The Right Moment

by Heatherly Bell

  Sometimes taking a risk was the best choice.

  “How are you, otherwise?” Chuck asked. “I think about you sometimes.”

  “Please don’t.”

  “Hate to say I told you so.” He scowled. “I heard you’re with Hud now.”

  “Yes, we’re together. You were right. Happy now?”

  “Not really.”

  “How’s Mandy doing? I keep hearing her song on the radio. ‘I’m Sick of You’ or something. I’m sure it’s not autobiographical.”

  “Yeah, we broke up.”

  They’d broken up. Good thing she’d given him back that lousy ring when she couldn’t very well bribe him with it to get her money back.

  “Well, I guess... I’m sorry?”

  “I think she wanted to marry a ballplayer because J.Lo. married a ballplayer. I guess ballplayers were in season but now she’s on to a football player.”

  “I don’t know, Chuck, that sounds pretty shallow of her.”

  “Right?” He reached for her hand. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “No.” She removed her hand. “I wasn’t. I could have been your worst nightmare. I didn’t love you or make room for you in my life. We didn’t even live together because I didn’t want you crowding Hunter. Crowding me. I have no idea what I was thinking. Maybe I thought you’d slide into my life, I’d give you a drawer, and we’d keep your stuff in the shed or something.”

  “You wanted to get married. That’s all you wanted.”

  “That’s the first thing you’ve said in a long time that I agree with.”

  Chuck reached in the back of his pants pocket and set a check on the table. It was made out to her, a sum big enough to cover more than his half of the wedding.

  She grabbed it. “How did you manage?”

  “I sold the BMW that Mandy bought me.”

  Joanne gaped. “She bought you a BMW?”

  “Yeah,” he said, looking morose. “When I was her man. But if I hadn’t sold it, she would probably be taking it back.”

  “Good thinking, I guess.”

  “You deserve it. If I’m being honest here, I think you still would have been a good deal for me. I would have taken the drawer. I would have kept my stuff in the shed.”

  “Chuck, that’s ridiculous. We both deserved better.”

  “You’ve got yours now. Maybe someday I’ll get mine.”

  It was probably that kicked puppy-dog look in his brown eyes, but Joanne squeezed his hand. “I was so mad at you, and I still think it was a lousy thing to do. But now I have to thank you for saving me from making the worst mistake of my life.”

  * * *

  Later at the boutique, Joanne forced her thoughts away from Hunter’s driver’s license debacle back to the designs she’d been working on for Leah. It had at least served to distract her from the Taylors.

  “Why is the dress blue?” Nora leaned to look over Joanne’s shoulder.

  “My bride wants blue.”

  Nora wrinkled her nose. “For real? A second marriage or something?”

  “Or something. It’s actually a romantic story.” Joanne reiterated everything she’d learned from Leah and her fiancé, also known as her ex-husband.

  “How sweet,” Nora said, carrying a dress to the front. “Jill is coming in today for her dress, so prepare for a lot of gushing and possibly some tears.”

  “Aw, she’s so sweet and in love.”

  “Right? It should have been a clue to me when you were so matter-of-fact about your dress,” Nora said.

  Ignoring that, she handed over the sketch pad to Nora. “What do you think?”

  “I love the sweetheart collar.”

  “This blue is going to be a challenge. I have to find just the right type of material to make it work.”

  “Oh hey, don’t want to freak you out or anything, but I got stuck at the light on Barrett this morning and I could have sworn I saw Hunter driving to school. By himself. Just thought you should know. It takes a village and all that.”

  “He got his license.”

  Nora froze. “And you’re not having a major freak-out?”

  “I’m not happy about it. They went behind my back. I mean, I got voted down that he should get his license at sixteen, but I had no idea he’d do it the month he’s staying with his father.”

  “Yeah, that wasn’t cool.” Nora hung Jill’s dress and began unwrapping it. “But look at you, all calm and collected. I know how difficult this is for you.”

