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He sighed. Was that really the best thing right now? Will had dealt a heavy blow. Jahleel didn’t want to add more weight to the worries already bogging her down. Besides, he didn’t want to say the words and then leave for Texas, even if he planned to return. It would probably cause unnecessary angst.
No. It was best to wait. Today’s business was making sure she could process Will’s decision. Tomorrow would worry about itself.
Chapter
FOURTEEN
May handed Bebe a cup of hot chocolate. “So what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.” Bebe sipped her drink. The whipped cream blended smoothly with May’s homemade cocoa recipe. She looked around at her friend’s cozy cottage, festive with Christmas decorations. She had a small Christmas tree sitting on the coffee table with origami cranes hanging from it. The larger tree in front of the window held glass ornaments May had been collecting since she was a young girl. She and her folks always went to local Christmas markets to find them.
“What do you want to do?” May asked.
“Is it ridiculous that the idea of moving to Texas has been replaying in my head?” The words tore from her lips. She stared, stunned, as the truth hit her.
She didn’t want to part from Jay. She’d been praying for their relationship, for God to be in the details, all the while expecting Jay to move to Peachwood Bay. But every time she had the thought, it was followed by the understanding that this was an unrealistic expectation. Jay had never wanted to remain in Peachwood Bay, and if she were honest, that had never been her dream either.
“Ah, you didn’t know you wanted to, huh?” May smirked.
Bebe pressed a hand to her forward. “I’m crazy, aren’t I?”
“Depends on the reason behind the want.”
Bebe stared into her mug. Her heart pounded as dream after dream flitted through her mind. Despite her prayers to stay present and not jump into the future, she couldn’t discount the very real desire to make a home with Jay and Hope. One filled with flag football Saturdays, football Sundays, and joy the rest of the week.
“Bebe?”
“Just thinking.” She met May’s gaze. “I let him go to college without a backward glance. Okay, not completely true, but I didn’t put up a fight. I don’t want to make the same mistake now. I see a future with us, always have.”
“Then listen to your heart, girlfriend. And, of course, talk to God.”
“I have been. I’m just not sure how much of the response is my own wishes or His leading.”
“Hmm, I know that feeling. Have you talked this over with Jay?”
She grimaced. “Kind of? We’ve said we want to be together, and he’s promised he won’t leave me for good again.”
May grinned. “Those are some big steps. I knew you guys were meant to be!”
Bebe chuckled.
“I’m so happy for you. Have you considered looking at jobs out there?”
Bebe’s stomach roiled at the thought. “No. It’s all just coming together in my mind.”
“My mom always says not to quit a job without having another one.” May wrinkled her nose.
“I ... right. That should be a simple thing to look into.” Yet the thought of leaving Georgia and going to Texas filled her with slight panic. Was she doing the right thing? Wasthis the next move? Or would Jay think it weird that she was contemplating moving to Texas already?
What was preventing her from jumping at the prospect of moving? She would miss Peachwood Bay, but she didn’t have any real ties here. Her folks let her rent their home—that had been more at Bebe’s insistence than theirs—so they could either rent it out again or sell it. But she and Jahleel hadn’t even said theL-word. How could she just move to Texas without talking to him about it?
She pressed a hand against her stomach. “Does this all seem too fast to you?” Surely May would be honest.
“I might be the wrong person to ask because I’m thinking of moving too.” May took a sip of her hot chocolate as if they were having a normal, mundane conversation.
“Excuse me? What on earth are you taking about?” May couldn’t leave. Who would Bebe do life with?
“Ryan’s based in Nashville. It’s kind of hard to have a relationship if I’m eight hours away.”
