Hold on Tight

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Shaking her head at Campbell’s happy optimism, Dani quickly wrote a note for Jeremy, who would likely sleep for the next two hours, grabbed her keys, sunglasses, and phone, and hustled down the stairs.

  Just as she was crossing the parking lot that her complex shared with many of the small businesses in the area, she spied Jackson’s boss Gen again. Gen was leaning on the side of her Explorer and texting someone. She was wearing a frown and everything about her posture said she was frustrated.

  There was something there that made Dani pause, and then make a decision. “Hey, Gen,” she said as she got closer. “How are you?”

  Gen looked up, focused and then dropped the hand that was holding the phone to her side. “Hey, Dani. What’s going on?”

  “I’m on my way to a Pilates class.”

  Gen wrinkled her nose. “A what?”

  “I know. I thought the same thing when my friend Campbell first told me about it. It’s an exercise class, kind of like yoga but not. Meredith Hunt teaches it. She offers a few free classes a month.”

  “Ah. Well, I hope you enjoy it.”

  This wasn’t a great beginning, but she knew she had to push forward. “What are you doing now? You aren’t going in to work already, are you?”

  “I was half-thinking about it. I thought it was better to keep busy than …” She stopped herself midsentence. “Why?”

  “Well, I thought maybe you’d like to join me.”

  “Oh, Dani. I don’t know.” She looked down at her outfit. She was wearing a pair of black running shorts, a teal-colored sports bra and a white tank top over it. “I’m not really dressed for anything but running.”

  “For running or Pilates,” Dani corrected. Seeing Gen waver, she smiled. “Come on. If you don’t like it, you don’t. But I’m thinking you might like it a lot.” Boy, she hoped Campbell didn’t hear her talking up the class! All she’d been doing ten minutes ago was trying to get out of going.

  After staring at the screen of her cell phone again, Gen muttered something under her breath before exhaling. “All right, I’ll go. I was going to meet Melissa at the bar to help with deliveries. Let me just let her know that I’ll be in later.” After she put her phone away, she looked back at Dani. “Okay. I’m set … but I’m warning you, don’t expect too much from me.”

  Dani chuckled. “Since I barely know what I’m doing, I won’t. Come on. Campbell saved me a spot. We can get you one near us.”

  “You don’t have to go to all that trouble.”

  “Sure we do,” Dani joked. “I mean, we can’t let you hang out in the back and sneak out.”

  Gen brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. “Do you think I’d really do that?”

  “Of course I do.” She chuckled. “I know because I tried to do that my first time, too.”

  She shook her head. “You’re something else, Dani. Always so positive.”

  “No, not always.”

  “Jackson seems to think you are.”

  “Jackson knows all my faults.” Realizing that made it sound like they were closer than they were, she amended her words. “I mean, Jackson has come to realize that I have just as many worries and grumpy moments as anyone else.”

  “It never seems that way. How come? Do you just hide them better?”

  Dani shrugged. “What’s going on? Do you have something you’re worried about?”

  “Maybe.” After a couple of more steps, she grunted. “Is it that obvious?”

  “No. I just saw you glaring at your phone. I figure it’s either work and staffing problems or a man.”

  “It’s a man all right.”

  Remembering tall, dark, and handsome Seth, Dani nodded. “When you’re ready to talk about it, let me know.”

  Gen looked at her curiously. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

  Dani nodded. Part of her wanted to remind Gen that she’d lost her husband. That loss had put everything into perspective. But now, though that pain was very real and clear, it wasn’t as sharp.

  Now she had thoughts about Jackson as much as she ever had about Brian. It had come so gradually, she felt as if she’d had time to actually get used to the fact that she might not willingly be alone forever.

  She didn’t want to be a widow for the rest of her life.

  CHAPTER 25

  From Les Larke’s

  You, Too, Can Host

  a Poker Tourney:

  Some days of the week are better than others for a poker night. Saturday nights are sometimes tough for guys who are married. Wednesday night is usually reserved for church or school functions. That’s why I often suggest Thursday night for a friendly game. By Thursday, most people are ready for a fun night out.

  It was a fact. She didn’t like Pilates. It was too quiet, the movements were too controlled, and she didn’t like laying down on some contraption. It made her feel vulnerable.

  Then there was the fact that it was harder than it looked, and she kept messing up. That was another mark against it.

  When Meredith, a way too cute instructor, told everyone to put something on the contraption called a long box, Gen was just about ready to bolt.

  She was actually looking at the door longingly when Meredith walked up to her side and helped her put it on.

  Okay, she placed the box on the machine for Gen, which meant Gen wasn’t going to be able to go anywhere. “For what it’s worth, it gets easier,” Meredith said. “And when it does, then it becomes a lot more enjoyable. Then, next thing you know, you’re going to love it.”

  Gen didn’t think that was possible. After Meredith bent down to help Campbell, Gen muttered to herself. “Did I look that unhappy?”

  “Oh, yeah,” a woman to her left said.

  Gen grimaced. “Sorry. I’m just a lot better at other sports like basketball or tennis. I’m finding these small moves frustrating.” And harder than she thought they’d be.

