Page 76 of All You Need Is Love

Epilogue

The fact that everyone else’s life kept moving forward revealed how very stuck Jenna Wakefield’s was.

Huffing out a breath, Jenna pulled a pair of dusty heels from deep inside Shannon’s closet. She turned and dangled them from her fingertips. “I think you might need some new shoes.”

Shannon looked up from the suitcase she was stuffing full of jean shorts and tank tops. “What? Why? There’s nothing wrong with them. They still fit.”

“Oh, girl.” Jenna wrinkled her nose at the black monstrosities with wide, one-inch heels. “These are ugly old-lady shoes. And I’m sorry, my friend. I like you too much to let you wear these in New York. You will be laughed out of the state.”

“She’s right.” Nose wrinkled in disgust, Gabrielle waddled into the room after her millionth trip to the bathroom. “I’m far from the fashion police, but even I say that those things have got to go.”

As Gabrielle took a seat on the edge of the bed, one of her hands gripped her stomach, and she grimaced. Jenna noted the pallor in her sister’s cheeks. She didn’t remember ever looking that ghostly during her pregnancy with Liam. Then again, she’d been seventeen when she’d had him, so who knew what was considered normal.

Maybe Gabrielle had simply overdone it today. Apparently, Baby Girl had kept her up most of the night, and then after babysitting Liam this morning while Jenna went grocery shopping, Gabrielle had come over to Shannon’s for lunch and packing.

Jenna touched her sister’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”

Gabrielle waved her hand. “Oh, yeah. Just some Braxton Hicks. I think.”

“Maybe you should call your doctor.” Shannon looked as concerned as Jenna felt. “You didn’t have to come over today. The weekends are your time to rest. You’re already tired enough working full time.”

Gabrielle was the mentorship program director at Tyler’s charity foundation, Amazing Kids. She and Tyler had already made a trip to and from New York this month, but after how tired she’d been when they’d returned, Tyler had declared no more trips until after the baby came.

“I wanted the scoop on you and Marshall. Of course, I heard from several sources about the scene two days ago at the Frosted Cake, but I needed firsthand details.”

“Which I happily provided.” Shannon’s cheeks still glowed, maybe partly from embarrassment, partly from … well, love.

Jenna held in a sigh. What would it be like to have a purpose beyond surviving life as a single mom? To look forward to doing something she was passionate about?

To be in love with someone who loved her back?

Nope, nope, nope. Not going there, especially because she had a lot to be grateful for—her son, her sister, her brother-in-law, her soon-to-arrive niece.

Still, maybe someday she’d find a way to make a better life for Liam. He deserved it, even if she didn’t.

“We’re both super happy for you, Shannon.” Jenna dropped the heels onto the comforter beside a toiletries kit. “Now, to solve your shoe problem.”

Breezing out the door, Jenna crossed the living room. Even though Shannon’s sense of style was different than Jenna’s—she tended toward brighter and bolder, while Shannon was all softness and pastels—they definitely shared a mutual love of art and interior design.

Jenna entered the guest room, where Quinn was staying for now. Though Shannon had forgiven her sister, Jenna remained skeptical of Quinn’s intentions. One thing was for sure—Jenna would be watching out for Shannon and her far-too-sweet heart while Quinn was in town.

For now, there was at least one way the older sister could repay the younger for all the heartache she’d caused. And since Quinn wasn’t here right now, Jenna would just have to help her make amends.

She dug around in Quinn’s closet for a moment, found what she’d come for, and headed back to Shannon’s bedroom.

“Here.” She exchanged Shannon’s heels with Quinn’s sparkling silver Jimmy Choos. “These will go perfect with that little black dress you have shoved in the back of your closet.”

“Are those Quinn’s?” Her friend’s eyes widened. Shannon shook her head. “I can’t wear her shoes.”

“Yes, you can. She more than owes you and you wear the same size.” With Shannon’s heels in hand, she turned.

“Where are you going with those?”

“Putting them in the trash where they belong. Believe me, I’m doing you a favor.”

Ignoring Shannon’s squeak of protest, she walked to the kitchen and dumped the shoes in their rightful place. Then Jenna made her way back to the bedroom, where Shannon held the Jimmys, stroking her fingers down the four-inch spikes. She glanced up. “I probably won’t need heels anyway. I’ll only be there for ten days, and I’m mostly going to help Marshall pack up his place.”

Sounded like an adventure to Jenna. When was the last time she’d looked as happy as Shannon? Or gone anywhere exciting? Or …

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