Chapter 4
Leah tapped her manicured fingers on her mother’s dining room table. She’d switched her shoes, loving the cushion of the leopard slippers her mother lent her. Her father carried in a pitcher of his famous iced tea. He had a knack for brewing her beloved beverage with the right amount of sweetness.
Her father took his seat across from her. “Everything okay, sweet pea?”
Leah rested her chin in her palm. “I’ll be okay.”
Her mother joined them carrying a pan of her homemade macaroni and cheese. It completed the Sunday meal, which comprised rotisserie chicken and southern style green beans. Leah accepted the challenge of working off the calories for the rest of the week and relished in her cheat meal. She relaxed in her seat as her mother settled next to her father.
“Start from the beginning, because I know this has something to do with Brian,” her mother stated.
Leah raised an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”
“Lonnie the cab driver, his wife told me. She caught me right outside of the church. Lonnie took him to the airport,” her mother informed her.
Leah served herself a plate. “I’m not surprised.”
“Where’s he off to?” her dad asked.
“Chicago. He got a job up there.”
Leah’s mother tilted her head. Her brow furrowed. “So… where does that leave you two?”
Leah exhaled. “Brian broke up with me. He wants to focus on his career.”
Her father gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “His loss.”
Leah gave a half-smile at her dad’s statement. “Thanks, Daddy.”
Her mother pressed, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Leah kept her face calm, despite the weight settling onto her heart. I want to be over it. “I will be. I even watched Pillow Talk last night.”
Her mother ran a hand through her shoulder-length salt-pepper hair. “Aww, sweetie. When you watch the classics, I know it’s serious.”
Her father’s eyes sparkled. “Good job, sweet pea. Stick with the classics. Kids nowadays don’t even know what On the Waterfront is.”
Her mother nudged her dad’s shoulder. “Even I have a hard time paying attention to that film, honey.”
Her father touched a hand to his heart. “It’s Marlon Brando. What’s not to like?”
They’d made thirty years together. At the sight of her father planting a kiss on her mother’s cheek, warmth filled Leah’s chest. She longed to have the same relationship. My chances look slim now.
“Anyway.” Her mother sat her palms face down on the table, gazing at her daughter. “Sweetheart, I think this is a good thing.”
Leah furrowed her eyebrows. “How’s that? I’m single—again. I thought Brian was the one, Mom.”
Her mother said, “No such thing. With billions of people in this world, there are more than enough good men out here. It depends on who you meet first. You get to choose ‘the one.’”
Leah rubbed her forehead. “Am I doing something wrong?”
Her mother reached for her hand across the table, while her dad gave her a faint smile.
“You’re great the way you are,” her dad encouraged her. “If these guys don’t realize that, it’s their loss. Remember that.”
Her mother patted her hand. “There’s nothing wrong with being single as you figure out what you truly want. Take some time out for you, sweetie.”
Leah gave a half shrug. “I’ll think about it.”
“While she does that, I want some of this macaroni and cheese.” Her father picked up the casserole dish and served himself.
Her mother, however, held out her hand to his, signaling it was time to say grace. She took both of her parents’ hands and reminisced on the many dinners she shared with them as a girl. As they ate Sunday’s dinner, Leah mulled her mother’s words. Take time for me? Maybe that’s what I need. All worries went away at the taste of her favorite dish.
****
Leah leaned on her elbows as she scrutinized her boutique’s website. She loved how well the online store was doing, but she was at odds with her web designer. While Quinn McGee knew her craft, Leah thought something was still off about the website. The fuchsia colors in the background and the scripted handwriting showed class, but something still felt off.
Leah rubbed her head as the corners of her mouth turned up. From dresses to casual wear, Leah’s brand boutique, Morris Styles, boomed in Piedmont Valley. Her love for fashion in high school matured into a successful business and her website expanded her clientele.
When her unruly stomach growled, Leah touched her hand as if to silence the noise. Her eyes diverted to the space on her desk, which she used to display a photo of her and Brian. With smiles on both of their faces among the fall foliage surrounding them, he had picked her up off her feet. Back then, the world was theirs for the taking.
Brian had swung her in his embrace, placing a sweet kiss to her lips. “I love you.”
Leah’s heart had flooded with joy. “I love you too.”
Then he put her down. The leaves crunched under her feet and her eyes caught the fall wind swirling the rest. Brian clutched her hand as they strolled from the park to the nearby sidewalk.
Leah dismissed the painful memories, grateful she buried the picture in the bottom drawer. If only life had worked that way, Leah would stuff every problem away. In reality, she had to face them. It wouldn’t happen overnight, but she would learn to live without Brian.
She got to her feet and grabbed her purse and cell phone. Leaving the store attended by her employees, Leah walked to Mack’s BBQ. Her mouth watered as she expected his special smoked chicken. Normally, she would have had lunch at Carol’s Diner three blocks over, but it was her special place with Brian.
