Every Time We Meet

By A. M. Leibowitz

Heidi’s life may be a complicated balancing act between work, her kids, and a messy relationship with her ex. But all that is about to change when she proposes to her long-time girlfriend at the top of the hill during the annual Lilac Festival. What could be more romantic?

When nothing about her day goes according to plan, and her proposal is rejected, Heidi is devastated. She confesses her one wish to a stranger on a park bench: to have the whole day over again. Little does she know, this will set her on an endless loop of reliving it, each time hoping for a different outcome.

As Heidi replays the events, she confronts her own poor choices and actions. Now she must figure out how to make things right if she hopes to break the cycle and find true love before time runs out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Supposed Crimes, LLC
• Release date: May 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781952150531

A. M. Leibowitz

A. M. Leibowitz is a spouse, parent, feminist, and book-lover falling somewhere on the Geek-Nerd Spectrum. She keeps warm through the long, cold western New York winters by writing romantic plot twists and happy-for-now endings.

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Every Time We Meet

A.M. Leibowitz

Smashwords Edition

Supposed Crimes LLC

Matthews, North Carolina

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2021 A. M. Leibowitz

Published in the United States

ISBN: 978-1-952150-53-1

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

For perfectionists everywhere, with love from your kin

Many thanks to all the people who helped bring this story to life. From my team of beta readers to my wonderful daughter (who is responsible for the cover design), you all have my gratitude.

Day One

I

The smell of coffee from the automatic pot woke Heidi from a deep sleep. She stirred restlessly, vaguely recalling that she’d been dreaming—something about her long-term partner. They’d been together for two years, so it wasn’t surprising Cass would feature in her imagination.

Heidi squinted and peered around. Gray light filtered in around the curtains. She blinked, trying to clear the sleep from her eyes, then opened them fully.

Instantly, she regretted that decision. Her head hurt, no doubt from last night’s celebration with her friends. She screwed her eyes shut then rubbed them. After several attempts, she was able to keep them open. She switched on the radio on her bedside table, wanting to wake up more slowly while listening to her favorite station.

Goooooood morning, Rochester! It was the cheerful voice of Angel Flores. She was one of the usual morning commute co-hosts on WNDR 95.5. We’re live here at the Lilac Festival, where the parade begins in less than a half hour!

That was when it hit Heidi what day it was.

She threw off the covers and dashed around, yanking clothes off hangers and out of drawers. Her alarm hadn’t been set properly, or maybe she’d shut it off instead of hitting snooze. Either way, she was late. There was only enough time to throw on clothes, leave a note for her kids, and grab her coffee to go. She had to be at Highland Park by ten-thirty, and it was five past now. Not even enough time for a shower.

She yanked on her jeans, threw on a white T-shirt, and added a deep violet flannel button-up. Her standard uniform when she wasn’t working at the hospital. She had to search for socks of the same size, and even then, they didn’t match. No time to care.

At her dresser, she fluffed her hair in the mirror and shoved a tube of lip gloss in one pocket. Also a Heidi-standard. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she fished around in the top drawer among her lacy underwear to find it. The ring. If she couldn’t be dressed up, then she’d at least have the best piece of jewelry she could afford when she proposed to Cass underneath the huge magnolia tree right at the top of the hill.

She carefully put the velvet box into her shirt pocket, but it fell out the minute she bent down to pick up her shoes. She replaced it and and buttoned the pocket this time. No sense losing it or all her plans would go awry. She left her bed unmade and went into the kitchen to get that much-deserved—and needed—cup of coffee.

Kate, her oldest daughter, was already at the table. She had cards and envelopes laid out and was filling them in with her careful, neat handwriting. She looked up when Heidi entered.

What’s all this? Heidi asked.

Kate’s mouth hung open for a full five seconds. She closed it and glowered. Mom. Graduation? You know, that thing I’m doing in six weeks? These have to go out as soon as possible.

Oh, damn. I’m sorry, sweetie. I totally forgot. I’ll be home to take them to the post office as soon as I do this one thing.

A sly grin blossomed on Kate’s face. You mean Cass? Today’s the big day.

Yep. Ah, crap. I have to go. You’re getting Max to and from play rehearsal, right? Jilly has her viola recital this afternoon.

Another open-mouthed stare. Again, Mom. You know I can’t bring him home. I have a game, and then I’m going dress shopping for the prom with Bre and Amber. It’s in two weeks, remember?

