrating the garage not hooking up with Haley.” I close the door as he steps into the foyer. “The guys are all outback in the yard.”

Jake takes off toward the back door. He pauses momentarily when he spots Haley in the kitchen. She pretends to be busy washing dishes. Too busy to notice him. However, I know my friend well enough to know she’s faking. His face falls a little as he starts moving forward again. He pauses and looks back one last time before walking into the backyard.

Olivia comes in the door the same time he exits and announces “Everything is set up out there. Tate said the meat would be another twenty minutes or so.”

“That’s perfect.” I note the time for the potatoes has fifteen minutes left on it. “Can you take stuff for the potatoes and the salad dressing outside for me darling.”

“Sure mom.” Olivia begins pulling everything out she needs and placing it in one of the baskets I have scattered about the kitchen.

“Haley.” I call out to my friend who is sitting on a stool looking miserable

She lifts her head up looking around dazed “Huh?”

“You okay?” I move to stand by her.

She scratches her head. “I don’t know. What am I going to do Lori?”

“Do about what?”

“Jake.”

Oh well that is the million dollar question I’ve been asking myself for weeks now. What is Haley going to do? She’s miserable without him but can she be happy with him again?

“What do you want?”

“I want things to go back the way they were.” She lays her head down on the counter lifting it again “I know we can’t go back but I’m so fucking miserable without him.”

“Maybe it’s time for you to give him another chance.” I lean down and wrap an arm around her shoulders. “It may not work but you won’t know for sure if you don’t try. But tonight let’s celebrate there is so much to be happy for.”

“Yea?” Haley asks a little unsure. Then she straightens and I smile when she smiles “Let’s do it. Tonight is about living and reaching for the future.”

She heads out the back door. I stop for a moment looking around my cheerful kitchen. I had a loving home here with Steve but now I was doing it with Tate. It’s been a great few months. It’s time that things were happier. We have had so much sadness and heartache the last two years. My hand travels down to my belly. I rub a small slow circle around.

This baby is my sign. It’s the hope for our future. Tate and I are getting a second chance at life, a second chance at a family, a second chance at love.

Epilogue

Sara Elizabeth Jameson

“Sara Beth”

June 6th, 2016

9lbs 10ozs. 21in

She is welcomed by her parents Tate and Lori Jameson

Older siblings Olivia and Noah Madison & Brandy Jameson.

Mari Brown Social Media Links

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Other Works by Mari Brown

The Knight Series

On the Edge

Over the Edge

Destiny’s Detour

Destiny’s Detour YA

Anthologies

Tempting Scrooge