Second-Chance Sweethearts

by Cindy Caldwell

  “Looking pretty dapper, there,” Wade said as he clapped Allen on the shoulder. “Everything looks great, just great. Doesn’t even matter about the photo booth. This is perfect. And you look exactly like Wyatt Earp.”

  Allen laughed and tugged at his sleeves, running his hand over his slicked-back hair.

  “We wanted to look authentic,” he said, glancing over at the set—it really did look great. They’d done a great job of it.

  “Speaking of we, where’s Corinne?” Wade asked, looking around the barn.

  Allen cleared his throat, ready to explain that he’d be taking care of the photos with Opal, not Corinne.

  “I’m right here,” a soft voice said, and Allen spun around. His jaw dropped and he blinked several times as he looked at Corinne.

  She blushed and her fingers twisted around a small, green velvet reticule in her hands. And she wore the dress—the emerald green one they’d seen at the antique store. Except it was prettier than he remembered—she’d added a line of seed pearls all around the neckline and the hem. They matched her white gloves, and the white feather in her hat. Her green eyes fluttered as he found his voice.

  “Wow, you look fantastic. Both of you,” Wade said as he nodded at Corinne. “Thanks for making this happen. You look incredibly authentic.”

  Wade walked back toward the buffet, and Allen waited until he was out of earshot.

  “I—I was afraid you wouldn’t come,” he said slowly. He crossed over to Corinne and waited a moment as she examined her shoes. Finally, he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to see her eyes—had to see her.

  Tears sparkled on her lashes in the light of the barn. Time stopped for him, as the hustle and bustle of preparations for the party whirled around them. He had to let her know how much she meant to him. He rested his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer.

  “Corinne, I never thought I’d get a second chance.”

  “Neither did I,” she said slowly.

  “I don’t just mean tonight. I don’t mean just now. I mean a second chance in life to find something I didn’t even know I was missing.”

  She looked up at him, her eyes questioning. “But Mary? I know how much you loved her.”

  Allen’s hands dropped to his sides and he sighed. He glanced at her again, and saw such pain in her eyes that it almost broke his heart. He squared his shoulders and started again. He knew what he wanted her to say, and he needed her to know.

  “Corinne, I can’t bear the thought of us being apart. I just can’t.”

  Corinne caressed his cheek softly with her white-gloved fingers.

  “I feel the same way, Allen, but I can’t be Mary. I’m not Mary.”

  “I love you, Corinne. I love you, Corinne. I can love Mary, too. She’ll be in my heart forever, but you...you’ve made my life have colors in it again. Have spice in it again. You’ve made me see what I’ve been missing all these years.”

  Corinne covered her mouth with her glove, her eyes wide. A smile grew, and she threw her arms around his neck.

  “Oh, Allen, I don’t know what to say.”

  All Allen wanted to hear was that she loved him, too. That she believed him, that Mary was a part of their past, not their future. He held his breath and waited as she rested her head on his shoulder.

  He was finally able to breath again when she finally said, “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 18

  Allen’s words had washed over Corinne like cool water in the desert. She’d never heard sweeter words before, and it was with great joy that she realized that she believed him. She believed that he loved her, and loved her for herself. Her own uniqueness. Her own quirks. Her own recipes.

  Oh, recipes! She cupped his cheek in her hand and kissed him softly on the lips.

  “I have something for you,” she said, holding up her finger that she’d be back in a second. She headed over to the chair where she’d set her sweater and lifted out the oval container from underneath it.

  She clasped it with both hands for a moment before holding it out to him. It was all she could do to stay silent when he looked at her quizzically before he opened it.

  “For me?” he asked.

  “For you,” she said.

  He nodded, his grin spreading across his face when he peeked inside and took a big whiff.

  “My favorite. How did you know?”

  She walked into his open arms and rested her head on his shoulder.

  “I did a little research. Best I could, anyway. Into you.”

