Just In Time For Love (Stanton Falls #1) (2 page)

“Whoa there Aaron.
 First of all, keep your priorities right buddy.  Call of Duty before
the girl that completely forgot about you years ago.  I imagine I don’t
have much choice now but to be the town gossip.  I actually didn’t find
out until a few days ago either so being the pal that I am, I did a little
recon for you.   I can let you know without a doubt that Emily moved
back to town a few weeks back and she’s been working as a nurse at Stanton
General since last week.  I thought you would be one of the first people
that she would see when she got back.”

Aaron was in shock.
 She was back.  Emily.  
His Emily.
 The only woman
that he had ever seen himself marrying had returned to town.  

She’s been her for
weeks?  I wonder why she didn’t at least look me up.  

Aaron listened as his
friend continued to drone on about all kinds of things that could in no way
hold his attention compared to the revelation that had been dropped on him.

Emily walked into the
house after work completely out of energy.  Who knew that so many people
visited the small town hospital?  She figured it would be really slow
compared to the practice that she worked at in California.  She hadn’t
figured she would be one of only three nurses on staff.  To actually call
it a hospital seemed like a stretch.  It was more like a medium sized
clinic or an urgent care facility.   Any time something really big
needed to be done, they would be sent to a much larger facility in the
neighboring city.  That day she was in charge of several patients all by
herself and it had taken a toll on her but she enjoyed it.  It was nice to
know a lot of the people that showed up.  She locked the door behind her
and saw her mother on the couch playing with Ashleigh.  

“You know mom, if I
didn’t know any better I’d think you asked me back here just so you could spend
all your days with her.”

“Emily, you did just get
home a little late so I fed her and have spent the last...wow, half hour
playing with her.  Honey, I can’t lie.  I do love this little girl.
 You can’t blame me.  I get the chance to be a grandma and help my
daughter at the same time, that’s a win for me.  With your father being
his ‘I just wanna go fishing when I retire’ self, and your sister having moved
out, it was getting quiet here.  I’m happier than you know that you
decided to come home.”

“Thanks mom.
 Honestly I don’t know what I would have done trying to stay out there.
 I…”

She was interrupted by
the doorbell.

“I’ll get it.”
   

Emily opened the front
door and her breath caught in her throat.

“Aaron?  Oh my
gosh.  Hi.  Wha- What are you doing here?”

“I could say the same
thing to you.  I heard today that you were back in town but I had to see
it for myself.  You are definitely a site for sore eyes.”

She thought he looked
just as handsome as he did the last time she had seen him.  That was years
ago, before he went off to the marines and war.  His long hair had been
cut short and stylish and his boyish smile had become a man’s.  His
shoulders had become broader and he was obviously more muscular, no doubt due
to the hefty training that they did in the armed forces.  Still beyond all
that, what she saw was that same guy from five years ago that she once knew
unquestionably that she was in love with.  

“Uh, yeah.  It’s
good to see you too.”

“Nick told me that you
were back but didn’t know when you work.  Since I didn’t really have a
working number for you anymore I figured I’d just stop by.  I hope it’s
not an issue.”  

Of course Nick told you,
because he can’t keep anything to himself.

Emily tried to keep a
low profile since she had been back.  She rarely went anywhere. She didn’t
want to see any of her old friends.  With a town that small, it was
eventually going to happen.  Nick was actually one of a few people that
she had bumped into.   She was getting coffee last week when he
spotted her leaving the cafe.  When they were all younger, anything Nick
knew, Aaron knew and it was apparent that things hadn’t changed.  She
assumed it would only be a matter of time before Aaron dropped by looking for
her.  Her mother called out to her from the other room.

“Who is it Emily?”

“Um, it’s Aaron mom.”

“Does he want to come in
for coffee?  Maybe you guys could catch up.”

She could tell by the
look on his face that he would be open to the invitation, but that was the last
thing she wanted to do right then.  She was tired and wasn’t sure she
wanted to take the time to introduce her baby to her old high school flame.
 It wasn’t that easy at all.

“I would invite you in
but I’m really tired.  Had a long day at work today.”

His smile waned when he
recognized that she was brushing him off.  She was telling the truth
though.  She didn’t even have the energy to cook up a better story.  

“No problem.  It
was kind of assumptive of me to just show up here unannounced tonight.  I
was thinking that maybe we can meet for lunch one day, catch up on old times.”

“I don’t know Aaron.
 To be honest with you, I’m just trying to get my feet under me now that
I’m back.  I don’t think that’s the best idea right now.”

“I understand.
 Well I guess I’ll just see you around then.  It was really nice
seeing you Emily.”  

“You too Aaron.
 Bye.”

“Um, yeah bye.”

She closed the door and
stood, staring at the back of the door for a moment, then slid over to peep out
the window as she watched him walk back to his truck.  She knew Aaron and
could tell by the look on his face that he had hopes popping up at her home
that night.  Was it still that he still had feelings for her?  It
didn’t matter.  Even for a guy as good as him, it was one thing to be
sweethearts, but there was no way he would want anything to do with her when he
found out she had a baby.  There was no doubt in her mind that he would
lose any feeling he had for her the moment he found out about Ashleigh.
 She walked back into the living room to find her mother’s gaze settled on
her.

