Chapter 29
Sonia handed her mother her bouquet of tulips while Heather tucked the curls behind her mother’s ears. She glowed from the inside. Heather then sat on the couch, giving her knee a rest. The hem of her champagne dress touched her knees while the bodice hugged her waist. In a few minutes, her parents would remarry.
“You look amazing,” Sonia said.
Heather touched a hand to her chest. “You look great, Mom.”
Her mother adjusted the vintage veil covering her eyes. “Thank my loves.” She then released a cleansing breath. “Let’s get married.”
Once they were in the hall, each daughter took their place beside their mother. As soon as they made it to the office of the justice of the peace, Heather saw her father shaking hands with the man. When he spotted them, he smiled, and when he locked eyes with their mother, he gasped.
Sonia unlocked her phone and played music. The Manhattans “Shining Star” enveloped the room as they escorted their mother to their father. Heather looped her arm through her mother’s. Her eyes teared up, and she pulled in her lips to stop her cry. Still, she dabbed her eyes with her free hand. Then the moment came. She and Sonia gave their mother away, then they stood next to each other as their parents exchanged vows.
Their father went first. “Diana, you are the love of my life. I know we’ve had our trials, but I never stopped loving you. You’re my best friend. You’re my heart. I want to spend the rest of my days loving you and being the best husband I can be. I won’t leave you again.” He kissed their mother’s hands.
She cleared her throat. “Geoffrey, I fell in love with you on our first date. I know we were young, and we made mistakes, but my heart has always belonged to you. I want to share my days with you. We’re older and wiser now. You promise not to leave, I promise not to let you.”
“So sweet,” Sonia said as she dabbed her eyes.
Heather nudged her sister’s shoulder. Is this what love was about? Her parents had been through the worst, but they still stood together proclaiming their love. Is this what commitment looked like? They cited their vows with no fear of the future. Her parents showed no signs of worry. They were ready to take that leap of faith—together.
Then they exchanged rings. Her father kissed their mother’s hand before he slipped the band to accompany her old engagement ring. Heather’s lips parted, realizing her mother had kept her ring all these years. Despite everything, she loved the man standing in front of her. She knew his past, but she looked past the flaws for the best version of him.
Heather blinked back the tears, wanting to do the same—with Allen. She loved him with every breath in her body. Allen was worth it. She would never forget their time together. The way he held her. The way he kissed her.
“By the power vested in me and the state of Texas, I now pronounce you both husband and wife—again,” the justice of the peace said.
Heather’s father wasted no time in kissing her mother. He embraced her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Sonia looped her arm through Heather’s. She didn’t pull away from her sister, who hadn’t stopped dabbing her eyes.
“It’s so beautiful,” her sister said.
Heather patted her sister’s arm. “It is.”
As their parents gave each other one last kiss, they each shook the justice of the peace’s hand. Sonia hurried over to hug her father. Heather excused herself to the hallway.
She reached for her phone in her pocket. As she looked for Allen’s number, her heartbeat hammered inside her chest. Heather gulped down a breath to calm herself, only to feel a hand on her shoulder. She looked over to see her father, whose eyes glowed with affection.
“Something wrong, sweet pea?” he asked.
Heather leaned to rest her head on her father’s chest.
“Are these happy tears or…”
“I’m happy for you and Mom, but…”
Her father lifted her chin to look up at him. “But what?”
“There’s this… man.” She felt like a teenager spilling her guts about her crush, but it was so much more.
“You love him?” he asked.
She bobbed her head. “Yes.” A weight lifted from her chest the more she said it aloud.
“Does he love you?”
“He’s still married, Dad.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Heather? Why would—”
She held up her hand to stop him and explained the whole situation. Once she finished, her father rubbed the back of his head with one arm draped around her shoulders. They ended up sitting on a nearby bench.
“I see,” he said.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Did he say it’s over between them? Is everything being finalized with the divorce?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t talked. I’m all for marriages and couples working out their problems, but... I wasn't supposed to care about him. How was I supposed to know?” She rested her head on his shoulder.
“This is tough, sweet pea.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s his decision, but he needs to know.”
“What do you mean?”
“He can’t decide about you if you haven’t told him. I’m not for you breaking up a marriage, but you can at least let him know where you stand.”
Heather lifted her head.
“Do you know where he is?”
She shrugged.
“Call him and find out,” he said. “You’re stronger than you think.”
She looked over at him.
“Your mother has shared some things with me, and I know you’ve been holding back in relationships because of what you saw happen between us. You won’t make the same mistakes, so don’t compare yourself. You’ll be better because you’ve learned what not to do. You have what it takes, and you’re worthy of love.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Dad.”