  “Oh, did you talk to the girls?” he asked as he took a bite of a cookie and his eyebrows rose. “Wow, I haven’t had these in ages.”

  “No, I don’t imagine you have. And no, I didn’t ask the girls. I went to the best expert I could find on Allen Hamilton. She and I had a little chat.”

  Allen sat down on the chair by the photo booth and pulled Corinne down into the chair next to him.

  “Who do you mean?” he asked softly.

  Corinne looked down at her hands that were clasped in her lap and took a deep breath.

  “Mary,” she said finally and looked up into his eyes.

  “Mary?” he repeated slowly and he put the cookies down in his lap. “How?”

  She thought this was the best time for a full confession.

  “Well, when you gave me Mary’s cookbook, I was so hurt that I shoved it in a drawer at Tamlyn’s. I just couldn’t look at it. I thought I could never make you happy.”

  “Oh, Corinne, I never meant to—”

  “Shh,” she said, her finger on his lips. “Let me finish. After last night, when—well, you know—I was so upset. The thought of you all not wanting me to replace Mary was overwhelming. I just couldn’t deal with all of it, and I was heartbroken.

  “We didn’t mean—” Allen started before she shushed him again.

  “I had a chat with two wise young ladies and realized that I owed it to myself—to us—to know more. To see if we could make a go of this. I got out the book, wanting to know more about the woman who did have your heart.”

  “Corinne—” he said before she could stop him.

  “I’m almost finished,” she said with a smile. “All of those pages, all of those notes she made about what you and the girls loved—and hated—and all the little stories and measurements each year about how tall the girls were getting—their ballet classes, their softball teams—I don’t know. It just made me see things differently,” she said, the words tumbling out in a rush.

  Allen sat back in his chair and took Corinne’s hand in his. He waited patiently for her to finish, and rubbed his thumb across her cheek to wipe away a tear.

  “I realized that that was then, and this is now. She was an amazing mother and wife. You had a wonderful life with her and the girls, but I know that you and I have something special, too. And I don’t want to miss a second of it, Allen Hamilton. I think Mary would be happy for you—and for us.”

  Allen leaned forward and kissed Corinne gently on the cheek.

  “I think we all came to the same conclusion, probably at about the same time,” he whispered in her ear.

  “We?” she asked, frowning.

  “Yes, we.”

  Corinne looked up to see Opal and Olivia, both dabbing their eyes with tissues.

  “I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I mean, we weren’t eavesdropping,” Opal said, glancing at Olivia.

  Olivia cleared her throat. “No, we didn’t hear a thing. We could just tell you guys were...well, happy. And that makes us happy.”

  Corinne drew in a sharp breath as Allen squeezed her hand and kissed her, all smiles. She stood and both girls rushed to give her a hug. Corinne couldn’t hold the tears back any longer.

  “We’re really happy for you two,” Opal finally said, and Corinne felt Allen’s arm rest on her shoulders. She looked up at him and he handed her a handkerchief—this one embroidered also, but with the letters CH on it.

  “CH?” Corinne asked before she dabbe
d at her eyes.

  Opal and Olivia exchanged quick glances accompanied by wide eyes and smiles, and turned on their heels, heading for the restroom.

  Allen laughed and turned Corinne to face him. She sniffled a couple of times, then turned up her chin towards him as his thumb was prompting her to do.

  “Yes. CH. It’s for you. I’m hoping you’ll become Corinne Hamilton.”

  His eyes danced, and his smile made her head spin. It was so hopeful, so sincere, and she knew it was a smile that was only for her.

  “Oh, Allen. Yes, absolutely yes. Nothing would make me happier.”

  She melted in his arms, his warm embrace so gentle, so strong.

  He kissed her then, and she marveled at the thought that she’d gotten a second chance at love. They both had. And she was going to make the most of every second.

  He pulled away and reached for her hand, slipping the beautiful emerald ring they’d admired at their very first thrift store on her finger.

