Page 40

chapter thirty

Jillian

“ I s this Jillian Taylor?”

I twisted the cap back onto my lip gloss and rubbed my lips together. “Yes, it is,” I answered, a little confused as to why the rheumatology department at IU Health was calling me this late on a Friday afternoon. When I called the day before, they weren’t able to get me in for five weeks.

It was disappointing, but not surprising, so I just accepted it and let them put me on a cancellation list. For them to call me again so soon must have meant my insurance was denied or there was an issue with my online paperwork.

“We have a cancellation for Tuesday afternoon at four. Could you make it then?”

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck. I’d be in New York for the conference that day.

And then I gasped. No, my flight would have landed in Indianapolis by then. If I somehow went to the doctor straight from the airport, I’d probably be able to make it.

This could actually work.

“Oh my God, yes! I’ll take it!” I yelled, giddy with relief. This was the doctor who diagnosed Graham’s aunt and finally got her some treatment. My heart fluttered just thinking about how much this could help me.

And it might not have happened if it weren’t for Graham. I’d have to remember to thank him again at the Gardners’ later.

After hanging up with the receptionist, I turned back to the bathroom mirror to finish my make-up. It was almost time for weekly book club at the Gardners’.

I smiled as I picked up my setting spray. Because this wasn’t going to be just a book club meeting. My friends were up to something. Besides a brief “happy birthday” text, Meghan had suspiciously not mentioned my turning thirty all day.

And Graham. I laughed when I remembered the way he squirmed when I joked about blowing off the Gardners’ that night to order take-out with him instead.

I was just testing him, and his uneasy reaction told me everything.

They had something up their sleeve. Maybe a cake.

And knowing Sarah’s tendency to overdo things, she’d probably strung up some decorations on the patio.

The first clue that perhaps I was underestimating the situation was the number of cars parked along the Gardners’ street. It made me raise an eyebrow, but I told myself all the couples probably drove separately.

The second clue was the total silence from the backyard as I made my way through the Gardners’ house.

The men weren’t playing poker, either. “What’s going on?

” I said aloud to no one, laughing as I made my way to the patio door.

I could already see them—not just the usual suspects, but some extra people, too.

I pulled open the sliding glass door.

“Surprise!”

I blinked and took a step back, completely stunned.

Nothing could have prepared me for this.

I looked around and saw the faces of all kinds of people I’d connected with in Woodvale over the years.

Friends, co-workers, and acquaintances from all corners of my life.

Standing there with the rest of the news crew was Clint, our main camera operator, and even Olivia, who was smiling like she’d been holding in this secret all week.

Even the mayor’s assistant and the president of the Chamber of Commerce were there, squeezed between friends I hadn’t seen in ages.

“What the hell?” I laughed out, cupping my hand over my mouth.

And there was a theme. Somehow, my friends had put together a full backyard carnival, with red and yellow pennant banners that stretched from one end of the yard to the other and a wall of balloons I could only assume were part of a dart game.

There were cornhole boards set up in the corner of the yard, and they’d even rented popcorn and cotton candy machines.

The smell instantly transported me back to all the Tennessee State Fairs I’d gone to as a kid.

The nostalgia stole the breath right from my lungs.

My eyes were already filling up with tears when Meghan and Chase stepped aside to reveal something, almost like they were pulling back a curtain.

And there were my parents.

“Oh my God,” I choked out, covering my face with both hands.

There was no holding back those tears anymore.

I looked over at Meghan as I made a beeline for my mom.

None of the people in this backyard had even met my parents—how did this happen?

I spotted Graham a second before I threw my arms around my mom’s neck, and he was grinning down at the ground.

Maybe he had something to do with this, having been the one to hold me the night I missed my mom.

I’d ended up telling him all about how badly I wished I could see her—and he just listened.

I didn’t have time to process that, though. “I can’t believe you’re here,” I told my mom, looking over her shoulder at my dad, who pushed his glasses up with one finger. My mom squeezed me a little tighter, kissing me on the side of my head.

“We didn’t want to be anywhere else on your birthday, hon,” she said with a laugh.

I pulled away and held both of her hands in mine. “How did you—? Who—?”

