“What about you, then?” Vi tipped her head to the side, scrutinizing her. “You can’t deny you were staring at him. A lot.”
“I can deny it.” Jade took a few steps toward the edge of the patio. “And anyway, if I was staring at him, it’s because I was thinking about his sermon from last week.” She didn’t know why she was so determined to keep her feelings about Dan from her sister. Probably because she didn’t have any feelings for him. Just silly memories that were better left in the past.
“Oh.” Vi seemed to take her at her word. “I’m glad you came to church with us again today.”
Jade offered a noncommittal nod.
Vi’s brow creased. Not for the first time since she’d been home, Jade felt Vi studying her. She wasn’t sure what her sister was looking for, but she clearly wasn’t finding it. Big surprise there. Jade rarely had what people wanted.
“Did you not like the service?” Vi finally asked.
“The service was fine.” In fact, a couple of the songs had reminded her of going to church with Mom and Vi as a kid, and she’d been surprised to find their familiarity comforting. And Dan’s sermon about God’s grace had actually pulled her in. Even if she remained skeptical about the message, she had to admit that Dan was an engaging speaker. His love for what he did came through so clearly as he preached, and she couldn’t help but admire his passion.
“What is it, then?” Vi sat in one of the chipped Adirondack chairs and gestured for Jade to sit in the other.
Instead, Jade leaned against its back. “I guess I don’t feel like I belong there. I can feel everyone wondering what I’m doing there.”
Vi turned in her seat to stare up at her. “You know no one thinks that, right? Everyone at Hope Church is very warm and welcoming.”
“Easy for you to say,” Jade muttered.
“What do you mean by that?” Vi’s eyes were wide, as if she had no idea what Jade was talking about.
“Oh, come on, Vi.” Jade threw her hands in the air. “You know you were always the good one. Of course everyone at church loves you.” She paced to the other side of the patio. “I know you were away at college my last couple years of high school, but even you must know that I didn’t exactly have―” She cut off, suddenly not wanting to continue. If by some miracle her sister had lived in Hope Springs all these years without hearing rumors of Jade’s less than savory past, she didn’t want to be the one to shatter her sister’s image of her.
“Have what?” Vi’s voice was gentle, her eyes searching, although Jade had a feeling Vi knew exactly what she had been about to say.
“Never mind.” Jade strode toward the door. “We should get going. You and Nate promised to be at Peyton’s by two for the cake testing.”
Vi pressed her lips together but got up and crossed toward the door. Jade didn’t wait for her.
It wasn’t until they were almost home that Vi turned to her. “Whatever happened in the past is in the past. You’re forgiven for all of it. And no one here is thinking about it.” She squeezed Jade’s arm. “Got it?”
Jade kept her gaze directed out the window and made herself nod to placate her sister. It was a nice sentiment.
And Vi probably really did believe it was true.
But Jade had seen enough of the world to know it wasn’t.
Not for girls like her.
Chapter 12
She shouldn’t be here. It was all Jade could think as she followed Nate and Vi to the front door of Dan’s house Friday night. Dan’s invitation last week had been made out of pity—not a desire that she’d actually show up. But Vi had insisted that if she wanted dinner she’d have to come, since there was no food left in the apartment.
Plus, as Jade had joined Vi in the antique shop all week, a brilliant plan had occurred to her. But she was going to need the help of Vi’s friends to pull it off. And this was the only way she could think of to talk to all of them without raising Vi’s suspicions.
Now that she was here, though, she wished she had tried harder to come up with another way.
She paused at the bottom of the steps leading up to Dan’s front door, waiting for Vi to ring the doorbell. At least she’d have a few more seconds to come to grips with being here before Dan answered the door. But Vi grabbed the knob and let herself in.
Jade shot Nate an alarmed look, and he shrugged. “That’s how we do things around here.”
Jade pushed down the swirl trying to flutter from her belly toward her heart and followed Nate into the house. There was nothing to be nervous about, now that she and Dan had cleared the air and she knew that at least he didn’t hate her.
But instead of reassuring her, the conversation in the apartment parking lot last week had left her shaken. Probably because Dan had incomplete information about why she’d left. If he knew the real reason, he would hate her, pastor or not.
But he would never know the real reason, she reminded herself. She didn’t understand why that didn’t make her feel better.
Inside, the house was bigger than Jade had expected. Though the furniture was worn, it was tasteful and gave off a homey vibe. Not exactly what she’d expected in a bachelor pad. But then, she supposed Dan wasn’t your typical bachelor. Aside from her, she didn’t know of anyone else he’d dated in high school. Of course, that was a long time ago. He could have dated a whole slew of women since then. But somehow Jade knew he hadn’t. Probably no one besides Grace.
Jade’s gaze traveled to the kitchen, where Grace and Leah were chatting and cutting up vegetables while Dan rolled out dough.
He lifted his head as Jade closed the door behind her.
“Glad you could make it,” he called in the general direction of the door, keeping his eyes off hers. He could as easily have been talking to Vi and Nate as to her. In fact, she was sure he was.