Heidi didn’t hold back on her swears this time. Fine. I’ll call Dad.

Thanks, Mom. And don’t worry about the invitations. I’ll drop them off on the way to the game. See you there?

I wouldn’t miss it. Heidi bent and kissed the top of Kate’s head. I’ll catch up later, with good news, I hope.

Kate wished her luck, and Heidi dashed out the door. On the way, she phoned Evan, her ex. Divorce wasn’t glamorous, if the last five years of her existence were any indication. She had escaped more fortunate than some, but that didn’t make it any easier. For any number of reasons, she found it difficult to remain civil around Evan, even for the sake of their children. He knew her buttons, and he seemed to take pleasure in pushing every single one of them. Their arguments usually revolved around something with the children: Who was taking time to do what with whom, who would pay for their extracurriculars, whether or not they should be involved in certain activities, who was responsible when the school called with a problem. It was tedious and draining, to say the least.

After more than ten years of marriage, everything had come unraveled. Then there had been several years of trying to make it work, but by the time Jilly was four, Heidi had finally failed. The last straw was when she found evidence that Evan had been cheating on her. She had endured his long hours at work, believing that they would eventually make it past that hurdle. After all, he was establishing himself. He had finally completed his degree, and he had earned a position with his company. For the time being, it provided a stable job. She had breathed a sigh of relief at that point, thinking that perhaps for the first time in their relationship they would not have to struggle.

They had been far too young to be married. In fact, there had really been no good reason for them to take that step, she speculated. Lots of young couples had babies and didn’t bother with all that baggage. Perhaps they should have tried co-parenting, or perhaps Evan would have faded into the background as mere white noise in their daughter’s life. What on earth had they been thinking?

Heidi knew the answer to that question. Evan had always been the kind of person who wanted desperately to do the right thing. It didn’t matter to him that they barely knew each other or that they had only just graduated from high school. It only mattered that he wanted to be the best father he could be the minute Heidi said she was keeping the baby.

That shouldn’t have come as any kind of shock to her. Evan, as far as her teenage self had been concerned, was nearly perfect. He was a star athlete, running cross-country in the fall and track in the winter and spring. He was the sort of good-looking guy who appealed to any adolescent girls who weren’t attached, uninterested in boys, or nuns in training. He was a decent student, although not obsessive about academics. On top of everything else, he was nice.

Was being the key word there. He hadn’t been nice in a long time. She’d had a particularly infuriating conversation with Evan the previous night, mostly about making sure that Max got to the school on time for the upcoming play. There were four performances, but because of her work schedule, she could only get Max there for two of them. She had asked Evan to take care of getting him there and back, to which he had initially agreed. At the last minute, he called to tell her that his wife was not amenable to the schedule and she would have to make other arrangements at least one of those days. Seething and probably intoxicated, Heidi had called late at night to let Evan know exactly what she thought of the new Mrs. Page and her inability to think about someone other than her precious two-year-old. Evan, in turn, had called Heidi a bitter wench and hung up on her.

It had only taken a few phone calls to sort Max out for the play, but she was still seething at Evan’s casual dismissal of their son’s needs. Today, she had to beg him for more help because she’d gotten too involved in her plans with Cass to remember everyone’s activities. Now look who was calling the kettle black.

Morning, sunshine, Evan said when he answered.

It left Heidi more irritated than she already was, given that the weather was definitely not cooperating. It hovered on the edge of rain. Hey. I need a really huge fav—

No, Evan said. Our niece’s baptism is today, and we’re getting ready for it. We talked about this. You can’t depend on me for every last thing when you’re not organized enough. Whatever you need, get Kate’s help or do without.

Evan. They’re your kids too, and you hardly see them.

I have them every weekend that you’re working, and I do the best I can the rest of the time. But you only ever seem to see me as their other parent when you don’t have your own shit together. Goodbye, Heidi.

He ended the call, and Heidi threw her phone onto the passenger seat. She screamed. Well, she’d show him. Nothing said she couldn’t get to the park, pop the question, and be done in time to watch Kate’s game, pick up Max from rehearsal, and have Jilly at her recital. Then she’d be free and clear to get back to the park for the rest of her date with Cass to see the opening concert at the festival. Easy-peasy, right? Right.

