Carolina Mercy (A Southern Breeze Series Book 2)

by Regina Rudd Merrick

  Linda Crawford and Liz Benton were sitting on the patio cutting lengths of satin ribbon for the simple pew-end decorations. It was something that could have been done by the wedding planner, but with the change in venue, this was added at the last minute, and the mothers of the bride and groom wanted to have a part in decorating for the wedding.

  Susan and Mike, Sarah’s sister and brother-in-law, had taken their two girls to the beach down the path, along with Jared’s brother, sister-in-law, and their son and daughter. The families had clicked, and the children had a ball together. Jared’s niece, Lily, at four, had taken her role as “head flower girl” very seriously, having had experience being the flower girl at her aunt Jessie’s wedding. Sarah’s three-year-old twin nieces looked up to her as if she were a queen.

  Everyone was busy. Sarah was at the office, trying to get things done before leaving for her honeymoon, and Lucy was at loose ends. Tom was at work, and Robert and Conrad, the dads, had taken Jared to his physical therapy appointment.

  She paused at the door to the kitchen and knocked. She knew Prudie was hard at work on the groom’s cake. “Prudie, it’s me,” she whispered.

  “Come in, Lucy.” She pushed a hair out of her face with the back of her wrist to keep the icing out of her hair. “Your timing is perfect.”

  “Good! I needed to be useful, and Linda and Liz have ribbon-cutting underway. What can I do?” She looked at the beautiful structure. “Oh my goodness. Prudie, you’re almost done.”

  The older woman looked up over the top of her bifocals. “Almost only counts in horseshoes.” She looked back down at the last piece of “shingle” she put on the roof, made of wafer-thin pieces of chocolate. “I’ll have quite a bit more to do once we get it transferred to the grass.”

  Lucy looked at the table to see a large silver platter covered in toasted and colored coconut. No wonder it smelled like summertime in the house.

  “The coconut grass has cooled now, and I hope we can get this cake transferred to the center without it falling apart.”

  “Tell me what to do, and I’m on it.” The confectionary house looked as sturdy as its brick-and-mortar model down the road.

  “I’ve got some extra toasted coconut if any of it rubs off.” Prudie washed the chocolate off her hands and faced the task, hands on her hips. “Let me think a minute. I don’t want to compromise the porch structure.”

  “It’s for sure it’s too much for one person.” Lucy laughed. “At least we’re the same size. Can you imagine trying to do this with Tom?”

  Prudie laughed along with her. “That boy.” She shook her head. “He’s handier in the kitchen than Jared, that’s for sure, but you’re right, he’s one tall drink o’ water.”

  Lucy smiled. “That’s what my grandmother said about him. He does stand out in a crowd.”

  “’Specially when you’re lookin’ for him, isn’t that right?” Prudie arched an eyebrow at her.

  “I suppose.” She shrugged. “But that’s neither here nor there. We need to get this cake on its lot.” An unexpected sigh came out as she looked down at the cake for the wedding.

  “Your day will come, girl, have no fear of that.”

  “I know. It seems to be taking a long time, doesn’t it?”

  “It’ll come all at once, heed my words.” She turned and grabbed a pizza board and came toward Lucy. “I think this will work. It may crush the grass, but I can fix that.”

  “All right. Do you want me to take the handle and you pick up the cake?” Lucy didn’t trust herself not to drop this creation. Her eyes went round at the thought.

  “That sounds good. I’ll pull up from the back first, then I’ll work my way around as you push in the paddle.”

  Slowly but surely, inch by inch, the cake, on its cardboard foundation, made its way onto the paddle. The cake and candy bungalow eased onto the yard made of green toasted coconut with minimal damage.

  “Oh, Prudie. I’m glad that’s done.” Lucy tore off a paper towel to blot the sweat beaded on her forehead. “That was nerve-wracking.”

  Prudie sat in the chair with a thump. “I declare, I think I’ve put in a day’s work in the last ten minutes.”

  “Let me get you something to drink. Coffee?”