“Hope you guys don’t mind pizza.” He slid the crust onto a pizza stone, his movements deft and sure. “We have an early morning. The bus for Camp Oswego leaves when the sun comes up.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Grace laid a hand on Dan’s arm. “I picked up some snacks for the ride.”
Dan smiled at her, and Jade looked away. Listen to those two throwing around that word, “we.”
That’s what couples do.
Of course it was. That was why Jade had been so careful not to use that word with Dan in high school. It was always, “Meet me at the beach.” Or “I’ll grab some sandwiches.” Never “We should go to the beach” or “we” anything.
We meant attachment. It meant opening yourself up to hurt when there was no longer a we.
Nate and Vi moved to talk to Dan, but Jade took a seat next to Sophie and Spencer, with her back to the kitchen.
“Hey, Jade.” Sophie offered her a kind smile. “Vi said you were a lot of help in the store this week.”
“I’m not sure help is the right word. I’m pretty sure I slowed her down more than anything. But I was there, anyway.”
“I’m glad.” Sophie patted her leg. “Vi works way too hard and never knows when to ask for help.”
Jade couldn’t have hoped for a more perfect opening. “I’ve noticed.” She lowered her voice, not enough to draw suspicion, but low enough that no one would be able to hear from the kitchen, especially over the rest of the chatter. “I was thinking, maybe we could all get together and take down that hideous wallpaper in their new house and paint for them. You know, as part of their wedding gift or something.”
Sophie’s grin grew as Jade talked, and she reached one arm to give Jade a quick squeeze.
“That’s a great idea.” In her enthusiasm, Sophie practically shouted, and her eyes widened.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “That’s a great idea.”
“What’s a great idea?” Peyton asked from the chair across from them.
Jade peeked over her shoulder, but Vi and Nate were deep in conversation with Dan and Grace and didn’t even glance toward the living room.
As stealthily as she could, Jade made
her way around the room to the others as they ate, cleared the dishes, and talked.
Finally, the only ones she hadn’t talked to were Dan, Grace, and Leah. She figured if she talked with any one of them, they could tell the other two. So now it was a matter of who she saw first. If she were a praying woman, she’d pray that it was Leah or Grace.
Chapter 13
The clamor of his friends eating and talking and laughing at his house always filled Dan’s heart with a special kind of contentment. As the kid who was always picked on, he’d never imagined this would be his life.
In the short time he’d been back in Hope Springs, this small group of people had become a second family to him.
If she let them, they could be a second family to Jade too. Hard as he’d tried not to watch her, he had noticed how she spent time talking to everyone here tonight. Well, everyone except him. She hadn’t so much as been in the same room as him all night. He’d told himself it was a coincidence at first, but as he moved into the living room now, she got up and headed for the kitchen.
He briefly considered doubling back to see what she would do but decided against it. He’d respect her wishes. If she didn’t want to be near him, he wouldn’t push it.
Grace offered him an open smile as he sat on the couch next to her. “That was the most delicious pizza I’ve ever had. And I’m Italian, so that’s saying something.” She leaned closer and nudged him with her shoulder.
“Thanks.” Dan returned her smile. Much as he hated to admit his sister was right about anything, he had to agree that Grace was sweet and easy to be with. “Did everyone get enough?”
“Ugh. Too much.” Sophie rubbed her stomach. “Not that I’m complaining. It was all delicious.”
“That’s good.” Spencer wrapped an arm around his wife and snuggled her close. “Since you’re eating for two now.”
“Spencer!” Sophie slapped at his thigh. “We agreed to wait another month to tell everyone.”
But the whole group had already gotten to their feet to take turns engulfing the couple in hugs. When it was Ariana’s turn, she held Joy out toward Sophie’s tummy.
“That’s either your future best friend or future husband in there,” she cooed to the baby, and everyone laughed.
Dan jumped to his feet and headed for the kitchen to grab some celebratory apple juice, since he had no wine in the house—and Sophie couldn’t drink it even if he did. He counted out enough paper cups, since he had nowhere near enough wine glasses for everyone either, then passed the juice around.
But when he was done, he had an extra left. He scanned the room, trying to figure out who he’d missed. But everyone had a cup—even Ariana, who was struggling to keep hers out of Joy’s grabbing fingers.
Maybe he’d miscounted. But then he realized one person was missing.
Jade.
A clunk from down the hallway caught his ear.
Oh no. Please tell him she hadn’t found—
He strode down the hallway.
Sure enough, there she was, right in the middle of his Star Wars room, bending to pick up a storm trooper mask. As she straightened, her eyes fell on him, and she jumped as if she’d been caught toilet papering the principal’s office again.
“Sorry.” She set the mask on its stand and stepped away from it. “I don’t think I broke it.”
Dan shrugged. He was more worried about the fact that Jade Falter was standing here in the middle of his Star Wars collection. It was the one thing he’d kept hidden from her in high school—because if there was anything that proved they didn’t belong together, it was this. She was the too-cool-to-care girl, and he was the nerdy guy who collected Star Wars toys.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” he finally said. “What are you doing in here?” He didn’t mean for it to come out so harsh, so he passed her the juice to soften the words.
