Page 86 of All Dressed Up

CHAPTER TWENTY

Rachel set down her flower sheers and pulled off her apron, playing with the thin belt to her bright pink sheath dress. It was Sunday, and she and Jesse had spent the entire morning creating arrangements for Emma’s wedding.

They were only samples since the wedding was next Saturday, but she wanted everything to be perfect from the bride’s bouquet to the reception table centerpieces.

“Thank you for letting me help today,” Jesse said, coming up beside her.

“You’re welcome.”

“I know I can’t be at the wedding. This is the second-best thing,” he said, his voice full of sadness.

His words pulled at her heartstrings as she watched him pick up a couple of coolers and take them out back to clean them. What he didn’t know was that he still might get his invitation yet. She glanced down at her watch. It was just after one. Earlier this morning she’d sent Emma a text to confirm that she should bring Jesse to the Star Lite by two o’clock.

Emma had confirmed that she’d be there.

She lifted her chin to the ceiling. If only her own reunion would happen soon. It had been nearly a week since she’d had Jesse deliver the pink snapdragons to Will with his original note to her all those years ago. He did what she’d asked and came right back, sharing the news that Will had been on his way out with a suitcase, saying he was headed to Florida to visit his parents.

He’d taken the flowers from Jesse that day. Rachel had no clue if he read the note or realized he’d even written it.

So here she was, her heart waiting for his heart to return.

She tried to keep busy all week working in the shop and running deliveries around town. She’d even gotten to spend some time with Abby and meet baby Zachary during one such delivery of several arrangements from friends and family.

Her days were busy, but her nights were a different story. Marc was still staying with her, but he seemed to have struck up a new, unexpected relationship.

It was a total surprise when he’d brought home Amber one night to hang out. Apparently, they met at the Twig & Vines Winery, and not long after, he asked her out.

They’d had a great time downing margaritas with the amazing fajitas Marc had fired up in Rachel’s kitchen. Amber was really funny, and she definitely seemed interested in Marc. Rachel had even spied them kissing that night when he walked the yoga instructor out to her car.

Maybe Amber would get to wear her wedding dress sooner than later. Donovan would certainly like it if his former business partner made his visit permanent.

Cleaning up her workbench, it was finally time to escort Jesse to the Star Lite to meet his daughter. She moved through the shop, flinging open the back door. “Hey, Jesse,” she called out.

He turned, propping the empty cooler on the ground. “Yeah, Boss.”

She was glad to see he was looking nice in a checkered red and white polo and tanned pants. Definitely presentable to meet Emma. “How about we take a break and go grab a bite to eat? We’ve practically worked through lunch, and I’m dying for a BBB Burger.” That actually sounded good, but she’d have to have it some other time. He’d be going into the diner alone.

He wiped his brow. “Sounds good.”

A few minutes later, they headed down the street, Rachel replaying in her head the conversation last week. Emma had said that she’d sat by the window, waiting to see her dad cross the street.

They were on the wrong side of the road for that. “Let’s cross here.” She waved for him to follow. “I want to see how they are coming along with the Belle Bridal Boutique renovations.”

Once on the other side, they backtracked a few feet. Standing in front of the bridal shop, her heart longed for Will. She peered in to see a brand-new glass counter and a shiny wooden floor.

“Looks like they’ve done some work,” Jesse said, tipping his straw hat.

“Yeah. I bet Will will be able to move back in any day now.” She rubbed her arms. She’d miss having him upstairs.

“Any word from him?”

She turned away from the shop front. “No. Not since he left.”

“He’ll come back soon.”

“I know.” She straightened. This moment wasn’t about her or her heartache. It was time for Jesse to start his own journey to happily ever after, and she didn’t want him to be late. “Shall we?”

They walked the length of Main Street, catching up on town gossip. For being gone so long, Jesse seemed to know a lot. Probably because he’d just gotten his hair cut on Friday at the Spring Curls beauty salon, and those ladies loved to talk. They reached the corner opposite the Star Lite, and Jesse started to cross the street.

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