Page 79 of Another June with You

“As a heart attack,” he said with a chuckle. “Can you meet me there in an hour?”

“Absolutely!”

“See you then.”

She hung up and stared at the phone in disbelief. Did she just dream that? Was the studio a possibility for them after all? She couldn’t help but smile, believing in her heart God had heard her on Sunday. He was already working things out, already blessing her with things she hadn’t even asked for.

Now, she could only hope her other prayer would be answered with the arrival of a little niece or nephew.

She dialed Jamie about the studio, but it went straight to voicemail. She left a quick message. Was Jamie hiding out because she didn’t want to talk about the baby? For extra measure, she texted too.

When she got no reply, she decided to swing by the apartment and pick Jamie up on the way. It was nice to finally have her car back from the shop so she didn’t have to rely on others to get her around.

At Jamie’s apartment, she knocked several times without answer. Luckily, Jamie had given her an extra key in case of emergencies, so she let herself in.

“Jamie!” she called out.

Silence.

She glanced into Jamie’s room, but it was empty, as was the bathroom.

Heading into the kitchen, she found a pen and notepad in one of the junk drawers and started to leave a note. If Jamie returned in the next hour, she could still meet her at the building. There was no way she would want to miss seeing this space—their space.

Just as she pressed pen to paper, she noticed an envelope on the end of the counter with her name written in thick, bold letters. She set the pen down and grabbed it. Inside was a torn off page from the same notepad she’d found in the drawer and a couple of camera memory cards—probably from Keely’s shower and rehearsal.

I’m sorry I have to leave like this. I need time to decide.

Please don’t tell Duncan.

- J

Shannon sank onto the nearest bar stool, and her heart squeezed so hard in her chest, she thought it might implode. Despite her prayers and everything she’d told Jamie, she had a strong feeling that when Jamie returned, she would no longer be pregnant. If only she could talk to her again, convince her. But once Jamie set her mind to something, she did it.

She yanked her phone out and started typing, barely able to see the screen through her tears.

“Please don’t do anything you’ll regret. Duncan has the right to know before you make any huge decisions. It’s his baby too.”

She paused typing and took a deep breath.

“And I was serious. If neither of you want it, I’ll raise it as my own.”

She didn’t expect a reply, and she didn’t get one.

Chapter 26

The studio space hadn’t change since Simon moved out—modern, clean, stark white. But with a little paint and some renovations, they could warm it up and make it their own. Vernon held in his hand the paperwork for them to sign to seal the deal with the new owners. Oh, she wished Jamie was there for this moment.

“Is this amount correct?” Shannon asked. It was lower than the amount agreed upon with Vernon before, and it crossed her mind that, if Jamie didn’t come back, she might still be able to afford it on her own.

Vernon shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just seeing to the details. You’ll have to take it up with them.”

Her eye caught on the name Pennington at the top of the agreement. Pennington? She crossed her arms over her chest. “Who exactly is buying this building from you?”

“I agreed to keep that confidential, but you’ll meet them … very soon.” Vernon chuckled.

“I think it needs a coat of paint. White walls feel so sterile,” a familiar voice came from behind them.

Shannon spun around to find Micah standing in the middle of the space.

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