The Right Moment

by Heatherly Bell

  Joanne’s good mood wouldn’t quit. She had Hud to thank for that.

  “It’s supposed to be in the eighties later today,” Nora grumbled. “I wish fall would hurry up and get here already. You know that’s when my order will change to pumpkin spice latte, right?”

  “Sure, that’s when everything changes to pumpkin spice.”

  Nora wrinkled her nose. “And you hate pumpkin, so why do you sound so happy about that?”

  “I’m not happy about that.” Joanne took another swallow of her now-lukewarm latte.

  “What’s got you in such a good mood?” Nora studied her intently for several seconds. “Oh my gosh, you got laid, didn’t you?”

  Was she that obvious? “What makes you say that?”

  “You look the most relaxed you’ve been in weeks. No, wait. Months.”

  Joanne supposed there was nothing quite like multiple orgasms to put a little spring in her step, but she hadn’t imagined it would be written all over her face. Still, she wasn’t going to talk about it. In detail. She was old-fashioned that way.

  “Okay, me and Hud. No more waiting.”

  Nora smiled and threw a hand over her mouth in mock surprise. “Oh, color me shocked!”

  Joanne snorted. “You are not.”

  “No, I’m not, because I called it.”

  “I ruined our picnic and we wound up back at his place.” Joanne explained the failed picnic, her impromptu swim in the lake, and later the resulting amazing picnic save on the living room floor.

  “Holy cow, this dude is so romantic. I had no clue. But when you think about it, suddenly all the sweet things he’s done for you over the years take on a different perspective. Like the Bahamas thing. And also, that time Chuck forgot your birthday, and you later found out it was Hud who sent you those red roses and candies.”

  She’d almost forgotten about that. He was also the only one besides her mother who remembered the anniversary of her father’s death and came over to dispense hugs, go with her to the cemetery and listen to her cry. Over the years, there had been so many sweet gestures that she’d attributed solely to their best friend status.

  They got to work together on Jill’s alterations, on their knees hemming the dress by hand, chatting the entire morning. When the door chimed, Nora went to the front of the shop to see whether it was the UPS guy or the mailman. A few seconds later, she returned, face frozen.

  Bad news. Oh no, bad news.

  Joanne stood. “What is it? Is it Hunter? Is he okay?”

  “It’s not Hunter and no one is hurt.” She hooked her thumb toward the front of the shop. “But you’re probably going to have to deal with Chuck.”

  Chuck. “He’s here?”

  Why in God’s name was he here? She assumed it wasn’t to pay for his half of the wedding but speaking of that... Joanne rushed to the front of the shop.

  There he stood, hands in his pockets, avoiding eye contact.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Joanne said through gritted teeth. “You ran out on me without paying for your half of the wedding.”

  “I’m sorry. Chuck was so confused. He didn’t know what to do.”

  And there went the dreaded third person crap again. “Confused? About what? Directions to the venue? Date? Time? Really, what was so confusing, Chuck?”

  “You. You confused me. We agreed to get married, but I knew you didn’t really love me.”

  “Wow, okay, what a cop-out. And if you didn’t think I loved you, could you have possibly mentioned that to me before the wedding day?”

  “I know my timing sucked. Chuck isn’t known for his timing.” He shrugged.

  Joanne’s hands curled into fists. “Stop talking about yourself in the third person! It’s not cute. It’s just...weird.”

  “You used to think it was funny.”

  “I used to think a lot of things. Like what a good husband you’d make. Boy, was I delusional.”

  “Exactly. Delusional.”

  “You don’t get to call me delusional!” She pointed to her chest. “Only I get to call myself delusional.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m sorry! But did you ever stop to think what it was like for me to know you’d have preferred Hud over me in a heartbeat? But he wasn’t ‘husband material.’” He held up air quotes. “He’s a playboy. Well maybe I didn’t want to be second best. You’re delu—kidding yourself if you don’t realize you’re in love with Hud.”

  “Oh, there you go again with all the paranoid jealousy. Hud has just always been there for me, unlike some people.”

  “And he loves you and you love him. I was always the third wheel when it came to you two. Private jokes, all the playful teasing. C’mon! Get real.”

  “I’m sure this is all your way of calling attention away from yourself. I’m not the one who was apparently cheating. I heard about your new girlfriend.”

  He tossed up his hands. “Hey, I didn’t start things up with her until I knew it was over between us.”

  “Great. That must have been, what, on our wedding day or the day before?” She forced some calm into her voice and went to dig in her purse. “Lucky for you, I prepared you a bill for the wedding. I was going to ask you for half, but now I think you had better pay me for the whole thing.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m actually here, not just to apologize...but to get my mother’s wedding ring back. I want to give it to Mandy.”

  Damn him. He’d come here for the ring. Not to sincerely apologize. Not because he was remorseful for what he’d done. No. He needed something from her.

  The stupid, awful ring.

  On the day of her wedding fail, Joanne had tossed that family heirloom into the trash, but Hud had taken it back out, saying it might be worth something. She could pawn it and get some money for Chuck’s half of the wedding. It might have been a good idea, but the ring wasn’t worth much other than sentimental value. She’d had it appraised before the wedding to see if she should insure it.

