Hannah called me the next morning just as I’d gotten settled at my desk. She said she’d taken the day off work to get some things done around the house, and she wondered if I could come over for lunch.
I couldn’t think of any reason not to. I wasn’t scheduled to officially start working again until Friday, and I was ahead of schedule in getting my equipment set up. Spending time with a new girlfriend sounded like a great way to pass a few hours. It would also help take my mind off Abigail.
A few minutes before noon I slipped through the gate in the fence, stopped briefly to pet Lulu, who was picking her dainty way through the backyard, and then knocked on the patio door.
“Come on in,” Hannah called out through the open kitchen window.
I found her at the sink washing blueberries. “Hey, Ava! I’m so excited to have a lunch guest—and it’s just us girls! I figured we should take advantage of the opportunity, right?”
“Absolutely,” I said, although I didn’t mind having the guys around. Especially one particular guy. I held up the vase of flowers I’d brought. “I didn’t have time to make any food, but I didn’t want to show up empty-handed.”
Hannah’s face lit up. “Oh yay! Gwen’s purple salvia!”
“Yep, it’s in full bloom right now. I managed to find some daisies in the weeds, too. I didn’t realize things are getting so overgrown. Grandma would be appalled.”
“The joys of home ownership,” Hannah said with a laugh as she put the flowers on the table. “The work never ends.”
“Something I failed to take into consideration,” I admitted.
Hannah took a skillet from the stove and transferred its contents into a serving bowl. “I hope you like stir-fry. Chase doesn’t, but I’ve been craving it, so that’s what you’re getting.”
“I love it,” I assured her, biting back the urge to ask what other cravings she was having.
“Good. Everything’s ready.”
We carried the food to the table and sat down opposite each other.
“Okay if I say a quick prayer?” she asked.
“Of course.”
She grinned. “And then I want to hear all about you and Jude.”
***
I didn’t go into a ton of detail because I didn’t know how much sharing Jude would be comfortable with. I did tell Hannah about seeing his house and the concert in the park. She eagerly listened and seemed genuinely happy that Jude and I were spending time together.
“Chase says the two of them are going to help you put a special door in on Saturday.”
I nodded. “I appreciate it so much, but I’m really afraid Jude is going to try to do it for free, and that’s not what I want. I hired him for the job. I certainly don’t expect them to give up a Saturday morning for nothing.”
Hannah held up a warning hand. “Don’t try to get me involved. If the guys have their minds made up about something, it’s most likely not going to change.”
“Yeah, I’ve sorta figured that out,” I admitted.
She pushed her empty plate away—she’d had two generous helpings while I did most of the talking—and rested her chin on her hand.
“You know, Ava, I’ve never seen Jude like this. I mean, he’s always a pretty happy, easy-going guy, but there’s been an extra sparkle in his eyes lately.”
I gave a self-conscious shrug, pretty sure my own eyes were sparkling a little bit, too. “We’ve been having fun getting to know each other.”
“Yeah, I bet.” Hannah gave a happy sigh. “I can see you feel the same way he does, and I’m so relieved. I’d feel so bad for Jude if it was one-sided.”
I gave her a disbelieving look. “Seriously, Hannah? I can’t imagine any girl not being interested in Jude Keller.”
She laughed. “I guess you’re right. I’m just not used to seeing it the other way around. He’s extremely picky, in case you didn’t know. Chase tells me he’s had girlfriends in the past, but he hasn’t dated anyone seriously since I’ve known him. And that’s been two years.”
“Well, he’s not dating me seriously either,” I said quickly. “Like I said, we’re just getting to know each other.”
“It’s heading that direction,” Hannah said confidently. She leaned forward and gave me a knowing smile. “I was still up when he came home last night. When he and Lulu came home, I should say. He looked like a man who’s falling in love.”
My jaw dropped at her bluntness and Hannah giggled. “He also looked like he’d been thoroughly kissed. I have to say, it’s a good look for him.”
I knew my face was flaming. “Hannah!”
“Oops, did I say that?” she asked, grimacing. “Chase is always saying I need to get a filter.”
“Chase might be right,” I told her, but I couldn’t stop my wide smile, and that made her laugh again.
“Please tell me he’s good at it. It would be such a shame if a man who looks like that was a terrible kisser.”
I pointed a finger at her. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
She scowled. “Shoot. Now I’m always gonna wonder.”
I grinned and relented. “Okay, I will say this.” I stood and picked up our plates before giving her a conspiratorial glance. “I wasn’t disappointed.”
Her face lit up. “Not at all?”
“Not in the slightest,” I said, carrying the dishes over to the sink as she gave a triumphant whoop.
“Yes! Go Jude! I knew it!”
“And that’s the last time I’m going to talk about that,” I declared.
“And the last time I’ll ask,” Hannah promised.
We made quick work of the dishes, then sat out on the deck with tall glasses of iced tea for more talk. She told me how she and Chase had met in college, dated for two years, then broken up for three before they met again at a mutual friend’s wedding. According to Hannah, they took one look at each other and fell in love all over again. Chase had proposed a month later.
“Wow. Three years is a long time to be apart. I’m glad you both went to that wedding.”
“Yeah, it is a long time, but you know something? It wasn’t a waste. We both feel our relationship is stronger for it. We were too young the first time. Even though neither of us had a serious relationship with anyone else during the years we were apart, we needed to grow up….so we’d be ready for each other when the time was right.”
I liked their story so much. “Sounds like God had your back,” I said. “He kept you both safe from other relationships that could have damaged your future, while preparing you for what He had in store all along.”
“Yes! That’s exactly the way we feel about it. I had some issues I needed to work through stemming from something that happened back in high school. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Chase about it the first time around, and it’s the kind of omission that would’ve put a huge wedge between us down the road. I was braver when we got back together. And he was stronger. Strong enough to give me the understanding and support I needed.”
I pictured Hannah and Chase with their new baby, an extension of their love for each other, and I couldn’t think of anything more perfect.
“I’m so glad it worked out,” I said.
We talked for a while longer until I started to feel guilty about not getting anything done in the office. Once I got home, however, it was hard for me to concentrate. Even though it was stuff I loved to do, for the first time I could remember, it didn’t suck me in. I didn’t need to set a timer, because I was constantly checking my watch to see how much longer I had to wait to see Jude.
He sent me a text at four o’clock telling me he’d pick up a pizza on his way, if that was okay. I told him that would be great. Then a few seconds later, I sent another text telling him I was counting the minutes.
He responded immediately. Me too. We’re at roughly one hundred.
I chuckled and texted back. Ummm, you do know it’s the pizza I’m counting down to, right?
Be nice, you need my handyman skills, remember?
I laughed, sent him a corny winking emoji, and settled back in for ninety-nine more minutes of work.