anyway, and she meant that I was too big and ugly for anyone to ever fall in love with . . . I’m sorry that I’m acting like a big baby.”
He kissed her on top of her head. “Shhhh, don’t cry. You’re just sad that she’s been hateful, but you did the right thing.”
She leaned back and wiped her eyes on the tail of her apron. “I need to suck it up and get back to work.”
“Work can wait. You need a few more minutes, and I need to hold you for a little while longer. I’m so sorry things worked out like this,” Elijah said.
“Why do you need to hold me?” she asked.
“Because you are my friend, and that’s all I know to do for you right now, other than listen. It’s not much to offer . . .”
She reached up and laid a finger across his lips and then snuggled down even closer to him. “Thank you. That means the world to me.”
Elijah had liked the tough Jayden a lot, but he could so easily fall in love with the vulnerable Jayden. His pulse raced at the thought of the L-word. Maybe he was confusing that word with feeling bad for her. After all, her only living relative had just treated her like dirt.
It’s about damn time you woke up and saw what’s right in front of your face. Don’t make excuses. You have had feelings for her ever since she got here. The voice in his head sounded an awful lot like Mary.
Jayden didn’t hear the dining hall door open and wasn’t even aware that Novalene was standing in front of them until the woman spoke.
“Is she hurt?” Novalene whispered.
“Yes, but not physically,” Elijah answered. “Is Skyler still here?”
“Nope, we just waved goodbye to her and that little red-haired feller. He’s not more than an inch or two taller than she is. But what happened in here?” Novalene asked.
Jayden remembered her dream about her sister carrying flowers picked from their mother’s flower beds when she got married at the courthouse. She had been with a red-haired guy in that dream. Skyler might be an annoying, narcissistic woman, but she deserved a better wedding than that. Maybe she should call her and offer to give her half her savings.
Don’t you dare, Gramps’s voice was scolding her. She’s made her bed. Let her lay in it.
Jayden didn’t want to move away from Elijah. She was safe in his arms. As long as she didn’t move, nothing could hurt her ever again, but Novalene deserved an answer.
“That’s Jayden’s story to tell,” Elijah said.
Jayden took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Let’s all have a glass of sweet tea, and then I really have to get back to work.”
“Hey, Jayden, what did you think of Skyler’s ring?” Diana called out as she headed across the room to the coffeepot. “Did she ask you to be maid of honor?”
“Of course she did,” Novalene said. “How can you drink that hot stuff when it’s a hundred degrees outside? I need iced tea to cool me down.”
Jayden untangled herself from Elijah. He stood up and offered her a helping hand. She took it, and, strangely enough, just his touch gave her strength.
“I’m leaving now so you can visit with these ladies. If you need me or just want someone to be close by, call me.” He squeezed her hand gently and then let go.
“Thank you.” She managed a weak smile and then turned around to look at Diana and Novalene. “I’m not invited to the wedding because I won’t give her my savings for her wedding.”
“Good God!” Diana gasped. “Are you all right? No wonder you were crying. Doesn’t she have her own savings?”
“She probably went through that within a month,” Jayden answered.
Diana poured two glasses of iced tea. “Come on over here and sit down.”
With his hand on the small of her back, Elijah guided her to the table and pulled out a chair for her to sit in. “See y’all later.”
Novalene and Diana both waved him away.
“Now talk,” Novalene said as she sat down right beside Jayden.
“Hey, Jayden, we got done with the bathrooms and wondered if you need some help in the kitchen,” Tiffany yelled from the door.
All three Daydream Cabin girls headed over to the end of the bar to get bottles of water, and then, as if on cue, noticed Jayden in a collective double take. Tiffany’s eyes went big and she ran across the floor to