Time Changes Everything (15 page)

“That was just a little kiss. Friends kiss sometimes.” Oh, man! Now the kid knows. Is she going to tell our mothers? “Were you hiding?”

“Yes. Aunt Mandy chased me. I hid behind the curtain.”

“You did a good job.” Mandy, hurry up. Get down here.

“Aunt Mandy said she really likes you.”

So, Aunt Mandy talked to her little niece about me?

“What else did she tell you about m- uh . . . about her boyfriend?”

“She said she really, really likes you. I mean him.” Haley caught on to the fib. “And maybe she’ll get married.”

“Really?” Jake smiled. Now that was something new. When did Amanda start thinking about the ‘M’ word? Maybe she was ready to commit after all. Then why all the hush, undercover, spy missions? Jake sighed. Women – I’ll never get them.

“Can I be your flower girl? I’ve always wanted to do that.”

“We’ll see. Her boyfriend has to ask first. Then she has to say yes.”

Haley nodded. “Okay.”

Jake looked up. His breath caught – every time he saw her. Amanda had been listening to them. He jumped up. “Your Majesty, are you ready?”  

“Let’s go, my King.” She opened the front door, holding her hand out in his pathway.

Haley jumped up and down. “Oh goody! Queen and King. Can I be a princess?”

“You can, my lady. Find your prettiest dress and we’ll be back in an hour.” Jake winked.

“And you, little girl. Stay away from that kitchen. Don’t say anything else about these secrets, and I’ll buy you an Icee.”

“You bet.” Haley pretended to lock her mouth and put the key in her pocket. Then she ran out of the room, and up the stairs.

“I’ll beat you to the park.” Amanda was out the door.

Jake followed with visions of what he’d do with Amanda once they were alone again clouding his mind. He had to convince Amanda to share their secret … to move forward together.

AMANDA OGLED THE SALAD
bar, then sat across from her sister at the table. They had just finished a two-hour sprint of last-minute shopping, and she needed a tall glass of iced tea to keep her going.

“I’m surprised mom lets you out of her sight, this far after the due date.” She dipped a chip into the salsa bowl on the table. “How did you do it?”

Carley sat back and rubbed her belly. “Mom’s not as bad as you think. Plus, the doctor said walking is a good way to start labor.”

Amanda’s eyes widened. “You’re trying to start labor?”

“Yeah and I heard spicy food helps, too. Give me some of that.” Carley dipped a chip in the salsa. “Is it hot?”

Shrugging, she said, “Not too hot, but it’s worth a try.” She drank her iced tea. “Where’s Billy? He’s not keeping tabs on you either? What’s wrong with this family? Don’t they know you could have a baby any minute now?”

“He’s working for a living.” Carley fanned her mouth. “What do you mean this isn’t too hot? It’s scorching.”

Amanda leaned forward and put her hand on her chin. “So, how did you know Billy was the one?”

Carley scrunched up her face. “Well, he was my high-school sweetheart. We’ve been together forever.”

“Yeah, but most people don’t end up with their high-school lover. How did you know know?”

“I have a feeling this has something to do with you and not me.”

“Tell me.”

“We know each other better than anyone. We’ve been through so much, and I don’t even have to second-guess how Billy will react or what he’ll say.” Carley bit into another chip. “It’s pretty awesome to be able to look at someone and just know he loves you – the way he smiles or the way he just stares at you – without a word. Cheesy, huh?”

“I think it’s charming.”

The waitress came to the table and dropped off two plates of loaded hamburgers.

“This baby better be hungry.” She leaned over for the ketchup bottle and poured it on top of her fries.

When Amanda bit into her burger, Carley smiled. “Haley says you have a boyfriend. Mama also ordered me to get as much info from you as possible. So, spill it.”

She wiped her mouth with her napkin and said, “I hate to disappoint, but I’m not going into details. We just started dating.”

“Then what’s with the questions about the one? Do you think?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” She picked up a fry. “I mean, did you know when you first saw Billy? Was it love at first sight? Or did you grow into the love?”

“My sister, the romantic.” She picked up the mustard and sprayed it across her fries. “Do you love this guy?”

“I think so.”

“Then it doesn’t matter when you first knew. What’s important is that he loves you back, and that you introduce him to your family and get married and have babies.”

“That’s a little too fast.” She smiled. “But, I do love him. We haven’t told each other, but I think he loves me. Like you said, I can see it in the way he treats me. He’d kill me if he knew I told you this, but he’s sweet.”

Carley picked up her napkin and cleaned her fingers. “Sounds like love.” She nodded toward the doorway. “Oh, look. It’s Jake”

Amanda’s eyes grew and she turned her head to face the front of the restaurant. “Where?”

“Over there. Who’s that with him?”

Amanda’s heart clenched. “Leslie Deveroux.”

“Wait. Didn’t they date in high school or something? Do you think she’s his mysterious girlfriend?”

“No, she’s not.” A chill hung onto her words. When Carley cocked her head, she continued, “I mean, I know his girlfriend and she wouldn’t be happy to see him out with an ex, that’s for sure.”

“Maybe they’re just catching up. Look, they didn’t even see us. Should we go over?” She pointed to the booth they sat at in the back of the restaurant.

“No.” Amanda pushed her plate away; she’d lost her appetite. She licked her lower lip, managing to quell her anger. However, with every look in Jake and Leslie’s direction, her heart shuttered and collapsed and she didn’t know what the hell to do. She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone.

“Are you okay?” Carley asked as she drank her water.

She held up her pointed finger. “Just a minute.” She texted Jake: Hey, where are you?

