Returning Hearts

Chapter 6: Dinner

August has a thousand things running through her head as she tries to be her old happy self. Jackson may be with another woman, but she has to show him she is okay. She keeps thinking about the text message she sent Jackson last night and wonders why he never responded to it. He hasn't even mentioned it as they have been walking together. Maybe Isabelle has healed him in ways I never could. August feels regret as she tries to make sense of his lack of response to her text.

"If you want to take Dolly up with you to change, I will go get my car?"

August manages to smile. "That sounds like a plan. See you in a few."

Jackson nods. "See you in a few."

She watches Jackson head off back through the park as she pats Dolly. "Come on girl." She lightly tugs on Dolly's leash as she makes her way across the street and up to her hotel room as quickly as she can. As soon as she enters her room, she begins to excitedly undress and search her luggage for the blue dress she has already packed. She remembers Jackson always saying he loved her in blue. Finding the dress, she quickly slides into it before checking her hair and makeup and finding her shoes. "Bye Dolly." August excitedly says blowing her a kiss as she exits.

August sees Jackson standing next to the passenger side of his car as she exits the hotel. He is looking down at his phone as she moves closer to him. "I'm all ready." He looks confused and surprised as he looks up at her from his phone searching her eyes for a moment. Why is he looking at me like that? What is wrong? Has he changed his mind? Maybe I look bad in this dress. She looks down at her dress and back up at Jackson.

"You look beautiful." Jackson sounds sad and somewhere else as he speaks. He opens the door for August and seems distracted as she slides into the passenger seat. After closing her door, he walks over to get in the driver's seat but pauses for a moment before getting in and starting the car.

"Is everything ok? If you have other plans or need to do something else, I understand. It isn't a big deal." August nervously wonders if it is Isabelle. She realizes Isabelle probably wouldn't be okay with Jackson taking his ex-wife out.

"No. I don't have other plans. Everything is fine." Jackson fakes a smile as he pulls out onto the roadway.

"How long have you had this car? I like it." August looks around admiringly.

"I have had it about a year."

"I would have thought you would buy a sportier single guy kind of car. Like a corvette or a jaguar."

Jackson laughs. "Well, ironically I did have a jaguar for a little while before this car but it didn't make me as happy as I thought it would."

"What?" August asks surprised. "I would have thought it would make you super happy. You always wanted one." August sees Jackson's saddened expression and realizes he is thinking about their old life and Zuri. She decides to think of a distraction. "I bet that trumpet player we liked so much is still at the jazz club huh?"

"I don't know actually. I haven't been there since the last time we went together. When was that?"

August thinks back trying to remember. "I think Zuri was around two and she stayed the night at your parents. We stayed there until around three in the morning dancing." She smiles as she remembers. "You were sweet enough to carry me into the house because my feet hurt so badly."

"That wasn't why I was carrying you in." Jackson looks over at August and they both begin to laugh. After a moment Jackson shakes his head, "Has it really been that long?"

"Just about 3 years." August reaches over to put her hand on his before she catches herself and places it back in her lap hoping he didn't notice.

"I haven't danced in... I don't know when."