Page 42 of Moving to Love
Aww, how sweet. “I love you, too, Abby.”
“Grandpa loves you, too.”
Uh, oh. Joci froze. So did Jeremiah. Not realizing how uncomfortable she just made the situation, Abby continued. “Gunnar loves you, too.”
“Yes, and we all love you, Abby.” Joci smiled at her. Abby squeezed Joci’s neck and scrambled off her lap to run and play again.
Connor took a seat across the table again, while Gunnar and Jeremiah made conversation about last night and the fun the boys had while they were out. Joci suddenly felt uncomfortable and sat quietly listening to their conversation.
She glanced up and saw Connor watching her. Actually, staring at her. She had never felt uncomfortable with him before but today seemed different. He seemed different. Soon, Betsy clapped her hands and announced that Abby should come and open her presents.
All the kids gathered around the ‘chair of honor’ and watched as Abby’s presents were placed before her. She squealed when she saw all of them. One by one, the gifts were opened and then discarded almost as quickly as the next gift appeared for her to open.
Joci’s mind wandered. She had never given Connor any indication that she would be with him one day. A couple of years ago, shortly after he was divorced, he had asked her out and tried to kiss her, but she just didn’t feel the same way for him. He was handsome. He had dark hair like Mason, dark blue eyes, and a beautiful smile. He was about six feet tall. He was the vice president at a manufacturing company in Green Bay, making good money. He was a good man, but when it came to that spark, there just wasn’t one. She loved him as a friend. She thought Connor understood. Last year, he had introduced her to a couple of girlfriends. But today, something was different.
Betsy called out. “Okay, let’s eat, shall we?”
Jeremiah, Joci, and Gunnar waited until everyone had gotten their food before venturing to the table themselves. Joci asked, “Should we sit in the sun and eat?”
Jeremiah inclined his head to a spot near the pavilion. “That looks like the perfect spot.”
Gunnar gathered their empty plates. “I need a drink. You guys want anything?”
Joci smiled. “No, honey, you go ahead.”
Gunnar nodded his head, looked at Jeremiah. “I’m good, Gunnar.”
As Gunnar walked away, Jeremiah leaned forward and kissed Joci lightly on the lips. “I’ve been dying to do that for what seems like hours now.”
Joci giggled. “What took you so long?”
Jeremiah looked back at the people gathered under the pavilion and then back at Joci. “It felt disrespectful for some reason. I feel like these people think of you as Connor’s.”
“Aww, sweetheart, I belong to you.” She leaned forward and kissed Jeremiah on the lips. She smiled, “Whenever you’re ready, we can go.”
“I’ll follow you, baby,” he quickly replied.
Gunnar came back over and sat down. “How long do we have to stay, Mom?”
Joci burst out laughing. “Jeremiah and I were just talking about that. I think we’re ready to leave. Did you want to follow us out?”
Gunnar nodded. He took a drink of his water. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
They got up to say their goodbyes and thanks. Abby ran up to Gunnar and wrapped her little arms around his neck, then sweetly told him Thank you. When Gunnar set her down, she looked at Jeremiah. He was tall, so she had to look up pretty far. He saw her craning her neck and kneeled down.
She hugged him as well. “Thank you for coming.”
Jeremiah smiled at her. “You’re welcome. Thank you for letting me share this day with you.”
Abby laughed. She hugged Joci then and ran off to play. Connor walked over to say goodbye to them. They started toward their vehicles, Connor walking with them.
When they got close, Connor asked, “Joci, may I have a word with you?”
Jeremiah looked at Connor and then at Joci. She nodded to him, letting him know it was okay. Jeremiah and Gunnar shook Connor’s hand, and they walked the last few steps to their trucks. They stood talking to each other when Joci turned and looked at Connor.
“Is everything okay, Connor?”
Connor looked at Joci for a few seconds, and then he took a deep breath. “Is it serious with you and Jeremiah?”
