Moving On (Rolling Thunder #7) - P.J. Fiala Page 0,83
date of 30 days. I'll email you the signed offer. Now it will be up to you to get your financing in order. I'll order the inspection. I just need some dates when you'll be available."
"Can I get back to you on that in a bit? LuAnn and I are just going in to celebrate our marriage."
"Congratulations. Wow, you folks move fast."
He laughed, "You have no idea."
He took LuAnn's hand, his wife's hand, and helped her from the Jeep. He kissed her knuckles. "We have a lot to celebrate Mrs. Matthews and a baby to make, so let's start this evening off shall we?"
55
Sliding the moving box onto the back of the moving truck, LuAnn turned to make another trip inside. Chase had been fortunate. With the help of one of Greg’s parishioners, a realtor, he’d sold his house in a few days and the new owners were moving from another area and were eager to move quickly. He was right or lucky, but when it was meant to be it all worked out.
The sound of a motorcycle caught her attention. She stopped and turned to see Jeremiah and Joci stop at the curb of the house. She swallowed a large lump in her throat and willed her heart to beat normally. Sending up a silent prayer that this would be a good visit, she stood still and watched them as they walked across the lawn toward her.
Then, she remembered her conversation with Dog on her wedding day. It had been good. Chase had told her about his conversation with Dog before their wedding. It nearly blew her away to think that Joci was the first to forgive when she had felt so unworthy for so long. It was amazing that Joci was trying to get Dog to understand it was time to forgive her. She so hoped that he would, not for herself but for Chase. She knew that Chase and Dog loved each other and no matter how far away they were from each other, they’d want to keep in touch.
It suddenly occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Joci since before the accident that sent Joci to the hospital and her to prison. She wanted to throw up. She wanted to run and find Chase, but she didn’t want to appear the scared rabbit.
Joci greeted her first, “Hi, LuAnn. Marriage agrees with you, you’re glowing.”
LuAnn smiled; she didn’t expect that.
“I’m actually sweating but thank you.” Her eyes turned to Jeremiah. “It’s nice to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you as well, LuAnn.”
“Most of the furniture is in the truck, but there are some lawn chairs. Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll find Chase. I’m rather hot and thirsty. Would you like some lemonade?” she asked.
Joci answered, “Yes, that would be great.”
The door behind her opened and she could feel Chase before he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Chase leaned forward and held his hand out to Jeremiah, who then pulled him in for a hug. She watched and her heart felt lighter seeing Chase and Dog hug.
“I told them I’d get some lemonade. Why don’t you see if you can round up some chairs?”
When she returned they were sitting in the lawn chairs and Chase had found a small table. It was rather quiet while she filled the glasses. She sat in the empty chair between Chase and Joci. The couples sat close to their spouses.
Dog put his arm around Joci’s shoulders, glanced down into her very pretty gray eyes, then back to her. “We wanted to properly thank you for saving…
LuAnn said, “Wait. I have something to say first.” She looked at Joci, and said, “I should have apologized to you before now. I am so sorry, Joci, for all I did to you since I first met you. I was young and foolish. I thought I loved Dog, but it was a schoolgirl infatuation which I realized in prison. I never meant to hurt you let alone try to kill you or Maddie. But my intent doesn’t matter. I did it. And I am so ashamed and mortified by my behavior and so damned sorry. I don’t expect anything from you, but I wanted you to know how I feel.
Joci’s eyes filled with moisture, but she nodded and tried to smile.
Dog said, “As I started to say, we wanted to properly thank you for saving Maddie and Dakota.