So in Love
Page 23
“Yep, we’re all set. I have some light refreshments over there.” Kelsey pointed to a table of drinks and snacks.
“And I have Crystal’s handouts,” Alaina said, setting a bag on the checkout counter.
Brooke fished a box out of the bag. “Ooh, what do they say?” She opened the box and pulled one out, scanning the paper.
“It highlights specifics about the movie—working title, plot synopsis—as well as our plan to film here.” She tossed Crystal a warm glance. “Crystal did a great job outlining everything.”
Crystal was glad she’d sold the movie to Alaina and Sean’s company. It was the highest profile project they’d taken on, and they were both thrilled. Plus, Crystal was able to manage things at a level she wouldn’t have with a large studio.
Kelsey shook her head, a smile teasing her lips. “I have to say, it’s a little surreal to know that Alaina is going to be Dorinda.”
“But so cool!” Brooke said. “I mean, we know that this story is going to be everything we want. And the people of Ribbon Ridge will too.”
“I hope so.” Crystal was still nervous about presenting this to the townspeople tonight. She knew that Angie Westcott was now onboard but had no idea if anyone else was. Maybe she’d feel better after she talked to Angie in person and saw her support firsthand.
“Do not worry,” Alaina said. “We’re going to win them over.”
Brooke looked around at all of them. “Well, I’m just glad we have this movie to work on, because I’m sad that the Dorinda mystery is over. I’ve loved working with all of you, and I would miss our regular ‘meetings.’”
“You mean our chatfests?” Crystal snorted. “I’m not sure how much business we actually discussed.”
“Besides, we’ll still have those,” Kelsey said. “You’re all stuck with me.”
The others chimed in with “Ditto” almost simultaneously. Laughing, they collapsed into a group hug.
A little while later, people started to filter in, including Jamie, who made his way to Crystal. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight, pressing a kiss to her mouth. “Today was the longest day ever.”
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. “I know. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Nervous?”
She nodded, taking her arms from his neck and inhaling his pine-spice scent. Strange how just being next to him made her feel better, more grounded. She supposed that was what true love felt like.
“Don’t be,” he said. “You’ve got tons of backup here.”
“Alaina’s going to do most of the talking.”
His brow furrowed. “Why? It’s your project.”
“Technically, it’s our project now. Anyway, I don’t mind. She’s always been better about managing the limelight, and I’m content to sit in the background and pull the strings.” She laughed softly. “Sort of.”
Sean arrived and joined Alaina, their heads bent together. They both looked over at her and motioned for her to come.
Crystal kissed Jamie’s cheek. “Gotta go. Wish us luck.”
“Always, but you don’t need it.” He grinned at her as she pulled away.
She practically skipped over to Alaina and Sean, feeling more confident than she had all day. “Okay, I’m ready to do this.”
Sean smiled at her. “Excellent.”
The room filled with faces Crystal recognized, and she fought to keep her anxiety at a manageable level. Some made her feel more at ease while others increased her stress. Maybe she should’ve had a shot of something before getting going. Too late now.
Alaina stood near the checkout counter and welcomed everyone. Sean and Crystal positioned themselves off to the side. While Alaina launched into an overview of the plans for the movie, Kelsey and Brooke handed out the information sheets Crystal had prepared.
Right away someone raised his hand and didn’t wait for Alaina to recognize him. He was an older gentleman with dark brows that shot up his forehead. “You’re filming it here? That’ll turn the town into a nightmare as people come from all over to check things out.”
“I really don’t think it’ll be any different than it is now,” Alaina said, demonstrating her regular amount of charm and patience. “With the addition of The Alex Hotel and the upscale Arch and Fox restaurant, we’re already seeing increased tourism. This could very well be a wonderful opportunity for economic growth in Ribbon Ridge.”
The man grumbled. “It’s already too crowded.”
George Wilson, the bartender at The Arch and Vine and Kelsey’s soon-to-be step-grandfather spoke up. “Come on, Phil, you can’t stay stuck in the sixties anymore. Time to join the twenty-first century. Besides, Ribbon Ridge will always be a small town regardless of how busy or big it gets. It’s the people and the mentality that matter.”
Several people voiced their agreement, and Ruby, Kelsey’s grandmother leaned against him and smiled up into his downturned face. Crystal couldn’t help but smile too, not just at how adorable they were, but at George’s sentiment. He was right that what mattered most was the people, and not the few bad apples like Patty Barlow back in Blueville.
