by Debbie White
Annie couldn’t help but overhear. It obviously was Danny on the phone. Mary whispered, but she could tell by the tone of her voice that it was a conversation between two lovers.
“Danny.” Mary said, putting her phone back into her pocket.
“I figured it was,” Annie said, winking.
“I got the invitations, and I’ll be sending those out soon. When can we talk decorations?”
“Come over, anytime. I have a few ideas, too. I’ve been saving pictures from Pinterest and other sites in a folder on my laptop,” Annie said.
Chapter Fifteen
Annie rapped on Vicky and Scott’s front door. Jack had Ashton’s legs straddling over his shoulders, while holding his hands. They were carrying on laughing, and Jack made a few sudden moves as if he were going to drop Ashton, making Ashton laugh even harder. Annie reached up and pulled down the back of Ashton’s shirt that had ridden up, showing off his colorful diaper.
“Hey, you guys,” Vicky said, opening the door for them to enter. “Glad you could make it.” She stepped back and let them pass her before she closed the door. “Jack, Scott is out on the back deck,” she said as she patted Ashton on the back. “Jasmine is playing on the floor with her blocks. Do you want to play, too?”
Ashton nodded. Jack gently set Ashton down on his two feet and watched as he toddled off to find Jasmine. They were fast becoming friends.
“Come on, Annie, I could use your help in the kitchen.”
The two ladies headed into the kitchen while Jack made his way onto the deck. From the kitchen, they had a clear view into the living room, where they could keep a careful watch over the children.
“Pull up a stool,” Vicky said, nodding toward the black wrought iron swivel stools.
“Thought you needed help?” Annie crossed her hands at her chest.
“That’s code word for gossip!” Vicky tossed her head back and laughed. Annie joined in. Soon the kids in the room were belting out laughs, imitating them, which made them laugh some more. “They’re at the age of monkey see, monkey do.”
Vicky opened the fridge and pulled out a glass pitcher. Annie’s eyes widened when she saw the lime colored concoction. “Yes, please,” Annie said, nodding her head several times. “It’s a margarita kind of day,” she added, putting her elbows up on the counter and cradling her face.
“Aw, what’s going on?” Vicky asked as she poured two glasses.
“Just life. I’m trying to help Mary plan her wedding. I’m trying to let go of the business, and …” She sighed and didn’t bother finishing her sentence.
“It’s what you want to do, right? Because life’s too short to be doing stuff you don’t want to do.”
Annie took a short sip of her drink. “Yes, I want to help Mary, for sure, and I think I do want to give up some control at the cupcakery. I want to spend more time with Ashton, and well, we’re talking about expanding our family.” She took another sip. “This is very good.”
“Thanks. It’s going to be an easy dinner, just some grilled burgers and hotdogs, potato salad, and beans. I hope that’s okay?”
Annie nodded. “It sounds delicious. Simple is good. How’s Jasmine doing?” Annie whispered.
“She’s coming around. She still has moments of shyness, anxiety, and insecurity, but we just wrap our arms around her when she’s having a little meltdown, and then we redirect her. She is a good sweet kid.” Vicky looked over Annie’s shoulder and studied the children playing.
“Ashton has a few of those meltdowns, too. It could be because he’s just plain spoiled.” Annie smirked.
“It’s easy to spoil the first one. Wait until you do have your second. Ashton will act out for other reasons, and you’ll have to deal with that.”
Annie stared off into space for a moment, recalling when her parents had brought Mary home from the hospital. There was a big age difference between them, and she had to think back if she had been jealous at all of the new baby. “Hmm, you’re right. It can be a bit tricky when you bring a new baby home. I better start thinking about how to handle that.” She laughed.
“Are you pregnant?” Vicky’s eyes widened.
“No, not yet, but we are trying.” Annie curled up her lips at the corner and then sipped her drink. “You don’t think I’d be indulging in alcohol, if I was pregnant, do you?”
Vicky tightened her lips. “No, but thank you for reminding me. I’ll know the signs to look for now, for when you are.” She playfully tapped Annie’s hand.