  “Maybe because I have bigger worries.”

  “Bigger than being jilted, or having your sixteen-year-old let loose on the unsuspecting public roads?”

  “I can’t even believe I’m saying this but yes. Last night, Hunter showed up to the house unexpectedly and...well, let’s just say he now knows Hud and I are sleeping together.”

  “He caught you in the act?” Nora covered her mouth.

  “Okay, thank you for reminding me that it could always be worse. No, but Hud was in the kitchen making me breakfast. Without a shirt on.”

  “Well, at least he had his pants on.” She paused. “Please say he had his pants on.”

  “He did.”

  “How did Hud react when you made him leave? Is he pissed off?”

  “I didn’t make him leave.”

  “You didn’t?” Nora said. “Remember that time Chuck was over and when Hunter showed up you had Chuck leave out the back door?”

  “Oh yeah. Well, it hadn’t been six months.” Joanne cleared her throat. “Hunter didn’t stay long anyway. He said he might move in with Matt if Hud and I are going to be together.”

  “Manipulative little man, isn’t he?”

  Joanne scoffed. “It’s not going to happen. I’m talking to Matt today.”

  “Pretty sure he doesn’t want Hunter living with him and Sarah and disrupting his privacy. He is a newlywed, after all.”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure Matt now appreciates what I’ve been through for years. Having a teenager is not all that different from having a toddler when it comes to privacy. But I’m used to it.”

  “Hud isn’t.”

  “I know.”

  That worried Joanne. Maybe after a few months of the teenage drama he’d get tired of being put in second place. But she’d have to work on that. Achieve a balance. She deserved a love life and that’s why bedroom locks had been invented.

  “But he said he’ll talk to Hunter.”

  “Those two used to get along fine. I’m sure that’s all it takes. A nice, long talk man to little man.”

  Joanne snorted. “Hunter hates when you call him ‘little man.’ He is six feet tall now.”

  “I’ve known the rug rat since he was two. He’s little man to me, always.”

  Once Jill came in the store for one last fitting, Nora and Joanne dropped everything else. The boutique was infused with the special magic of a bride one step closer to her wedding date. One of Joanne’s favorite moments and Jill did not disappoint. She arrived with her mother, and her good friends Carly and Zoey, who was now her sister-in-law, too.

  Nora poured flutes of champagne while Joanne handed out tissues from the box she kept handy.

  “You look amazing!” Zoey said, wiping her cheeks.

  “Like a fairy tale princess,” her mother said, grabbing a tissue and dabbing her eyes. “Doesn’t she look like a princess, girls?”

  “She does,” everyone answered, practically in harmony.

  It was time for Joanne to set the stage. This time she got Sam’s name right, thank you God, as she described the way that Jill would walk toward her groom during their outdoor wedding. Everyone seemed enthralled by Joanne’s description, but a funny thing happened. She didn’t get anyone’s name wrong, but the bride she pictured wasn’t Jill. It was Joanne. An
d she found herself describing her own perfect wedding day.

  The one she’d longed for when she was a young girl but hadn’t allowed herself to dream about for years. And this time, the man she walked toward was the one she’d wanted for what felt like half of her life. Hud, looking incredibly handsome in his tux, his green eyes shimmering and matching the cummerbund perfectly. Just as she’d imagined they would.

  After everyone had left, and Nora ran off to make dinner for her boyfriend, Joanne was left alone with her thoughts. She should close up the shop and head home, where she expected Hud for dinner. Because she wanted to see him, of course, but first she needed to get a grip. She couldn’t do this to him. It wasn’t fair to be thinking about marriage again so soon. She’d just fallen in love with him.

  They were just getting to know each other again and already finding obstacles. Hunter wasn’t ready. Her mother thought Joanne should still be somewhere in the seven-step grieving process. And God only knew what Matt would say about all this. She might just be the only one ready in this scenario. Ready for her life to begin. The one she’d kept on hold for years while she lied to herself about Hud. While she pretended being his friend was enough for her.