***

II

Traffic by the park was horrible. There was no other word for it. Heidi hadn’t exactly forgotten the parade, but she hadn’t exactly remembered it, either. She drummed her fingers on her steering wheel while she sat in the line of cars being redirected around the parade route. In hindsight, she should’ve taken the shuttle. She was late either way, and at least then she’d have been assured of a parking spot.

She finally snagged one at the back of the Al Sigl Center lot, paying several times what she would’ve to take the shuttle. She emerged from her car and slammed the door, darting away and locking it simultaneously like a pro. She checked the time. Nearly an hour late. She mentally crossed and uncrossed her fingers that Cass would be there when she arrived.

Just as she got to the bottom of the hill, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She drew it out. Hey, honey, she said. I’m almost there. Just give me another five minutes to climb the hill, okay?

There was an audible sigh on Cass’s end. You’re out of breath. Have you been running all the way here?

Yeah. I woke up late. Sorry about that. I really am almost there. Heidi’s feet hit the pavement of the path up.

Look, I need to get going. I have a lot to do before the recital. Maybe we can reschedule.

Panic rose in Heidi. She’d planned everything out, and now Cass was leaving. But I—

I’m really sorry, Cass said, not sounding authentic. How about you come with me to set up for the recital? You can bring Jilly, and—

I have to get my other kids to and from all over creation. Kate’s got softball, and Max has a rehearsal. Heidi deflated. Cass wasn’t a whole lot of help with them on average, though Heidi didn’t feel as if she had the right to expect it of her. Cass had so much to do today herself, but maybe she had a little time free first. I hate to ask, but I have to be in multiple places at once because I miscalculated. Are you free to have a quick lunch before Kate’s game?

She didn’t even get the whole phrase out before she heard Cass’s exasperated huff. That’s the trouble, Heidi. I’m always trying to fit into your plans. Even this morning, you knew I had a full day, but you still asked me to show up. And you’re late, which I guess shouldn’t surprise me. You seem to think the world should run on Heidi Time.

That’s not fair. You know I’m juggling kids, work, and Evan.

There was a long pause before Cass said, I do know. She sounded resigned.

This morning didn’t work out, and we’re both busy all afternoon. But we’re still on for dinner and the concert after the recital, right?

Another silence. Um…yeah, sure we are. I’ll meet you in this same spot at five. But, Heidi?

Yeah?

Try to be on time, okay?

Cass ended the call before Heidi could reply. She supposed that’s what she got for being so late. She’d already ruined the moment she’d wanted. Now she was going to have to wait until later to propose. It wasn’t all bad. They’d still get to enjoy festival food, the kind of thing they didn’t eat the rest of the year, and then explore the vendor booths a bit before the concert. Maybe proposing over Red Osier or a Garbage Plate from a tent wasn’t the most romantic, but they’d make the most of it. The good news was, Heidi had time to make sure everyone was where they were supposed to be ahead of time.

She looked around. No use wasting the money she’d spent on parking by going home now. A walk would do her good, get her head on right and help her relax. She set off in the direction of the Conservatory.

It took a while to get there, given that Heidi couldn’t cross the road until the parade went past. So she stopped to watch. She wondered where along the route the radio stations were set up to broadcast. She assumed closer to the beginning, not where she stood by Highland Avenue. It was packed, with nowhere particularly good to watch from. She wedged herself between a big, muscular man with a handlebar mustache and a woman with a purple flag. She craned her neck to watch whatever school’s marching band was on its way past.

It wasn’t a hot day, not this early in May with the threat of rain hanging over them. Even so, Heidi was rapidly growing too warm in her flannel and jeans. It didn’t help that she seemed to be absorbing the body heat of everyone around her. She tried to focus on the parade, but her head spun. She had to get out of there.

Moving was going to take some effort. People had crowded in behind her. By the time she wriggled her way to the back, she was a wrinkled, sweaty mess. She brushed off her shirt the best she could and carefully made her way behind the people still watching the parade.

It was almost at the end. She saw the last float as it came around the corner. Once it passed, she was going to have to make a dash for it or get squashed by the entire population of Rochester attempting to cross Highland after the parade ended. She looked for a break in the crowd and braced herself.

Sure enough, there was a wave of people crossing right after the end of the parade. Heidi took aim for the other side of the street and ran. Thankfully, she made it without more than a couple of jostles from either side. She shook herself out and looked up the hill. After everything she’d done to get there, it looked like an enormous effort to get up the steep incline. At least she wouldn’t have to try to squeeze in a trip to the gym. Her calves would be in excellent shape after today.

