Crossroads

Going East, Spruce Street led to the little town of Treesville. Going West, it traveled through the wide-open space of the country where White Pine Highway crossed over Spruce. This is the crossroad where I discovered my true love.

Friday afternoon, my mind was tapping out thoughts of a good weekend as I drove west on Spruce toward my little country cape cod. It was a yellow kind of day: sunny, energetic, and almost happy hour. I planned a short nap before meeting Marcia at Town Tavern by six. Let's go, people. My head was screaming at the road snails in front of me.

The four-way stop at the intersection of Spruce and White Pine was slightly congested with people leaving town. Waiting in line built more impatience, but finally, I made it past the stop sign, realizing too late that I had forgotten to stop. When I slammed on the brakes, I was halfway through the intersection. A Tesla front-ended my Saab, and a 1965 Red Ford F100 swerved and slid into the Barkley's fence. I recognized the Ford. It was JT's, a country boy whose first name could never be without his middle. I would know this because he is my ex. It was Jack Thomas to his mamma and JT to his friends, and he was known as JT-Rex on the football field for his ferocious tight-end moves.

The Tesla's owner and I pulled our vehicles into the parking lot of Treesville First Baptist Church. Was this a sign? God was going to save me trouble, or he was going to put me in trouble to teach me a lesson. The latter was more likely since I just committed a traffic violation. The owner of the Tesla stepped out, and I decided that maybe God meant for me to meet Nick. At first sight, I was drawn to his sparkling blue eyes, crop topped neatly styled blond hair, charismatic smile, and six-day-a-week workout body.

We decided to settle it between us, which meant we had to exchange information. I had no qualms about giving him my number or adding him to my contacts. Just as we had finished our business, JT managed to get his truck off the Barkley's property with only one segment of the fence lying in the field. He puttered into the lot and parked next to Nick. His truck towered over the Tesla yet purred like a kitten, and JT loved it!

"Everything alright?" His elbow poked out the window, and he acted cool as if he was handling the situation. This was typical JT interfering.

In high school, we were JT and Clarissa, the Best Couple, for tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade. His sister was my best friend, and his Mama adored me. But he couldn't stand it that I was going away to college, and I couldn't stand it that he didn't want to leave this rinky-dink place for a while. Both of us had dreams but different roads to get to them.

The breakup was his idea. The text read, 'Clarissa, we want different things. By the end of summer, you will be gone, and I will start my full-time job. I think we shouldn't see each other anymore. My mind is made up.' Once JT makes up his mind, he doesn't change it.

My heart broke in two, but eventually, I came to accept it and was thankful he did the deed. College was better being single. Truthfully, he thought I would pine after him, but instead, I avoided him at all costs. Unfortunately, small towns make that difficult, and I'd unexpectedly see him occasionally, usually when I was in a fettle. For example, when I ran out of gas near this same intersection, he happened to be driving by.

He eyed Nick with skepticism. Then turned to me, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Jack Thomas," I managed to say, sliding my eyes upward. My attention went back to Nick. JT finally got the hint and took off, wheels squealing down the highway.

Now, I was convinced God intended for Nick and me to meet. After a year of dating, I realized he had everything I wanted in a man. This handsome architect made a very comfortable salary. He was a great conversationalist, and when I talked, he listened. Nick romanced me with adventurous, secret trips and flowers for no reason. When I brought him home, my parents saw he was respectable and responsible. They approved, my sister adored him, and I felt comfortable moving forward with the relationship- if he asked the question.

Unbeknownst to me, Nick went to dinner with my father. This fact slipped from my mother over lunch one Sunday. Then, she asked me if I would attend the Annual Valentine's Dinner Dance at Treesville Baptist Church. Here we go again. She never had gotten the hint that I'd outgrown attending this dance with my parents, nor did I fit in since most attendees were middle to older adults.

"That's where I met Nick, but it doesn't mean I want to spend Valentine's Day with him in that church hall," I coolly told my mother, shoving salad into my mouth. Ironically, a vision of a romantic dinner dance popped into my mind- soft lighting, pink swooping streamers, clusters of white balloons, tables and chairs dressed in white cloth, and centerpieces of pink carnations and red roses. That is the way the hall looked when I had my first kiss at that dance.

"Dad already asked Nick, and he agreed to go," my mother stated as she side-eyed me with daggers. "Honey, you have no choice," she added smugly. My mother managed to rope me into attending.

