Sweet Noel

by Jeanette Lewis

  “What?” Butterflies surged through Gina’s body. The idea of her and Noel … “Oh, no, he’s not from here. He’s only staying to recover and go to physical therapy. I’d never …”

  “Oh certainly, dear. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Miss Lucille stroked Princess’s head absentmindedly. “And really, you probably want to settle down with one of our local boys, don’t you?”

  “I … no. I haven’t …”

  The older woman’s gaze became sharp. “I remember warning you away from that first husband of yours. I knew he was up to no good.”

  She had. The first time Gina had brought Lee home, Miss Lucille had spotted them on the beach and marched out in her animal-print caftan to start the interrogation. Gina hadn’t paid it much thought at the time; that was what elderly Southern neighbors did. But later, when the problems started with Lee, she’d remember Miss Lucille’s warning as conveyed through her mother. Lee was “restless,” she predicted, never satisfied.

  And she’d been right. If there was one theme to their marriage, it had been impatience. Lee was anxious to finish college and start his career in the IT industry. Gina was in a hurry to have a family. They’d never stopped to talk about what kind of life partners they’d be, what kind of parents. They were young and in love. What could go wrong?

  A lot, apparently.

  “Yes, you did seem to know all about Lee,” Gina said now, mostly to appease the older woman.

  “But this Noel person, where is he from? What’s his family like? Does he have folks around here?”

  “He’s from Southern California,” Gina replied.

  Miss Lucille’s face fell. “A shame. But still, we could probably turn him into a good Southern boy if we worked hard enough. And you did meet him for a reason; I firmly believe fate works in mysterious ways.” She fixed Gina with unblinking eyes. “Are you attracted to him?”

  “I …” Heat washed over her, sending butterflies winging through her veins.

  “Well, your blush answers that question,” Miss Lucille said. “Are you sure you should fall in love with him so soon, though? What do you know about this man?”

  “I’m not falling in love with him,” Gina protested. “It’s way too early for that.” But she couldn’t deny that the idea made her heart pound even harder.

  “Now, dear, I’m not saying this Noel person isn’t right for you.” Miss Lucille reached out and patted her on the shoulder. “Just give it a little more time before you let go of your heart again. Mr. Sanderson and I had a strong marriage. That’s what comes from knowing you’re meant to be together.”

  “But he’s been gone for a while,” Gina blurted. “Don’t you want to find someone and be happy again?”

  Miss Lucille smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. “Oh, honey. I’m far too old to get caught up in all that nonsense again. I’m happy to pass my time with my Princess and my garden. Not to mention the Ashland Belle Society. If you’re going to live in Indigo Bay permanently now, you should join. We are so busy with the gala, and we could use your help.”

  “Noel and I are coming this year,” Gina said.

  “Well, that’s a start,” Miss Lucille nodded. She patted Gina’s arm again and turned to make her way back to the house, her little dog tucked firmly against her side.

  Gina climbed back in her car and slowly drove to her parents’ house. The lights were on, flooding the front yard and the brick driveway with warm light. Noel was there, and he’d promised to cook dinner for everyone. Her heart leaped at the thought of seeing him, being near him, smelling the fresh clean scent of his shampoo, feeling his lips warm on hers.

  Maybe it was moving fast, but she was an adult now. She was seasoned by years of secret heartache. Miss Lucille might worry, but if happiness suddenly presented itself, didn’t Gina have every right to try to catch it?

  17

  It was the night of the Barks and Bows Gala and Indigo Bay buzzed with anticipation. Gina’s mother and the rest of the organizers had been working nonstop for the past three days, decorating the ballroom, finalizing the items for the silent auction, and helping the caterers.

  Gina was beside herself with excitement. The idea of attending the gala on Noel’s arm was hypnotic, and at work, she found herself sitting at her desk while the phone went unanswered because she’d been sucked into another daydream about the gala.

