Chapter 6

"Jolene," Solomon said, his voice unusually gentle. "I know you were angry five years ago, but I just didn't want you pressuring me to get married. It would've made it feel like what we had wasn't genuine.

"I just wanted to give you a wake-up call, but I never thought you'd be so headstrong and break up with me, and then vanish on me. If..."

He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he asked, "How's your mom doing? When can I drop by and see her? She was always fond of me, you know. I bet she's brought me up plenty…