“Ha ha.” Annie raised her glass to Vicky. “To friendship.”
Vicky clinked her glass with Annie’s. “To friendship,” she repeated. “Speaking of friendships, what are we going to do to get the old gang together?” She pulled up a stool and sat down.
The women chatted, and now and then, they could hear shrills coming from the living room and some boisterous laughter coming from the deck. They soon had a workable plan for a future get-together, and both Annie and Vicky were satisfied their plan would be a success. They were both very determined.
Their concentration broke when the guys entered the kitchen. “Hey, we’re hungry,” Scott announced in a very loud voice.
Vicky and Annie slid off their stools. “We’re ready. We were just waiting on y’all,” Annie said.
Vicky handed Scott the plate of perfectly round hamburger patties and a couple of hot dogs. She handed Jack a clean plate to put the cooked food on. The two guys headed back outside, but not before grabbing a couple of longnecks out of the fridge.
Annie watched them as they weaved their way around the blocks, cars, and kids. Jack reached down and patted Ashton on the head before going outside. “Jack is the best dad ever,” Annie said, smiling.
“Scott’s not too bad at the job, himself,” Vicky chimed in.
“Of course, he is. I always knew you’d be great parents.”
“I know, I’m just proud of how he’s taken on the role of father so well,” Vicky said as she looked lovingly on toward the children playing in the other room.
Annie wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders and squeezed her. “And you’re a great mother, too.”
“Okay, put those chairs over there,” Annie said, motioning toward the shade trees. “And then, move the round table in between them,” she added.
Vicky began covering the tables with red and white checkered table cloths, while Scott and Jack finished stringing the little white lights through the trees and above the sitting areas.
Annie began to lug some wood from the pile and stack it inside the fire pit. She brought a few extra to put on the side. She stood back with her hands on her hips and admired how they’d transformed the property into a festive party place.
“Tonight, with the lights on and the fire going, it’s going to be so magical,” Vicky said, coming to stand next to Annie.
“Yup, I’m so happy this is going to happen finally. How long has it been?”
“Too long, but we won’t harp on that too much or they won’t ever come back.” Vicky playfully knocked shoulders with Annie.
“True.” She looked down at her wrist. “We have about forty-five more minutes before Milly brings the kids back.”
“It was so nice of her to offer to watch Jasmine, too.”
“She loves kids. And besides, Ashton is growing sweet on little Jasmine.”
“How do I look?” Annie twirled around.
“Beautiful,” Jack said wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her in for a hug.
“You say that all the time.” She leaned in and kissed his lips.
“I say it all the time because it’s true.” He made her blush with his sweet words. She moved her hands up his back and held him close. “I love you,” Jack said.
“I love you, too.”
Jack held her back a few inches and knitted his brows while studying her face. “What? Why are you just looking at me?”
“Nothing. I’m just trying to run it all through my mind right now.”
“Run what through your mind right now?” he asked.
“How we met … the first time I knew I was falling in love with you.” She smiled at him.
“I knew almost the first moment we met that you were special, and I was determined to see where it went. I was hoping for this, but you just never know.” Jack’s eyes narrowed.
“Me, too. Remember the boat ride and the night we got caught in the downpour?”
Jack tipped his head. “Yes, that was the night for sure that I knew I wouldn’t let you go without a fight. I hope tonight goes the way you and Vicky want it to, but remember one thing for me, okay?” Jack pulled her arms off his back and held her hands in his.
Annie pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and waited.
“You and Ashton are the most important people in my life, and always will be. Men see friendships a bit differently than women. I am more invested in the friendships we make as a couple, than hanging out with my old college buddies and drinking ourselves under the table. But, I get it, you, Vicky, Cassie, and Jessica had a bond that was important to you. And I bet you’ll find they haven’t forgotten you so much, as it’s just been about life getting in the way. They probably are working long hours. We know they have children, and then, you know, we husbands do need a lot of attention, too.” He winked at her.