  So much wasted time!

  “Joanne?”

  The door to her shop jingled announcing someone had stepped inside, and there stood Matt Conner.

  Straight out of her fantasy into cold, harsh reality. Why not? She lived on the corner of Reality and Sensibility and her address still hadn’t changed.

  “Hey there. I was going to call you, but the day got away from me.”

  Not for the first time, it made Joanne’s heart ache to see how much Hunter resembled his father. Matt was almost as good-looking as Hud. Her son had really lucked out in the gene pool. He had the same tall frame, long legs, dark hair and square jaw. He’d apparently inherited his father’s high IQ, as well. But mostly, she was simply grateful that Matt was a good man and someday their son would be, too.

  So many times, she wished she could have loved him. Tried. Despite the fact that she and Matt hadn’t always been friends, he’d been right about so many things that she was only now starting to realize. She’d kept such control over Hunter’s life and put him at the center of her life for so long that when it came time to put herself first, she’d almost forgotten how to make wise, well-thought-out choices. To balance her own needs with those of her family.

  Matt stuck his hands in his pockets. “I should have told you about the appointment at the DMV. Don’t blame Sarah. I was called to a last-minute chartered flight and Hunter begged us not to reschedule.”

  “Maybe I overreacted. I knew he’d be getting his license soon.”

  “We should have given you a heads-up.”

  “It would have been nice. But honestly, that’s not what bothers me the most about our son right now.”

  “He’s a good kid. You did a great job with him.”

  “But I’m afraid I let Hunter mistakenly believe he could call the shots in my life. I gave him too much control at some point. Then when I took my life back, I made a huge mistake.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true.”

  “Really? Chuck was a huge mistake.”

  He shrugged. “Well...”

  “Yeah.” She couldn’t help a strained laugh. “He was a mistake. But Hud isn’t. Now our son has just informed me that if I keep seeing him, he’ll move in with you and Sarah.”

  Matt quirked a brow. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Miss your privacy already?” she teased.

  “It isn’t easy, but I also know that’s not what you want. So, it’s true. You’re seeing Hud.”

  God, she hoped Matt wouldn’t be giving her a hard time about this, too. She was tired of people putting themselves between her and Hud. Now that she’d moved herself out of her own way, if she had to bulldoze through every single other person who had doubts, she would. It was her time to be happy. Finally.

  She crossed her arms. “Is that a problem?”

  “Why would it be? Look. You and I both know that Hunter derailed our lives.”

  “Don’t say that. We derailed our lives. By being young and stupid. Irresponsible.”

  “You’re right. But here’s the thing. Maybe it’s time Hunter heard about our complicated history. Our very weird triangle.”

  Joanne had decided that she’d never tell Hunter, because that was grown-up stuff that didn’t concern him. He already knew enough. Understood that his parents had been young and foolish. That they hadn’t planned on him but still wanted and loved him very much. But telling him about Hud...and that Matt was a complete rebound. She didn’t want her son to think less of her. Or less of his father.

  “I don’t know.”

  “He might understand why Hud has never liked me. If you think he doesn’t sense that tension between us, you’re kidding yourself.”

  “What do you mean? Hud likes you fine.”

  Matt rolled his eyes. “Hunter’s growing up fast, and I think it’s time we told him the truth.”

  “I’ve never wanted to involve him in any of my drama.” Yet that had happened anyway thanks to Chuck.

  “You don’t have to give him all of the details, but if he knew that you and Hud had a prior relationship...that you might have wound up together—”

  “Except for him? No, I can’t do that to my son.”

  “I was going to say that he might understand why Hud is so important to you.”

  “I’ll think about it. But I’m glad we can all agree that Hunter isn’t going to move in with you and Sarah.”

  Matt nodded. “I agree. That was fairly manipulative of him, and he and I will have a long talk about it.”

  “Thanks.” Joanne blew out a breath. “I’m actually glad you retired from the Air Force. It was hard giving up all the control, but it’s something I needed to do. And I understand that now.”

