“FRAN TOLD ME your family has breakfast together every Monday morning.” Josie stood on Theo’s front porch, clutched the garment bag tighter and pressed Pause on her rapid heartbeat. “She gave me your address.”
Theo ran his hand through his hair, disheveling his look even more. Josie had never seen Theo in jeans. She’d never seen him quite so not put-together. His slight beard matched the shadows under his eyes. Behind her a garage door opened. A car alarm chirped. A dog barked. Construction workers three houses down laughed.
But it was his stillness that unnerved her. His hooded gaze that absorbed her.
“I gave my word I would have a wedding dress for Adriana. I keep my word.” Josie rambled, filling the pin-drop silence. “It’s one of a kind because Adriana is already one of a kind.”
“The wedding was called off, as you know.” Theo never moved. Never reached for the garment bag. Never reached for her.
“Their love was canceled, too, was it?” How brilliant would it be if loved worked like that? Like a canceled online order. The money returned to your credit card. Or, in this case, a refund on a broken heart. The heartache returned to the supplier free of charge.
“Excuse me,” Theo said.
“Adriana and Ryan are very much in love.” The forever kind she’d thought she’d found. But one-sided love only hurt one person forever. She met Theo’s gaze: his unreadable, hers unwavering. “Love doesn’t quit on each other.”
The barest crease curved at the edge of his mouth. “Is that one of Mimi’s sayings?”
“No.” Josie tilted her chin up. “That one is all mine.”
There in the deepest part of his gaze, she saw it: admiration. It wasn’t enough. She hurt too much looking at him for that to ever be enough. She added, “There will be a wedding for Adriana and Ryan. And Adriana will have a dress if she chooses to wear it.”
“I don’t recall requesting a new dress.” He widened his stance in the doorway.
“I’m not sure it matters what you requested.”
His eyebrows lifted. That admiration sparked. “Are you certain of that?”
“Absolutely.” Josie pulled out her most defiant smile, adding an extra measure of politeness to her voice. “You see, I spoke to Adriana last night. I’m here to see her, not you.”
Adriana stepped into the entryway, her grin soft, welcoming and knowing. “Josie. Please come inside.”
Josie eased around Theo and followed Adriana down a hallway into a great room. A modern kitchen gave way to a surprisingly comfortable family room. In another time and place, she’d have wanted to sit down and rest her feet on the leather ottoman. Watch the flames in the corner fireplace and listen to the Christmas carols. She tipped her head. Those were Christmas carols playing over the speaker system, infusing both rooms with the cheerful sounds of the season. Only hot apple cider or hot chocolate was missing. And assorted homemade Christmas cookies.
Lilian Rose strolled into the great room from another hallway. She assessed Josie. Her smile was fleeting, but lingered in her perceptive gaze. “Josie. What brings you here?”
“I came to give Adriana her wedding dress.” Josie handed Adriana the garment bag.
“For her wedding that was called off.” Lilian Rose walked forward, her high heels tapping against the hardwood floors. “Isn’t that a bit insensitive?”
“How long were you married, Mrs. Taylor?” Josie asked.
“Thirty-one years.” Lilian Rose touched her ring finger.
“I imagine in that time, you and your husband disagreed.” Josie watched the older woman. “Fought, even.”
Lilian Rose laughed. “On more than one occasion.”
“Yet you never gave up.” Josie clutched her hands together. “Never walked away for good.”
“We were meant for each other.” Lilian Rose touched her chest, right over her heart. “We knew that in here.”
“I think Adriana and Ryan know it, too.” Josie touched Adriana’s arm. “They just need a moment to believe in the strength of their love again.”
“Wise words.” Lilian Rose pointed at the garment bag. “Can we see the dress?”
“I’m going to leave that up to Adriana.” Josie buttoned her coat under her chin and her pride.
Adriana hugged her. “Thank you.”
“Don’t you want to know if we like the dress?” Theo asked. “Don’t you want to see her in the dress?”
“I was told once that I had to stand up for my design style. That too much compromise would dilute my worth.” Josie turned around to face Theo. “I don’t need to see Adriana in the dress. I believe in what I created. I believe she will love it.”
He stuffed his hands in his back pockets and studied her. “And if she doesn’t like it?”
“At least I will know I didn’t compromise.” The indifference wavered in her voice. Standing so close to him—close enough to take his hand—yet being so very far away, cut through her. She’d found herself. Found who she wanted to be. And lost a piece of her heart in the process. Jin or Helen would call that growing pains. She dared to close the distance. To test those boundaries and the expanding chasm between them. “I will know in my heart that I gave Adriana my best.”
Just as she’d given Theo her best. And wasn’t that all she could really do?
Theo’s gaze roamed over her face. His jaw flexed. No doubt from the comebacks piling behind his teeth. He certainly had comments about always being better. Surpassing your best and climbing higher. Pushing harder when your best wasn’t enough.
Josie waited. He never spoke. Perhaps that was for the best.
Josie looked at Adriana and Lilian Rose. “The past cannot be redone or erased, but we can take its best parts and build from that.” Josie glanced back at Theo. “Also, one of mine.”
She let herself out of the house. Let herself cry one block from his house.