Annie melted into Jack’s arms. A few tears escaped her lids, and she quickly wiped them away. She pushed back slightly, and stared into his big eyes. “I love you. I can’t say it enough. You know me so well. It’s true, I have these expectations, and partly it’s because I don’t want to let go of that part of my life, but at the same time, I love my new life, and well, I guess I want it all,” she said in total adoration.
Jack pushed her hair back away from her face and left his hand on her cheek. She moved her hand up and cupped his hand. “I know, that’s exactly my point. And maybe this will be the night that Cassie and Jessica will come back into your life on a more regular basis. If you all want this, you have to make it happen.” He leaned in and kissed her hand, then moved to her mouth. Annie relaxed her shoulders, dropping her gaze. Jack lifted her chin with his finger. “Now, go finish getting ready. They’ll be arriving soon. I’ll start getting the food out.”
Annie headed toward the bathroom to freshen up. While in there, she heard Vicky and Scott arrive. She stood tall while she brushed her hair, smiling as she did.
Annie bounced down the hall in her baby blue sundress and white sandals. “Vicky, Scott, Jasmine,” she said, leaning down and kissing Jasmine on the cheek.
“It’s party time,” Vicky bellowed.
“I hear cars coming,” Annie said, her eyes widening to the size of saucers.
“It’s going to be okay. These are your friends who you’ve known forever. Take a deep breath,” Jack said with both hands squarely on her shoulders as he looked deeply into her eyes.
Annie nodded. Then they heard car doors shut and soon a knock on the door. Annie rushed to the front door and opened it wide. There stood Cassie, Ryan, and their five-year-old daughter Katy. Annie warmly smiled at the group and then held out her arms. Cassie ran into them, and after a few happy tears, Jessica, Tom, and their now four-year-old son Reece also showed up.
Once all the hugs and handshakes were shared, the group headed outside. The men took the kids and walked down to the dock to give the ladies a little bit of alone time. Who said men didn’t have feelings?
“Vicky made the sangria. Isn’t it delicious?” Annie said, topping off Cassie’s and Jessica’s glasses.
When the men returned, they found the women a bit giddy, laughing and hugging, and they even witnessed a few tears. They weren’t about to get in the middle of that.
Before Annie realized it, Jack and Scott had grilled the pre-cooked ribs, brought out all the sides, and everyone was digging into the delicious food.
The group watched from lawn chairs as Jack built a huge fire. Light from the full moon shone brightly, and along with the brilliant flames reaching up as if to shake hands with the moon, the area remained well lit.
Jack didn’t really know Cassie’s or Jessica’s husbands, but men did what men did best, and they talked about sports, boats, race cars, and when talk of conflict came up, Scott had a few war stories to share. It brought the reality home for Jack about what Danny had been through.
Jack leaned back in his chair and listened on. He smiled when heard the girls professing their love for each other and promised never to let this much time pass between getting together again.
“I’m so sorry, Annie, if we hurt your feelings. It’s so hard trying to make time for a bubble bath, let alone getting together with friends. I haven’t had a pedicure in four weeks because I can’t make the time for myself,” Cassie said, looking down at the chipped paint on her toes.
“I hear you, Cassie. By the time I get off of work and pick up Reece from daycare, it’s all I can do to fix dinner before dropping into bed.” She pulled her bottom lip out and pouted.
“We all lead extremely busy lives, I know that. And now that Vicky lives so close, we’ve been able to hang out more, but we just want to see you guys more often,” Annie said with half-closed lids. “Can we make a pact right here and now?”
Cassie reached her hand to Vicky. Vicky reached her hand to Jessica, and Annie closed the circle by taking Jessica’s and Cassie’s hands. “Remember when we pinky swore that we’d be in each other’s weddings?”
All the ladies nodded and some made sounds agreeing that they remembered.
“Let’s pinky swear we’ll do our best to see each other at least every three months.”
“I think that’s doable,” Vicky said, encouraging the group to accept these terms.
Scott leaned over and tapped Jack on the arm. “So, I think this is where the group hug will come in and the waterworks will start.”
