Chapter 2

“He didn’t!” Gemma asked, taken aback by Leah’s revelation.

“He did. I’m outside your door,” Leah replied, ending the call on her cell. As soon as Gemma opened her front door, Leah crumpled, allowing Gemma to wrap her arms around her shoulders.

Masculine voices and grunts came from the dining room so she straightened up, regaining her composure. She’d forgotten about the weekly poker game Chase, Gemma’s husband had with his friends. With a deep, cleansing breath, she allowed Gemma to lead her into the kitchen.

“Explain to me again what happened,” Gemma said, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and handing it to Leah.

Grabbing the bottle, but not opening it, Leah paced the kitchen floor. It was that or scream. “He’s moving to Chicago. He told me he applied out there, but never in a million years did I think…” Lean flung her arms in the air. “Can you believe him?”

“What else did he say?” Gemma asked calmly, making Leah grateful her friend was the levelheaded one of the two.

“He’s not ready to get married. He thought it was best we call it quits now.” She put her hands on her hips and looked down. When her throat tightened, she kicked off her shoes, hearing the clank as they hit the kitchen island.

Gemma folded her arms. “Well…”

“Well, what?”

“At least he was honest with you.”

Leah’s eyebrows furrowed. “You’re taking his side? We were supposed to get married. I would finally going to get my happily ever after. You know… like you and Chase.”

“First,” Gemma replied. “I’m on your side. Every time. Second, you will get your happily ever after. Third, Chase and I have only been married for two years. I spent most of my relationship denying my feelings for him.”

Leah rested her hands on the counter. “Why do men do this? They want a good woman.” Leah pointed to herself. “Hello? There’s one standing right here!”

Gemma opened her mouth to respond, but they both heard Chase’s call.

“Babe? The guys are getting restless for your salsa.”

Gemma made her way over to the refrigerator to retrieve her famous salsa. Even Leah had a hard time resisting her friend’s cooking. Too bad it wasn’t guacamole, or Leah would drown her sorrows in it with a bag of tortilla chips.

“Coming,” Gemma said as she prepared the serving tray.

Leah bit her bottom lip. “I’ll take it. I could use a man’s opinion about my situation.” She turned to leave, but Gemma took her arm.

“Not a good idea.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t bash the male species—at least not today.”

Leah reached for the food tray, but Gemma retrieved it first. Still, she followed her friend to the dining room. All five men acknowledged them, and Leah suddenly recalled she was barefoot in her cocktail dress. Still, she forced a smile. Leah recognized all of them: Tyler, to Chase’s right, owned the coffee shop, Miles ran a furniture store, Kent was a teacher, and last, Cooper was a member of their town council.

“Gentleman,” Leah greeted.

Each man nodded with a smile. Tyler even waved.

“Hey, Leah. Are you okay?” Chase asked.

“I’m fine. I don’t understand men. Is there a something I’m missing? Do you all think—”

Gemma took her friend’s hand. “We’ll be in the kitchen. You men can get back to your game.”

Leah rolled her shoulders. Her emotions were getting the best of her. She would probably regret her small outburst tomorrow, but she was on a roll. Gemma led her back to the kitchen and, once they were alone, asked, “What was that?”

Leah exhaled deeply. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.” She covered her face with her hands. Thankfully, her friend took it as a sign and hugged her. Leah refused to cry as her friend embraced her.

“It will be okay,” Gemma assured her as she broke their embrace. “Brian will regret his decision. You’re a catch, and one day, you’ll meet the right guy for you.”

Leah’s heart felt like it was shrinking. “Should I… go back and apologize? I didn’t say anything too far out there did I?”

Gemma giggled. “They’re men. They’re playing their next hand stuffing their faces with my salsa.”

Leah ran her fingers through her hair. “I should go.” She turned to head for the door.

“Don’t forget your purse and your shoes.”

Leah sighed as she retrieved her things from the kitchen. “Excuse me for my somewhat… unusual behavior.”

“It could be worse,” Gemma pointed out.

“What’s worse than getting your heart broken when you thought your boyfriend would propose to you?” Leah lifted an eyebrow.

Gemma tilted her head as if in deep thought. Even with her brow creased in concentration, her mocha eyes shined. Her ebony brown skin glowed, leading Leah to believe her friend was happy. I want that too.

“You could have really let them have it, saying ‘there’re no good men left.’ Plus, it could have been on Facebook live,” Gemma pointed out.

Leah nodded in complete agreement. “Point taken. I’ll talk to you later.”