  She’d even swung by The Mansion on her way home from work yesterday to poke around, unable to control her curiosity. Sonja Brewster had been there directing the volunteers, who were hard at work hanging fairy lights and setting up tables. As much as Gina disliked being a receptionist, she had to admit that the chaos surrounding event management was infinitely worse.

  But Sonja had been in her element. “We have some excellent entries in the silent auction this year,” she’d said with a huge smile. “Don’t forget to come early enough to check them out, because they’re going to go fast.”

  Gina had leaned in closer. “What have you got your eye on?”

  “There’s a sea-glass bracelet from Coastal Creations. It’s to die for. And Glam it Up is offering a whole day of pampering—cut, color, mani-pedi, and a full massage. Plus, Dallas put in a whole weekend at one of the cottages.” Sonja put one hand over her mouth. “Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you; you’ll swoop in and steal my prizes.”

  Gina had laughed, doing her best to keep her voice lighthearted. Her mother would probably buy several items, but Gina was far too broke to afford anything from the silent auction. She already had a credit card payment waiting for her dress.

  But it was worth it. Gina hadn’t worn a formal dress since her wedding. She’d rented this one from a bridal store in Charleston, and frankly, it was even prettier than her wedding gown. That opinion was tainted by the divorce though. Her wedding dress had had a full skirt and long, lacey sleeves, but this dress was formfitting, and the deep plum-colored fabric clung to her curves. The beaded bodice twinkled whenever she moved, and the scooped neckline and cap sleeves showed off her collarbone and shoulders. This was a grown-up dress, and in it, she felt composed, sophisticated, and even a little bit sexy.

  She had the window down as she drove home, letting the wind blow through her hair and the radio fill the car with the newest pop songs. Her rented dress rested across the back seat, opposite the tuxedo they’d rented for Noel. He hadn’t been able to go for a fitting, and they could forget about dress shoes with his leg, but it didn’t matter. Noel was handsome no matter what. In a tux, he’d look spectacular.

  Gina’s father had volunteered to stay with the boys, and Gina suspected he was secretly relieved to get out of attending the gala this year. Her mother would be there with the other Ashland Belle ladies—trying to outbid each other, sharing a table, having a bit too much wine, and then staying late to help clean up.

  “You sure you can do this?” Gina asked when she got home. She held up the bag with Noel’s tux. “It’s a lot of time on your feet.”

  “Relax. I got this.” He reached out to take the hanger in one hand and pull her into an embrace with the other. “We’re going to have a great time.”

  She couldn’t help smiling as he ducked his head to meet her lips with his for a long kiss. She wrapped her arms around his waist, floating, wanting this moment to last forever.

  “What did the therapist say about your knee?” she said when they finally broke apart.

  “I told you, he said I’m good to walk on it,” Noel said. He’d starting physical therapy yesterday, and Gina’s dad had been happy to drive him while her mother worked at the gala.

  “But what about dancing? I don’t want you to overdo it,” Gina pressed. She’d reassured him several times they didn’t need to dance, but Noel had insisted they’d at least try. She would have happily sat it out, but secretly, the dancing was what she looked forward to the most. The chance to soar around the dance floor in the arms of a handsome man sent her heart skipping.

  “We’ll be fine. I’m going
to hang this up and rest my knee for a few hours; then it’s show time.” He kissed her again, long and full. “I can’t wait to see your dress,” he murmured in her ear.

  Goose bumps broke out over her skin, parading down her neck and shoulders. Okay, forget about soaring around the ballroom. Even if all they could manage was to stand in the corner and sway, she’d be happy as long as she was in Noel’s arms.

  “Gina, are you ready yet?” Gina’s mother gave three quick knocks on the bedroom door and then stuck her head in the room. Her method of giving the kids a warning, but not too much of a warning.

  “Not quite,” Gina said, turning from the mirror above the dresser. She’d been debating which color of lipstick to use and still hadn’t decided. “What do you think, Mom? Pearly pink or dusky rose?”

  “How about red? You can never go wrong with red lipstick.”