  “I don’t have it,” Joanne said, and that was the truth. She’d thrown it in the bottom of her underwear drawer, unwilling to look at it even among the rest of her jewelry.

  “Did you pawn it?” Chuck had the nerve to look disgusted.

  “I should have, but no, I didn’t.” She crossed her arms, an evil thought forming. “What’s it worth to you?”

  “It was my mother’s ring. You know the right thing to do is just give it back to Chuck. Chuck is supposed to give it to his wife and obviously you’re not going to be his wife. Anymore.”

  Ah, how had she never noticed that before? Chuck used the third person whenever he said something awkward. Uncomfortable. To distance himself, maybe.

  Like when he’d said: Chuck loves Joanne.

  “Well, Chuck is a crazy person if he thinks I’m going to give him back the ring without getting him to pay his fair share of the wedding.”

  “Be reasonable. I just got through two rounds of the draft and I’ve no idea when or if I’ll get officially drafted to the majors and start earning some real money.”

  “Dive into your savings.”

  “What savings?”

  “All the money you said you were slowly putting aside for our future!”

  “Oh, that.” He shrugged. “I just said that so you’d think I was a better bet than Hud.”

  Joanne’s stomach churned with what had to be volcano lava. She saw a red haze appear in front of Chuck. He was glowing. Yes, yes. She was going to kill him. The bill she’d been holding was crunched up in her fist.

  “You liar! You’re never getting the ring back! Never!” Joanne flung herself at him, ready to punch him in the throat, but Nora had obviously heard, come running and pulled Joanne back by the waist.

  “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”

  Recoiling, Chuck headed for the door and then turned one
last time. “This isn’t over. I need that ring and I’ll get it, one way or another.”

  “Get out of here!” Nora screamed. “I can’t hold her back much longer. She’s going to blow!”

  Chuck left like the coward that he was, and it took everything in Joanne not to chase him down the street screaming, “Liar, liar, pants on fire!”

  But that probably wouldn’t be good for business.

  “Breathe. In and out. In and out,” Nora said, finally letting go of Joanne.

  Joanne staggered to the couch in front of the pedestal where prospective brides tried on their dresses. Anger coursed through her, making her skin prickly. Chuck had lied to her. He’d pretended to be someone he was not. Why? Then another realization hit her and when it did, hard and fast, she felt gut punched.

  “Oh my God, he’s right.”

  Chuck was the consolation prize. She’d never wanted anyone other than Hud.

  “About the ring? No. It may be a family heirloom but holding it hostage is how you get to him to pay for the wedding. That’s smart and fair.”

  Joanne’s breaths were coming short and sparse. A cold shiver spiked down her spine. She’d wasted years chasing security and stability when she’d really wanted Hud. But he’d been so unavailable, and so... So risky. What kind of a terrible person traded true love for security?

  The kind who wants more children but swore she’ll never be a single mother again.

  The kind who’s a bit of a coward when it comes to her heart.

  Nora appeared with a glass of cold water. “Here, hon.”

  “I’m a horrible person,” Joanne said, accepting the glass.

  “Don’t say that. Everybody makes mistakes.”

  “Not everybody gets engaged to a...a man like Chuck because she wants the security and safety of having someone who she believes will always stick around.”

  “You’re not being fair to yourself. Most women want that in a man.”

  “Not enough to give up on love.”

  “Did you? Give up on love?”

  “I didn’t think so,” Joanne said. “But the humiliation of being stood up caused me the most pain. Being dumped for someone younger was hurtful, too. But I haven’t really missed Chuck...at all.”

  Whenever she fought with Hud, and they didn’t talk for a few days, she was gutted. Lost.

  “I guess that tells you something,” Nora said.

  It told her that she still loved Hud Decker, her polar opposite. A man who’d never been risk averse. He’d driven too fast and crashed his car at sixteen in a horrible accident. He’d enlisted in the Army. He worked in a high-risk profession and loved extreme sports. He rode a motorcycle.

  Hud Decker was the opposite of safety and security.

  And still, all she wanted to do was text Hud everything that had just happened. But she’d have him come over instead. She wanted a hug from her best friend, the ones that cured everything.

  * * *

  Probie J.P. had a lot to learn. The first twenty-four of Hud’s shift had been relatively calm. Only a few medical calls and then some drills he made the crew go through. The next morning their crew had been sitting at the breakfast table enjoying Alex’s Belgian waffles, when J.P. said the worst thing a firefighter could ever say:

  “I hope it’s not quiet today.”

  “Rookie, never say that again,” Hud said through gritted teeth. “Keep in mind when you say that you’re wishing harm on others.”

  Every first responder possessed a strong superstitious streak. Utter those few words and the day was guaranteed to be utter chaos. And it was. Thanks to J.P., they were called out to assist at a two-alarm fire at a warehouse in San Jose. Several hours later that was under control when they were called back to Fortune to a brush fire by the freeway which had spread quickly. They stopped rush hour traffic to put it out and then everyone was miserable.