Others asked questions about the production and how it might affect things here. Alaina answered everything, which seemed to put people at ease. Maybe it was just Crystal relaxing, but the tension in the room seemed to lessen.
Until it didn’t.
Angie Westcott raised her hand, and Crystal stiffened. She shot a look at Jamie who nodded encouragingly.
Alaina gestured toward her. “Yes, Angie.”
Angie cleared her throat. “I just wanted to thank all of you for organizing this meeting to explain everything. This handout is really great.” She looked directly at Crystal, whom Alaina had indicated as the author of the information. “Thank you for this.”
Crystal managed to find her voice. “You’re welcome.”
“I fully support the movie,” Angie said. “Provided I get a ticket to the premiere.”
This garnered laughter throughout the room. Sam Westcott, who was standing next to his wife, leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“We plan to show the premiere here,” Alaina said. “Actually, probably in Mac since we don’t have a theater. Unless you think we need one?”
“Are you offering to build a movie theater?” someone asked from the back.
Alaina shrugged. “I don’t know. It might be nice to have one!”
This was greeted with a few cheers and applause.
“So does anyone have any questions?” Alaina asked, scanning the room.
Stella, the coffee shop owner, raised her hand and Alaina acknowledged her. “It’s really great to know that you and Sean will be shepherding this project since you’ve become full-fledged Ribbon Ridgers.” She looked at Crystal. “What about you? Will you be calling Ribbon Ridge home, at least for the short-term?”
The question had weighed on her mind the past two weeks, and even more so since yesterday. She looked over at Jamie and saw the love she felt for him reflected in his eyes. Home was wherever he was, and that was where she wanted to be.
She arched a brow at him, and his gaze flickered surprise and then joy. He gave a subtle nod.
Crystal turned to answer Stella’s question. “I’ll be calling Ribbon Ridge home indefinitely.”
Epilogue
Ribbon Ridge, April, One Year Later
“Wow, that really does look just like the picture,” Crystal said, shading her eyes as she stood in front of the Bird’s Nest Ranch farmhouse being built for the film.
Jamie stared at her profile, thinking she grew more beautiful every day. “It does.” He slipped his arm around her waist and drew her close. “Think it’ll be ready to start filming on Monday?”
“It will. Movie schedules are always behind—or so it seems.” She turned in his arms, the breeze blowing her hair against his face.
He tucked it behind her ears and kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. “You ready for our surprise?”
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“I better be, right?”
He frowned, but his eyes still sparkled, so she could tell he wasn’t really worried. “Uh-oh, you aren’t getting cold feet, are you?”
She curled her hand around his neck. “Never. Especially not with the effort it took to pull this off without anyone knowing.”
“We had a little bit of help.”
“True, but if I’ve learned anything about living in Ribbon Ridge, it’s that the Archers can make things happen.”
Jamie laughed. “Amen.”
“There you are,” Cam said, hiking up the slight incline, his hand in Brooke’s. “Dinner’s going to be ready soon.”
Brooke and Crystal exchanged a brief hug.
Brooke shook her head. “Wow, it’s so crazy to see this for real. Like a dream come true. I can hardly wait to put together the museum.”
Once the filming was done, Crystal and her friends planned to transform the farmhouse into the official Ribbon Ridge museum. Kelsey and Crystal were going to run it together—in their spare time, which made Jamie laugh. His fiancée was the busiest woman he knew. And her life was about to get even busier with production starting.
“Me too,” Crystal said, beaming.
“Oh! Before I forget.” Brooke whipped out her phone and showed Crystal a picture. “Thirty weeks.”
Crystal took the phone and looked at it with Jamie. The image showed a petite brunette with a rounded belly. “Wow! She looks great,” Crystal said.
Brooke and Cam were expecting their first child via a surrogate, and Jamie was thrilled to have another niece or nephew—they didn’t know the sex of the baby.
“Thanks,” Brooke said, taking the phone back. “It’s a dream come true.” She looked over at Cam, who lifted her hand to his mouth so he could press a kiss to the back.
“Should we head down for a glass of wine?” Cam said.
Jamie nodded, taking Crystal’s hand in his. “Definitely.”