  “Goodness, no. I’m burnin’ up. There’s sweet tea in the refrigerator, and I thank you.”

  Lucy filled two glasses with ice and poured the sweet elixir to within a half-inch of the rim. She took a swig as she handed Prudie her glass. “We deserve it.”

  After resting for five minutes, Prudie started bustling around, checking for damage. “Do you see anything that needs fixin’?”

  Lucy inspected it carefully. “Nothing but a little grass that got mashed by the paddle.”

  “No big deal, there. I can rough it up and put some more on top of it.” She went to work sprucing up the landscape of the cake creation. “Now I need to pipe the mullions in the windows and put the dentil molding on the trim. I was afraid, since they’re more delicate, they would be crooked if we tried to move it after they were on there.”

  Lucy was still stunned at the craftsmanship of the cake. Standing over two feet tall and two feet deep and wide, it was smaller than the wedding cake, although not by much. “How have you kept this hidden?”

  “I’ve been workin’ on it on this rolling cart.” She pointed to the stainless-steel cart pushed up to the table, wheels locked. “I work on it a while, and then push it into the pantry. Thank the Lord for a walk-in pantry that stays cool. Let’s get the platter put on the cart so’s I can get it out of the way. Jared is getting more mobile by the day.”

  “Good idea.”

  Lucy began to lift on the tray opposite Prudie when she heard a knock on the back door. They both startled and looked at one another in horror. What if it were Jared or Sarah? In tandem, they looked toward the back door, where the split Dutch door was open on the top to expose the screen door. They both heaved a sigh of relief.

  “What are you ladies up to?”

  It was Tom.

  Lucy and Prudie looked at one another and laughed in relief. Speak of the devil.

  “Can I help?”

  This made them laugh harder. Lucy recovered first. “I think we’ve got it. You’re too tall.” This spun them into even more laughter.

  “You can come in as long as you don’t distract us.” Prudie winked at Lucy, and Lucy’s face warmed. “Are you ready?”

  She felt clumsy now with Tom in the room. “In a second.” She took a deep breath. She couldn’t let Tom see he was affecting her. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to help? That’s huge.”

  “You’re too tall, remember?” Lucy squelched him with a look.

  “First time anybody has ever complained that I was too tall.” He looked a little pouty. When he noticed their tea, he asked, “Mind if I get myself something to drink?”

  “Go right ahead, and don’t talk for a few minutes.”

  He raised his hands in surrender and reached for a glass in the cupboard next to the sink.

  “Is there--”

  “Shush.” Lucy gave him the glare again.

  Tom halted.

  On the count of three, Prudie and Lucy lifted the cake and set it gently on the cart without incident.

  Prudie looked over at Tom. “All right, you can talk now.”

  “Are you sure?” He looked at Lucy with a sheepish grin.

  Lucy smiled. “You were about to ask a question?”

  He brightened. “Oh yeah. Is there any more tea?”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  It was here. Jared and Sarah’s day. The day that almost wasn’t. Tom patted his breast pocket and felt the packet that held two rings: Jared’s bulky band, and Sarah’s tiny, to him, wedding band.

  He couldn’t help but smile. The weather had been cloudy that morning, which had the women in an uproar, fearful of rain. He’d always heard rain on a wedding day was good luck. He didn’t know who fo
r. Not for anyone who got in the way of wedding-planning females.

  He got to Pilot Oaks in time to help set up tables and chairs for the reception. The ladies were at the church putting the last touches on the pews and around the altar, and Emmaline, the wedding planner, was in full-force at Pilot Oaks preparing for the festivities after the ceremony. Prudie gave up her kitchen to the catering company, and she was flitting around finding antique linens and serving pieces for them.

  Tom drove down the road, noting the departing clouds, and it seemed things were settling down so everyone could get ready for the real event. Since the church was close to Pilot Oaks, Jared had rented an antique car to carry Sarah and her parents to the church. Tom was en route to pick it up.

  His phone buzzed, and Lucy’s face came up on the screen. He pushed the speaker button and said, “Hey, Luce.”