“Honey, why didn’t you invite
him in?”

“I don’t know mom.
 I just don’t think it really makes sense.  He was my past and I
don’t have time for the past anymore.”

“Even so sweetie, it
doesn’t mean you can’t have friends does it?”

“Maybe, but you didn’t
see the look in his eyes.  He looked like he was in love.  That was
the same way he used to look at me years ago before he left for the marines.
 I can’t imagine how he will look at me now.”

“All that because of a
baby?  Emily I’m not sure how you got so cynical when you were at school
but you really need to give people more credit.”

“Mom, really.  This
is getting dangerously close to one of the lectures that you promised me you
wouldn’t have with me if I moved back in.”

“Okay, okay.  I
won’t say another thing about it.  Just be open minded Emily.”

“I will mom.”

As far as she was
concerned there was absolutely nothing to be open minded about.  Emily
knew her mother meant good but life wasn’t as black and white as her mother saw
it.  No matter how much she found herself wishing things were different
she would always be honest with herself.  Ultimately, Aaron wasn’t in the
future that she saw for herself and her daughter.  

***

Aaron was taken aback.
 It was one thing to not invite him in, but it was something totally
different to not even want to spend any time around him.   He had
told her he understood but the truth was that she was making no sense to him at
all.  Ever since she stopped talking to him all those years ago, he had
always wondered why.  They were always great for each other and everyone
in town thought that they were a lock to get married for sure.  Looking
back, so did they.  They talked about marriage so often before he left
that he just expected she would return after school and starting a family would
be the next step in their relationship.  When she’d told him that she felt
like they had grown apart, he was overseas and had no way to rush to her and do
everything in his power to change her mind.  Heaven knows he would have
tried.  He even talked to her father about it, trying to get in touch with
her somehow.  They were loyal parents though and respected her wishes.
 She had moved on and he had to as well.  

That was a reality that
he had forced himself to deal with, but hearing that she was back, he thought that
there was at least a chance.  He hadn’t dated anyone since he had been
back.  He’d focused on other things and didn’t find the time in life for a
relationship unless he thought it could go all the way to marriage.  He
hadn’t met a woman since Emily that had that effect on him.  As he thought
of it, he realized that he had met quite a few good women in the past few
years, but none of them compared to her.  He had never gotten over her,
and after seeing her that night, he knew his feelings for her were even
stronger.
 
She was still in every way the
same woman who he had once wanted to be his wife and time had not dulled that
one bit.

Emily was always
ecstatic whenever the fair rolled in to town but she didn’t remember why until
she looked down at Ashleigh who was having the time of her little life.
 She was enjoying cotton candy--getting the blue and pink material in her
hair.  Emily sighed, thinking how much of a chore it was going to be that
night trying to clean her hair up.  Still she was happy that she and Liz
had decided to attend.  She looked up at the clear, starry sky.
 Something she didn’t get a chance to see so much when she was in school.
 She had almost forgotten what it was like to just star gaze.   

“So Emily, have you
gotten used to being back yet?”

Her sister asked her as
they stopped to watch Ashleigh enjoy her sugary treat.  

“You know, it’s like I
never even left.  Besides the obvious addition, it’s the same warm place
that it has always been.”

“I know what you mean.”

Her sister nodded to the
figure approaching them and waved.  She spoke to Aaron as he approached
her and Emily.    

“I see some things don’t
change at all.  Hi Aaron.”

Startled, Emily looked
up to see that Aaron was indeed walking in their direction--wearing that same
adorable smile.  

Why am I being tortured
like this?

Having made up her mind
that they had no future together, the constant meeting was not going to be
something she would enjoy having on a regular basis.

“Liz, Emily.  How
are you ladies tonight?”

“We’re fine.  But
what are
you
doing here?  If I remember correctly, you didn’t like
coming to these money stealing trap games unless you were gonna win me a
stuffed animal.”

“Still feel the same.
 I remembered you to be a total creature of habit.  No matter how
long you have been away, you could never deny yourself some good old fair food.
 Nothing like a powdered sugar and cinnamon covered elephant ear for you.
 Lucky for me that some things never change.”

Liz chimed in.

“Didn’t I just tell you
that Emily?  Some things don’t change whatsoever.”

“Yes you did, sis.”
 Emily responded, slightly annoyed at her sister who was giving her a
silent look that said that she had better talk to him.  

“What’s more, I’m still
the best ring tosser you’ll ever find.  Are you in need of a new stuffed
cow?”

“Oooh, that sounds nice
but I don’t really keep stuffed animals anymore.”

Just then Aaron looked
down and noticed the little girl that had walked over from Emily.  She had
begun to color his pants in the very decorative blues and pinks of cotton
candy.  

“Oh no, sweetie, don’t
do that.”

