Change of Heart

by Judith Keim

  ###

  Em helped Ava remove the tags and arrange her new clothes in dresser drawers before Ava was satisfied to play quietly in her bedroom, giving Em and Devin a chance to talk alone.

  She fixed glasses of iced tea for them and walked outside with Devin onto the small patio she hoped to enlarge one day.

  “A nice spot in the shade,” said Devin, sitting down in one of the chairs beside a small table and taking a sip of tea. “Look, Em, I don’t want to rush you into anything you might not want ...” he began.

  “I understand. But from a practical point, you’re right. It would be so much easier if we got married as soon as possible. A Valentine’s Day wedding was sort of a silly idea.”

  Devin took hold of her hand. “No, it wasn’t. I promise to do something very special for you on Valentine’s Day, regardless of when we’re married.”

  She smiled at him, loving the earnestness in his expression. She thanked her lucky stars she’d found him at the Seashell Cottage He was such a wonderful man. She suddenly straightened in her chair. “How about a wedding at Seashell Cottage?”

  Chuckling, Devin shook his head. “Great minds think alike, and all that. One of the things I did this morning was to call the rental agency to inquire about availability of the Seashell Cottage for February. I was told the place is available for the next three weeks.”

  “You did? Oh, Devin, that would be a wonderful place for us to get married.” She pulled out her cell phone. “Let’s see...July 11th is on a Saturday. That would work.”

  Devin’s brow creased with worry. “Are you sure? It takes some women months and months to prepare.”

  “We’ll make this work. Elena and Drew were going to spend the week in New York. I’m sure we can convince them, my parents, and Gran to come to Florida for the wedding.” Em beamed at him, excited by the idea. “Being there will be a good way for Ava and us to have the chance to be together without the distractions at home.”

  “Well, if that’s what you want, I’d better call the rental agency now.” He got to his feet and pulled Em up into his arms. “Can’t wait until everything is official.”

  “If you’re like most men, you probably mean over, not official.”

  He laughed. “That too. But, seriously, I want it to be everything you’ve ever wanted for your wedding.”

  “I’m sure it will be,” said Em, her mind spinning with ideas. She wasn’t about to admit it to him or anyone else, but one whimsical day in Florida she’d stopped by a bridal shop and knew exactly what she wanted for a dress. At the time, she thought she was just letting her imagination run away with her. Now, she was glad she had thought to do it.

  While Devin called the rental agency, she called her sister. If Elena wouldn’t agree to change her plans, she’d be devastated. Her parents and Gran would, she knew, do everything possible to be there.

  “Hey, there!” Elena said upon hearing Em’s voice. “I was going to call you to see if you had time to do a little after-baby shopping with me.”

  “If you’re talking about a matron of honor dress, I’m in,” said Em, unable to keep the bubble of excitement out of her voice.

  “Oh, my God! When’s the wedding?”

  Em giggled. “Next week. Can you change your plans and come to Florida instead of going into the city? I haven’t talked to Mom or Gran yet, but I’m sure they’ll come.”

  “Next week? How are you going to get everything done?’ Elena said. “It takes a lot of time to plan and pull off a wedding.”

  “Not if you keep it simple, and that’s what Devin and I want. Just a simple ceremony on the beach. But I want you to stand up with me, Elena, like I’ve always imagined.”

  “Okay, that’s what we’ll do. I’m sure Andrew won’t mind the switch of places. And the baby is a good little traveler. Oh, boy! You’d better talk to Mom. I’ll wait to hear from you, and then we’d better sit down and talk about it. And Em, maybe instead of having an after-baby vacation in New York, Andrew and I can stay at the Salty Key Inn, the place you told me about.”

  Em was relieved to hear Elena so excited. After she clicked off the call, she quickly called her mother.

  “What’s going on?” her mother said. “Elena is running around waving her fists in the air and shouting, ‘Hooray’!”

  Em filled her mother in on the plans. “You and Dad, Gran, and we can stay at Seashell Cottage and give Andrew and Elena a chance to stay at the Salty Key Inn for a little after-baby honeymoon. What do you think?”

