Happenstance 3 (Happenstance #3)(27)
Author: Jamie McGuire

“You got it,” I said, turning.

Jordan and Frankie both watched me take a cone from the holder and then pull on the soft-serve lever. I made his extra-tall cone, smiled as I created my very last curl on the top, and then turned again, dipping the ice cream into the cherry coating. The gooey red layer hardened as I carefully handed it to Weston under the window.

“Thanks, babe,” he said before taking a large bite off the top as he always did. “I wanted to be your last one.”

He dropped a few dollars on the counter, and I gave him his change. He winked at me before swaggering back to his pickup.

“That,” Frankie said, “was disgusting. I’m so glad today is your last day, so I’ll no longer be forced to witness your grotesque public affection.”

“Technically, that wasn’t PDA,” Jordan said. She shrank back when Frankie shot her an intimidating glare.

I crossed my arms. “How is Mark? He’s come to the drive-through at least once every time I’ve been here.”

She snarled, “He is wonderful. He allegedly loves me and my crazy kids. He wants to move in together. I said not yet.”

“Not yet?” I asked.

“He’s nice. I like him a lot. But not yet.”

“Fair enough,” I said.

“I still can’t believe you’re leaving me,” Frankie whined, turning to restock the cups. “I mean, I knew it was coming. I’ve known you weren’t going to stick around here, but it won’t be the same without you.”

“That doesn’t make me feel bad at all,” Jordan said, pushing up her black-rimmed glasses.

“It’s not all about you, sticky fingers,” Frankie snapped.

Jordan shot her a look of confusion, and Frankie narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t think I haven’t seen you popping M&M’s into your mouth every time you walk by.”

Jordan shook her head. “I haven’t. I—”

Frankie pointed at her. “You’re lucky you use plastic spoons. Otherwise, that’s unsanitary, and Patty would fire you for contaminating the toppings.”

Jordan began to protest again, but I touched her shoulder. “She warms up.”

“No, I don’t,” Frankie grumbled, picking at the wet rag in her hand.

She does, I mouthed.

Jordan nodded, a desperate expression on her face.

I remembered my first days with Frankie. She’d yelled at me a lot, accused me of eating the candy, and then offered me a ride home.

Jordan was quiet, like me, and would do just fine.

Patty came in with a bright smile on her face. I untied my apron and hung it on the hook for the last time.

“I can’t watch,” Frankie said, turning her back to me.

“Thought I’d come by to say good-bye,” Patty said.

She hugged me, and then Frankie turned and hugged me at the same time.

They held me longer than I had expected, so my eyes danced around the room while I waited for them to let go. I patted Frankie’s shoulder, and then Patty finally eased her grip.

“We’re going to miss you around here, kiddo. Have fun at college,” Patty said with a wink. “Try to visit if you get a chance.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Patty, for…” The list was too long. “Everything. I’m really going to miss it here. You’ve always been good to me.”

“You’ve always deserved it,” Patty said.

“Get out of here.” Frankie sniffed. “Enjoy what’s left of your summer.”

I hugged them once more, waved to Jordan, and then walked through the back room, pulling my car keys out of my pocket.

Weston had turned north out of the parking lot, so I knew he wasn’t headed home.

After getting into my BMW, I sat in the driver’s seat and pressed the ignition button, listening to the engine snarl to life just as my phone chimed. Then, it sounded again.

One text message was from Weston, and the other was from Sam, both asking how my day had gone. I grinned. They were my favorite men in the entire universe.

I responded to both of them that I was sad, happy, and on my way home. Then, I pulled the gear into drive. Being behind the wheel of my shiny red BMW was no longer nerve-racking. My hands didn’t tremble every time the wheels moved forward. I could change lanes like it was nothing, and sometimes, I would even go a mile or two over the speed limit.

When I arrived, Julianne was just getting out of her car, looking svelte in a dark pantsuit. “Hi, honey!” she lilted when I stepped out of the car. “How was work?” Her voice echoed in the oversized garage.

“Good. A little sad. Where have you been?”

“At the clinic,” she said, her eyes bright. “Paperwork.”

“You’re really doing it?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said quickly. Then, her smile faded a bit. “Is that okay?”

“Yeah!” I said, my voice too high. “Completely. I’m super excited for you.”

Her smile returned, and she sighed, relieved. “Are you sure you won’t need me? You’ll just be settling in—”

“I’ll be fine. I can just call you, right?”

“Right!” she said, nodding emphatically. “Uh…dinner? I’m craving Los Potros like crazy.”

“Me, too, actually,” I said.

She gestured for me to follow her inside the house. “I’ll call Sam. I think his last case might be over by five, if we’re lucky.”

“I’ll just…” I began, pointing upstairs.

“Oh, yeah. Wash the Queen off. I’ll be down here, ready when you are,” she said, half in the kitchen, half in the hallway. She was tugging her earrings from the holes in her ears.

“It won’t take long.” I headed for the stairs.

She dismissively waved me away. “Take your time. Oh! Erin?” she called.

I paused. The tone in her voice was different but familiar. She was nervous, unsure.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Can you come here for a minute?”

I joined her in the kitchen. She held a rectangular piece of thin paper in her hand with an uneasy grin on her face.

“What’s that?” I asked

She held it out for me to see. “Sam found it. It’s the darnedest thing. Just hadn’t dawned on me until now.”

I stood next to her, taking a glimpse at the photograph in her hand. It was of Julianne in a hospital bed. She was red-faced, sweaty, and overjoyed.