She raised an eyebrow and took a sip. “Apple juice?”
“Yeah.” He toed the edge of the Millennium Falcon-shaped rug that had seemed like such a find when he’d picked it up at a garage sale. “Sophie and Spencer announced they’re expecting.”
“I heard.” Jade’s voice was quiet, and he almost thought he detected a wistful note in it.
“It’s crazy, isn’t it? Everyone getting married and having babies?” A pang he’d never felt before tugged at his gut. A pang that said maybe he’d like that too—someday.
“Yeah.” This time he definitely heard a layer of sadness in her voice.
He took a step closer. “You okay?”
“Of course.” She walked over to the set of shelves where his Star Wars action figures were lined up. “So, you like Star Wars, huh?”
Dan laughed. There was no point in denying it. “You could say that. I watched the movies with my dad all the time growing up.” He cleared his throat. He hadn’t been able to watch them since Dad died.
“You never told me.” Her words were soft, but the look she gave him was searching.
He found that he had to look away. “It didn’t exactly seem like the kind of thing that would impress you. I figured it’d ruin any chance I had with you.” A half laugh slipped past his lips. “Not that I had much of a chance in the first place.”
When she didn’t answer, he made himself look at her. She’d picked up a Luke Skywalker action figure and was bending its arms and legs.
“Maybe I didn’t want to be impressed. Maybe I just wanted to know the real you.”
Dan nodded slowly. That’s what he’d wanted—to know the real Jade. And he’d thought he was starting to—until she left.
“Jade.” He didn’t know what he was going to say, but she shook her head and cut him off.
“So, who is this guy?”
He studied her. He didn’t believe for a second that she cared about any of the Star Wars characters. But this was probably the safest topic to stick to. He took a few steps closer—close enough to point out the figures but far enough to fit at least three people between them—and started telling her about the various items.
She did a good job of feigning interest. So good she almost had him convinced. Until he remembered that she’d spent the past eight years in Hollywood, pursuing an acting career. Feigning was what she did for a living.
He was in the middle of telling her about the difference between the first trilogy and the second trilogy when his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, frowning at the number. He didn’t recognize it, but he didn’t have every one of his congregants’ numbers in his phone. And if someone was calling after nine on a Friday night, it could be an emergency.
“Sorry, I have to take this.”
Jade nodded and slipped out of the room.
As Dan answered, his mind was still on her. He couldn’t help wondering, if she hadn’t left, would they be planning their own wedding or preparing for the arrival of their baby?
He shook his head at himself. The idea was ridiculous.
He and Jade Falter had never been intended for each other.
And they never would be.
Chapter 14
Jade wandered toward Dan’s living room, her thoughts still on the Star Wars collectibles he’d been showing her. Much as she could tell he was trying to downplay it, it was clear that he loved everything having to do with the movies. But before today she’d never heard him utter the words Star Wars. Had he really been afraid to let her know that side of him in high school? Had he really thought that would impact how she felt about him?
“There you are.” Vi glanced up as Jade entered the room. “We were just figuring out a date for Sophie’s baby shower. She and Spencer are expecting!”
“I heard.” Jade took half an awkward step forward, wondering if she was supposed to hug Sophie. But she pulled back, settling for a feeble “congratulations” and a low wave to the expectant parents.
“So where’d you wander off to?” Vi slid over on the couch, gesturing for Jade to sit next to her.
Jade took the seat, wedging herself between
Vi and Grace. “I was looking for the bathroom, but then I ended up in this room with all kinds of Star Wars memorabilia.”
“Oh no.” Vi patted Jade’s leg. “I’m sorry. I completely forgot to warn you about the Star Wars room. At least Dan must not have known you were in there, or you’d be stuck listening to him talk about all that stuff for a few hours.”
Everyone else joined in the laughter—all except for Grace, who looked confused.
“The what now?” Grace asked.
“Oh, the Star Wars room.” Spencer leaned forward. “Dan has spent his whole life collecting Star Wars stuff, and once he gets someone in there, he doesn’t let them go until he’s told them every last detail of every last item.”
“Oh, it’s not that bad.” Nate defended Dan from the other side of Vi.
“No, it’s worse,” Emma chimed in.
Jade laughed along with them. “Actually, I think it’s kind of neat that he has something he’s so interested in.” To her surprise, she’d enjoyed listening to him, not so much because she cared about the movies but because he was fun to listen to.
“Yeah,” Grace spoke up from beside her. “It sounds neat. I’d like to see it.”
Jade cut a look at her. Dan hadn’t shown her the Star Wars room? Surely he wasn’t afraid this perfect woman would judge him for it. Or maybe they weren’t as serious as she’d assumed. An unnamed hope spread through her at the possibility, but she pushed it away. It didn’t matter how serious Dan and Grace were. They could be about to announce their engagement for all Jade knew—and for all it mattered to her.
Grace got to her feet, but before she made it out of the living room, Dan rushed in, his face drawn.
“That was Cassandra.” He held up his phone. “She tripped on her kids’ toys and fell down the steps. Her leg is broken pretty badly.”
Not Until Us (Hope Springs Book 4) Page 6
