Love Reunited

“I couldn’t be the kind of wife he wanted anymore.” Georgiana’s heart ached with the admission. “He’s a partner in his firm. He has to make a statement to their clients and to the public in general. How was I supposed to blend with those country-club folks when I couldn’t see? I had no idea what they were wearing, no idea where they were going. Plus I’d just had Abi and wanted to be with my baby.”

“Honey, you don’t need to explain to me. If that boy would have been a real husband, he’d have built you up at your lowest point instead of kicking you down. And don’t you go defending him. I’ll always care about him because he’s Abi’s daddy, but I don’t think a thing of him for the way he treated my little girl.”

“Mom, please. What guy would have stayed?”

Eden didn’t miss a beat. “I can think of one.”

“You don’t know that. And I wouldn’t want anyone to stay with me out of pity.”

“Georgiana, Pete has brainwashed you into thinking no one would want you now. I saw the way Landon looked at you last night, and there wasn’t an ounce of pity to it. Longing maybe, but not pity.”

A tiny trickle of hope worked its way into Georgiana’s heart, but then just as quickly, she heard Pete’s words.

“Good Lord, Georgiana. Look at you. Your hair looks like a troll doll and your clothes look like something from thrift-store central. I’m taking you to mingle with my colleagues. I can’t take a wife that looks like that!” The sounds of slamming doors and several derogatory names Georgiana didn’t want to remember, then “Just forget it. I don’t want you there anyway. Charity, you can go home. We won’t need a babysitter tonight.” Then, to Georgiana, “You can still handle taking care of our daughter, can’t you?” Another slamming door. And another miserable night by herself with Abi as her only comfort.

“Mom, Landon wouldn’t want me now.”

“I’m not going to listen to that kind of talk. A moment ago, you were starting to believe what I was saying. That’s what you need to concentrate on, not everything that you heard from Pete. I mean that.”

“I don’t even know if Landon has someone in his life now. That is a possibility, you know. He could have married, had children...”

“Nope, and nope. He never married and didn’t have kids. You forget I see John at church and he watches the place for me anytime I’m gone.”

“You did not ask him if Landon had married.”

“Dear, Claremont is a small town. I ask if everyone has married. And who has had kids. And who has passed on. Actually, half the time you don’t even have to ask. It’s right there every Sunday in the church bulletin.”

“Nothing like gossip started in a church handout.”

“It isn’t gossip, dear. It’s the announcements,” Eden said, and Georgiana couldn’t hold back her laugh.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I know. I love you too.” Eden gave her a tender hug. “Now remember that you are a fine catch, and I’m betting that there’s a guy coming to see you today who knows that better than most.”

“But Mom, you’ve forgotten the other problem with Landon and me talking again.”

“What’s that?”

“He still doesn’t know what caused my blindness.”

“So he’ll ask, and you’ll tell him,” Eden said, as though that were all there was to it. But surely she knew it wasn’t that easy.

“And then he’ll blame himself.”

“Honey, God has his reasons for everything that happens in life. And He had a reason for what happened on that day. That’s what you’ll have to tell Landon.”

“Then pray that he doesn’t blame himself? And pray just as hard that he doesn’t blame me for not telling him?”

“He told you he loved you,” her mother reminded. “Do you honestly think those feelings are gone?”

“Until yesterday we hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in eight years. That’s hardly what people do if they love each other.” She finished her coffee, placed the empty mug on the top of the rail.

“He left because you chose Pete.”

“And it’s like you said, everything happens for a reason.”

Her mother was silent for a moment, then whispered. “Georgiana?”

“Yes?”

“I think you’re right. And if everything does happen for a reason, then I have to believe that Landon’s return to Claremont right after you came home happened for a reason.”

Georgiana wasn’t expecting that. “Things change in eight years. People change in eight years.”

“I saw it in his eyes last night, Georgiana. He still cares about you. To what extent, I don’t know, but he definitely still cares.”

Georgiana wished she could’ve seen Landon’s eyes, and she decided to ask the question she was dying to have answered. “Mom, about Landon.”

“What about him?”

“What does he look like now? I mean, has he changed since high school, or does he still look the same?” She’d wondered ever since she heard that rich baritone yesterday afternoon, because in her mind she pictured the same gorgeous boy she’d known way back then. But time might have changed his appearance, and though it wouldn’t change the way she felt about him, she was more curious than she cared to admit.

“Oh, he still looks the same as he did back then,” her mother said.

“Does he?”

“Well, I mean, for the most part,” Eden continued, and Georgiana could hear the smile in her tone. “He’s broader, more muscled up, I guess you’d say.”

“More muscled up?” That would be hard to accomplish, since he was at peak shape back in high school, the best running back Claremont ever had as far as she knew. Wide shoulders, lean waist and powerful thighs that he used skillfully whenever he needed another few yards to make a first down. Or a touchdown. Landon had made his share of touchdowns during his career at Claremont High. Two more than Pete. Georgiana knew because Pete often complained about the fact and spouted the three plays where he could have scored if his line had only done their job, which would have put him over Landon’s record.

“His hair is short too, army style,” her mother continued. “That’s the biggest difference, I guess, and he looks more like a man now, not a boy.”

Georgiana nodded, wishing she could have seen the man her mother described. She’d never seen Landon with short hair. He’d always kept it long and wavy. Having his hair away from his face probably drew more attention to the chiseled jaw and the gold in his eyes. Landon was the only person she’d ever seen with eyes that were truly amber, like honey in sunshine.

“Same deep dimples,” her mother said, still describing the guy that was slowly but surely controlling Georgiana’s every thought. “They should outlaw those Cutter dimples. All three of them have those dimples, and even women as old as me notice. Landon, John and even that young Casey.”

That made Georgiana laugh. “So you’re saying Landon’s still a decent body double for Matthew McConaughey?”

“I’d forgotten how you used to say that about him,” her mother said with a laugh, “but yes, he looks like him.”

Georgiana nodded, thought about the gorgeous guy who’d been her best friend.

The barn grew quiet, with both of them evidently reflecting on how things could have been so different.

“Georgiana,” her mother finally said.

“Yes?”