She dissolves into an adorably dorky laugh and covers her mouth. “I’m just kidding. This magazine has weird hair.” She looks up at me with her wide, pretty eyes. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“It’s fine.” I can’t help examining how much she looks like Chase, but I don’t want to make this kid uncomfortable.
Emma is about to zip off when Chase places a gentle hand at her shoulder. “Actually, Emma, this is the person I was telling you about. She owns the repair shop.”
“Oh, really?” Her voice is light and shy. She curls into the protection of her dad, but adjusts back, as if she’s reminded herself she’s twelve and too old for that. Even though she isn’t. “Nice to meet you.”
Manners. She has manners. And she’s sweet. “Nice to meet you too. I’m Jenny.”
“Like the sign.” Her shy smile widens and my heart cracks right open.
Geeze Louise, I’m a goner. “Annabelle over there, she runs the salon. She would love to do somebody’s hair like the pictures in that magazine. Nobody in Derby is bold enough.”
She giggles again.
“There’s Owen.” Chase nods to his son a few feet away.
Without looking up, Owen flashes me a peace sign. “Yo.”
“He thinks he’s so cool,” Emma tells me in her soft, round voice. “He’s so not.”
Annabelle suddenly comes into view. “Hi. Chase, is it? Hello. Hi. Can I help you with anything. Coffee? Water? We have water for the kids.” She shoots me a panicked look and mouths,“Sorry.”
I flash her a smile. “Uh, yeah, water for the kids sounds great while we get this bill sorted out.”
Chase follows me to the auto shop front desk. Kara is at lunch, leaving me to finalize the payment. “Did they go over the repairs? Any other questions?”
“Jenny.” Chase speaks close without invading my space. “This was a lot to spring on you. I promise I didn’t mean to ambush you with the kids.”
“I know.” I keep my voice light.
“You set boundaries, and I fully intended to respect them. Now I’m wondering if I ruined any chances.”
My eyes have the nerve to tear up. I breathe slowly to keep control, staring at the computer screen. “What…chances?”
“You said you needed time. I want to give you time, but I also want to see you again. On your terms. Name your terms.” His voice is a bass note my stomach latches onto.
I dare a glance at him. Without a word, he brings a gentle finger to my eye. The tear rolls over onto it. “Jenny, I’m so sorry for hurting you. I don’t want to end this way, but I’ll go if you want me to.”
In the salon, Emma’s giggle trickles over, followed by Owen’s deeper laugh.
What am I so afraid of?
Hurt. Rejection. His parents can’t stand me. Disappointing Chase. Disappointing his kids. So much.
“I told my parents I ran into you,” he says as if reading my thoughts. “When I told my mom you’re running your ownbusiness, she asked to know more. You know what she said after? She said sorry. She’s felt guilty for years about pressuring us to end our marriage. Especially after how things with Lisa turned out. They never got on well after the wedding. When the kids came along, my mom felt shut out. Lisa was controlling and belittling to my parents, especially to my mom. My dad always liked you. My mom, she feels a lot of regret.”
“They sent their lawyers on the attack. They couldn’t even tell us themselves they wanted the annulment. They did it through their attorney.”
“I won’t excuse their past actions, but I believe they’ve changed. In case they are a worry for you.”
The front door bangs behind one of the mechanics returning from break. I shake sense into myself. “We take cash or charge. For a check, I’m going to need to see ID.”
The light dims in his eyes. I’ve dashed his hope.
I had to. Ihadto.
This is what’s best. This bill is our final transaction. This concludes our chance meeting that was never intended to be anything more.