Page 17 of With All My Heart, Joy

Lucy held her hands up. “You already checked in today. This is unrelated.”

“Okay. Let me eat first. I didn’t quite have lunch today.” Mr. Miller would be displeased. A mini bag of pretzels did not qualify for his food regimen.

She helped her mom clear the table, ignoring Ben’s perturbed look when he lingered in the doorway. The tension between them wasn’t usually so obvious, and while she noted her mom’s frown, she was glad no questions were asked.

Her family normally played board games on Tuesdays, but when Joy reached the living room, it was apparent that tonight was all about couples. TJ and Melody were at the piano, singing together. Dad had stayed in the kitchen to wash dishes with Mom. Ben and Charity sat on the loveseat together, reading to Azalea. And Silas and Lucy stood by the back window of the spacious living room, staring out into the night, arms around each other.

A twinge of jealousy hit Joy as she headed in their direction. It wasn’t so long ago she and Lucy had both been living at home, the two single daughters. All of that was changing. It was probably a good thing, for both of them. But it was also hard to stomach.

“Oh, good.” Lucy stepped away from Silas. “I have a special request. It will mean the world to me if you say yes.”

“You’re always so cryptic. What do you need?”

Lucy clasped her hands before her, rising on tiptoes. “Will you be my maid of honor?”

Joy was speechless. Yes, they were sisters and had become closer this year than any time before, but… “Why not Melody?” Melody was Lucy’s closest friend and had asked Lucy to be her own maid of honor.

“She has enough to contend with, planning her own wedding. I thought it might be too much, and she agreed.”

“Wait, when are you getting married?”

Lucy cast an excited glance over her shoulder at Silas. “In three weeks.”

“What?”

“I know, it’s crazy, but it’s what we want. Super small wedding. No reception that day, so don’t worry about a toast or a dance. I just need you to stand up with me, sign as a witness, and hold my flowers.” Lucy nodded encouragingly, and Joy found her head bobbing along with her. “Is that a yes?”

Why would she say no? “Yes. I’d be happy to be your maid of honor.” Saying the words made something deep inside Joy twist with a sickening pinch.

Lucy was getting married. In three weeks. TJ was getting married in six. Soon everyone in the family would have their special someone. Everyone except her.

Chapter Five

Isaac pushed back from his computer, done recording notes from his previous counseling session. On most days, he would take a sixty-minute lunch break now. But today was Friday. His lunch hour would be spent with Joy Halverson.

“Joy?” He stood in the doorway to the lobby, his eyes scanning the room. Her head was bent over her phone where she sat. When calling her name a second time yielded no results, he crossed the room and stopped in front of her. “Hello, Joy.”

Her face lifted, her eyes huge and startled. Light brown eyes with flecks of gold. What an odd detail to notice.

“Did you call me from the door?”

He nodded, biting back a smile. “You know how to focus.”

Unlike her sister, who blushed like an inferno at the slightest discomfort, Joy’s face didn’t color, but he sensed her embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I was working from my phone.” She squeezed the side of her phone and the screen faded to black, but not before Isaac saw the schematics of a precisely-planned Instagram profile.

Joy stood quickly in a short denim skirt over black leggings. Shiny, heeled black boots served as her footwear, and a cadet-style black hat sat at a slight angle on her head. Her shoulder-length dark blond hair sported fresh highlights throughout its choppy layers. And she smelled like the perfume counter at Macy’s. Amazing.

Isaac wrenched his eyes away, swinging around sharply. These were no longer odd details to notice. These were borderline inappropriate details.

“Come on back,” he said as he moved toward the door to the inner workings of the building, putting his mind to the task at hand. He was a counselor. Joy was here for counseling, just like every other client. End of story. “I’m sure we have lots to talk about.”

“Do we ever,” she muttered under her breath. By the time they reached his office door, Isaac felt himself again. He was being a typical man. Men noticed women, ages irrespective. There was nothing wrong with noticing a beautiful woman. And yes, Joy Halverson was beautiful. She was also far,fartoo young for Isaac. If that weren’t an issue, she was likely much too inexperienced to handle Paisley. And furthermore—and most importantly—she was a client. He’d learned the hard way to stay away from clients, and hewould not repeatthat mistake.

“How are you feeling today?” he began without ceremony once they were both seated. In one glance, he detected strain around her youthful eyes. “Something specific is bothering you.”

She gave him a quizzical look that scrunched her nose. It was adorable and made him want to laugh, which would be completely inappropriate, nothing borderline about it. “How can you tell?”

He lifted one shoulder. “Part of my job. Out with it.”

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