Jack sighed. “You gotta love these women, right?”
“Okay, so it is September already. Let’s plan on seeing each other during Christmas.” Annie raised her hand in opposition to any static regarding the holiday chaos. “I know it’s a busy time of year, but we can meet anywhere—downtown at a restaurant, coffee shop, a movie, anything.”
“Wait! We’ll get to see each other next month for Mary’s wedding,” Vicky interjected.
“That’s right. You all are coming, aren’t you?” Annie looked at Cassie then at Jessica.
“Yes, we RSVP’d Mary. Didn’t she tell you?” Cassie said.
Annie shook her head. “See? Even family can get too busy and forget to share some very important details to the person who is helping with her wedding.” Annie scowled.
Everyone laughed.
“Now, come here, y’all.” Annie held out her arms, and everyone joined in a big hug.
Scott looked over at Jack and smirked. Then the women started hugging each other individually and crying, or more like sobbing. Scott winked at Jack. He then palm slapped his chest. “Do I know these women or what?”
“Major Scott Collins,” Jack said in a deep voice.
Scott perked up and raised his chin and then saluted. “Reporting for wife comforting duty.” The two men laughed and then Tom and Ryan raised their bottles, and Scott and Jack followed suit.
Jasmine and Ashton bounced on their daddy’s knees as they laughed along. They had no clue how entertaining or funny they were, but all was good at Sweet Magnolia. Jasmine leaned over and hugged Ashton.
Annie caught a glimpse of the male bonding that was happening on the other side of the firepit, and just as she was turning back to the women, she saw Jasmine hug Ashton. “Look, Vicky,” Annie said, tugging at her arm.
“I hope they grow up to be best friends and always find time for one another,” Vicky said, slurring her words some.
Annie figured the wine talked for them all that night, but she didn’t care. She was happy that their rekindling of friendship finally happened and it brought her so much joy.
Annie watch
ed as the last set of taillights drove out of view. She wrapped her arms around Jack and waited for his kiss.
“I hope everyone gets home safely,” she said, snuggling into his neck.
“Both Ryan and Tom had stopped drinking,” Jack said, leading her into the house.
“You were monitoring their drinking?” Annie said.
“Yep, Scott and I. We’re responsible like that,” he said, grinning.
They pushed open the door to Ashton’s bedroom and peeked in. With their arms wrapped around each other, they stared at him, watching as his chest rose and fell. Satisfied, they tiptoed out of Ashton’s room and pulled the door closed.
Jack grabbed her hands in his and leaned in for a kiss. “We all talked about it before you women got wasted.”
“Wasted! We were not,” Annie put her hands on her hips. “A little tipsy, perhaps, but more like relaxed,” she said, tipping her forehead to Jack.
Jack pulled her in close and studied her face. “We just knew that this would be a very emotional night and we wanted to be available to you, if you needed us.” He rocked her back and forth in his arms.
“Uh huh, emotionally available,” Annie repeated.
“Absolutely.” He let out a low belly laugh, unable to contain the bantering or game playing any longer.
Annie leaned in and kissed his warm mouth. When he felt her start to pull away, he held her in place and kissed her passionately. She parted her lips and welcomed him in. He ran his hand up the back of her neck and pushed his fingers through her hair. She moaned softly. She reached for his arms and ran her hands up his bulging muscles, then cupping his face, she leaned into him hard. He suddenly broke loose and grabbed her by the hand, leading them toward their bedroom. Once inside, he gently laid her down on their king-size bed. She pulled her bottom lip in and gazed lovingly at her husband as he pulled his tee shirt over his head, revealing his chiseled chest. She scooted up toward the middle of the bed and opened her arms for him, her heart pounding a mile a minute. “I love you, Jack,” she said, pulling him in. He trailed kisses up and down her neck before finding her mouth. But just before he kissed her, he lovingly studied her face. “You make me so happy. I love you, Annie Powell.” Then he took hungry possession of her mouth with deep sweeping strokes of his tongue. She cradled his head in her hands and deepened the kiss.