Page 109 of One Wrong Step
That stops my rant cold. Something isn’t making sense. Mrs. Landers—Greta—was just in two days ago. “What the hell’s going on, Cassandra?”
She shrugs, but I catch the smile she’s trying to hide. “Let’s go find out.”
My call with Jonah is at three-thirty, which is why I asked to be off at three. I check my phone. I still have ten minutes. That should be plenty of time to take care of whatever this is.
Following my soon-to-be-ex boss out of her office, my mind thinks of ways to let Greta down gently. Sorry, I have a call from a hot guy that I really hope ends in phone sex? That actually might work?—
“Surprise!”
I stop and stare, unable to process everything. The shop is filled with people. Greta is front and center, grinning. But other clients are also here. Mom beams at me. She’s six months along, and there’s no hiding Baby Hank. George has his arm around her. He gives me a big smile. And all I see in his face is acceptance and love. Maisy jumps up and down, trying to grab the balloons. Wait, balloons? And streamers? And a cake? I step closer. On the top of the cake isGOOD LUCK VIVIE.
“What—” My brain is struggling. “What is all this?”
Cassandra grins. “We couldn’t let you go without a party.” That’s when I realize the thing in her office wasn’t a halfhearted attempt at reprimanding me or even a goodbye drink. She was distracting me. So, they could do all this.
My eyes prickle.Don’t cry, Vivian.I don’t have time to redo my makeup before my call—and that’s when I spot him. My sweet, sexy man is standing off to the side like he doesn’t want to take away from my moment. If my heart swells any more, it might become a medical emergency.
And now there are more tears. “Jonah? Was this your idea?”
“Not me, babe. Cassandra and Greta planned the whole thing.”
I dash at my face, and then Jonah is beside me, handing me a tissue.
“One’s not gonna do it,” I tell him. “I’m gonna need the entire box.”
He laughs, handing me the rest. Taking a step back, he gestures to the crowd crammed in the small shop. “Everyone’s here for you, babe.”
I look around the room, grateful for all the people here for me—no, not just people. These are my friends. My family. My neighbors. Greta and her daughter, who owns the dance studio. Even Mrs. Walsh and her daughter, Janie. They’re all here for me.
When I was forced to move to Hopeview, I was an outsider. I couldn’t wait to leave. Now I am leaving—and it’s hard. When did I start thinking of Hopeview as home?
“Thank you all for being here. And Cassandra and Greta for planning this—I will get you back.” Everyone laughs. “I’m not one for big speeches?—”
“Ha! That’s a damn lie. You love a big speech.”
My heart leaps as I search for my bestie. Is she here? Jonah holds up his phone, and Frankie grins at me from the screen.
Then the enormity of it all hits. “You were all in on this?” I look around the room. And then back at Jonah and Frankie. “And you kept it a secret?”
“It wasn’t easy, babe,” Frankie says, “and Jonah here almost cracked several times.”
I laugh. My face is wet from tears, and I can’t seem to get a handle on my emotions. All this for me?
“Can we have cake, Vivie?” Maisy asks. “Baby Hank is hungry. Then you can open your presents.”
I shake my head fondly. Maisy thinks every party has to include those two things. “There aren’t any presents?—”
“Uh, babe.” Jonah turns my face so I can see the pile of wrapped gifts next to the shampoo station.
I stare at them and then at him. “Presents? For me?” Tears stream down my face, and I’m helpless to stop them.
Jonah takes my hand, and his smile is full of love. It’s hard to believe I get to be this happy. He squeezes my hand and tries to let go. No way. I need more than a hand squeeze. I haven’t seen this man in person for over two weeks.
“Cassandra, can you cut the cake? Everyone else mingle. I’m gonna say a proper hello to my boyfriend, whom I’ve missed terribly.”
People laugh, and I don’t really care if they take me seriously or not. My eyes drink in Jonah. God, he’s so sweet and sexy?—
“I’m still here, Vivie. And I don’t need a front-row seat to you snacking on your man.” Frankie covers her eyes and then peeks through her fingers. “Jonah, can you hand me to someone else or call me when we get to the good part. Usually that’s the cake, but obvs, in this case, I mean the presents.”
