“I’m nervous about all of it,” she confided in her friends. “I’m nervous about us getting closer again, and nervous that we’ll realize that we can’t make that happen. It just all feels so scary right now, like anything could happen… and I worry that no matter whatdoeshappen, I’m risking my heart again.”
As one, her friends rose and wrapped her in a hug. It was the perfect response.
It was made even more perfect when Eleanor said, “Okay, so I’m going to give you the June Caldwell treatment, by which I mean I’m just going to pick and you’re going to get dressed. No arguments.”
“She’s really good at it,” June reassured Cadence. Then, as an afterthought, she added, “Don’t tell Diana.”
They all laughed at this, as none of them truly thought that their friend would begrudge them their fun.
Cadence had to admit to herself, when she looked in the mirror after her friends had bid her farewell for the evening,June taking Izzy with her for a sleepover, that Eleanorhaddone a good job. She’d picked out a flowy sun dress that flattered Cadence’s figure, while the abstract floral pattern helped the garment straddle the line between formality and casualness. No matter where the evening took them, Cadence would be prepared with her light makeup, thin wrap in case of an evening breeze, and flat but cute sandals.
It was a darn good outfit, and Cadence felt great about herself wearing it.
But how good she felt while looking in the mirror hadnothingon the way it felt when she opened the door and Tyler stopped in his tracks.
“Hey, Cadence, how are?—”
He paused mid-sentence as he took her in.
“Uh, wow,” he said. “I… wow. Cadence, you look…”
As he stammered, Cadence felt her grin grow and her cheeks heat.
“Amazing,” he finally managed. “You look amazing.”
She felt so bashful that she had to fight the impulse to look at her feet. The real thing that saved her from the temptation was looking at Tyler.
He too, had cleaned up extremely well for their evening. She’d always enjoyed what she called his ‘electrician look,’ his usual uniform of well-worn blue jeans, a t-shirt with a flannel over top, work boots, sometimes a baseball cap to top it off. It was a rugged look that suited his broad shoulders and general laid-back attitude.
But this look…
Well, it had been a long time since Cadence had seen Tyler so dressed up, and it made her think with a pang of the way they had both let their marriage fall by the wayside. Oh, indeed, they’d been focused on their efforts at having another child, sure. But they hadn’t spent time just enjoying being together.
She pushed aside the stab of guilt that accompanied the thought. Tonight wasn’t for past regrets. Tonight was for…
Well, fine. She still wasn’tpositivewhat tonight was for. But Tyler was wearing a light summer jacket, a pair of dark wash jeans that struck the same tone between casual and formal as did her dress, and a button-up shirt in the lightest blue. The top button was undone, revealing a small notch of his throat.
Cadence tried not to stare.
It wasn’t news to her that she was attracted to Tyler, obviously. They’d been in love for years! But now she felt like she was seeing him for the first time.
Or maybe it was just the first time in a long time.
“You look really nice too,” she said, feeling suddenly shy. It had been a long, long time since Cadence had been on a first date, but this really felt like a first date.
She felt comforted that Tyler seemed to be experiencing similar emotions. He was glancing around like he half expected her father to peek out from around the corner and demand that Tyler have his daughter back home at a reasonable hour.
After a beat longer, however, the moment broke, and they both started laughing at the same time.
“We’re being so weird,” Cadence said.
“Yeah, I have the strangest urge to introduce myself?” Tyler said with a self-deprecating shake of his head.
Cadence stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Cadence Meadows.”
“Tyler Meadows,” he responded, shaking her proffered hand. Touching him sent a little shiver through Cadence. “Totally crazy coincidence that we have the same last name, huh?”
“Totally crazy,” she agreed. “Anyway, where are we headed?”