“Don’t be afraid, sweet pea.”
“Are we ready?” her mother asked, her arm looped through Sonia’s.
“Heather?” her father asked, looking back over at her.
She released a deep breath. “Yes, I’m ready.”
***
“Can't you get over?” Heather pointed to the car in front of them.
Sonia only huffed. “Let me drive. I'm not skidding off the road.”
Heather blew out her cheeks. She didn't mean to rush her, but this was too important. She needed to talk to Allen. A phone call wouldn't suffice. She needed to see his face. Her eyes needed to stare into his.
She pressed a hand to her stomach, wishing the gnawing sensation would cease. He would listen to her wouldn't he? He wouldn't turn her away. She rolled her eyes remembering how she stormed away from him that night.
If only it wasn't true. She saw the way his wife looked at him. She remembered him, but did that mean he wanted to go back with her?
He stopped calling. Could she blame him? Heather ran a hand down her face.
She had to tell him the truth. The thought of losing him made her lungs constrict. Her muscles weakened.
“Calm down,” Sonia said. “We're almost there.”
Heather ran her sweaty palms down her dress. “I hope he'll talk to me.”
“He will.”
“I don't know. I said some hurtful things.”
Sonia turned the corner into Allen's neighborhood. “I think he'll listen.”
Spotting Allen’s craftsman style house, Sonia pulled into the driveway. Heather rushed to get out, with snow sliding off her boots as she walked.
“Please don’t hurt yourself. We don’t want a relapse with your knee,” her sister said.
Heather fastened the top button of her coat. The fresh arctic wind chilled her legs. She took her time climbing the steps of Allen’s porch. She rang the doorbell and knocked in a panic. Would he answer? Would he forgive her?
“Allen?” She knocked once more, hearing no movement inside.
Reaching into her coat pocket, Heather pulled out her phone. Her vision blurred as she searched for her recent calls. Despite the soreness in her lungs and throat, she called him.
Her father was right. He needed to know the truth from her. Words jumped around in her head like June-bugs as the phone rang. She heard his voice at last.
Her heart perked up, but it was only his voicemail. What if he was avoiding her call? At the beep, she licked her lips.
“Hey, it’s Heather. I’ll make this quick. I… I’m sorry, Allen. I should have been more understanding. I don’t know what you’ve decided, but I want you to know… I love you.” She wiped her eyes. “Thank you for showing me I can feel this way about someone. Goodbye.” She hung up.
“You’re looking for Allen?” a voice called out.
Heather turned to see Mr. Brooks, Allen’s older neighbor. She waved. “Is he gone?”
“He said he was heading to the airport,” Mr. Brooks said.
“Airport?” Heather’s lips parted. “Is he coming back?”
“He didn’t say. There was a woman with him. Have a good one.” Mr. Brooks waved to Heather and Sonia and went back inside his house.
Heather’s body froze in place. He left with Crystal. That was the only explanation. Walking back to her sister’s car, she leaned against the passenger door.
She exhaled grateful that her sister gave her a moment to herself. Heather's mouth hung open. Allen left. Her bottom lip trembled as her stomach dropped. The words from her voicemail throbbed in her ears. She felt stupid as a sheep.
***
Automated doors opened and closed behind Allen as he walked beside Crystal. He smelled coffee and baked goods from the food court. A lengthy line in the open area led to multiple airline check-in counters.
He stared as Crystal wrung her hands together. He never pictured his life like this. Could he win Heather back? Would she trust him after this?
“Glad I came early,” Crystal said.
“Is your fiancé picking up when you land?” Allen asked.
She bobbed her head. “Yes.”
Their eyes locked one more time. He said, “I’m glad you’re doing better.”
She reached for his hand. Her eyes teared up and all Allen could do was hug her. Her body shook in his embrace and he stroked her back. She kissed his cheek and then looked over her shoulder. “I need to go check-in.”
Allen cupped her cheek. “Take care, Crystal. I hope you're happy.”
She reached up and kissed his cheek again. “I am. I want the same for you.”
He gave a slight smile, recalling the good times they shared.
“If this woman makes you happy, don’t let her go.” Crystal wiped her eyes.
They made peace. Crystal backed away with her bags with one last wave to him. He waved back only to hear his phone buzzing inside his pocket. Walking away through the automated doors, the wind chilled his skin beneath his coat.
Taking out his cell, Allen saw a voicemail that made his phone slip through his fingers. Heather?
She didn’t answer his last few calls, so he stopped to give her some space. Dealing with Crystal only clouded his judgment with Heather, but he had to know. He listened to the voicemail. His mouth fell open. He had to find Heather Shaw.