Unexpected Arrivals(54)
She giggled on the other end. “Not really what I had in mind, although I’m glad to hear you were able to complete the egg heist of the year from the golden arches.”
“It may not seem like much, but that extra protein put a pep in my step. They even upsized my coffee for the extended wait in the drive-thru.”
“What are you going to do with all that good fortune, Carp? You should go out and buy a lottery ticket right away. Luck like this doesn’t come along often.”
“I’ll get one for you while I’m at it.”
There was a slight lull, though nothing uncomfortable. I wondered if she was thinking about winning the lottery like I was and what she’d do with that kind of money. However, before I could ask, she shot out her own question.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.” We both said the words, almost verbatim, at the same time.
“You first,” she insisted.
I couldn’t imagine what she had to talk to me about, but her tone had been serious, and I wondered why she didn’t go first. Maybe it had to do with her mom and putting it off as long as possible was preferable.
“I finally booked a trip to Paris.” The words raced out as though I’d be burned with their touch if they lingered on my lips too long.
“Oh.”
That wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. Before I could say anything else, she spoke again.
“Carp, that’s wonderful. When are you going?” Her excitement didn’t seem genuine, but I couldn’t say for sure. She could have just been expecting something else.
“Not until the end of December. I’m going to spend New Year’s there.”
“That’s great. How long are you staying?”
“Ten days. You don’t sound interested; we can talk about this another time.” I tried to give her an out. I’m sure it was hard to be ecstatic for me with what she was dealing with in Florida.
“No, no. I’m sorry. I’m really excited for you. Are you going to make a list of things to do with Cora? You have to go to the Eiffel Tower at night.” Her tone changed instantly when I’d pointed out her indifference.
“Have you ever been?”
“Uh-uh, but it’s on my bucket list, and the pictures at night are stunning. So just in case I never get to go, you have to visit and tell me all about it.”
“I’m sure you’ll get to go. You’re young. Maybe you’ll honeymoon in Paris.” The moment the words slipped out, I regretted them. She didn’t even have any friends, much less dates that might evolve into a marriage. And I couldn’t imagine it was even something she was considering. “I’m sorry, Chelsea. That was insensitive.”
“It’s fine. I promise. I won’t always be waiting for my mom to die.” Something else hovered in her voice, but whatever it was, she didn’t say it.
The conversation stalled, and I felt awkward sitting with the phone to my ear when I remembered she’d had something to say.
“What was it you wanted to talk about?”
The moment she responded, I knew she was blowing me off. “Oh, nothing. It’s not important. Your news is way more interesting.”
I hadn’t mapped out the trip because Cora had places she picked to go, but I was excited to have someone to share my only plan with. I hadn’t even told Neil. However, Chelsea had been such an advocate of my relationship with Cora that I wanted her to be the first person to know that I intended to propose. And figured she might even be able to help me figure out what to do about the setting I’d never purchased and the best place to pop the question.
If she’d been shocked, she didn’t say it, or even hint at it. Her enthusiasm spurred my decision on. Chelsea was as much of a hopeless romantic as I was, and part of me thought her ideas were what she’d fanaticized her own proposal being. I couldn’t make that happen for her, although I could certainly work it into what I did for Cora. I hadn’t heard Chelsea this happy in all the times we’d talked.
She was genuinely excited for me and promised to keep her fingers crossed that Cora would say yes and finally come home. God, I hoped for the same thing.
***
“Are you sure you’re making the right decision?” Neil questioned everything I did in regard to Cora, likely because Hannah questioned everything I did in regard to Cora. However, he’d been sworn to secrecy about this, and if Cora found out, there was only one place it would have come from.
“Maybe not, but at least I won’t have any regrets. And Chelsea thinks it’s romantic, so I’m sure Cora will, too.”
“I’m not sure taking another woman’s advice on proposing is the best thing to do. Not to mention, spending thousands of dollars you can’t get back to ensure you don’t regret anything is asinine. You can propose after she comes home.”
“I had planned to propose before she ever left.”
“Yeah, but you haven’t been together in a year and a half. You aren’t dating. What if she turns you down?”
“I’m not thinking that way.” I couldn’t. Chelsea was convinced she’d say yes, and I was too. I had to believe Cora loved me and had only needed time to grow into who she was destined to become before she came back. She’d turned down Drake Halifax even after we’d broken up; that had to mean something—other than she wasn’t into rich old men.