  “Don’t be sorry for having an opinion,” Meredith said. “There’s no pressure here.” Raising her voice, she called out the next set of instructions, which included sitting on that box like it was a horse.

  Hoping she was looking a little less grumpy, Gen did what everyone else was doing. Then looked over at Dani.

  Dani met her gaze and grinned. “You’re doing good, Gen. I’m glad you came with me.”

  “You actually sound like you mean it.”

  “I do. I know we don’t know each other very well, but it almost feels like I do, since Jackson talks about you all the time.”

  “Jackson is a good man.”

  Dani smiled. “I think so, too.”

  As Meredith continued out calling out instructions, Gen concentrated on keeping up. To her surprise, when it was over, she was sweaty, a little sore, and yet she felt much better. She hadn’t thought about anything but keeping up with the rest of the women for the last hour.

  Boy, maybe she needed these classes just to have a stress reliever.

  “You work at the Corner Bar, don’t you?” a brown-haired woman asked as she slipped on a loose knit top over her sports bra.

  “I do. I also own it.”

  “No way. Good for you!”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not,” she said with an exaggerated grimace. “But I enjoy it.”

  Dani came up to their sides. “Gen, this is Emily Springer. Emily is the girlfriend of one of Jackson’s buddies from West Virginia. Emily, this is Gen. Jackson works for her.”

  Emily smiled. “It’s nice to meet you. Kurt and I stopped in there one evening before we went out to eat. It’s really nice in there.”

  “I’m glad you gave it a try.” When Meredith joined them, Gen said, “I really hope you will stop by soon. I’ll buy you a drink. You deserve a treat for putting up with my grumpy self.”

  Meredith laughed. “You were
n’t so bad.”

  Emily groaned. “No offense, Gen, but for a moment there, I thought you were going to walk right out of here.”

  “That’s because I was seriously contemplating it. It was hard, and I’m not flexible.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t run off. That wouldn’t have been good for my reputation,” Meredith teased.

  She liked the women. They were nice and didn’t seem too high maintenance. “Seriously, I hope all of y’all will come by.”

  “I’m in,” Emily said. “We should have a girls’ night soon. Dan, Mer, what do you think?”

  “I think it would be fun. If there’s a night when Jackson isn’t working, I could probably go. I watch Kate, you know.”

  Emily waved a hand. “We’ll get Kurt’s son and his girlfriend to watch Kate.” With a wink, she said, “I kind of want to get the chance to ogle Jackson.”

  Gen almost spit out the sip of water she’d just taken. “If you came to ogle him, you’ll have to get in line. Half the women in there flirt with him. It’s hysterical.”

  Emily chuckled. “I’m happily engaged. I just couldn’t help but tease Dani a little. Jackson Koch really is handsome.”

  “Does Jackson flirt back with all those women?” Dani asked. Suddenly looking horrified, she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Forget I asked that.”

  “He doesn’t,” Gen said, glad she wasn’t lying. “I don’t think I’ve seen him give any of those gals anything besides a faint smile.”

  Emily grinned at Meredith. “Now, I think we really need to plan a night out soon. I want to watch Jackson fend off women while flashing those dimples … and watch Dani here act like she doesn’t care.”

  “I’ll go with you girls, but I don’t think I would be much fun,” Meredith said slowly.

  The three of them looked at her in confusion. “Why is that?” Dani asked.

  “Because I’m pregnant.”

  “What? Oh my gosh!” Emily squealed and gave her a hug.

  “Congratulations!” Dani said, hugging her too. “How far along are you?”

  “Not very. And thanks. Ace and I … well, this wasn’t planned. I’m still kind of in a daze about it, if you want to know the truth.”

  Oh, every word of that explanation stung. But even though it did, she wasn’t going to let it show. “I’m happy for you,” Gen said with a smile. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. We’re pretty excited.”

  “Have you told Finn yet?” Emily asked.

  “We did. He looked shocked but excited. He actually took the news better than I thought he would.”

  As they started talking about weddings and families, Gen felt like the walls were closing in. She didn’t want to be jealous and didn’t want Meredith’s news to be another excuse for her to dwell about the baby she lost and how confusing things were with Seth.

  “I hate to, um, do Pilates and run, but I’ve got to get out of here,” she blurted, hoping she didn’t sound as stressed as she felt. “The bar opens in two hours.” They didn’t need to know that Melissa had already planned to open for her.

  “Oh, all right,” Dani said as she gave her a quick hug. “Thanks for coming here with me.”

  “Yes, thanks for giving Pilates a try,” Meredith added as Emily promised to see her soon.

  Stepping outside, she felt the combination of relief and regret. She wished she didn’t have so much baggage that she was constantly carrying around with her.

  If only Seth hadn’t come back. If only his being in town hadn’t stirred up a bunch of pain and regrets … and made her think about things she didn’t want to.

  If only …

  Oh, Lord.

  If only he wasn’t standing just outside the door looking at her—and looking just as good as ever. How could one man look so fine in just a pair of baggy shorts, old running shoes, and a faded, snug T-shirt?

