It was the same point Violet had made more than once. Was that why she’d insisted he come handle Winterfest himself? To make him want to settle down in southwest Missouri?
“It’s something I never really considered,” he told her honestly. “I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a small-town guy. I’ve thought about moving away from the city but still commute by train, not halfway across the country.”
“I can understand and appreciate that.” She reached over and covered his hand with hers. “I know I’m not cut out to be a city girl. If you can’t live at least in Nixa or Serenity Landing or maybe even the southern end of Springfield, then there’s not a chance this could work.”
Before he could answer, the waiter returned with their meals.
By mutual, albeit unspoken, consent the topic of conversation turned to other things.
“What’s Mattison’s plan for after high school?” He took a bite of his dinner. The risotto was excellent.
“She’s going to Missouri State University in their music ed department.”
“She wants to be a music teacher?”
Brittany shook her head. “No. A band director. Maybe here in Trumanville if things work out how she wants, but we may be too small of a school. There’s only one director, and they usually want someone who has a bit of experience rather than a newbie. She’s hoping by then they’ll be big enough for two directors, about the time her current director retires.”
“Ambitious plans, but good for her for knowing what she wants to do.”
“She’s working with the sixth graders alongside her director this year as part of a students-as-teachers program through the district. So far she’s loving it but she doesn’t really know how to play brass instruments well enough to teach them.” It was easy to see that Brittany was quite proud of her daughter and rightfully so.
And that was also part of the reason she wouldn’t want to leave the area. Her daughter planned to stay local, so of course Brittany wanted to as well.
“I thought saxophones were brass?” It wasn’t really a question, but Cole’s inflection made it one.
Brittany laughed. “They’re a brasswind, technically, but they’re grouped with woodwinds because they use a reed like clarinets and most other woodwinds. Flutes and piccolos, ones like that don’t, but the rest basically do. Brass are trumpets, trombones, tubas, things like that.”
“You learn something new every day.”
When dinner finished, Cole stood and held out a hand. “May I have this dance? As your friend?”
Brittany smiled up at him and slid her hand into his. “Of course.”
When they reached the dance floor, he resisted the urge to pull her close but instead kept a respectable distance between them.
“Thank you for your help, both with Winterfest and in New York. I wouldn’t have seen and done nearly as much without you helping me navigate the city and the subways and everything else.” She took a deep breath. “And thank you for not pressing me for a relationship or for more of one the last few weeks when we both knew tonight would come, and we’d say goodbye. I hope we can at least keep in touch online, and who knows? Maybe Mrs. Braverman will have you back again next year to run Winterfest.”
More than anything Cole wanted to pull her close, to convince her that she could survive NYC.
To kiss her.
To start a relationship with her.
But that wasn’t to be.
So he just kept dancing.
And then he took her home.
Said goodnight.
And the next day, said goodbye in the early evening, as soon as Santa’s Workshop closed for the season.
By five local time, he’d boarded his flight for New York and was gone.
Chapter 9
For the first time in a very long time, Brittany felt lonely on Christmas.
Well, she always felt kind of lonely, even at the big gathering at Mama Beach’s house with lots of people and plenty of friends in attendance.
Some years were better than others, and this wasn’t one of them.
She sat on the oversized chair, shared with Mia, as they watched the end of a sappy HEA TV movie. This one featured Christopher Bayfield who lived not far away. She was pretty sure he was on the Trumanville side of the lake, but he always said “southwest of Springfield” when asked for his location.
She was also pretty sure Mama Beach had married him and his wife. Nothing definitive, just a few sly remarks the older woman had made.
“You know they’re planning to make a movie out of Madi’s book?” Mia leaned her head against Brittany’s shoulder as she shared her sister’s news. “I think it’s supposed to be out next fall.”
For a former student, the two had become close over the last several years. Brittany knew Mia saw her as the older sister she’d always wished she had – despite having two and an older brother.
“I hadn’t heard. That’s great.” Even if it did mean Mia likely felt overlooked again.
“They’re talking about filming it here. Because Chris Bayfield and Claire Cruz Cartwright film their show here, they already have a bunch of money invested in the area, so I guess it makes sense.”
“I guess so.” The television had been paused to allow for bathroom breaks and the gathering of more snacks. Brittany was fine on both.
“You miss him, don’t you?” Mia’s voice was quiet.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Brittany knew she didn’t sound the slightest bit convincing.
“You miss Cole. I saw the way you looked at him when you thought no one was watching. The same way he looked at you.”
“We’re from two different worlds. He’s from New York and won’t consider the possibility of moving here. I’m from here and know I wouldn’t make it in the city. A relationship isn’t a thing that can happen between us. He went home without staying for church like he talked about. That’s the end of it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. I don’t know if it would have turned into something permanent, but it would have been nice to see if it would.”
They watched another HEA TV movie, then Mama Beach declared it time to celebrate Mattison’s accomplishment all over again with Miracle on 34th Street.