Gemma’s smile was the last thing Leah saw as she exited her friend’s home. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she dreaded going home, so she decided a drive downtown would suffice.

As she walked the uncrowded streets, she once again fell in love with the town. Piedmont Valley was home. Leah pulled her lips in. She cut through the parked cars, passing the mom-and-pop businesses. Some of the small businesses had personal residences on the second floor above the store. Sapling trees and turnstile parking meters lined the sidewalk, with colorful flower boxes outside the shops. Why did Brian want to leave? Sure, she wanted him to pursue his dreams, but not if it meant she wouldn’t be a part.

Leah stopped in her tracks as she came upon the town’s fountain. She sat on the edge listening to the tranquil waters flow. They calmed her nerves, despite her broken heart. She adored the granite stone fountain that came to be the center of Piedmont Valley.

A man constructed it over fifty years ago to proclaim his love to his fiancé. The tale passed down over the years and eventually became the main attraction. Since then, the people believed the fountain granted wishes for true love.

Leah ran her hand over the carved granite, feeling the four-tiered hand-carved fountain with the round stone. The spray rings were her favorite feature. As a kid, she would stick her hand in the water and watched as the droplets ran off her fingers.

For old time’s sake, Leah stuck her hand in the cool water. She blew out her cheeks, determined to keep the tears in. She didn’t want to cry. Though alone now, it was only a matter of time before someone passed by. She dabbed her eyes with her dry hand.

She recalled the evening’s events. It was unreal. All her plans had changed in less than two hours. The man she believed she would spend the rest of her life with left. Could she convince him to change his mind? No. She wouldn’t beg for love. Knowing her value, she deserved more.

She considered Gemma’s words of advice. Perhaps happily ever after was around the corner. Until then… Leah stood, wishing she had brought a pair of flats. Her feet burned from the five-inch heels. She needed to go home, but she rummaged through her purse instead. She found a nickel and clasped it between her thumb and forefinger. Leah pivoted to face the fountain again, ignoring the discomfort in her feet.

She planted a kiss to her silver coin. “I wish I could find true love.” It wouldn’t make a difference, but she tossed the coin, anyway. It plopped in the water. She leaned over as she watched it sink to join the others at the bottom. Leah gave a faint smile. Despite the far-fetched legend, it made her feel hopeful. She sighed and headed back to her car.

After pulling into her driveway, she entered her home with a shattered heart. She flipped off her shoes and carried them into her bedroom. Once she changed into her flannel pajamas, Leah headed to the kitchen for her Dutch chocolate ice cream in the freezer. She hated using food as her comfort, but tonight she made an exception.

Leah walked to her modern sofa, tucking her feet underneath her as she rested her elbow on the arm of the couch. She watched her all-time favorite romantic comedy. Though it pained her to see another happily ever after, she couldn’t resist the 1959 classic Pillow Talk. Gemma teased her about her choice in movies, but Leah loved movies made before 1970. She could list the stars from the 30s, 40s, and 50s, but with modern-day stars, Leah wouldn’t know one from the other.

She placed the pint of ice cream on her wooden coffee table. She tucked her hands underneath her cheek as she watched Doris Day fall for the playboy Rock Hudson. Leah smiled feeling somewhat better. She would have to face reality the following day. It would be her first official day without Brian. When was he leaving? She dashed out of the restaurant so abruptly that she didn’t get to hear his plans.

Leah didn’t want to think about it anymore with her emotions scrambled. All she wanted was to sleep, but it didn’t come easy. She pulled the blanket draping her couch to cover her feet and sniffled. Her throat thickened with sobs. Her heart wrenched. She cried silently in her living room. She was right back where she started two years before. She was alone.

She didn’t understand why it was so difficult for her to find love. Overall, she was a great person… at least I think so. Leah wiped her nose and picked up her carton of ice cream once more. She took another spoonful in her mouth as she listened to Doris Day sing the movie’s love song, “Possess Me.”

Leah rested on the couch with her knees pressed against her chest. She blew away the stray curl of hair that dangled in front of her face. When her favorite movie ended, Leah walked to the kitchen to throw away her ice cream carton and wash her spoon. She shut off the television and walked to her bedroom. She didn’t bother to check her phone. Brian wouldn’t be calling to tell her goodnight, which had become his routine.

Leah reclined in her full-sized bed, pulling the covers tightly to her chest. No point in rehashing her break-up. She loved him, but she didn’t want to spend her nights thinking about him when he wanted something different. Did she miss the signs? Did she only see what she wanted to?