“He’s coming.”
She was nervous. Antsy.
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked.
“Just a little queasy,” she answered.
“Let me get you an ginger ale.” I said as I walked up to the vending machine and bought her a soda. I felt so helpless.
It was something I was going to have to get used to. I couldn’t just sweep in and save her. She was going to have to deal with the morning sickness and the aches and pains all on her own.
I looked around the crowd. I was surprised. It almost seemed like every single person in Laurel was there. All three-thousand of the small town. For a little concert.
“I take it you didn’t plan this?” I asked.
“No, I thought it would be like the other night. Vacant except for us,” he said.
But that was before the park officially opened. Before people realized what was going on. Word must have gotten out about the band and where there was free entertainment there were people. And a lot of them.
We all took our seats in the front and sat and waited. All of us except for Wyatt.
“You’ll need to give me a minute, I need to go ahead and speak to the band,” he said as he excused himself. I was left sitting next to my mother, who was sitting next to his father.
And neither of them were talking.
And then I saw Jess. I waved at her and prayed that she would come over and ease the tension between the two of them. I didn’t know details but I knew they were an item once upon a time. Before I was even thought of.
She didn’t come over, but she did wave me over. Even better.
“I’ll be right back, you guys. Go ahead and chat. I’m going to talk to Jess.” I stood up and smiled at the two of them. They just glanced awkwardly at each other. Right, like this was going to go well.
“You go ahead, honey. Leave me here, I’ll survive.” My mom knew exactly what she was saying and I could tell by the sweet smile that she expected some sympathy.
“I warned you, woman. You betrayed me, now it’s my turn. But it’s for your own good.”
“That was my excuse too,” she said as she smiled at me. She shielded her hand from Branch’s view and gave me what was a well-deserved middle finger.
I just laughed and walked away.
“I am so sorry, Rose,” Jess said as I got close, she wrapped her arms around me. “I was furious with Brandon. I didn’t know he was going to do that. I told him not to say a word, I swear.” She looked like she was about to cry, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.
“I totally expect you to tell your fiancé everything, Jess. I would do the same if I was engaged.” I wasn’t mad at her, not in the slightest. But I was pissed at Brandon. “You just might want to keep for boyfriend away from me for a while, he might not like me very much if he gets near me. Might end up with a bruise or two,” I admitted. I was only joking, but there may have been a grain of truth to it.
She chuckled. “I already tore him a new one, honestly. I can’t believe him.” She shook her head. “I’m so glad you aren’t pissed at me.”
“I’m not. I’m nervous, but he says he is sticking around,” I told her. Wyatt had committed to me.
“But he isn’t the runner. You are. You sure you are going to be able to stay here? Laurel is awfully small for someone like you.”
She was right. I was the one who ran. It was stupid then and it would be insane now. I didn’t want to be a single mother. I didn’t want to have to worry about any of that. And I loved him. I loved Wyatt.
“I’m done with the city. And I think I am exactly where I want to be, actually.” I had to admit Laurel had its charm. And that charm was in a tight pair of jeans, standing on the stage looking at me.
Right at me.
He stepped up to the microphone, and the lights on the stage dimmed twice, the signal for everyone to please be quiet.
“I have to admit, when I arranged this little band for tonight I thought it was just going to be a small group of people, me and my girlfriend and our parents. I didn’t expect the entire town to show up, but I’m glad you are all here,” he cleared his throat.
I was captivated by him. In that moment I realized what everyone else saw. A smooth, confident, kind man. He probably knew every single person in Laurel, probably knew their story too.
Most of them probably thought he was a hellion too, at least in his younger days. Because he was. He was exactly the kind of man now, though, that I’d always wanted to be with.
Kind, compassionate, strong willed. Strong hearted too.
I wasn’t going to bail, not this time. Last time I was looking for a reason. I wanted out of this town, I didn’t want to trust him.