  “About time you stepped outside,” he drawled. “I thought I was going to have to come in and get you.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “I was about to step into the bar and ran into Melissa. She said you were over here taking a class. I thought I’d buy you a sandwich.”

  Grasping at straws, she said, “I should probably go help Melissa.”

  “She told me to tell you that she’s fine. So, come on.” Taking her hand, he gave a little tug.

  And though she knew better, she allowed herself to be tugged along. Against her better judgment, she wanted to hear what he had to say.

  CHAPTER 26

  From Les Larke’s

  You, Too, Can Host

  a Poker Tourney:

  I suggest that you offer alternative activities for players who go out early. Have a game on a nearby TV or set up a “consolation table” for the losers.

  Seth figured he had less than three minutes to say something good enough to keep Genevieve from walking away. He thought quickly, realizing as he ran through topics in his head that he really didn’t know her anymore.

  They’d been so in love. He’d thought they’d be together forever. And now, a mere eighteen months later, Seth didn’t even know what she did besides work.

  How did that happen?

  He pointed to the deli about a block down the street. Called Jamison’s, it took up the whole floor of a small bungalow. Everything was fresh inside, and the owners had been easy to talk to. He’d discovered it two days ago when he’d been running.

  “Is this place okay?”

  “Jamison’s? It’s fine.”

  “If not, we can go someplace else.”

  She looked at him curiously. “You sound unsure. Why?”

  Because he was unsure about pretty much everything when it came to them. “Oh, no reason.”

  “Really?”

  It was becoming real clear that some things about her hadn’t changed. Gen was a straight talker and she liked that in other people, too. “I just realized that I didn’t know if you still ate bread. Or meat. Do you?”

  She tilted her head up at him. “Do I eat bread and meat? What are you getting at?” Looking a little affronted, she said, “What do you think I eat now?”

  He felt his neck flush. “I don’t know. It’s just that half the women I know are either vegan or gluten-free or keto or something. I started thinking that I didn’t even know what kind of food you ate these days.”

  “As long as it tastes good, I eat just about anything.”

  He sighed in relief. “So sandwiches are fine.”

  “They’re more than fine.” She smiled. “They sound fantastic.”

  They walked across the street, then he held the door open when they entered.

  Bree, the manager, looked up from behind the counter. “Hey, Gen.” After a second, her eyes warmed. “And hey to you, too. Welcome back.”

  Gen’s eyebrows rose. “Welcome back?”

  “I was in here yesterday,” he explained before smiling at the manager. “My name is Seth.”

  “Good to meet you. Are you two in here together?”

  He felt Gen stiffen next to him, but he tried to not care. “We sure are.”

  “It’s good to make a new friend.” She waved a hand at the black chalkboard behind her. “We’ve got some specials today. Shrimp salad, carrot and kale soup, and French dips. A lot of our regular items, too.”

  “Carrot and Kale soup, Bree?” Gen asked. “That’s pretty out there.”

  She shrugged. “A lot of people are on special diets now. I like to accommodate them.”

  Gen looked at Seth and chuckled. “We were just talking about that on the way over here. Seth was worried that I either didn’t eat meat or I didn’t eat bread.”

  “Now you know that whatever you do or don’t eat, we can accommodate you here. We’re a full-service deli.”

  “Looks like we came
to the right place then,” he murmured. “What would you like, Gen?”

  She’d been staring hard at the chalkboard. “Just a turkey sandwich and some chips. Oh, and iced tea.”

  “I’ll have the French dip with the salad and tea as well,” he said as he pulled out his wallet. After he paid Bree, she motioned to the six empty tables.

  “Take a seat and I’ll bring out your orders in a few.”

  Even though there was only one other couple in the small café, he still wanted privacy. “How about over by the fireplace?” It was a fairly warm day, but the flickering fire cast a pretty glow. The Gen he knew used to like things like that.

  She shrugged. “Sure. That’s fine.”

  He followed her to the table, stopping himself just in time from pulling out her chair. This wasn’t that kind of place, and Gen would probably be uncomfortable with the attention.

  He did wait for her to sit down, then sat down across from her. She was sitting with her back straight and her expression slightly bored.

  She was merely putting up with him.

  Damn. It wasn’t the response he had hoped for. Just as he was swallowing his disappointment, he reminded himself that he knew better than to expect too much. If they could have a civil conversation together, that would be an improvement.

  “So, are you into Pilates now?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Pilates. Do you take a lot of classes there now?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, gosh, no.” Leaning back in her chair, she said, “Dani, who babysits for Jackson’s daughter, saw me in the parking lot and asked me to go to the class.”

  “And you said yes?”

  “Yep.” Meeting his eyes directly for the first time, she said, “I know. It doesn’t sound like me, does it?”

  It didn’t. Not at all. She’d always been a loner. Always better at talking about the weather with strangers than letting her guard down with other people. Especially other women.

  “I’m glad you went and are making girlfriends. That’s important.” Of course, the moment the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back. He sounded like Dr. Phil.

  “Is it? I don’t know.” Her expression turned guarded again. “What about you? Are you any better than I was at making friends?”