  “Sometimes you worry too much, but no one can blame you. I certainly can’t.” Matt’s gaze swept over her with kindness.

  She knew he was thinking about her father’s untimely death. Her teenage pregnancy. Hud’s car accident. His enlistment in the Army. It had all shaped her life in many ways.

  “I appreciate that. More than you know.”

  “You do realize that Hunter is worried about you? Like mother, like son. I mean, you were supposed to be married less than a month ago. He’s heard the small-town rumors about the bad luck boutique.”

  She hadn’t thought of it that way. “Did he ask you?”

  “He did and I told him the truth. He was worried about you. That’s why he’s so resistant to Hud,” Matt continued. “He’s thinking you’re going to get hurt all over again.”

  “But Hud has always been there for us.”

  “Well, maybe that’s part of the problem. It’s the newly defined relationships that are bothering him. Because he doesn’t understand how it all happened so quickly. But he would, if he had a few more details to see the full picture. If he knew how long this has been going on.”

  Matt had a point.

  “I’ll talk to him, too,” Joanne said. “Because Hud and I are in a relationship and it’s serious. And no one is going to change my mind about him.”

  Matt smiled. “It’s about damn time.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next night, Joanne couldn’t sleep and woke in the middle of the night. A million thoughts swam to the forefront of her mind, disrupting her peace, demanding attention. Hunter. The driver’s license. Getting the wedding money from Chuck. The Taylor wedding and that whole debacle. Leah and the perfect dress she wanted but actually couldn’t afford. It didn’t help that Hud had pulled an extra shift and would be gone all night. She’d already grown so used to sleeping with him that her bed felt huge and empty without him. Her bedroom was covered in his delicious manl
y scent. Leather and the soap he used. His divine cologne. He had clothes in her drawers and spare uniforms in the closet. Boots under her bed.

  For so long, she’d resisted a man taking over her home but now she didn’t know how she’d lived all these years without Hud being the one to take up all the empty spaces.

  “Come on up, Rachel. It’s okay.” Joanne patted the foot of her bed, a place Rachel was rarely allowed.

  She happily bounced up, wagging her tail and turning in a circle until she found just the right spot. Then she let out a happy dog sigh. Rachel stayed with Joanne all the time now because Hud was over so much. It no longer made sense to spend all that money on doggy day care, so he only sent her when they were both working.

  “It’s just us girls tonight.”

  She felt unsettled. Something had been bothering her about the Taylor wedding. The designs she’d created were good, but not her best work. The problem, she now believed, was that she hadn’t really known Brenda well enough to design the right dress. She hadn’t asked enough questions, or maybe just not the right ones. Her romance with the groom had been nothing inspiring. They’d met at a law firm in Silicon Valley and their first date had been an all-night trial prep session. Not too romantic.

  Joanne grabbed her sketch pad from the nightstand and paged through her recent drawings. She found the dress she’d drawn a few days ago thinking it might work for Leah. But Joanne had realized almost immediately the dress was far too avant-garde for her. It had straight, almost severe lines, with a plunging back. A short train and shorter veil. Sophisticated. Daring and unorthodox. Only a chic bride could wear a dress such as this one. Joanne didn’t even know how the concept had come out of her, but like so many of her ideas, it had surprised her. She would certainly never make such a bold statement on her wedding day.

  No. It definitely wouldn’t work for sweet Leah, but Brenda Taylor immediately came to mind.

  Joanne didn’t know which of her designs they’d settled on, but she knew that this one was far superior than the ones they’d purchased. She could keep the design, because sooner or later she’d have a bride it would fit. But the truth was that she wanted Brenda to have it. All the bitterness Joanne felt at being passed over had dissipated. If the Taylors thought she’d bring bad luck to their wedding day, it was simply because they had no idea that she was in a much better place right now. Far from bad luck, the wedding day fail had been one of the best things ever to happen to her.