  But beyond J.P.’s ignorance about firehouse superstitions, there was an underlying disregard for orders. And if Hud didn’t rein him in quickly, this would not end well. Near the end of the day, Hud called J.P. into his office to have a little chat.

  Hud shut the door.

  “Am I in trouble?” J.P. asked.

  Arms crossed, Hud leaned back against his desk. “I’ll put it this way—you’re skating. Next time I give you an order, I expect you to obey it to the letter or you’re out on your ass. No questions asked. You’re on probation and I can’t afford you to get hurt out there.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m just anxious to get out there. Make a difference, you know?”

  “I get it, but you can’t get ahead of the learning curve for this job.”

  Hud might take risks but he was now calculated about them. No matter what he attempted, he always had an exit strategy. Always. He’d learned the hard way that not all risks were worth taking. Now, to impart this heady wisdom to a rangy twenty-two-year-old, who reminded Hud of himself at that age. In other words, J.P. believed he had balls of steel and that nothing could touch him. Ten years ago, Hud had been in the Army at twenty-two and stationed in North Carolina. Far from home, he’d learned to depend on himself and his unit. They grew as close as brothers, which was how he felt about the men in his firehouse.

  “We’re a family here,” Hud said. “And that means we look out for each other. Think of me as your older brother. You can count on me to set you straight when you’re screwing up.”

  “Okay, good.”

  Hud bent until he was nearly nose to nose with J.P. “You’re screwing up, J.P.”

  Close to thirty minutes later, Hud felt that he’d put enough of the fear of God into J.P. and let him go with one last warning. As he got ready to update the LT coming on duty for the next forty-eight, his phone buzzed.

  Jo: I need you tonight.

  He smiled. Oh yeah. Round two. He texted back:

  Shift ends at seven. I’ll be over with dinner.

  After a night like the one they’d had, he’d had a difficult time thinking of anything besides Jo. On his quiet day, when they’d been sitting around making bets on the 49er game, his thoughts had run to Jo. The sweet little sounds she made when he kissed the right spot. Her energy and passion to go all night with him. He just wanted more of the same, over and over.

  He’d waited so long for this chance. Biding his time—for what? To be perfect? There was no such thing. But Jo made plans and she liked order in her life. Now more than ever he understood that need. She wanted stability and security and he didn’t blame her for that. After what she’d been through, it was only natural. For the first time in his life, Hud thought he could give that to her. He was ready.

  He picked Rachel up and then Chinese food from their favorite place in town. When Jo met him at the door wearing a very short halter dress, it took everything in him not to push her up against the wall and forget the food. Instead, he set Rachel down where she went trotting inside like she owned the place.

  “Hey,” she said, the corners of her sweet mouth pulling down. “I need a hug.”

  He set the cartons of food down on the kitchen table and tugged her into his arms. His hand slid up and down her back. “What is it? More bad luck boutique?”

  “No. Chuck came by today.”

  Hud’s heart nearly stopped and everything inside of him went still and cold. He didn’t think Chuck would have the balls to show up again. There had to be a damn good reason he would risk the fear of Hud’s wrath for that.

  “What did he want?”

  “Get this. He wants the ring he gave me, so he can give it to his new fiancée.”

  Good thing he’d fished that out of the trash. Jo hadn’t been thinking straight. “Good. Give it back to him.”

  She pulled out of his arms to look for plates and set them down on the table. “Not until he pays me back what he owes me.”

  “Right. When wi
ll he have it for you?” He opened cartons and they fell into a natural rhythm. After all, they’d had dinners like this many times before.

  “He lied about the money he was setting aside for our future. He has no savings, or so he claims. No way he can pay me back. That’s why I’m holding his ring hostage.”

  Chuck was becoming a bigger jerk than Hud thought possible. No savings. Jackass. How had he planned on helping Jo? Contributing? Hud had been saving for years, not that he’d mentioned that to her.

  “Just hock it.”

  “The only value this ring has is sentimental. I had it appraised and it’s not worth much.”

  “You think he’ll somehow find the money to pay you back?” Hud doubted this, and he was also beginning to resent the idea of Jo keeping that ring.

  It might be stupid, but he considered that holding on to that ring could be a symbol of not moving on.

  Jo served each of them some chow mein and broccoli beef on their plates, then sat down across from him. “I don’t think he’ll be motivated any other way. Do you?”

  Hud considered this, but his own desires were getting in the way of Jo’s reasoning. He had to put them aside and think logically. “Do you have the money to pay for the wedding yourself?”

  “Yes, because I saved, but it’s the principle of the thing.”

  “I think you should give him back the ring.”

  Jo dropped her fork and it made a shrill clank. “Are you serious? Why? He’s never going to pay me a dime otherwise.”

  “He may never pay you back anyway. In the meantime, you have his mother’s ring.”

  “But it’s my only insurance.”

  “Insurance for the money, or insurance he’ll continue to have to deal with you? Maybe you’re holding on and not letting go.”

  “I have moved on, buddy.” She stood and pointed in the direction of her bedroom. “You and me, we moved on. Have you forgotten?”

  “Never.”

  “I wouldn’t be with you if I hadn’t moved on.”

  “Then give him back the ring and make it official.”