"Only because she bailed on what was supposed to be their first date."
"She was vomiting.” Paige defended her mom. “Her appendix had ruptured."
Their love story had a unique beginning. Her mom canceled on her blind date because she was throwing up, then two hours later, the doctor called in to remove her ruptured appendix turned out to be the man she’d stood up.
"What I'm saying is everyone in the small town of Providence got over it. Even the pious little old ladies, who like to gossip over everything and nothing at their book clubs and tea parties. They’ll get over this too."
“But what if Gabe gets fired?”
“Then you’ll weather the big storms early on in your relationship. If you love this guy as much as you say you do, then you’ll stick by his side and find a way to make things work.”
"I do love him. I've never felt surer about anything in my life. Even when I was hoping Phillip would propose there was always something in the back of my mind that made me question if he was the man for me." She spread her arms wide. "There is none of that with Gabe. I feel complete when I'm with him."
"So, find yourself a different therapist and marry this Gabe guy." Damon made it sound so simple.
"That means driving to the Tri-Cities area multiple times a week." She could get stuck working with Toa. That thought made her shudder.
"So?" Damon gave her a look of annoyance. "Do you want to marry this man? Or would you rather just keep pining after your physical therapist and risking his job?"
Paige dropped her gaze. "His life is really complicated right now. We decided not to rush the wedding for his mother's sake, because we really haven't known each other that long. But we don't know how long she'll be with us, and if she passes soon…" She shrugged one shoulder. "He's going to need time to grieve."
Damon shook his head. "I get that this is an inconvenient time tofall in love, but if it were me, I'd want the woman I love by my side through it all."
Gabe had said something similar last night. She'd agreed to the engagement for her own selfish purposes, knowing it would give her an opportunity to convince Gabe they could weather the loss of his mother together. But it touched her to know hewantedher by his side through it all.
A knock sounded on her door before it cracked open. Paige looked over her shoulder as her mom stuck her head into the room.
"Do you have a minute?"
"Uh…sure." She glanced back at her phone. She should let Damon go. She'd been talking to him for over an hour.
He'd given her a lot to think about. Could it be as simple as finding a new therapist?
"Hi, Aunt Hope," Damon called.
"Oh, you're chatting with Damon?" Mom walked into the room and stood behind Paige. "Hi, Damon. How is North Carolina?"
"Hot and muggy." His gaze shifted back. "Think about what I said, Paige, and keep me posted, so I can request leave.” He winked at her. “Keep in mind, I'm scheduled to deploy again this fall."
The screen went dark.
"Head's up for what? What does he need to take leave for?" Curiosity filled Mom's voice.
"Nothing." Paige laid her phone face down as if that would make Mom forget what she'd just heard. "I was just wondering when he was going to come home again." She swiveled her chair to face her mom. "What's up?"
"How's your headache?" Concern lined Mom's face.
"It’s letting up." Paige hated how accustomed she'd become to lying to her parents.
Mom's face morphed into a smile as she perched on the corner of Paige's bed. "I visited with Principal Jones' wife after church." Her grin grew as she clasped her hands together. "A position teaching fourth grade at the elementary school just opened up. Jenny Langston'shusband got a big promotion that requires them to move to San Francisco."
"Are you serious?" Hope flared in Paige's chest, stealing her breath.
Could she really be so lucky to have a teaching job land in her lap just as the rest of her life was falling into place—except the part where she needed to keep her engagement to Gabe a secret, that is.
“I know you love teaching second grade, but if you're interested in making the shift to fourth…” Her mom gave her a hopeful look. "I think Mr. Jones would hire you in a heartbeat."
Paige couldn't believe Mr. Jones was still the principal at the elementary school. The man had to be pushing seventy.