Normally, Brittany loved the classic movie, but she had a hard time getting into it this time.
About the time Kris got gum in his beard, Brittany headed into the kitchen to get a drink. Not everyone was in the main room watching the movie. Some of the guys were in the den with a game of some kind on.
So it didn’t surprise her when someone entered the kitchen from the other direction.
“I thought I’d find you here.”
She froze as she held the nearly empty 2 liter of soda halfway back into the fridge. Swallowing hard, she put the bottle down and turned. “Cole. What are you doing here?”
He walked toward her as she stepped to the side to let the refrigerator close. “I was sitting in my apartment and it hit me. I don’t know if I need to live in the city. I might be able to live somewhere else just as happily, especially if there’s someone important to me there.”
“Really?” Hope began to spark deep inside. “You’d be willing to move here if there was a future for us?”
Cole stopped about a foot and a half away from her. Too far. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’m willing to try living here for a while. To see if I can handle it. I know I want to ask you on a date for tomorrow night.”
“I could probably handle a date tomorrow night.”
He grinned. “Good. I’m glad. I’m hoping you can help me find a place to live around here, too. Maybe an office or a place big enough to have a home office, though I think I work better if I actually leave my house to go to an office rather than working from home.”
“I’m sure you can find something. I think Mr. Lotson has an empty apartment over his store. Mrs. Braverman has a storefront with nothing in it right now. I’d imagine she’d let you rent it. It al
so has an apartment, but I think it has someone living in it now.”
“I’ll talk to her.” He took another step closer and winked at her. “I’m guessing you have no idea what’s over your head.”
Brittany looked up.
Mistletoe?
Who hung mistletoe right next to the fridge? And why hadn’t she noticed it before?
“Brittany Acevedo, will you be my girlfriend?”
She laughed. “Cole Holmes, I’d be happy to.”
His nose wrinkled in a totally adorable way. “I should probably tell you my name isn’t actually Cole.”
“It’s not?” Another fake name?
“It’s short for Nicolas.”
Her jaw dropped as she groaned. “Nicolas? Really?”
Now he just looked perplexed. “Yeah. Why?”
“Saint Nicolas. I thought we’d make it through this without being too HEA TVish, but if your name is related to Christmas somehow, we didn’t.”
Cole laughed and put his hands on her hips, pulling her closer still. “We almost made it. But I’m pretty sure the mistletoe and Christmas night kiss make it even more HEA TVish.”
She rested her hands on his chest. “Kiss, huh?”
“There is mistletoe.” His voice was soft as he leaned toward her. “Also, there’s snow on the ground outside. Not much, but enough for that photoshoot at the courthouse you talked about. For next year. The decorations will still be up.”
“Stop talking about Winterfest,” she whispered, leaning into him. “And kiss me.”
“With pleasure.”
And when he did, the world spun in brightly colored circles around them. They might not be in love, not yet, but somehow Brittany knew this love would be bright and happy and parade-like.
Just the way she’d always dreamed.
Violet Braverman sat on the balcony of her condo in Florida and looked out at the water. Not exactly her normal Christmas, but it had been a very relaxing month, especially since she ignored every call and message that had anything to do with Winterfest. Cole and Brittany could handle it.
From what she’d seen on social media and from her trusted inside sources, they’d done a wonderful job.
And it was almost time for her to get back to Trumanville.
Too bad her stubborn nephew hadn’t taken the hint and fallen for Brittany. The two were perfect for each other, and their work on Winterfest had proved it.
Her phone pinged, and a smile crossed her face.
Maybe she’d spoken too soon.
The photo of Cole and Brittany was everything she would have hoped.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the background. They were at the Beaches, as she’d known Brittany would be. But Mia... sitting there all by herself. That would never do.
That girl had been overlooked and overshadowed for years.
It was time for Violet Braverman to put on her thinking cap and figure out who she knew that would see Mia for the jewel she really was.
Now... who could it be...
Does Mrs. Braverman find someone for Mia? Find out in Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Hollywood Hunks - December 2019!
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Letter to Readers
Dear Reader,
Thank you for joining Brittany and Cole in Love on Parade! I appreciate you and hope you enjoyed it! This is the first in the Teaches of Trumanville Christmas novella series - and kind of a “back door prequel” to the upcoming Beaches of Trumanville series! We’ll definitely see more of Brittany and Cole there - starting with Mia’s story in December 2019!
I’m having so much fun writing about Eli and Mia (remember Eli from It’s (Royally) Complicated?!) and can’t wait for y’all to meet them! Keep on going for that excerpt!
I need to give a huge thank you to the real Brittany. The one who was the love of the real Travis’s life (Grace to Save). In the years since his passing, she’s found love again and has a beautiful life with… you guessed it - Cole ;).
Thank you for letting me be a small part of it!
And Stewart Johnson for the amazing picture of the courthouse in Carthage, MO for the cover! I love it!