“Mandy, what’s going on?”

She shook her head and bit her lip. “I’m just furious for my friend. Jake is leading her on.”

“Are you sure that’s all?”

Jake reached in his blazer and pulled out his phone. A smile spread across his face and he texted back. She waited what seemed like an eternity.

Carley’s voice interrupted her crazed thoughts. “Is Jake the guy?”

“He is definitely not the one – the creep.” She looked at her phone with the incoming message: Having lunch with friends. Where are you?

Friends? Yeah, right. Try ex. In the booth. At the back of the restaurant.

Jake’s laughing caught her attention and she turned to stare. Leslie giggled and put her hand on Jake’s arm.

“Look at them. He’s not even hiding it.” Amanda ground her teeth together as her blood boiled. Her fingers raced across her keyboard. I’m out at lunch with Carley... right behind you.

He turned around after reading the message and smiled his Jake-The-Wonder-Boy smile when he found them. Then he said something to Leslie and walked to their table. Not once did his smile leave his face, but she was ready to slap it off. Not knowing where this jealousy came from, she took a deep breath to hold her over.

“Well, hello there.” He leaned down to hug Carley and then Amanda. She didn’t hug him back. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“Apparently not. Having fun with Leslie?” Amanda nodded at the girl in his booth.

Jake’s thumb hitched in her direction. “Leslie’s dating Tom, remember him? He was my closest buddy in high school.”

Carley shook her head. “Seems like Mandy thinks you’re cheating on her friend that you’re dating. It’s a total soap opera.”

He crossed his arms across his chest. “Really?”

“I really don’t care.” Amanda raised her chin. “In fact, you can eat lunch with whoever you please, whenever you please.”

Carley bit into a fry. “Uh-oh. You pissed her off now, Jake.”

“I’m not pissed.” Her voice shrilled. Then she cleared her throat.

Carley pointed. “Yes, you are. You’re getting that twitchy thing in your eye when you get angry.”

Jake pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “Mandy, can I talk to you in private please?”

“Awwww. I miss all the good stuff.” Carley sighed.

He grabbed Amanda’s elbow. “Over there.” He led her to the front by the hostess stand. “What are you all worked up about?”

“I said nothing and I mean nothing. Why don’t you go back to your lunch date and we’ll talk alone later.”

“We’re meeting Tom here, too. Leslie and I just happened to park at the same time and came in together.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You’re kind of cute, jealous.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not jealous.”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“Okay, I was jealous, but not anymore.”

“Hey, Jake.” Tom walked in the front doors and shook Jake’s hand.  “You brought Mandy?” He leaned in and hugged her. “You seen Leslie, yet?”

“She’s over at that table.” Jake pointed. “I’ll be right there. I’m just finishing up with Mandy.”

“Have lunch with us. We can catch up, too.” Tom motioned to the table.

“I’m here with my sister, but it’s good to see you.” She forced a smile and pointed at Jake. “You get on with your friends and we’ll talk later.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Go.”

Jake leaned in to kiss her and then stopped, looking back at Carley who stared at them. He winked and walked off to the table.

When Amanda sat back down at their table, Carley nodded. “He’s the one.”

“He’s not the one.”

“He’s totally the one. Oh, man, I cannot wait for mom to find out.”

Amanda sighed. “He’s not and if he was, I would never tell mom and I will bite your head off if you tell her.”

“Is that an admission?”

“No and where did your burger go?”

Carley pointed at her stomach. “Already finished.”

“Are you serious?” Amanda laughed.

“And I paid already.” The smile on her face broadened. “Let’s get out of here so we can talk about your boyfriend without the boyfriend watching you from the table in the back.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Carley, but I’m serious. You cannot tell mom anything. She’ll tell Caroline. Then the whole block will know and then we’ll have mistletoe hanging in every corner and...” Carley hobbled out of the booth, and Amanda grabbed her arm. “But Jake’s not my boyfriend.”

“Like you said, Amanda, whatever.” She wiggled her fingers in a wave goodbye to Jake and tottered out of the restaurant.

Amanda followed without looking back, even if a sixth sense burned on the back of her neck from Jake’s stares. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on him.

As she got into her car, a text message beeped in: 11:30 tonight. Porch Swing. Miss you already.

Carley leaned over to peek at her message. “Is he the one?”

Amanda nodded. “He’s the one.” She revved her car engine up as the heater kicked into gear. “He’s the goddamn one, Carley.”

AMANDA AND HER PARENTS
opened Christmas presents in the early morning. They saved the Edwards’ and Haley’s gifts for after lunch. Surprisingly, she enjoyed the few quiet moments with her parents; something she hadn’t experienced in years.

“Tell us about this show you’re doing,” her mother asked as she put her new Anne Klein handbag to the side.

“It’s the beginning of January and I lead the front operations.” Amanda ran her finger across the stitching on the sofa.

“What does that entail?” her dad asked.

“I’m responsible for the seating, the lights, stage and crew. Kind of like a stage manager, but in front.”

“How in the heck did you learn all that?” Her mom asked, a gleam in her eye.

“Traveling. Watching. Talking to others. That’s why I haven’t been around much, Mom, not because I don’t want to see you.”

“Honey, I know you want to see us. It just hurts not seeing you. Empty-nest syndrome really exists.”

“I know, Mom.” Amanda faced her mom. “But it’s been more than five years. Now you have Haley and your new little grandbaby coming.”

Her mom placed her hand on Amanda’s. “We’re proud of you. All that you’ve done. I should’ve told you that years ago.”