NOELLE WAS AT MY DISPOSAL until Friday. I still couldn’t believe she was here. I felt a little guilty about it as she had to leave her son, Jax, and her husband behind.
“It’s good for Sean, and I deserve a week off,” she said, but she was quick to show me hundreds of pictures of her little guy on her phone while we hung out on my couch. He was adorable, with wispy brown hair and big blue eyes that had a hint of mischief in them. I bet he was going to give his parents a run for their money.
The first day we spent talking without the listening ears of her brother around. It made talking about him so much easier. It felt like we were back in college, stuffing our faces with junk food and gossiping.
Noelle had to throw in her two cents about her thoughts concerning Ian and me getting back together. “You are probably a fool to date Ian again,” she teased.
I tilted my head. “Do you think so?”
“No. Besides Sean and my dad, Ian is the best guy I know. He’s uptight as all get out, but you already know that about him. It’s kind of endearing now.”
I giggled. It kind of was.
“You know he was really upset and depressed for a long time after you broke up?”
“He was?”
She nodded.
“Then why do you think he didn’t contact me, or better yet, why did he wait so many years?”
“Those are good questions, but you know Ian. He doesn’t talk much about his feelings. From what he did say, I think he was afraid that after what he did, you would never take him back. Then he became so focused on making IAG work that it became his life. But last year when he called to tell me he had found out where you worked and that you had moved back to Nashville, it was the first time in years he sounded happy. I encouraged him to come out here, but I didn’t need to. I think that was his plan from the second he found out.”
I bit my lip. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah. He was himself for the first time in a long time.” She grabbed a handful of white cheddar popcorn. “Enough about my brother. Tell me about you, Miss Hotshot Executive.”
I gave her a thirteen-year recap. We caught up on her life as a wife, mother, and editor. She edited textbooks at home part-time.
But what I really wanted to know was, “What made you change your mind about marriage?”
She smiled wide and her eyes brightened. “Have you ever had one of those moments when, in an instant, your whole life changes?”
I couldn’t help but think about walking into a library almost fourteen years ago.
“Well for me, that moment came in Starbucks almost five years ago. Some guy who wasn’t paying attention spilled hot coffee all over the front of my shirt. He didn’t even pause to say he was sorry. But then this guy who was standing behind me in line grabbed hold of him and made him apologize to me and give me money for dry cleaning as well as for coffee. No one had ever been that chivalrous to me. I had never been one to care about chivalry until that moment. Maybe the pink and purple hair was a turn off.” She laughed, making me laugh too. “But that didn’t matter to Sean. He saw past the hair and into my soul.”
I wasn’t sure I had ever heard her speak in such tones. I really was happy for her, but the reverent tones didn’t last long as we moved to the topic of her ex-sister-in-law, whom she despised. The way she talked about her made me almost feel sorry for Ian, almost. She sounded likea real prima donna who cared more about appearances and keeping up with the Joneses. I guess she even refused to have any holidays at the Greyson’s ranch. They all had to be at her dad’s mansion in Cherry Creek. She had no idea what she was missing out on—holidays with the Greysons were the best.
That night Ian joined us and cooked for us again. He was going to spoil me. We stayed up late playing Canasta. It was a card game the siblings had taught me over that magnificent Thanksgiving break. You’d never met two, okay three, more competitive people in your life. I’m not sure if we argued or played more, but it didn’t matter because either way I was having the time of my life.
The rest of the week Noelle made me get out and show her Nashville, even though I looked horrible and felt the same. Though I had to say, it was better than lying on the couch all week. The bruising was beginning to turn awful yellow and green colors, but she said if anybody made remarks, she would handle it. Ian kept telling me bruises or no bruises, I was still the most beautiful woman in his eyes, so I swallowed my pride and showed my friend why I loved my hometown so much. We did music row, Opryland, a river cruise, the Parthenon and Cheekwood. It was the best staycation ever.
The nights were even better, as we spent them with Ian. Noelle’s last night was spent at Ian’s place. I was finally getting to see what a thousand extra dollars a month bought you, and it was pretty nice. His apartment looked more like an urban loft. He had it handsomely decorated in tones of gray and tan. He reminded me I was welcome there anytime, and by the time he and I took Noelle to the airport Friday night, I was pretty much committed to the whole let’s-give-this-a-second-chance thing. I hadn’t felt this weird or wonderful in years.
Saturday only added to my wonderful weirdness when I got to see my family back from their Magic Kingdom vacation. Ian drove me over, and while he and Zane bonded over the rounds of golf Zane played while in Florida, I helped my sister with laundry and unpacking, all while listening to Court and Sam give me a blow-by-blow account of each and every ride, each and every day.
They hadn’t forgotten their promise to buy me something prettyat Disney World. Sam and Court each handed me a Disney bag. I opened the first bag and pulled out a Minnie mug that was personalized with my name on it. I loved it. I opened the next bag to the sounds of snickers and giggles. It made me curious. I pulled out a Mickey mug, and all the giggles made sense. It was also personalized, but with Ian’s name on it. I pulled those troublemakers to me and squeezed them hard. “Thank you.” I gave my sister the evil eye. I knew she was behind it all.
She grinned unabashedly. Then had the audacity to ask, “Hey . . . do you think you could watch the girls tonight? Zane and I could really use some alone time.”
I almost said no because I really wanted some alone time with Ian, but I could never refuse her. Ian made it an easy choice as he agreed to join in on the fun.
First, we went back to his place, and he made us homemade pizza. He amazed my nieces when he tossed the pizza dough high in the air and then caught it with one hand. He let them help add the toppings. I had never seen him with kids before, and I liked it very much. While the pizza baked, we tried to teach them how to play Canasta, which was more difficult than I thought, but still enjoyable. After dinner, we took them to the movies where we could at least raise the arms of the chairs and sit close to one another.
I don’t think Ian watched the movie at all. He kept whispering in my ear what he wished we were doing instead. It made me realize why my sister solicited my services so often. I loved my nieces more than anyone, but at the moment, I found myself wishing I was in Ian’s arms without their prying eyes. They were very interested in this man I was introducing into our lives.
Sam asked, “Why do you like him now? I thought you said he was an idiot.” Yep, that was Sam. And it was a good question.