  “It’s not quite as beautiful as you are, but I hope you like it,” he said, his voice a little shy.

  The ring sparkled in the light of the barn, and reminded her of the sparkle in his eyes that she’d noticed the first time she’d met him. The sparkle of hope, of love, and of second chances.

  “I love it,” she whispered in his ear before she kissed him again, then said, “And I love you.”

  Chapter 19

  Allen took a deep breath as Fred tried to pin the white rose to the lapel of his tuxedo.

  “Hold still,” Bernard said as he rested his hand on Allen’s shoulder. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be squirming.”

  Allen nodded with a wry smile.

  “I know. I’m sorry. It’s your wedding, not mine. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

  “Weddings used to make me nervous, too, until I found the right girl,” Allen’s brother Aaron said as he looked in the mirror and straightened his tux. “You’ve found yours, so this should be easy now.”

  “Right,” Allen said. He certainly had no second thoughts about Bernard and Opal. They’d had fun making all the arrangements, and he and Corinne had even gotten involved. Now that the day was here, it should be all smiles and congratulations.

  What he didn’t want to tell anybody was that he and Corinne had gotten their marriage license earlier in the week, at Opal’s suggestion. She’d asked them if they wanted to have a double wedding, here in the chapel, with her and Bernard.

  Both he and Corinne had agreed that they didn’t want to take the limelight in any way from Opal or Bernard, but then Opal had suggested that they get married quietly afterward. Maybe in between the wedding and the reception, if they didn’t want a big fanfare. Nobody would even have to know, she’d said, and the three of them had kept the secret for more days than Allen had thought he could.

  Thoughts of his own impending wedding aside, he crossed over to Bernard, helping him with his own boutonniere.

  “Mr. Hamilton, I just wanted to thank you for your support and encouragement. I never had a family like this, and your permission to marry Opal means everything to me.”

  “Permission?” Allen said and he and his brother shared smiles.

  “You know Opal by now, son,” Aaron said. “She doesn’t need permission for anything. She fell in love with you and that’s all there was to it.”

  “But we’re happy to bless you joining the family. Goodness knows Aaron, Fred and I need help.”

  Bernard laughed and straightened his tie in the mirror. “It has crossed my mind that there might be strength in numbers. Besides, I might need your help with my mom,” he said as he clapped Allen on the back.

  “Ah, that’s right. I can’t wait to meet her,” Fred said.

  Allen stood back and looked at all these fine men in his life. In Texas, it had just been Opal, Olivia and Mary. And now, he had a bigger family, grandchildren to look forward to—and within an hour, a beautiful wife to share it all with.

  He shook his head slowly as he looked around the room. He couldn’t wait to give away Opal to Bernard, and to take Corinne in his arms and welcome her to the family. Only a little while longer to wait for his second chance to begin.

  Chapter 20

  “Oh, no.”

  Corinne spun on her heel at Opal’s words. They’d taken such care with her wedding dress, and as she’d finished this past week she knew that it was perfect.

  “I guess I’m just nervous. I’m sorry, Corinne,” Opal said, her eyes desperate as she pointed to a ripped seam in the lace at her wrist.

  “Don’t worry,” Corinne said, trying to calm Opal down. She pulled out her glasses and reached for her pin cushion and pulled out a needle. She’d come prepared—you never knew how such extensive alterations were going to hold up—and she quickly ran the already-threaded needle up the seam. She tied a knot and tugged at the thread with her teeth before she even knew what she was doing.

  “Oops, sorry about that. Should have used scissors,” she said as she smiled up at Opal.

  Opal laughed and sighed with relief as she looked at the mended seam.

  “My mom used to do that,” she said before she stopped quickly and looked over at Corinne. “It’s nice. Thank you.”

  Corinne let out her breath and hugged Opal.

  “Anything I can do to help,” she said. “Thank you for allowing me to be back here with you all.”

