It was as if God was saying, Do you trust me, Holly? Do you believe my timing is best? You’ve been asking me to prepare you for someone and someone for you, and I’ve been busy doing exactly that. You and Josh were too young the first time. You both had a lot of maturing and growing to do. But now I’ve brought him back because he’s ready and you’re ready and he’s the one. I’ve brought him back to you, Holly. I am, after all, a God of grace and second chances.
She dearly wanted a do-over of that moment on the patio when fog had encircled them like a blessing and Josh had been on the verge of kissing her. She might not get a do-over. But if she did, she’d draw on God’s strength and use it to kick her fears to the curb.
Then she’d risk all.
“Chao ban,” Sam greeted Holly the next day.
It was lunchtime and they’d decided to meet at restaurant number ninety-five in their Year of Restaurants. Martinsburg’s only Vietnamese food place centered mostly around the take-out side of their business. They offered a mere two tables, both pushed up against a wall.
“Can you repeat that?” Holly took the seat opposite Sam. The restaurant’s interior had been painted in clean, bright shades of orange and pale green and white. The smells were promising.
“Chao ban. It’s Vietnamese for hello, friend.” Sam held up her phone. “I googled it.”
“In that case, chao ban.”
“Your appearance here leads me to believe that you were able to sneak away from the preparations for the wedding of the century.”
“Yes, but I have to hurry back. There are dozens of people at Trinity right now doing all sorts of decorating. It’s taking every bit of my energy to defend the church’s dignity.”
“Has Amanda’s professional wedding coordinator gone on a rampage?”
“On the contrary. Mitzi’s remained firmly in control of herself and everyone else. Especially me. I think she views me as her handy and inexpensive personal assistant.”
Sam sipped her ice water. “If I were you, I’d tell her to stick that assumption where the sun don’t shine.”
“But you see, unlike you, I’m a nice person.” Holly winked.
“Niceness isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“No. Mitzi’s already informed me that she needs me to wrangle the seven flower girls and one ring bearer from the time they arrive up until the start of the ceremony.”
“Dare I ask the ages of these children?”
“Two through six.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “I recommend giving them all Benadryl. I’ve heard a rumor that it calms kids down.”
“Sam!”
“You disapprove? Fine, then give yourself some Benadryl. I have nieces and nephews that age. Trust me when I say you’re going to need an emergency stash of non-messy candy to pacify the kids. I suggest gummi bears.”
A server arrived and patiently explained the menu choices to the two Vietnamese food rookies.
“So?” Sam asked, after the server moved off. Her expression communicated expectancy.
“So?”
“Tell me about the rehearsal dinner.”
A memory of how Josh had looked last night, sitting beside her at dinner, turning his head to watch her with affection, filled her mind. She relayed all the critical information to Sam. Everything but the almost-kiss.
“Holly, are you totally in love with your high school love turned billionaire? Or are you merely halfway in love?”
“I’ve never admitted to any degree of love for my high school love turned billionaire.”
“You didn’t have to. It’s written on your face. Now fess up. If you asked me a pointed question about my husband, you know I’d give you a straight answer.”
“I don’t want to ask you a pointed question about Mr. Perfect. The answer would just depress me.”
Sam’s smile glinted with self-satisfaction as she flicked her long sable hair over her shoulder. “After he finished vacuuming this morning, he encouraged me to get a pedicure and do some shopping. He’s going to be busy all day building me a backyard water feature and planning next week’s menu.”
“See? Depressing.”
“Rob’s into you, Holly, lest you’ve forgotten.”
“I haven’t forgotten. I like him. He just doesn’t make my knees go weak.”
“And the billionaire makes your knees go weak. I understand why. I saw him at Das Lokal with my own eyes, remember. He has this really sexy, brainy, intense thing working for him. It’s not possible for mortal women to resist that kind of thing for long.”
“No,” Holly agreed. “It isn’t.”
Sam considered her, lips pushed to the side. “Have you been taking my advice? Remember the first part? Nothing ventured nothing gained?”
“I’m working on it.”
“What about the second part? Have you been viewing yourself as superior to him?”
“Funny you should mention that. I spent a lot of time thinking on that topic last night.”
“And?”
“I’m working on that part too.”
Sam released a long-suffering sigh. “Your time with him is almost done, Holly. I’ll be honest with you. At this point, there may only be one hope left for you and Josh.”
“Which is?”
“Divine intervention.”