Leah fanned herself as she stood in line. She wasn’t a fan of warm weather, and although it wasn’t officially summer, it was warm outside. Finally, at the counter, the white-haired man with nearly translucent skin greeted her with a smile. She ordered her dish and waited in the corner with her ticket. She checked her cell, no messages. What would they talk about? It was over between them. He would live his dream in Chicago, while she remained in Piedmont Valley.
Once her ticket number was called, Leah settled into a corner booth and ate. She cut into her lunch attempting not to think about Brian. His gleaming smile still vivid in her mind, her efforts to push him aside failed her. Where did they go wrong? He had talked about leaving Piedmont Valley and living in a bigger city.
Wiping her fingers clean of barbeque sauce, Leah discarded her trash. She waved goodbye to Mack and exited the restaurant. She adored the family-oriented community of Piedmont Valley. It made her feel that much more loved outside of her immediate family.
Then Leah thought about her wish as she walked down the sidewalk. She fiddled with her earring. Was it ridiculous to wish for true love? She wondered if it would work. With a shake of her head, she dismissed the idea.
Leah made her way back to her boutique. Once inside her office, she pulled her lips in and sat in her office chair. She tapped her fingers against her lips, staring at the pictures on her laptop screen. Her eyes strained as she pondered the images, leaning forward as she scrolled through the photos. While her models displayed her apparel perfectly, it didn’t resonate.
She leaned back in her chair. Cole Parsons was back in town. She didn’t mind the photographer she had used before, but Cole’s work on her site would definitely catch new customers and more attention. She searched her cell phone for his number. Did he have the same number? She pressed her luck and called the current number she had for Cole.
A deep voice answered at the second ring. “Hello?”
Leah cleared her throat recognizing Cole’s voice. “Cole? It’s Leah.”
“I know. You still have the same number I see.”
A smile danced on her lips. “As do you. Did I catch you at a bad time? I can call back.”
“No, I was on a break. What’s up?”
Leah kneaded her shoulder. “I have a business proposition for you.”
“You don’t beat around the bush do you?” he replied. “I’m listening.”
“I’m working with a web designer for my boutique, but we’re having trouble with the pictures. I… I wanted to hire you.”
“Oh, really?” he said, sounding genuinely excited.
Hope fluttered inside her. “Yes, Cole. I need your expertise.”
“Are you free tomorrow? We can set up an appointment.”
“Not tomorrow, but what about this weekend? Friday after five?”
“Let me check my schedule.” There was a rustling sound in the background, but only a few seconds before he answered. “Friday works. Is five-thirty okay?”
She agreed, “Absolutely. Your office or mine?”
“We’ll meet at yours. That way I can see the store.”
Leah scheduled her meeting with Cole on her phone. “I appreciate this. You have no idea.”
“So, you still had my number all this time?” he wondered.
Leah swallowed. She wanted to curl in shame by not keeping in touch with him all these years. “I didn’t think you still had it.”
“I know what you mean. I meant to keep in touch when I left too, but what can I say. Life got in the way. That’s still no excuse, huh?” he said.
Leah fiddled with her earring, so happy he didn’t sound hurt or angry. She let out a deep breath. “I’m glad you understand, but you’re still right. I guess we both let life get in the way.”
“So, we’re even. But you’ve done well for yourself. Business must be good if you want to hire me.”
“It is. I never thought I would have an online store, but it’s going strong. What about you? How many stamps do you have in your passport?”
“I’m not one to brag, but a few.”
Leah beamed. “Everyone is proud of you and your success.”
“It’s all over town I see.”
She giggled. “It’s Piedmont Valley, Cole. Remember?”
“I should have known.” He cleared his throat. “Well, I need to get back to work.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ll see you this Friday.”
She hung up with Cole and twirled in her office chair filled with excitement. Her spirits soared for the first time since her break-up. Taking her business to another level would be her first step. The notion called to mind her mother’s words. Take time for yourself.
Leah tilted her head. Even while dating Brian, she hardly ever thought about herself—only about pleasing him. She pressed her fingers to her lips as she recalled one of their last conversations.
“Take a chance sometime, Leah,” Brian had said.
Her eyebrows had furrowed. “I thought you loved me for who I was.”
Brian had shrugged his shoulders as he walked to his Chrysler 200 in her driveway. “I do, but we all can change.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Brian? I like who I am,” Leah had argued.
“I’m saying that you could loosen up more. I love you, but sometimes I don’t think you let yourself have fun.” Then he had left her standing on her porch.
Leah wrapped her arms around herself as she sat cross-legged in her office. Did he tire of her and lose interest? He had said he wanted new adventures. Leah was content where she was. Though she worked hard at her business, she didn’t give it the full attention it deserved—until now. Perhaps her mother was right. Maybe she needed to take advantage of her newfound singleness. Would it be so wrong to figure things out?