“Your friend Meghan found me on Facebook.”

That sneaky woman. When I looked up, I realized everyone was standing around staring at me. I gave my dad a quick hug, my mouth still fully agape as I let their presence sink in. The night was already overwhelming, and it had just begun.

I listened to them describe their drive from Knoxville to Woodvale, and my mom told me how beautiful the Gardners’ home was. My dad wondered aloud about its market value, making me glad people were starting to mingle around the yard.

“Meghan’s real sweet, and so is Chance,” my mom said.

“Chase,” I corrected.

“What did I say?”

I just smiled. “Who else did you meet?”

“Well, Sarah and Owen welcomed us in, and a very nice boy named Xander got me a lemonade.”

It was a good thing I wasn’t drinking anything yet, because I might’ve spit it out all over my mom’s face. I kept my face neutral, glancing toward Graham, who quickly raised his beer to his lips like he, too, wanted to laugh.

I turned back to my mom. “Have you guys met my boss?”

She shook her head, politely smiling at Graham. “I don’t think we have.”

I gestured to Graham as he took a step closer. “This is Graham Harlowe, our interim CEO.”

My dad extended his hand to give Graham a nice, firm handshake. “Nice to meet you.”

But my mom, never one to do things halfway, pulled Graham into her for a hug, the sudden movement nearly knocking him off balance. “Sorry, I’m a hugger,” she said, and Graham just let out a deep laugh.

“No apology necessary. I come from a long line of huggers myself.”

I watched my mom beam up at Graham, taking a step back like she was appraising him. “Well, if the CEO of WWTV is here, it must mean our Jillian is pretty special around there, huh?”

Graham’s expression softened a little more. “She’s the glue that holds the whole network together.”

I giggled, feeling a strange mix of pride and awkwardness creeping up in my chest as I listened to Graham and my parents continue to talk about me.

My mom told him about the fake news desk I set up in our living room when I was eight, and Graham’s gentle laugh was so sweet, I forgot this story usually embarrassed me.

The night had just begun, but it already felt perfect.

Eventually, I made my way around the yard, mingling with different groups of people and catching up with old friends.

After the sun dipped low in the sky, someone flipped on the patio lights, and the backyard transformed into something magical.

The colorful pennants overhead flapped in the night breeze, and someone hooked up a speaker over on the patio; because if there was one thing missing, it was definitely Lady Gaga.

Meghan appeared by my side to feed me a piece of pink cotton candy.

“Renting that machine is the best decision I’ve ever made,” she said.

And then she leaned close to my ear to add, “Graham funded this, by the way. All of it. Wouldn’t let the Gardners spend a dime.

It was his idea to get your mom and dad up here, too. ”

My whole body felt warm. I turned toward Graham, who was now on the other side of the yard with Olivia, giving her a goodbye hug. She had some other party to attend with Richie. “Why does he care about me, Meghan?” I whispered.

“Why wouldn’t he?”

Because I had nothing I could give him in return?

I didn’t answer her out loud, because Kendall informed us the icing on my birthday cake was melting.

Before I knew it, I was blowing out my candles, almost tearing up again as I glanced at all the people who were here to celebrate me .

I zeroed in on Graham, who was watching me with that sweet, quiet smile of his.

The crinkles in the corners of his eyes almost made me melt right along with the cake.

None of these people knew this man would probably have me tied to a headboard sometime in the next six hours.

I was dying to steal a moment alone with him, but people approached me all night. Some handed me gifts, asking how I was doing after my little on-air meltdown. Others wanted to know how I felt about my new co-anchor.

Thank you.

I’m fine.

He’s actually great.

When the repetitive conversations became too much, I snuck away to the kitchen to refill my drink. I stood in the Gardners’ kitchen and downed my boozy lemonade, enjoying a moment of silence and the air conditioning.

Xander stepped inside a moment later, glancing over his shoulder as he shut the door behind him. “Hey,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets.

It was ninety degrees out, and he was still wearing jeans.

“No cornhole for you, huh?” I teased.

He smiled from one side of his mouth. “Abigail’s determined to get me to play against her before the night’s over.” He cleared his throat. “We’ll see.”