  “I think it’s wonderfully crazy. But, Em, you’ve always wanted a Valentine wedding. Are you okay with this?”

  “Yes, I really am,” Em said, more and more pleased with the idea of a July wedding. It wasn’t the wedding that counted; it was the man you chose to marry.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Once the idea of a wedding for Em took hold, her family swung into action. Her mother planned a small, private dinner at Gavin’s following the wedding; her grandmother and she chose the flowers she wanted for the wedding, and then Gran called a florist in Clearwater and arranged to have them delivered to Seashell Cottage on the morning of her wedding day. Elena and Andrew reserved a room at the Salty Key Inn for the days prior to the wedding and for three days after so they could have their vacation. Her parents agreed to watch Ava while Devin and Em traveled to Naples for a short honeymoon.

  The best part for Em was selecting a wedding gown. Elena, her mother, and Gran accompanied Em to one of the nicest bridal stores in the area. What once would have been suitable for a winter wedding was out of the question. Instead of something too formal, Em chose a simple, white sleeveless dress that met her ankles in gentle, silken folds. Em loved it and realized how perfect it was when both her mother and Gran cried when she modeled it for them.

  Later, at one of Em’s favorite, local, upscale stores, Elena chose a pale-pink, linen sundress that managed to hide the folds of skin she had yet to lose following Lillibet’s birth. Her mother opted for a pale blue dress she thought would be ideal for a trip she and Em’s father were planning in the late summer. And Gran, looking like a ray of sunshine, modeled a yellow dress with a short jacket.

  “We’re going to look like a rainbow with all of these colors,” said Elena, smiling at Em.

  “What about Ava?”

  “Yesterday she picked out a purple dress that will be perfect,” said Em. “She was upset at not being able to shop with us today, but Devin said he’d make sure they did some fun things together.”

  “It’s amazing how well she’s adapting,” said Em’s mother. “Devin too. I think having him help make the transition has made a big difference for Ava.”

  “Yes, she’s known him for several months before her mother asked Devin to take her,” said Em. “I can’t imagine having to give a child away.”

  “So sad,” commented Gran.

  “Oh, oh,” said Elena. She looked down at the wetness on her dress. “I’ve got to get home to feed Lillibet.”

  They hurried to Elena’s car and headed home.

  ###

  When they arrived at Em’s parents’ house, Andrew and Devin were watching a baseball game on television, Ava was coloring on the coffee table in front of them, and Lillibet was laying in Andrew’s arms.

  “What a peaceful scene! How did you do it?” Elena said.

  “Bribery,” said Devin. He pointed to the huge box of crayons and stack of activity books next to Ava.

  “Pacifiers,” Andrew said. “I’m glad you’re home because Lillibet is about to have another crying jag.”

  Elena swept the baby up in her arms. “Poor baby. Mommy’s here. Come with me.”

  Em watched Ava’s head jerk up at the word “Mommy”. Their eyes met. “How are you, Ava? Did you have fun?”

  Ava nodded, but Em saw such a moment of sadness in her eyes that her heart clenched. She went over to Ava and hugged her. “I’m glad you had a good time. I missed you.”

  Ava lifted her face to Em and studied her
until a smile slowly curved her lips.

  Em took her hand. “Come sit with me, Grandmother, and Gran.”

  Ava got to her feet, grabbed a blue crayon and her coloring book, and followed Em into the kitchen.

  “We girls will have a treat here,” said Em, helping Ava into a chair at the kitchen table. “You can color here. Let’s see what you’ve done.”

  Ava proudly showed off her colored pages.

  Em exclaimed over Ava’s neatness. “I think you’re going to be an artist, a painter.”

  “Like Mami,” said Ava proudly.

  Em realized there was a lot she didn’t know about Ava’s background and vowed to learn all she could so Ava would always have her family history.

  ###

  The next morning, Em was up early. She had to see to a client’s newly built stone wall and the plantings that AAA Landscape were installing. Her other clients were amenable to her being gone for a couple of weeks, and both Bart and Tinker had agreed to handle the store every day while she was gone.