  “Now you sound like Miss Lucille,” Gina teased. “And I can go wrong with red. It washes out the rest of my face and makes me look like a clown … or a corpse.”

  “What a cheery observation,” Gina’s mother replied. “In that case, I’d go for the pearly pink.”

  Gina turned to admire her mother’s dress. “You look gorgeous,” she said. The dress was very subdued in a mother-of-the-groom sort of way, but the seafoam green color and silvery lace fit her mother’s personality perfectly.

  “Thank you.” Her mother smiled. “So do you. Noel’s going to love your dress.”

  “Is this weird, Mom?” Gina asked. “I mean, it’s all happened so fast.”

  Her mother came into the room and shut the door, then leaned her back against it. She gave Gina a soft smile. “Yes, and no. It is fast, but you’re not moving in together or planning a wedding. So, not that fast. Plus, I think when you’re older, when you’ve been there before, sometimes you just know. You don’t need to wait around and get to know the other person as long, because you already know yourself and you know what you want.”

  Gina nodded. “That’s the most hopeful thing I’ve heard in a while,” she confessed.

  “Trust your heart,” her mother said. “You’ve both been married before, so as much pain as that caused, maybe there’s some good in it, because it’s helped you both know what not to look for.”

  “He told you, then, about his first wife and his daughter?” Her mother could probably get a confession out of a priest, not the other way around.

  “He did, the day after he moved in,” her mother admitted. “Are you surprised?”

  “Not at all. People tend to trust you.”

  Her mother laughed. “Very good to hear. But I meant, were you surprised to learn he’d been married?”

  “A little,” Gina confessed. “But his reasons for being so drunk the night of the accident make more sense.”

  “It’s hard to know how people will behave when they’re in pain. Sometimes, it’s not the way they would normally act. Not at all.” Gina’s mother twisted her wrist to look at the small gold watch fastened there, the one she wore to formal occasions. “I need to get going. I volunteered to help set up the incoming donations.”

  “They don’t have that already put together?” Gina asked in surprise. She’d assumed the committee would have things well in hand. Certainly not still setting up an hour before the gala was scheduled to start.

  “We have a window for the baked goods and other fresh things. Eva and Miss Eulalie are bringing half a dozen chocolate-dipped fruit bouquets. And I’m sure we’ll have some late entries. There’s always so much to do on a night like this.”

  “I can tell,” Gina said. “You’re not overdoing it, are you?”

  “Not at all. Besides, events like this are based around people doing their part to help out.”

  “I feel guilty. I should have helped more.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, you don’t need to worry about that. You have enough on your plate.”

  “Yeah, but so does everyone. Maybe I can help out next year,” Gina suggested.

  Weird how she suddenly jumped to imagining she’d be in Indigo Bay next year. There had never been any thoughts of staying long-term. She couldn’t afford a house here on her own, and she didn’t want to live with her parents any longer than absolutely necessary. But neither had she planned on ever kissing a man again or letting herself get caught up in romance, and look where she was now—dressed up like a princess going to the ball and eagerly awaiting her handsome prince.

  18

  Noel pulled the straps on his brace a little tighter and grabbed his crutches. It was stupid that he couldn’t drive Gina to the gala like a normal date, but since when was anything about this relationship considered normal?

  Okay, it was moving slower than his shotgun wedding to Maren, but only just. Maybe it was just the way he rolled. Besides, things with Gina felt totally different than they had with Maren. With Maren, it had been lust, plain and simple, but they’d mistaken it for love.

  With Gina, yes, she was beautiful and yes, he was a red-blooded male who liked to admire her curves. But it was more than that. It felt deeper, more significant. Even though things had moved fast, he felt assured, content, and he was okay with stopping at kisses until they were married.

  Until? Not if? Heat pooled in his gut, but he didn’t take the words back, not even mentally. There was something almost rebellious in dreaming so soon. He liked it.