  She looked around at Olivia and Gillian, Opal’s bridesmaids, and she’d been happy to help with their satin, mint-colored dresses. Perfect for spring. And the purple, white and green bouquets topped them off perfectly. It would be a lovely wedding.

  She hadn’t seen Allen yet today. Once they’d decided to have the pastor marry them after Opal’s wedding, she knew they shouldn’t.

  Corinne looked down at her own dress, an off white antique dress with lace and seed pearls around the collar.

  Opal hugged her and whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful. A beautiful bride.”

  Tears sprung in Corinne’s eyes as she mouthed, “Thank you,” to Opal and they exchanged quick smiles. She reached into her handbag and took out the handkerchief with CH on it. It had been a very thoughtful gift and meant the world to her. It was all hers, and she carried it with her always.

  Opal hugged Olivia and Gillian, and Corinne noticed that tears were threatening to fall for Opal, too. She smiled and reached into her handbag again, then crossed over to Opal.

  “I was going to save this for later, but it looks like you might need this now,” she said as she held the box out toward Opal.

  Opal smiled and took the box from Corinne, tugging at the gold ribbon. She opened it, took out a piece of cotton and took in a sharp breath. She pulled out an antique linen handkerchief and held it up. In embroidered silk, it read OD.

  “Opal Dubois?” she asked quietly. “Did you make this?”

  “I did,” Corinne replied. “I cherish the one your father gave me with our initials, and I wanted you to have one, too. And I wanted to start a new tradition.”

  She stood back quietly and pulled at the sleeve of her dress, not sure how Opal would respond.

  Opal actually did need it now to wipe at her tears.

  “Oh, Corinne, that’s so thoughtful. Thank you so much. It means the world to me. I feel like my mom’s here.”

  In weeks past, Corinne might have stiffened at the words but today, they warmed her heart.

  “I’m glad,” she said as she rested her palm on Opal’s cheek. “I’m sure she’s here smiling down on us. All of us.”

  “It’s time,” Gillian said as she glanced at the clock. All the ladies picked up their bouquets and Olivia handed Opal hers.

  “You ready?” Olivia asked.

  “I’m ready,” Opal said, and they walked out into the foyer where Allen stood. His eyebrows rose as he saw them all and he covered his heart with his hand.

  “Oh, my. What a lovely sight,” he said, looking from Opal to Corinne.

  Warmth wa
shed over Corinne as Opal looped her arm through her father’s.

  “Corinne,” Opal said as she turned back. She held out her hand and Corinne stepped forward and took it, cocking her head.

  “Would you do me the honor of walking me down the aisle with my father?”

  Corinne took in a deep breath and glanced at Allen. She thought maybe he’d be needing a handkerchief soon from the look on his face.

  She smiled, and held out her arm to Opal. As Opal looped her arm through Corinne’s, warmth spread through her, of a kind she’d never felt before. She looked up at the altar and said a silent thank you, grateful from the bottom of her heart.

  Epilogue

  “Just one more,” Allen said to the couple seated next to the old vase. “Perfect.”

  The couple smiled and thanked them, and Corinne took the costumes from them. She hung them back up in the wardrobe closet and freshened up the roses she’d put in the vase earlier that morning.

  “These are great,” the young woman said as Allen handed them a printed copy of their old-time portrait.

  “You’re very welcome,” Corinne said as she showed them out the door of the shop. “Enjoy it.”

  She crossed over to the counter that Allen had built when Wade had offered them one of the remaining spaces in the Old Town, asking if they’d open an old-time photo studio permanently. It seems that at the cast and staff party, everyone had loved their photographs so much that guests who saw them wanted one of their own.

  She and Allen had gone into warp speed, shopping at more thrift shops, gathering more costumes and props. They now had rifles and Indian headbands that Corinne had made, complete with turquoise beading. Every time a customer wanted a new costume, she’d made it.