  “Hi Tom. Where are you?” He could tell the time crunch was starting to wear on the maid of honor.

  He chuckled. Probably a mistake. “I’m on a mission for the groom. What do you need?”

  “Aspirin . . . no, she said ibuprofen.”

  “Are you serious?” She called, and all she needs is something for a headache?

  “Yes, I’m serious. This is absolutely no time to be asking a person if they’re serious. Can you please stop at the pharmacy and pick up ibuprofen? She doesn’t care what brand, as long as it’s ibuprofen.”

  “I see Walgreens up ahead. Consider it done.”

  “Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I would have gone myself, but I just got my nails touched up and the manicurist threatened me with my life if I messed them up.”

  “No worries. See you later. Bye, Lucy.”

  “Bye, Tom. You’re a lifesaver.”

  His phone beeped, signaling the end of the call. He shook his head and laughed as he got out of the car at the pharmacy. His laugh faded when he stood in front of the myriad of pain-relief agents. He didn’t have time for this. He scanned the rows and found what he wanted.

  If it made the day go smoother for any of the ladies in the wedding party, it would be worth it.

  He jogged back to his car and headed toward the car-rental lot.

  When he pulled up, there she was, a white 1936 Rolls Royce “Wraith.” It was the perfect car for a perfect day. He walked around it, freshly washed, towel-dried, and waxed, looking forward to driving it.

  The attendant came out with the keys, and a smile. “You here to pick up the Rolls?”

  “I am. Anything I should know about driving it?” He looked inside, seeing the supple brown leather interior and shiny wood and chrome trim.

  “Naw, it’s been rejigged to an automatic transmission and air conditioning. It even has power windows and locks.” He showed him the panel on the door handle. “It’s an easy one to drive if you’re used to big vehicles.”

  Tom grinned. He pointed to the chauffeur’s hat on the seat next to the driver’s seat. “Does the hat come with the car?”

  “Sure does. Most brides like to think they’re a princess for a day, and that chauffeur hat seems to do the trick.”

  “I’ll be happy to wear it.” Tom shook the man’s hand. “My best friend is getting married today, and I can’t wait.”

  “Hey, tell Jared that Rob said congratulations. He sold me and the wife our house a few years ago.”

  “I’ll do it.” He got into the car, donned the hat, and saluted. “Off we go.” Tom laughed when he looked at the text on his phone. From Lucy, no less. “Never mind. Found meds.”

  All the wedding party except for Lucy, Sarah, and Sarah’s parents had left for the church. Lucy was getting dressed and touching up her makeup while Sarah and her mother spent a quiet moment alone. She was trying hard not to think about what her own wedding day would be like, without her mother.

  She wasn’t jealous of Sarah. She loved her too much for that. She did have a touch of sadness in her heart that tempered her joy a little bit.

  Better grab extra tissues. She didn’t usually cry at weddings, but how often did her best friend in the whole world get married? She could sit down and cry right now if she wasn’t afraid of messing up her makeup.

  She put the tissues in her tiny beaded purse large enough for lipstick, phone, and tissues and stopped by the master bedroom where Sarah was getting dressed.

  “Come in, Lucy. One more selfie before we leave for the wedding?” Sarah had calmed down once she got rid of the tension headache that had plagued her since yesterday. “Mom, you get in this one.”

  “Oh, you don’t want me in there. My bifocals make it hard to see what to look at.”

  Linda got in the huddle anyway.

  Sarah looked at her phone and turned it around to show them the picture. “That was a good one! Last picture as a single woman.” She looked back and forth at her mother and her friend. “Wow.”

  Lucy blinked away the tears that threatened. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara. “Well, you’ll stay single if we don’t get out of here. Jared sent a car to pick us up. I’ll go on down and be ready to help you in.”

  “I’m going to get your dad. He wanted to see you before we left.” Linda scurried down the hallway, leaving the two girls alone.

  “This is it.”

  Sarah nodded, her eyes pooling with tears.

  “Don’t do it.” Lucy gave her a tear-filled glare. “Stop it.”