  She slipped out of the house while Ava was still asleep. Devin was waking up slowly with a cup of coffee in the kitchen. This early time of day was her favorite. The sky was lit with promise as it brightened from a gray to a pretty blue. Pale pink highlighted the white clouds, adding a welcome, warm tint to them, reflecting the heat of a summer daybreak.

  In the stillness, she went to her car and climbed in. She loved her little VW convertible but realized she needed to replace it with either a small truck or a good-sized SUV—something in which she could haul supplies or the garden treasures she selected and picked up for clients. And Ava would be more comfortable in something bigger. She’d make the switch in cars when the late summer sales happened.

  She pulled up to her client’s home. Mrs. Abigail Madison, a middle-aged woman who knew Em’s mother, was one of Em’s favorite clients. Originally from Virginia, she was very sure of herself and her vision for an upgrade to the garden behind her house in one of the oldest, most picturesque sections in town. Em had done her best to convince Abigail that a less formal garden would be more compatible with the climate in New York and the rustic nature of the area. As one feature and then another were added, Abigail credited Em with being the most clever, artistic person she’d ever worked with. The compliments were important because Abigail was, to put it politely, a great spreader of news. Gran had become infuriated when Abigail had told everyone that Gran and Bart were dating.

  This morning, Em stood by while the crew from AAA Landscaping placed rhododendron and mountain laurel bushes behind the stone wall and above the area designated for perennials, creating varying layers in the space. It made the yard much more interesting.

  At the back end of the yard, a grouping of lilacs added springtime color and aroma. On this July day, their leaves provided privacy and texture in varying shades of green in the sunlight. Off to one side, a small stone patio had been laid at the edge of lawn beneath a tall maple tree, providing a spot in the shade. It was an attractive nook perfect for reading, sharing an afternoon glass of iced tea with a friend, or napping on one of the two chaise lounges placed there beside a small table and four chairs. The patio addition had turned out even better than Em had thought. Two of Abigail’s neighbors now wanted similar areas installed.

  As she stood looking at her notes, Abigail approached her. “I’m pleased you agreed to come today to oversee the work. Getting ready for a wedding takes a lot of time. Is this the young man who accompanied you to the Fourth of July festivities last year?”

  “No, this is a man I met earlier this year, one of those magical things when two people click together for all the right reasons.”

  “Well, I’m delighted for you, my dear. It surely doesn’t mean you’ll be moving away, does it?”

  “No. My fiancé is going to be joining Dr. Stone’s practice in town.”

  “Oh, how lovely. I’m sure your mother is thrilled.”

  Em couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Thank you. My entire family is pleased.” She didn’t want to say more, not until after her wedding.

  Satisfied things were in order at Abigail’s house, Em hurried to the flower shop.

  The specials for the Fourth of July holiday were a variety of patriotic floral arrangements of various blooms in red and white accented with blue decorative ribbons, set in blue glass vases, or placed in fabric-lined baskets. Rainbow’s End also advertised tiny nosegays of a few flowers tied with ribbons for people to wave as the many bands in the town’s annual parade marched by. An ingenious idea of Gran’s, it had become a tradition for many in town.

  While at the flower shop, Em also put together an arrangement of white lilies, baby’s breath, and white freesia for the celebration of Lillibet’s christening, which was to take place later that morning. Em’s mother had planned a small, catered luncheon for close friends to be held at her house following the ceremony.

  After seeing Tinker was set in the shop, Em said goodbye and carried the flowers to the car. She figured she had just enough time to drop them off, return home, get changed, and go to the church.

  Her mother caught sight of her in her cut-off jeans and shrieked, “You’re not ready yet? The christening is in a half hour!”

  Em plunked the arrangement down and hurried out of the house.

  At her condo, she found Devin dressed and ready, standing in the bathroom with Ava, who was wearing a sundress and her new sandals.

  Devin gave her a helpless look. “Help! I don’t know anything about doing a girl’s hair.”

  “Hold on! I’ll get changed and come back to help you.” Ava’s hair was best tied away from her face in either braids or a pony tail.

