Nancy stared at the painting, remembering not the scene in front of her but everything she’d felt at the time.
She’d been so in love.
Life had stretched before them, as inviting as a summer meadow. She’d been excited by the seemingly endless possibilities, by the thought of sharing a life with Tom.
Over the years she’d wondered if she’d imagined the emotion she’d seen in him that day.
Had he ever loved her? Had she ever been enough?
But now she realized that no one would ever have been enough for Tom.
The happiness she remembered had been real, she was sure of it, and was there anything wrong with remembering happier times?
Glancing out the window, she saw Ben drop into a crouch to plant something in the bed he’d prepared.
He was so careful, treating each plant as if it were made of glass.
Ben’s wife had died around the same time she’d lost Tom. Had he seen anyone since? Had he frozen that side of his life as she had?
Maybe she’d invite him for a meal. As friends. Obviously she’d be careful not to let him know she had feelings that went beyond that. Those were, and always would be, her secret.
The prospect cheered her.
She’d thought that her best years were over, but now she was starting to wonder if they were just beginning.
“I don’t want to sell it,” she said. “It can stay right where it is on the wall.”
27
Jenna
Hope: a feeling of desire and expectation
that things will go well in the future
“I’m going into school early today, and I’ll be late home because I’m going over to the house to help Mom with a few final things because Lauren is at the Sail Loft.” Jenna pushed her feet into her shoes. “How’s your day looking? Busy?”
“Yes.” Greg was seated at the kitchen island, drinking coffee.
He looked
exhausted. There were smoky shadows under his eyes and he sat slumped, as if crushed by a heavy weight.
“You were up early.” She’d woken early, too, and reached out to him for a cuddle, only to discover that his side of the bed was cold and empty.
It had been a few weeks since they’d last made love. She’d been nervous to suggest it in case he thought she was just trying to make a baby.
“We’re fixing up the last bedroom. The place is looking great. You should see it. Come with me tonight. It would be fun.” It had been a while since they’d had fun, she thought. A while since they’d laughed. How had that happened? They used to laugh all the time.
They were Jenna and Greg.
He didn’t look up from his coffee. “Not tonight.”
“Are you sure? It won’t be awkward. Finally my family is working together, instead of against each other. I thought maybe we could invite Lauren and Scott for a meal sometime. Or do you think that would be tactless?” She grabbed her purse, wishing he’d say something. “I’m not sure whether there’s anything going on between them or not. I mean, I’m sure there is something there, but I’m not sure if they plan on doing anything about it. What do you think?”
“I don’t know.”
That statement was so ridiculous she almost smiled. “You always know. You always understand what goes on in people’s relationships.”