  “I’m okay.” She daubed her eyes with care. “And Dad hasn’t even come in here yet. Oh Luce, I’m a wreck.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re getting ready to marry your best friend. Not me, your other best friend.” Lucy gave her a cheesy smile to lighten the mood.

  “He is, you know.” Sarah took a deep breath, and let it out. “I don’t simply love him enough to marry him, I love him enough to spend the rest of my life with him, through good and bad times.”

  Lucy smiled with compassion. “This is a milestone of telling everyone in the world the two of you are together, no more or no less after the wedding than before.”

  “Wow. That’s it, isn’t it?” Sarah looked up and smiled. Robert Crawford was standing in the doorway gazing at his youngest daughter.

  “How did I get blessed to have three of the prettiest ladies in my family?” He grinned at her, his eyes a little misty.

  Sarah walked over to him and into his bear hug.

  Linda objected. “Sarah Jane, you’ll crush your dress!”

  “I don’t care. I’m going to hug my daddy whenever I want to.” She looked in the mirror to check for damage. “See? Nothing out of place. I didn’t even get any lipstick on him.” She chuckled. “This time anyway. I can’t promise for later.”

  Lucy looked at the clock on the bureau. “We’ve got to get out of here if we’re going to be on time.”

  Robert nodded to Lucy. “You go on down and tell the driver we’re coming. I want to pray with my wife and daughter before we go.”

  “Aye, aye, sir. See you downstairs.”

  She rushed, carefully, down the stairs. Thank goodness the wedding was indoors. They were able to wear spectacular heels with their dresses and have pretty flats to put on for the reception.

  She opened the front door and laughed. There was Tom, hat in hand, swooping into a bow as he opened the car door.

  “Oh, I thought you were Sarah.” He closed the door and took his place once again.

  “This was your errand? Oh my goodness, Sarah will be ecstatic. This is such a cool car!” Lucy walked around the gleaming white vehicle. She never thought to ride in a beauty like this. Her dad had liked antique cars, but never got around to buying one, so she trailed behind him at car shows and auctions as a spectator.

  “Pretty sweet, isn’t it?” Tom grinned and stood straight in his spot, not wanting to miss Sarah.

  “Sweet is one of many words I would use to describe this beauty.” She opened the passenger-side door and looked inside the vehicle. “Polished walnut dash and trim, tan leather interior. Oh my goodness.” She looked up at T
om. “Did you know they only made 1,201 of these cars?”

  “I did not know that. I also did not know that you knew cars.”

  She smiled at the surprise on his face. It was nice to keep him guessing.

  “This comes of being a motherless child with a gear-head dad. I traipsed all over with him to car shows.”

  “He schooled you well.” The door opening signaled Tom to get back in position and Lucy to close the car door.

  Sarah gasped as she came out the door. “Dad!”

  “Don’t look at me, sweetie. This was all Jared, with a little help from Tom, your driver for the day.” Robert took her hand and helped her down the steps, her mother holding up her dress and veil to keep them off the ground.

  Tom smiled and repeated his low bow. “Hello, I’m Tom, and I’ll be your driver today.”

  “This is amazing. And exciting.” Sarah looked over at Lucy. “Your dad would have loved this.”

  “Pretty cool, huh? And I get to ride in it too!” Lucy willed the wistful tears away.

  Sarah settled into the wide backseat with her parents, and Lucy rode in the front seat with Tom.

  “Automatic transmission? Wow.” Lucy was taking it all in.

  Tom shrugged as he maneuvered the car around the circle drive and down the winding driveway to the road. “Yeah, a little part of me wishes it were original.”

  “It’s still amazing. Makes me miss my dad, though. He would have insisted on driving this baby.”

  Tom smiled as she caressed the leather seats and wood trim. His dad would have loved her. Car enthusiast notwithstanding, she would have been a girl after his own heart.

  He caught the mist of tears in her eyes when she glanced his way. He took her hand and squeezed it. “Are you okay?” He kept his voice low, not wanting to disturb the family unit behind him.