* * *
Feeling oddly gallant, Hank got down on one knee in front of Jamie-Leigh, and took her hands in his. “Will you accompany me to supper on Saturday night?” he asked her. She flushed, and giggled like a schoolgirl.
“I didn’t entirely mean that we had to go back to dating again,” she said shyly.
“I know, but I think it might be good for us. If I just move back in, it would be too easy to just fall back into old patterns. I think we need to start over, from scratch. We need to get to know each other, without the girls around. I know Mom will be glad to have them for us – or they can stay over at Maddy’s with Janie. I want to wine you and dine you. Gosh, I think the most romantic thing I ever did for you was drive you up to make-out point and grab at you like the impatient teenager I was,” Hank joked. But, he meant it. He didn’t want her to just take him back. He felt he needed to earn her trust.
“We were both pretty impatient, the way I remember it,” she said, with a wistful look on her face.
“So, will you let me take you out?” Hank prompted. “You deserve the very best in life, Jamie-Leigh, and it’s about time I started to give you just that.”
“I’d love to. Where shall we go?”
“Where is your favorite place in the world?”
“That little Mexican place in Galveston. Do you remember? The one where we had the best shrimp fajitas ever?” Jamie-Leigh said, her eyes sparkling.
“I do remember, you wore a red dress, and I could hardly wait to get you back to the hotel. I’m still sorry that that was the only honeymoon we had. A few nights in Galveston was all we could afford. I’ve never given you the things you deserve,” Hank said, hanging his head.
“Hank, that was the best honeymoon, ever. We were on the beach and we were together. How much more perfect could it have been?”
“Well, okay, if that’s where you want to go, that’s where we’ll go. But, I’m going to take you on a proper honeymoon. We can stay in Galveston overnight, and go to the Mexican place, and then I’m going to whisk you away the very next day,” he assured her.
“What, to Niagara Falls?” Jamie-Leigh teased.
“No, it’ll be a surprise, but I know you’ll love it,” he promised her.
11
Jamie stood at the end of the driveway, a small wheeled suitcase by her side. She still wasn’t sure how Hank had managed to arrange everything at such short notice, and he was still being very tight-lipped about where he intended to take her. Casey and Emily stood beside her, their backpacks filled with everything they would need for a week’s stay at Maddy’s.
The sound of a vehicle pulling onto the street made them all turn to see if it was Hank’s SUV. It wasn’t. A large black town car eased along the road, and came to a halt right in front of them. The driver jumped out, and rushed around to the passenger door. He opened it, while tipping his hat to Jamie-Leigh and the girls. Casey and Emily were open-mouthed, as they stared at the shiny, elegant vehicle.
“Mom,” Emily said, tugging at Jamie-Leigh’s hand. “Are we going to ride in that?”
“I don’t think so. Your dad will be here in a bit,” Jamie-Leigh said, as Hank emerged from the backseat, a broad grin on his face. The girls rushed to embrace him.
“We can have a ride, can’t we, Dad?” Casey asked.
“Of course,” he said happily. “We’ve got to drop you off at Janie’s, where you’re going to be super good girls for Mr. and Mrs. Frater, aren’t you?”
They nodded eagerly, and clambered into the back of the car. Jamie-Leigh could hear their oohs and ahs of excitement as Hank moved towards her. He took her hand, and kissed it, winking up at her, mischief written all over his face. “You ready?” he asked.
She nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Then, your chariot awaits, my lady,” he said dipping down into a deep bow.
The driver took her bag and placed it into the trunk of the car, and she and Hank got into the back with the girls. Inside, the town car was upholstered in soft, cream leather, with a polished walnut finish. Jamie-Leigh had never seen anything so beautiful inside a vehicle in her life. “Are you sure we can afford this?” she whispered.
“Honey, you’re the CPA, and you’ve been managing our finances perfectly for years,” Hank teased. She sank back into the comfortable seats, and let herself enjoy the luxury. He was right, they could afford a blow out and it wasn’t as if they did things like this all the time. She worried too much about everything, and money was no different. Her fears and anxieties after Hank had moved out had come from her grandmother’s constant fretting that there was never enough. It had stayed with her, lurking around in the back of her mind just waiting to make her scared all over again.
After they dropped the girls off at the Frater’s house, the town car eased out of Orchard Springs, and onto the highway, but rather than driving to the little Mexican restaurant that Jamie-Leigh had been expecting, it took the turn for the airport. “I thought we could do the honeymoon first,” Hank said, watching her reaction to the change in plans. He squeezed her hand, and leaned over to kiss her tenderly.
“But, you still haven’t told me where we are going,” she said excitedly.
“Do you remember the homecoming dance?” Hank asked her.
She nodded. “Of course, you looked so handsome,” she sighed. “My feet were so sore then next day. We danced all night.”
“Well, do you also remember the conversation we had as I walked you home? When we talked about our hopes and dreams?”
“I do. You told me about wanting to be a fire fighter, and I told you I wanted to be an accountant. You teased me saying I should dream bigger.”
“And you told me you had a secret dream,” he said softly.
“I did?” Jamie-Leigh said, wondering what he was talking about.
“You said you wanted to go to Europe, to see Paris and Rome – and to visit Greece because you had enjoyed studying about them so much in history class.”
“I did,” Jamie said, suddenly remembering her schoolgirl fantasy. “You can’t possibly be taking me there, though?”
“Why not?” Hank said, showing her a sheaf of tickets. She took them from him, gasping as she took in the cities on each one.
“You’ve really done this? But, this is going to take much longer than a week,” she said, knowing it was such a stupid thing to say. “We can’t leave the girls with Maddy for an entire month!”
“Which is why, they’ll be staying with my Mom for most of it,” Hank said, looking ridiculously pleased about his deception. “I figured it would give us more than enough time to get to know one another properly.”
Jamie-Leigh could hardly believe he’d remembered every place that had been on her dream itinerary, and that he had managed to arrange so much without her knowing. Unable to hold herself back, she scrambled onto his lap, and took his face between her palms, pressing a long and ardent kiss to his luscious lips. “You are a very bad man, but I can’t think of a more wonderful way for us to try again.”
She felt Hank’s arms encircle her body, crushing her tightly against him. Jamie-Leigh melted against his strong chest, feeling as though she had come home.
“I called the lawyer and told him to cancel the divorce. I did it yesterday.” Jamie-Leigh smiled and nodded.
“Good. That’s a nice start to our second beginning.”
“So you’re coming home after we get back?”
“Yes. I can’t wait to come home again.” Hank pulled her in closer and she sighed deeply sinking in to him.
She knew that somehow they’d find a way to move forward. She knew they’d no longer keep any secrets and they’d do everything they could to love one another, whatever life might throw at them.
About Hayley Wescott
Hayley Wescott is a Christian. She’s also a story teller. When she can pull her faith into her stories, it makes them better.
Hayley values her family and her southern roots. These things often find
their way into her stories, because she can’t imagine writing a story that doesn’t come from her heart.
When Hayley isn’t writing, she’s spending time with family and friends or walking on the beach.
* * *
Tap here to connect with Hayley on Facebook
Sweet River Publishing
Sweet River Publishing is dedicated to sweet and clean stories. Our authors write wholesome and inspiring stories to make our readers feel good, encouraged, and happy. They strive to write entertaining stories you’ll enjoy immensely.
These stories are suitable for all ages!
If you’d like to hear about new releases, special prices, and other good news about our authors, you can join the group to be part of the fun.
http://www.subscribepage.com/fromfb
www.sweetriverpublishing.com
Facebook
You Can Go Home (Christian Second Chance Romance) Page 7
