Page 92 of Second Time Around

“Of course not. I’ll call you when it’s ready,” Lori replied for the three women.

Jenna watched Beck leave and then turned to find her mom and sister staring at her. “What’s up?” Better to get the interrogation over with now while the men were in the other room.

“Oh, honey. I’m just so happy to see you and Beck together again. It makes my heart glad.” Lori placed a hand over her heart for added effect.

“Me too,” Stacy said.

“We just started dating,” Jenna insisted.

Ignoring her, Lori continued gushing. “I think it’s so sweet that he still holds a candle for you after all these years.”

“I think the feeling is mutual,” Stacy added.

Before Jenna could argue, Kelsey came rushing into the kitchen, and she was positively beaming.

“We didn’t hear you come in,” Stacy said.

“Beck answered the door. I introduced him to Hudson, and he invited him to watch football. He’s so sweet.”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Ohmigod. It’s just football!”

The women laughed.

“I’m so glad you agreed to let him cater the engagement party,” Kelsey said. “I was worried we might end up making our own sandwiches instead. What made you change your mind?”

She didn’t want to go into the story of how she and Beck had gotten into a water fight, which had led to the bedroom, which had resulted in her agreeing to let him cater the party. “Let’s just say we worked it out.”

Stacy grinned. “I bet you did.”

After the women set the table, Lori called the men in to eat. It struck Jenna how similar her and Beck’s families were. They’d both been raised in traditional homes by hard-working, involved parents. Jenna wondered what kind of wife and mother she’d be someday. Then she chastised herself for thinking such things. Just because she and Beck were dating, it didn’t mean they had a future together, did it?

He smiled at her as they sat next to each other at the table.

“Everything looks great, Lori,” Beck said.

Lori flapped her hand at the compliment. “I’m sure it’s not as good as the food at your restaurant.”

“How’s business?” John asked.

“Good, but I can’t take all the credit. It was already a popular restaurant in the community before I came along.”

“He’s being too modest,” Kelsey said. “I saw the way he interacted with his customers and employees. Everybody loves him.”

Jenna gave him a sideways glance and noticed his cheeks looked flushed. He’d always been better at doling out compliments than receiving them, but what Kelsey had said was true. Everybody does love him,including me.

She’d just taken a bite of mashed potatoes, and she almost choked on them. She cleared her throat, picked up her glass of water, and took a long drink.

Beck leaned in and said, “Okay, sweetheart?”

He must not have realized how loudly he’d said it, and suddenly everybody was staring at them.

“I’m fine,” she said and gave him a stiff smile. Sweetheart? It was the first time he’d called her that, and he’d done it in front of her entire family without hesitation.

I don’t deserve him, she thought as everyone resumed eating. Since he’d returned, he’d been so wonderful, not only to her but to her family, friends, and co-workers. Yet, even though their relationship had progressed, she’d still been holding back. Looking around the table at the people she loved, she realized how brave they all were. Everyone except her.

Her parents had been married for forty years, and though they’d gone through some rough patches, they were still together and in love. Stacy and Nick, and Kelsey and Hudson, hadn’t had a smooth time of it, either, but they’d overcome their obstacles and were well on their way to happily ever after.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d been lost in thought when she felt Beck’s hand on her thigh, underneath the table. He and Stacy were discussing the menu for the engagement party, but he gave Jenna’s leg a squeeze as if to remind her of his presence.

Slowly, so as not to attract attention, she moved her hand under the table, placed it atop his, and entwined their fingers together. Holding hands was such a simple gesture and something they’d often done as teenagers, but tonight it felt different.

She squeezed his hand three times as she thought of the three words she wanted to say to him. I love you, she repeated silently.

Too bad they hadn’t eaten dessert yet; otherwise, she might have winked at him and hauled him out of there so she could finally say the words aloud. She convinced herself to be patient, though. After all, she’d waited twelve years for this. What were a few more minutes?