She stopped. “Okay. What’s going on?”
Jenny stepped closer and took her hands. “I’m telling you first.”
Seconds ticked by and Paige’s heart rate picked up.
“I’m getting married!”
Even Jenny’s high-pitched squeal didn’t cut through the shock. “To who?”
“To Simon, of course! And don’t freak out, but…I’m pregnant!”
Oh no. Oh, Jenny. Her stomach sank.
“I wanted this, what I have with Simon. I’ve wanted it my entire life. I love him and he loves me. Please be happy.”
She hugged her cousin with everything she had. “I am happy. If you’re happy, I’m happy, and Simon is a great guy. A really great guy. And I have something to tell you too.”
Jenny wiped at her happy tears and waited.
“That was Hannah, Jake’s sister-in-law.”
“The one with the horses?”
“Right. Her assistant quit and she wants me to come back and fill in.”
“Wow. For how long?”
“She said for a week, but also asked me to try it. Like if I wanted, it could be long-term.”
“You mean you’d move to Virginia? You’d leave me? What about Jake?”
“Well, you’ll be pretty busy,” Paige said, grinning with Jenny.
“I know!” They shared another excited hug. “But what about Jake?”
“I don’t know. Hannah said she called him first, to see what he thought about it, I guess. That sounds like something she would do, but…he told her to call me. What does that mean?”
“Probably that he knows how much you loved it there.”
“Maybe.” Had Hannah told him it could be long-term?
“Well, tell me what she said.”
“She said she thinks I’d be great at it.” Paige walked to the kitchen table but didn’t sit down. “I’d make more than I’m making now, and almost all the work would be afternoons and weekends. I’d be there for Casey before and after school. I’d never work at night, and I could take classes during the day while Casey’s in school.”
“Wow. Sorry, I can’t seem to say anything else.”
“I know. And the cabin we stayed in last time is where we’d live. Jenny, you can’t imagine how beautiful it is. It’s a house with a porch surrounded by woods. It even has a porch swing.” She sank into a kitchen chair. She could picture herself sitting there at night alone or with Casey. Or with Jake. The swing definitely made her think of Jake.
Jenny came to stand beside her. “But how do you really feel about it?”
“I feel like…like maybe this is a crossroads.” Maybe a test. Would Jake ask her to stay? Did she want him to? Just when she started to believe in love, she had a chance at everything she wanted. Only maybe it wasn’t everything she wanted anymore.
Chapter 31
Jake passed under the old-world stone archway to enter the restaurant. Known for their steak and with a rich ambiance, he was happy to bring Paige here, a little jealous that Simon had done the pickup. He checked in with the hostess just as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out as he followed her through a dim room of white tablecloth–covered tables.
Glancing at the screen, he smiled at the message from Lynn.
Drugs are good. I’ll text you when it’s over.
“Hey, you made it,” Paige said as he reached the table of three.
JT thanked the hostess and lowered himself into the booth. “I did.” He pressed a kiss to her lips that went on just a touch too long, but he didn’t care.
Paige slid the breadbasket toward him. “How’s Lynn?”
“Good, I think. Just got a text.” He read it to the table. Paige laughed, Jenny looked like she was processing the message he’d just read. Simon froze with a hunk of bread halfway to his mouth.
He studied his friend. “What?”
“Um…” Simon cleared his throat. “Well, we were going to make a big announcement but—”
Jenny squeaked, and a burst of unspoken excitement passed between she and Paige.
Simon shook his head. “You told her, didn’t you?”
“I did. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it!” Jenny beamed up at Simon, then at them. “We’re pregnant!”
“Stealing my thunder here, babe.” Simon shook his head in mock disappointment, but the man was clearly anything but disappointed. “That’s okay, baby. You tell whoever you want.” He kissed her cheek.
“Well, I’m surprised,” JT said. “Congrats, man, and good job keeping it to yourself. I didn’t know you had it in you to keep a secret. As soon as I get a drink, we’ll toast.”
JT watched Paige as Jenny swept her up in wedding plans and baby excitement. Would Paige be that happy to be pregnant with his baby? He knew he would be. Thanks to her, he was able to picture that, and want that without a choking guilt. A warmth flowed through his blood as the idea grew. Getting the news, watching the baby grow inside her, watching over her as his wife. His pregnant wife.