Page 55 of The Uncomplicated Café
ABBY
Abby pusheda plump strawberry around her plate, regarding the merriment of her bridal shower with the detached eye of an outside observer. The other women seated at the table, sipping tea and nibbling tiny cakes and sandwiches, laughing and chatting together, faded into the background, despite her best intentions to focus on the festivities.
Guilt swirled in her stomach, mixing unpleasantly with the mango-peach tea she’d recently consumed. Shewantedto be emotionally present. Her friends had gone to so much trouble to plan the perfect afternoon tea party to celebrate her upcoming nuptials. Even working within the truncated timeframe of their extremely short engagement, her friends had thought of every detail. But despite her immense gratitude, Abby’s heart still lived in yesterday’s grief, in the perpetual pain of Max’s goodbye.
At the depressing memory, her sorrow sunk even deeper into her soul. If she couldn’t summon an ounce of joy here, in the gorgeous garden of the Honeybee Retreat—an oceanside oasis specifically designed for wounded women to heal after heartache—how could she enjoy any of the festivities leading up to her wedding day?
Her mind flooded with images of Logan. The smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. His calloused, capable hands, so quick to reach for hers. His broad shoulders, steady and strong, always willing to support the weight of her burdens.
Over the past several months, he’d become the single most important person in her life. And he deserved her heartandher unhindered happiness.
Determined to lift her spirits, she sat a little straighter, smoothing the folds of the fancy cotton sundress Nadia had convinced her to wear in lieu of her usual jeans and T-shirt. Across the garden, her stylish maid of honor stood out like a vibrant rose among the fragrant lavender and hollyhocks. With her dark hair and dusky complexion, no one could pull off a red cocktail dress quite like Nadia. Beside her, Sage and Mia—looking equally lovely in their elegant tea party ensembles—helped set up what appeared to be Bridal Shower Bingo.
A groan welled in her throat, but she quickly squelched it. A game would be fun. It would take her mind off Max.Maybe.
“Here. This might help.” CeCe placed a pretty porcelain teacup in front of Abby before taking the seat beside her.
“What is it?” Abby sniffed the earthy aroma. She didn’t really need any more tea.
“It’s Bissy tea. Mama’s relatives send bags of the stuff from Jamaica. It’s a common remedy for countless issues, including boosting energy and elevating mood.”
“Well, I could definitely use that.” Abby lifted the teacup to her lips, willing to try anything to improve her melancholy mood.
“Me, too.” CeCe joined her in taking a sip.
Abby softened with sympathy. Her friend had recently confided in her regarding her own troubles—her father’s harrowing experience, Jayce heading back to Los Angeles sosoon thereafter, and her inability to reach either of them by phone. “Still haven’t heard from your father or Jayce?”
“No, but I’m sure everything’s fine. They both have a lot on their minds. They’ll call as soon as they can.” CeCe smiled and sipped her tea, but Abby detected a glint of unease in her eyes—unease Abby felt in her own heart.
Even though she knew better than to expect a call from Sam so soon—if ever—she couldn’t help checking her phone multiple times that day. What if he’d changed his mind? What if he wanted to return to Blessings Bay and accept their offer to live in the bungalow? More than anything, she wanted Max back in her life, in whatever capacity possible.
It took every ounce of self-control she possessed not to bombard Sam’s cell phone with inquiries about Max—How was his first night in a new place? Did he like Redton? How was his rabbit, Ron, adjusting? Could she send them a boxed set ofThe Chronicles of Narniaso they could continue reading the series together? And the one question her heart longed to ask but she’d never dare to voice aloud:Does he miss us?
Reading her mind, CeCe interrupted her thoughts with her own lingering question. “Do you think Sam will bring Max back for the wedding?”
“I don’t know.” Abby’s chest squeezed, and she tightened her grip on the teacup. “He said he’d think about it, but from his detached, noncommittal tone, I didn’t get a hopeful impression.”
“That’s so strange.” CeCe frowned, mirroring Abby’s sober expression. “Why wouldn’t he want Max to be a part of your wedding?”
“Logan and I have wondered the same thing many times. All I know is, Sam made a big deal about the importance of starting over. He seems to think the best thing for him and Max is a completely clean slate.”
“And you and Logan, there’s nothing you can do?”
Abby took a slow, deliberate sip of tea, focusing on the slightly bitter flavor as it slid down her throat.This isn’t the time or place for tears, she told herself for the hundredth time. After swallowing the tea along with her emotions, she said evenly, “Unfortunately, no. We have zero influence in Max’s life now.”
As a foster parent, she knew the risks. Permanent placement was never guaranteed. In fact, parental reconciliation was usually the goal. A foster parent willingly opened their heart to a child with the full understanding that one day, they might have to say goodbye forever. So why did she feel so much resentment toward Sam for taking Max away? Why could her mind acknowledge, and even accept, his decision while her heart railed against it?
“I’m so sorry, Abs. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to welcome a child into your life and family and then wake up one morning and have everything change.” CeCe hesitated, her brow knitting before she asked quietly, “If you could go back and do it all over again, would you?”
Abby set the teacup back on its saucer and met her friend’s gaze. Without a flicker of doubt, she answered honestly, from the depths of her heart. “Yes, I would. The time we had with Max was worth all the pain we’re enduring now. I’d never give that up, even though it’s hard.” She paused thoughtfully before adding, “After losing Donnie, and everything we’ve gone through with Max, I think I’m finally starting to realize something about loss. Healing isn’t always about erasing the sadness. It’s about learning to let the joy back in.”
Abby thought of the darkest moments in her life; how she thought she’d never see light again. And yet, the light always found a way, filtering through the cracks, at first, then beaming brightly, eradicating the shadows. “Loving someone isn’t always easy, but it’s a blessing unlike any other because it transforms us, from the inside out. It’s worth cultivating, whatever the cost.”
Abby clung to that truth throughout the day’s festivities. It carried her through the games and the opening of gifts. She’d even managed to nudge Max from her thoughts long enough to actually enjoy herself for a few hours.
She perched on a white wicker chair while her friends sat in a semicircle around her, oohing and ahhing over embroidered linen napkins and monogrammed bath towels. When she finally finished opening the last present, Abby thanked them all profusely, touched by their love and generosity.
“Hold on,” Nadia said, snatching a card off the table. “There’s one more.” She handed her a plain white envelope with the wordsA Wedding Giftscribbled across the front. “Logan found this inside your mailbox this morning. He thought if you opened it today, it would be one less gift to keep track of after the wedding.”
