Page 58 of Secrets at Seaside
“You know Pete was with plenty of women before we got together. My take on it is that we should hold our heads up high. They may have played the field, but we’re the ones they’ll come home to for the rest of their lives.”
“I agree. Besides, they’ve dated enough women to know what they really want.” Even though Amy hadn’t needed to date anyone else to know that Tony was the only man she’d ever want. She was kind of glad to know Tony’d had his choice of women before her and that he’d chosen her out of all of them.
“Ames, how are youreallyholding up?” Jenna’s voice softened. “I’m here to talk if you want to talk about what happened…you know. That summer.”
“I’m good, actually. I never realized how hard it was to carry around that secret for so long. I’m glad I told you guys and even happier that Tony and I have talked about it.”
“But?”
Amy raised her brows.
“Come on. I see something behind those green eyes. What is it?”
“You do not. I’m fine.”Liar, liar.
Jenna stepped closer and stared up at Amy.
“You’re intimidating for a shrimp,” Amy teased.
“I may be short in stature, but I’m tall in determination. Fess up. What’s going on?”
“I just…” Amy pulled Jenna over to the corner of the library. “Tony wants me to go surfing.”
Jenna arched a brow. “And?”
“The last time I went surfing was when…was that last afternoon that summer. Remember? I told you I wiped out and lost the baby?”
“Oh, right. I’m sorry, Ames. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Jenna’s eyes grew serious. “But you’re not pregnant now, so…” She gasped. “Wait. Are you?”
“Goodness, no. But the whole thing is kind of scary.”
“Tony won’t let you get hurt.”
“No, not that kind of scary. Just…I don’t know how to explain it. What if it all comes back to me and I totally freak out?” Amy crossed her arms to give her wobbly legs stability. She lowered her voice again. “What if I have a panic attack or something?”
“So what if you do?” Jenna took her hand. “Honey, you’ll have Tony right there with you. He’s proved he loves you a million times over, hasn’t he? He waited as long for you as you did for him, even after you tossed him aside like yesterday’s news.”
“Hey.” She swatted Jenna’s arm.
“I’m just teasing, but really. If you panic, you panic. So what? So he holds you and tells you everything’s going to be okay, and you know what?”
“Yeah. I knowwhat. Everything will be okay. In my heart I know it will be okay. I’m just overthinking again, I’m sure.” Amy sighed. “We’re going to the beach at high tide today, and I know he’s going to ask me to surf. Thank you, Jenna. Thanks for reminding me about what I really need to focus on. Tony will be right there. Even if I freak out, I won’t be freaking out alone.”Now if I could only figure out my job situation. Baby steps.
On their way back to their car, they spotted Theresa coming out of the market.
“Oh geez. I bet she hates us,” Amy said under her breath, feigning a smile as Theresa headed in their direction.
“She might hate Bella, but probably not us.”
Theresa met them in front of Town Hall. “I thought you girls would be at the beach today. It’s gorgeous out, isn’t it?” She squinted up at the sky.
“We’re going later this afternoon when the tide’s in. Why aren’t you enjoying the sun?” Amy couldn’t remember ever seeing Theresa wearing a bathing suit besides the thong she’d worn to one-up Bella’s prank last summer, and that was an image she’d like to forget. Theresa typically wore something similar to what she had on now, a pair of pleated shorts and a polo shirt.
“I just had to pick up some groceries.” Theresa jiggled her grocery bag. “I thought I’d do a little weeding around the fire pit today.”
“Thank you for doing that,” Jenna said. “It always looks so nice.”
“Are you up for a couple weeks or just a few days?” Amy asked.
