“I didn’t do anything.” Jenna wasn’t going to take credit for something she hadn’t done. “I was here for moral support as afriend.”
The entire day had been like she was living in a movie or in one of her daydreams. Selma had welcomed them both with the most maternal open arms Jenna ever experienced in her life. Literally and figuratively. She might be the sweetest, kindest woman on the planet. It broke Jenna’s heart that all those years she thought Deacon wanted nothing to do with her, she thought he blamed her for giving him up.
She’d made them lunch, they’d Facetimed with her sons, who all knew about Deacon, and were on an annualcamping trip that Deacon was now invited to go on next year, and the year after, and the year after that.
When Selma released her, she smiled and tilted her head, giving her a look that she recognized she gave Blake when she thought,oh, that’s cute that you think that.
“Really, we are just friends,” she assured her, not wanting Selma to get the wrong idea. She’d had enough disappointments.
“Okay.” Selma nodded, but the smile and expression remained in place, which only made Jenna want to defend the position more, but that would only make her look more guilty. Selma turned to look at Deacon. “Does he know that? Cause if he doesn’t, I think you’ll break his heart.”
“Believe me, he’s fine. Women throw themselves at him, and he has more money than god, so he’s not crying himself to sleep at night.” Jenna had no clue why she was being so snarky. She just didn’t want signals to get crossed.
When Selma looked back at Jenna, she was still smiling at her. She brushed a piece of Jenna’s hair behind her ear, and Jenna once again felt like she was on Blake’s end of the conversation. “Maybe, but I doubt he looks at any of those women like the sun rises and sets in their eyes, and I don’t think their smiles make his heart happy or his soul sing. And I might have just met you today, but I think you know better than most that while moneyisimportant, especially when you don’t have it, and while it should be respected, earned, and never taken for granted, it can’t buy what’s actually important. Family. Love. Trust. People. You can have all the money in the world but have no one who loves you and be the loneliest man which makes you quite poor, or you can have no money but have love, and in my opinion be quite rich.”
All Jenna could do was nod. Selma was absolutely right. Why did she want to cry?
The glass door slid shut, and Deacon walked towards them. “We need to go. The storms coming in.”
Jenna could hear the disappointment in his voice.
Selma nodded and smiled, but Jenna could see that the smile was a mix of joy, sadness, love, fear and so many emotions. “Okay, well, drive and fly safe.”
It was as if she didn’t want to let him out of her sight because she was afraid she wouldn’t see him again. They all walked out the front door onto the porch, Rex, Ranger, Duchess, and Lady escorting them on their way, and Deacon and Selma stopped and faced one another. Jenna felt as if she were intruding on a private moment and tried to slip away, but Deacon snaked his arm around her back and pulled her tightly against him. It was then that she realized his body was shaking.
“Thank you so much for today.” Selma’s large green eyes were welling up, and her bottom lip began to tremble, but Jenna could see she was trying hard not to allow herself to give in to the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
“No.” Deacon shook his head. “Thank you. I’m sorry for…I’m sorry.”
“No,youdon’t haveanythingto be sorry for.I’msorry.”
“No, don’t apologize. You don’t ever have to?—”
“No, I’m sorry!” Jenna interjected, hoping to add a little levity since they were both trying to out-sincere each other with their declarations that the other had nothing to be sorry for. “I don’t know for what, but if Blake were here believe me, she would have a laundry list for you.”
They all chuckled.
“Blake.” Selma wiped the two tears that had fallendown her cheeks. “I hope I get to meet her one day, and I can’t wait to meet Tabitha.”
“Your first grandchild.”
When Deacon had spoken about her earlier, he hadn’t used that word. Using it now broke whatever dam had been holding Selma’s emotions at bay. Tears poured over her bottom lids as a wide smile spread across her face.
“You’re a grandma.” Deacon’s voice softened.
“An abuela,” she corrected him still wiping her tears away.
“Right.” His smile widened.
Selma was originally from Spain. She moved to the United States when she was sixteen with no money, no family, nothing, and had Deacon when she was only nineteen. Jenna couldn’t imagine.
Deacon released his arm from Jenna’s back and pulled Selma into a hug. She watched as Selma melted into her son’s embrace, the tears streaming down her face.
Jenna’s eyes were watering as well. Witnessing the reunion today had restored her faith that good things did happen to good people. Selma never gave up hope. She kept writing even when her letters and cards were returned, along with letters explaining from Deacon’s dad saying his son wasn’t interested in a relationship with her. She even saved the negative letters that “Deacon” had sent her. She only stopped when legal action was threatened.
The agreement she’d made with Mr. St. Claire was that she’d be allowed to write and send cards and that she could have a relationship with her sonifhe wanted one. Mrs. St. Claire left the hospital with Deacon three days after he was born, and Selma never saw or spoke to her again. So, Selma had no idea if Mrs. St. Claire believed Selma was dead or if she was aware of what Mr. St. Claire was doing.
“We’ll see you soon.” Deacon said as he stepped back. Selma and her husband were going to come to Hope Falls soon to meet Tabitha. And Deacon planned on taking a trip back up to Oregon so Tabitha could meet her uncles and see the ranch.