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
I’m sure many of you who follow me on social media remember that Kid #1 marched in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band on Thanksgiving 2019! I was much like Brittany that trip! (Though I didn’t freeze in my steps in Times Square and get knocked over and rescued by a wealthy, handsome man… my man was back home holding down the fort with Kids #2-4…)
My traveling partner in crime, Ginger V., helped make the trip amazing and stood on 6th Avenue with me for like seven hours (and no, we didn’t think to warm up our hotel room before our return). It was the coldest parade in well over a hundred years, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.
The biggest difference? Kid #1 didn’t get to come by for a quick hug and a pic (though I saw kids from other groups do so).
I’m hoping that, someday, we’ll be able to take the whole family and go. Kid #1 decided not to attend in 2020 even though she could have. Just too much going on with a late Thanksgiving and dual credit classes. But once a Macy’s kid, always a Macy’s kid and they have reunion bands every few years, so maybe…
I’ll be watching from home this year - and not freezing my nose off!
Serenity Landing Book Club
What is that?! It’s the Facebook reader group that started last summer! I’d love to have you there! It’s easier for you to see what’s posted than on a Facebook page and we do fun stuff! There will be discussion questions after the release of a book, sneak peeks of the next one, general discussion, and chances to win copies of books and other goodies! I’d love to have you there!
Other Stuff
I see a meme floating around Facebook from time to time that tells readers what they can do to help their favorite authors. Buying their next book or giving a copy away is kind of a no-brainer, but the biggest thing you can do is write a review. If you enjoyed Love on Parade, would you consider doing just that?
I would LOVE to hear from you! My email address is [email protected]. To stay up-to-date on releases, you can sign up for my newsletter (there’s fun stuff - like a free copy of Love for the Ages! You’ll also get notices of sales, including special preorder pricing! And I won’t spam!) or there’s always my website :). You can find my website and blog at www.carolmoncado.com. And, of course, there’s Facebook and my Facebook page, Carol Moncado Books. But... the way pages work, sometimes very few people (often 1-5% of “likes”) will see anything posted. I keep trying to find the best way to get to know y’all and “spend time” together outside of your Kindle - at least for those of you who want to! For now, be sure to join Serenity Landing Book Club for all the latest!
Thanks again!
Acknowledgments
They say writing is a solitary endeavor, and it absolutely can be. Sitting in front of the computer for hours on end, talking to imaginary people.
And having them talk back ;).
But the reality is no one walks alone. Since I began this writing journey many years ago, I can’t begin to name all of those who’ve helped me along the way. My husband, Matt, who has always, always believed in me. All of the rest of my family and in-loves who never once looked at me like I was nuts for wanting to be a writer. Jan Christiansen (my “other mother”) has always believed in me and Stacy Christiansen Spangler who has been my dearest friend for longer than I can remember.
Ginger Solomon, author of One Choice and a bunch of other fantastic books (but One Choice is still my favorite!), has been invaluable with her proofreading services. Check her books out!
Then there’s my writer friends. Bethany Turner (have you read The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck yet?!) and Mikal Dawn (AH! Count Me In!) have both been so wonderful the last few months keeping me laughing and my spirits up. Then Jennifer Major, a Canadian n
o less ;), who does life with me and loves me anyway! There’s Jessica Keller Koschnitzky, Joanna Davidson Politano (Lady Jayne Disappears is amazing!), Jen Cvelbar (writing as Jennifer A. Davids and the best case of misidentification ever, not to mention best conference roomie - and has a new book coming next summer! YAY!), Kristy Cambron, and Stacey Zink are BritCritters, too. We do a lot more living than we do critting, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. All five of them are beyond gifted as writers, and I thank God they’re in my life. There’s my MozArks ACFW peeps who laugh with me, critique, and encourage to no end. Then there’s all of the others who’ve helped me along on this journey.
And Emily N., Ginger L., Tory U., and my “Facebook stalker cousin” Linda R. - who are all INVALUABLE to my writing process! I have NO IDEA what I’d do without them!
I said I could go on for days, and I could keep going. On and on. I know I’ve forgotten many people and I hate that. But you, dear reader, would quickly get bored.
So THANK YOU to all of those who have helped me along the way. I couldn’t have done this without you and you have my eternal gratitude. I hope you stick around for the next one!
And, of course, last but never, ever, least, to Jesus Christ, without whom none of this would be possible - or worth it.
Excerpt: Small Town Girls Don’t Marry Hollywood Hunks
December 2019!
Order Now!
She was wearing an eye patch.
At church.
On Easter.
A pink eye patch.
That might have been what drew Eli Whitaker’s attention to her, but it wasn’t what kept it. She stood there, singing along with the praise and worship band, her hands raised. Worshiping her Maker with abandon.
But only half her face worked. The whole thing lit up, but only the right half moved.
Love on Parade Page 7