  Em freshened up, changed into a skirt and a top she especially loved, put on earrings, slid a silver band around her neck, and stood back to examine herself. Her face was flushed with happiness.

  Moments later, Em sat with Devin and Ava in a front pew in the small church her family attended, feeling for the first time as if she really was part of her own family. Sandwiched between Devin and her, Ava leaned against Em’s shoulder, silently playing with the curls on her doll’s head. Em wrapped an arm around her and brought her closer.

  The service was a sweet tribute to children. Em listened with a new attentiveness about the responsibility of raising a child. She glanced at Devin.

  He smiled and sent her a quick wink to let her know he was listening too.

  Her lips curved. She’d never felt so connected to another person. Her mother had spoken of friendship and how important it was to a marriage, but before now, she had never known what it meant. But after talking and texting openly with Devin about everything and nothing in the last few months, she felt as if he was truly a special friend. She guessed it wasn’t the amount of time involved, but what they put into those moments that had made it possible.

  The time came for Em and Devin to rise and stand beside Elena and Andrew and their baby. As godparents to Lillibet, they committed to helping her through life by example and dedication to her.

  Em glanced at her sister. Elena’s eyes shone with tears as she glanced down at the baby in her arms. she had imagined such a moment for herself. Her gaze turned to Ava. The little girl was focused on them with an intensity Em found touching. She knew that the months ahead might not be easy for them, but gratitude filled her for being given the chance to love Ava as her own.

  ###

  With the service over, Em hurried to her parents’ house. She’d promised her mother she’d make sure the caterers had done their job for their expected guests. She barely had time to check the dining room table before she heard the sound of cars outside. She glanced at the spread: cold, poached salmon; potato salad, a plate of sliced cucumbers, sweet onion and dill; tossed green salad with chilled peas; fresh fruit bowl; and buttery rolls the catering company was famous for. All looked delicious.

  Waiting for her parents to arrive, Em took on the duty of welcoming people to their home, s
ome of whom she’d never met. She introduced Devin as her fiancé and Ava as the girl about to become her daughter.

  Seeing the surprise on some of the guests’ faces, Em almost giggled with delight. After having to endure the role of being dumped, she was loving her new status.

  Gran and her parents arrived, and Em was free to mingle with other guests and to see that Ava had lunch. She was sitting with Ava and Devin outside at one of the picnic tables set up in her parents’ yard, when Clara and Chip Robertson joined them.

  Em introduced them to Devin. “Chip Robertson was my first boyfriend back in grade school. Now, he’s vice-president of East Bank. Clara and I went to high school together.”

  “Nice to meet you, Devin. And who is this?” Clara smiled at Ava.

  Ava hid her face in Em’s lap and then looked up shyly. “This is Ava, Devin’s adopted daughter. Her mother was a patient at Devin’s clinic in Costa Rica.”

  “How lovely. You’re in for a lot of fun.” Clara turned to Devin. “And you’re a doctor? Great! This town needs another doctor.”

  “I’ll be joining Dr. Stone’s practice, specializing in pediatrics,” Devin said.

  Just then a little girl about Ava’s age with short blond hair ran over to the table. “Mommy, I have a new friend. Ashley is here with her Mommy.” She glanced at Ava and paused. “Who are you?”

  Ava glanced at Em.

  Em gave her an encouraging pat. “Go ahead and tell her your name.”

  “I’m Ava,” she said shyly.

  “And this is Penny,” said Clara, smiling at Ava. She turned to her daughter. “Why don’t you ask Ava to play with the two of you girls?”

  Penny studied Ava and then said, “Okay. Come on, Ava. Let’s go.”

  Ava hesitated.

  “It’s okay. We’re right here,” said Em.

  Ava grinned and waved goodbye.

  Tears stung Em’s eyes as she watched Ava and Penny cross the lawn together. They looked so cute together.

  “It’s sweet to see them like that,” said Clara. “I sometimes volunteer at the town library helping during the children’s programs there. It’s good when I see kids being nice to one another.”