She decided to bypass the top of the hill and head right for the Conservatory. She wasn’t in the mood to think about the missed opportunity to make her proposal romantic, surrounded by the scent of barely-blooming lilacs. They would probably peak next week. She would’ve waited, but she was working, and there was Max’s play, and…

Now she was thinking about her wasted morning again. She pushed those thoughts aside and focused on her mission to enjoy some damn lilacs, whether they were fully blooming yet or not.

And that was exactly when it started to rain buckets.

Heidi shrieked and made a beeline for the Conservatory. It was the only building nearby where she could hunker down and wait. There was an entry fee, which she happily paid for the purpose of not having to stand out in the downpour. Not that it mattered; she was completely soaked.

So were all the other shivering people huddled in the Conservatory. Little puddles dotted the floor where wet people had stood looking at the plants. Heidi shook herself like a dog and wandered around. She soon warmed up and dried out a little, and eventually the rain let up. It slowed to a fine drizzle, enough that she thought she would take a risk and head out.

She had to make it to Kate’s game. When she pulled out her phone—mercifully enclosed in a waterproof case—she growled. Late again. Cursing both the parade and the rain under her breath, she at least remembered to thank the woman at the desk before leaving the Conservatory. Then she prayed her aching calves would hold up for one more run through the park to her car.

***

III

It was still drizzling when Heidi pulled into the parking lot at the ball field. She grabbed the umbrella out of the map holder and slammed the car door, getting her shirt caught in it. She swore under her breath as she fought with her key to unlock the door, pull her shirt out, and close it again.

She jogged to the bleachers, her already-wet shoes squelching in the grass and her umbrella threatening to take off like Mary Poppins. It finally gave out about fifty yards from the team tent, the wind whipping it inside out and breaking the metal rods. she wrestled with it until she more or less got it closed, lumpy and deformed.

Under the tent, she shivered and curled her lip in disgust at the cheap, broken umbrella. All the other parents were huddled at the edge of the enclosure, watching the action on the field. The game was well underway. It must not’ve rained as hard in this part of town, as the field looked all right. Heidi mentally kicked herself for wasting time hiding out in the Conservatory instead of heading to her car after the parade. She already had to miss the end of the game in order to pick up Max. She hadn’t realized she’d said anything out loud until the man next to her turned to look.

She almost groaned in embarrassment when she made eye contact. It was Hot Tom. She didn’t even know which girl was his daughter, only that he was the talk of the moms’ gossip. Tom was a single father, which meant a fair number of the women—single or not—thought he was eligible. One or two of the dads too, and the rest always seemed a little envious of him.

Tom was extraordinarily attractive. His hair was dark, with a classy bit of silver on the sides. He had striking blue eyes and a charming smile, the kind that made a person feel as if their words were the most important thing to Tom in any conversation. He was tall, broad, and muscular, in a way that suggested he was BFFs with the trainer at the gym. His smooth skin was naturally golden tan all year round, and his scent was what Heidi could only describe as expensive. She didn’t know enough about men’s fragrance to know what he wore, only that it was never too much and was as elegant as the rest of him.

He turned that mega-watt smile on her now. How’s it going?

G-good, she said, feeling a little faint. She tried to pat her hair into something presentable, even though she knew her bedraggled whirly-curls were a lost cause.

Kate’s having a great game, he told her.

Heidi gaped at him. She’d had no idea Tom even knew who she was, let alone which kid belonged to her. Th-thanks, she stammered. And how’s…um…

Nevaeh? he supplied.

Yes. Nevaeh. How’s she doing?

She’s the pitcher. She’s up right now.

Oh. Right. Heidi peered out of the tent. Then she shivered violently.

Tom frowned. Are you cold? Do you need a jacket?

It took her a moment to react. I got a little wet on the way over. She cringed at how completely inane that sounded. He probably saw she was soaked through.

Here. Tom reached into a bag and pulled out a sweatshirt with the team’s logo on it. These came in, and there were a few extras.

I’ll give it back, Heidi told him as she set down the broken umbrella and pulled the shirt over her head.

No need. Keep it. Tom flashed that smile again.

For a moment, she thought he was flirting. But then she saw the cooler for the drinks and orange wedges next to him. He was the parent chaperone this time