I dressed in a black pencil-fit dress that hugged every bit of my chest and rounded my bottom, a red beaded necklace, and black boots to my knees. It showed my moon tattoo and accentuated my curvy figure. I was sure to dazzle Nick.

Country love songs streamed through the speakers. My mother was helping Mrs. Helm seat the guests, and my father was hanging with Nick at the refreshment table, the two of them like old friends. Nonetheless, I'd make the best of it. But that seemed near impossible because JT walked through the door, escorting his mother, who was on crutches. My mother seemed slightly frazzled about her and JT being here.

The lights dimmed, and we all gathered to eat. I tried to avoid JT, but he was making it difficult with his annoying nosiness. I could feel his eyes on me when Nick held my hand in the food line. I wanted to shout across the room, 'You had your chance, and now I found someone new,' but I kept my mouth closed. Luckily, he left after his mother was comfortably seated with her dinner.

Nick pulled me to the dance floor after dinner, which was better-than-expected steak and mashed potatoes. Post Malone's, I Like You started playing. Unusual song for this type of establishment, but then Nick told me he requested it, which seemed odd for a man who said he loved me. Three songs later, the music switched to a slow song, Brett Young's In Case You Didn't Know. I froze. That was JT's and mine's song. Did he request that one, too?

Then, it happened. Nick got on one knee in the middle of the dance floor and pulled out a little black box. The place quieted, and my mother and father looked on with hopeful smiles. I glanced at my dad, who nodded, indicating he knew it would happen. That was the reason for the clandestine dinner; Nick had asked for permission. How noble of him. But everything else about the proposal seemed off. This wasn't Nick's style; the song playing belonged to JT and me. Nick looked as daunted as I was, but with the pressure of everyone waiting, he popped the question.

"Will you marry me?" He asked, straining his face.

I wondered if he needed to use the men's room but remembered his bad knee. His expression showed desperation as he waited for a yes. The anticipation choked the room. Suddenly, something shifted, and the crowd roused. JT skated through the aisle; his eyes fixed on me as he drew closer.

"Clarissa, don't. Don't marry him." JT stopped when he got to the dance floor. He turned to Nick, "I'm sorry to do this, buddy."

"Buddy, I'm not your buddy, Nick. You're ruining this."

"You shouldn't have picked our song, buddy."

"Again, I'm not your buddy. Get out of here."

"I can't do that," JT responded, then turned to me and declared, "Clarissa, I love you. I've always loved you. I've changed my mind."

That was a shocker. I coughed.

"If I could take back the text, I would, but I can't. Clarissa…and I'm sorry, buddy," he turned to Nick, then back to me. "Clarissa, will you marry me?"

I looked at Nick. He dropped his chin but was speechless. In his eyes, I saw defeat. Nick was giving up, and JT was standing here staring at me with pleading eyes. I remembered those fiery eyes, gorgeous brown with flecks of gold. I turned my head to Nick and swiveled back to JT. Here I was at the crossroads again. Marry Nick and give up JT forever or give up Nick and return to my true love. I paused for what seemed like an eternity. I just called JT my true love. Here, where I had my first kiss, is how JT and Clarissa began. Everything I ever loved about him was now smacking me in the face- the way his humor livened a party, his spontaneous ideas even if they were sometimes a flop, his warm smile, infectious laugh, his loving, tender heart. I missed JT. Nick had good things about him, but our relationship differed from JT's and mine. A breath escaped me, and I turned back to Nick. He knew my answer, so he mouthed, "Go ahead." Then he put the little black box in his pocket and left with his head hung. My parents were in shock. My dad chased after Nick.

"Yes, yes, Jack Thomas, I'll marry you!" The crowd, even my mother, erupted with cheers, clapping, and whistling. My dad returned in time to join in the jubilance. JT's mother was in tears.

Once again In Case You Didn't Know began playing. We danced so close our cheeks touched. After the song, JT pulled a piece of hay from his pocket and tied it around my finger.

"There. It's official," he said as he softly kissed my forehead. Then he put his hand in mine and led me out the door.

A crossroads can be challenging when you're faced with a serious decision. Trust your instincts and listen to what your heart is telling you. That is precisely what I did. As the years went by, I knew I made the right choice. Jack Thomas was my first and only love.