Page 120 of Lucky Penny
“You’re right on time.” She smiles brightly, beckoning me up the porch steps and into the warm farmhouse. “I just pulled lemon scones from the oven, and Rhett put on a fresh pot of coffee.”
Maybe I’ll just move in with them.
Rhett’s sitting at the kitchen table with his back to me as I enter the kitchen.
“Good morning, Red,” I tease, touching his shoulder. It’s an inside joke.
“Penny.” He sets down his enormous cup of coffee and stands to wrap me in a big bear hug, always smelling of fresh-cut wood.
I plop myself down at the table across from him and pull my knees to my chest, sighing dramatically. Mabel races over, placing her heavy, slobbery head in my lap. I don’t protest.
Peering down at her droopy brown eyes, I think of Tank. And I miss him.
“What’s up, did the wedding go okay last night?” Audrey asks, placing a plated lemon scone with drizzled icing in front of me. I take an enormous bite, my eyes rolling back in my head. Because like everything she bakes, it’s the most scrumptious thing I’ve ever had.
“To be honest, I was ready for this one to be done from the moment it started,” I admit.
It’s not that I don’t love my job. I created this business from the ground up. I get paid to be witness to couples’ happiest days, documenting once-in-a-lifetime moments. I see the look on the groom’s face before anyone else usually notices. I see the nerves of the bride as her mother zips up the white dress, and I’m always there to reassure, to make the best of the moment, to give a little pep talk.
But last night was different.
“Oh no…what happened?” Audrey inches closer.
“The wedding was stunning, and the bride was a joy to work with.” I start on a positive note. It was over the top, a winter wonderland at a boutique hotel downtown. No detail left untouched. There were smiles and tears all around, and I snapped my camera from muscle memory, capturing a thousand snippets of joy.
“But…” Audrey says, grasping her coffee mug, and even Rhett is leaning in, listening.
“You know I take my work seriously.” I inhale deeply. I put every ounce of myself into building my business with the utmost professionalism. I never let my emotions get in the way, well not until last night. “But something happened last night. I was capturing the first dance, and I froze.”
Audrey crinkles her brow at me. “You froze?”
“I froze,” I say again. “I had to run to the bathroom, leaving my assistant to do the job. I couldn’t handle it.”
I spent ten minutes splashing cold water on my face, pushing the only thought from my mind.
Will that ever be Jesse and me?
“Icriedduring the first dance last night.” I punctuate every word.
Audrey gasps, brows raised. It’s the appropriate response. I don’t even mention how, afterward, I drove home in a daze and curled up in bed without even calling Jesse, too ashamed of how much I missed him.
“I’m lost—that sounds like a normal reaction?” Rhett says, and we both turn to glare at him.
“Rhett, why are you eavesdropping!” Audrey gapes at her boyfriend, and I drop my head into my palms.
“Inevercry during the weddings I shoot. Ever.” I groan. “There’s something wrong with me, guys. I’m going to have to quit and come work at the bakery. I can work the mixer.”
Mabel nuzzles her nose into my side, clearly worried I’m in distress.
I am, girl.
My gorgeous best friend places a hand over mine.
“Did you talk to Jesse about this?” she asks, and I shake my head side to side, lifting it pathetically.
“No, no, definitely not.” I inhale sharply. “I don’t want him to think that I can’t handle this. We’re only four weeks in.” Cradling the warm coffee mug in one hand, I pet Mabel with the other. “The thing is—it’s not even the distance that bothers me. I can drive two hours in my sleep. It’s that I waited ten years forthisrelationship. And now it feels like I only get bits and pieces of it.”
Bless Audrey, she stands to bring the entire scone tray over. This calls for copious amounts of sugar and carbs, so I grab another one.