  They planned to leave the house at six, and he could hear Gina’s footsteps over his head as she moved between her bedroom and the bathroom, getting ready. He could tell the minute the footsteps changed from bare feet to high heels, and he couldn’t help smiling. He was sure she would look beautiful, but he liked Gina best in her bare feet, preferably sitting in the curve of his arm, curled up next to him in the swing or on the beach with her head on his shoulder.

  The memory of kissing her made his heart pound. Her hair was soft, her lips sweet. He couldn’t wait to dance with her tonight. And hold her. And kiss her.

  Overhead, Gina’s shoes clacked. It was almost time to go. Noel grabbed his crutches and hurried to the kitchen.

  Peter sat in the family room with the boys, watching a Pixar movie. He looked up in surprise when Noel sped toward the French doors that led to the back. “Hey! Not running away, are you?”

  “Nah.” Noel grinned. “Just trying to make it better.”

  Peter smiled back, and Arthur gave him a wave. Noel lifted one crutch in return, then limped across the deck, down the stairs, and around the house. It was December, so the only things growing in Marjorie’s flower beds were some yellow pansies and an orange blossom that looked kind of like a sunflower. Noel bent down and carefully picked three of the orange flowers, then hurried around the side of the house to the front porch. His hands were clammy as he rang the bell.

  A moment later, the door whipped open. Gina’s eyes widened when she saw him, and she broke into a laugh. “What in the world are you doing?”

  He’d forgotten. What was he doing? Standing like a statue, like some kind of idiot. “You look gorgeous,” he whispered.

  Gorgeous was too light of a word. Gina was stunning. Her hair was caught up in some kind of fancy updo, but she’d left strands down to whisper against her delicate neck. The beads on her dress twinkled in the moonlight, but nothing shone as bright as her smile.

  Her cheeks flushed pink. “Thank you. You look pretty fine yourself. Does the tux fit?”

  “It’s great,” he said. A little large in the jacket, but he’d make it work.

  Gina crossed her arms, and the amethyst bracelet on her wrist gleamed. “So what are you doing, you lunatic?”

  “I thought I should at least pick you up at the door like a real date,” he said. He balanced on one crutch and thrust the other toward her, the stems of the yellow blossoms clutched in his fist. “And these are for you.”

  “Did you rob my mother’s flower garden?”

  “Just a little bit.” Noel grinned. “Don’t narc on me, okay?”

  Her eyes soften
ed. “You got it.”

  The entrance to The Mansion was wreathed in garlands and white fairy lights. They waited in a short line, and when they entered the ballroom itself, Gina gasped in delight. Sonja had worked her magic. The ballroom was decorated in forest green and silver and accented with red, creating a perfect Christmassy feel. Soft music filled the air and the pines around the room were real, and their spicy fragrance lent an exotic feel to the room.

  “Wow,” Noel said, looking around. “I thought this was going to be kind of a small-town thing. But this is pretty cool.”

  “Yeah, we do galas right in Indigo Bay,” Gina laughed.

  Noel nodded. “I’m convinced. What shall we do first?” He tipped his head toward the dance floor. “Wanna take a spin?”

  “Or we could look at the auction items.”

  “What, you don’t think I can dance?”

  Gina wrinkled her forehead. “I really don’t want you to overdo it.”

  “Relax, babe,” he said. “If I overdo it, the worst thing that can happen is I have to have repair surgery and start all over.”

  “Don’t even think it,” she groaned. “That settles it. We’re definitely not dancing.” Disappointment shot through her, but not enough to risk Noel wrecking his surgery.

  “No way,” Noel said. “We didn’t get all dressed up just to sit around. Promise me we’ll at least get to shuffle.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, and Gina was lost. The ballroom and the guests were gone. The only things in the world were Noel’s lips, warm against hers.

  “On second thought, I’d love to find a quiet corner,” he whispered when they broke apart.

  Gina cut her laugh short as she saw a man enter the room and pause to look around. It was Lee, and he was alone.

  “What’s the matter?” Noel asked.

  But Gina didn’t answer. Instead, she clutched his arm like a lifeline as Lee spotted them and came across the room, striding with a purposeful step.