Liz grabbed her.  

“Emily, I’m going to go
get her hands cleaned up.  I’ll be right back.”

“Let me take care of it
Liz.”

“No, you stay here and
catch up.  C’mon Ashleigh.”

Thanks!  Catch a
hint please.  

She directed her
attention to Aaron’s now pastel colored pant leg.  

“I’m so sorry about
that.  She’s just a really friendly child.  I’m trying to teach her
to be more careful, but you know how kids are.”

“Definitely.  Don’t
worry about it.  She was cute as all can be.  So you guys have family
in town?”

Emily didn’t know what
to say.   She had almost forgotten that she hadn’t told too many people
about Ashleigh, and certainly not Aaron.  No point in lying about it then.
 

“You could say that.
 More like permanent family.  Her name is Ashleigh and she is...my
daughter.”

She watched as confusion
filled his face.  

“Your daughter?  As
in a baby that you gave birth to?”

That was why she didn’t
want to tell him or anyone.  She could see him judging her.

“Of course!  How
else do people have babies?  That stork stuff is not true you know.”

“But you’re not supposed
to have a baby.”

“Yeah, well a lot of
things happened that weren’t supposed to.  Regardless, you have no right
to judge me.  I am completely happy with my life and my daughter and I
wouldn’t change it for anyone or anything in the world.  And I didn’t ask
for your approval, or anyone else’s for that matter.”

“I didn’t mean it like
that.  I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well I don’t need
your apologies either.  I have to go.  Excuse me.”

She stormed off, leaving
him standing in the middle of the fair with cotton candy pants and the most
dumbfounded look ever on his face.  He hadn’t meant to upset her but then
again, how could he possibly be prepared to hear that the woman he had loved to
no end had gone and had a baby for another man.  He didn’t even chase
after her.  He couldn’t.  He had to at least process the things he’d
just learned.  

***

Emily sat at the table
while her mother prepared Saturday morning breakfast for everyone.
 
She was still thinking about the previous
night.  She was still furious that he had looked at her like that--like she
had committed a crime.  If it had been anyone else, it would not have
mattered to her as much.
 
But Aaron was
supposed to be different.  Deep down that was what she had hoped but he’d
proven her wrong only hours ago.  

“Emily?  Honey are you
listening to anything that you mother and I are saying to you?”

“I’m sorry.  I
heard you but my mind was preoccupied.  What were you saying again?”

“We were saying that
it’s high time that this little girl gets dedicated to the Lord.”

“I don’t know.  I
mean I know you guys are really deep into your religion and what you believe
but I don’t know if I feel the same way anymore.  And even if I did, I
don’t know if I can commit to something like that.  I know you guys won’t
understand this but I made some pretty bad choices when I was at school.
 I’m not the same little girl that I was when I left.  Truth is I
don’t know if I even want to go into that building and have all those people
criticizing me.  I used to be all into missions and holier than thou, and
now here I come.  Single, never married mother bringing in my child for
dedication.  When they don’t see a father, I know what they will be
thinking and I don’t see any reason to do that to myself.  ”

“Oh honey, your father
and I know that you aren’t a child anymore.  You have grown up a lot and
anyone can see that you are a woman now.  And a mother.  You don’t
have to be perfect to dedicate a baby to God.  In fact, you could never
be.  We would all be with you.  Your father, me and your sister.
 Altogether, just saying we are going to do our best.  Nothing more.”

“I hear you mom.  I
just don’t know.  Besides, isn’t she too old for that anyway?  I
thought it was only babies that got dedicated.”

“Now that is nonsense.
 Any time a parent wants to do that, it can be done.”

“Alright.  I will
think about it, but no promises.”

Her father spoke up.

“Of course Emily.
 Now on a different note.  What is going on with you and Aaron?”

“What do you mean by
that?”

“Well when he was here
last week, your mother told me that you ran him off.  I know you two
aren’t together anymore but that seemed a bit harsh.  Did something
happen?”

“No dad.  Not then.
 But when Liz and I took Ashleigh to the fair, he was there and when he
found out that she was my child, I can’t explain to you in words the look he
gave me.  There is no way that he sees me the same anymore.”

“Did he say anything?”

“Well no but…”

“But what Emily?
 It sounds like you’re deciding for him.  Everyone isn’t going to love
you or even like you, that is true, but you can’t make the decision for them.
 If you are just assuming what people feel, that’s not fair.  If you
don’t want to talk to him, that’s ok too but don’t let it be because of what
you think he might have wanted to say.  He’s grown up to be a pretty good
young man.  He might surprise you.”

“Yeah, or he might act
just like I expect.”

“There is that too.
 All I am saying is you don’t really know, and if you keep thinking that
way you’ll never give anyone a chance.  No matter what you think honey,
you are never too far gone unless you believe that you are.”

Her parents always had a
way of putting things in perspective.  

She got up from the
table, and planted a kiss on both of her parent’s cheeks before doing the same
to Ashleigh--admonishing her to behave until she returned from work that night.