“When will we be able to drink the Dorinda varietal?” Crystal asked as they headed down the hill toward the massive tents that had been set up. They’d be used for production crews, but tonight were the location for a preproduction dinner attended by a couple of hundred Ribbon Ridgers, plus all of Crystal’s family from Blueville.
“Next spring, we’ll sample from the barrel,” Cam said. Luke had planted the new vineyard block this winter.
“I just love that you guys named a vineyard after her,” Crystal said.
“Dorinda is a part of that land. It was important to us to commemorate her legacy. And Hiram’s.” They’d renamed their chardonnay block after him.
Jamie and Crystal walked into the tent where people were gathered. Luke and Kelsey greeted them, and Cam and Brooke started to veer off.
“Hey, don’t go too far,” Jamie said to Cam.
Cam looked confused. “Why?”
“Just don’t.” Jamie took pleasure in being enigmatic. “All will be revealed soon.”
Cam shook his head. “You’re weird.”
Crystal tugged on Jamie’s hand. “Is it time?”
Jamie looked at his phone. “Just about. You go find Alaina, and I’ll do my thing.”
Crystal nodded. “I love you.” She gave him a quick kiss.
He held her fast for a moment, hating to let her go, but knowing that in a few minutes, she’d be his forever. “I love you.”
With a saucy wink, she took off toward Alaina. Jamie watched as she whispered in Alaina’s ear. The color drained from Alaina’s face, and she spun so fast to hug her friend, she nearly toppled them both to the ground.
Jamie chuckled as he made his way to the middle of the tent on the outer edge where a PA system was set up. Rob Archer stood nearby and gave Jamie a knowing nod. He and Emily, and several of their children were in on the secret. Jamie and Crystal couldn’t have pulled it off without them.
As Jamie picked up the microphone, Rob turned on the power. “Good evening, everyone,” Jamie said, looking out over the sea of round tables set up for the dinner. Some folks were already sitting while others milled about with wine or beer in their hands.
“We want to welcome you to our party tonight. We’re here to celebrate the movie that will start filming Monday—I’m sure you’re all excited to be playing extras.”
This was met with cheers and applause.
“We’re also going to celebrate something else—Crystal and I are getting married.”
Cam had stayed nearby as asked and grinned, holding up his wineglass in toast.
“Right now,” Jamie added.
Cam’s eyes rounded, and a dull roar started around the tent.
“We’ve got it all set up. I just need Cam to join me as my best man—it’s his turn since Luke was his, and I was Luke’s a couple months ago.”
Blinking, Cam came forward and said, “I can’t believe you kept this a secret.”
Jamie lifted a shoulder, feeling quite pleased with himself. “I’ll also need my parents—and Luke, as well as Crystal’s family. Except Chuck. Chuck, I need you to step outside the tent so you can walk my beautiful bride down the aisle. Let’s get this party started!”
Ten minutes later, dressed in a simple, but elegant white gown and preceded by her matron of honor, Alaina, Crystal came toward him down the aisle that no one had noticed cutting through the middle of the tables, her hands clutching a bouquet of pink peonies. When she arrived with her dad, she kissed his cheek and whispered, “I love you,” as he transferred her hand to Jamie’s.
There were tears in Chuck’s eyes as he said, “Take care of my girl. I know you will.”
“With every breath I take,” Jamie promised.
He turned with his bride, and they exchanged the vows they’d written in front of Kyle Archer, who’d become an officiant.
Later, after the excitement had dimmed—just a little since Jamie was pretty sure this party would last well into the night—Jamie danced with his new wife under the stars outside the tent.
“That went perfectly,” Crystal said, her eyes sparkling with laughter and love.
“I hope the rest of our lives goes just as well.”
“It won’t,” she said. “But that’s okay. Together, we can manage anything.”
“That we can.” He held her close and brushed his lips against her temple. “Do you think Dorinda’s watching over us?”
“I do. I just hope she’s at peace.”
“I’m sure she is—she’s had you as a guardian angel.”
Crystal shook her head. “No, she’s been mine. How else could she have helped me find my way home?”
Jamie kissed her and knew he was home too.
* * *
The end
Author’s Note
As I prepared to publish this book, a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia took place. One woman, Heather Heyer, was killed protesting the hate spewed by the organizers of the rally, while several more were injured. Writing about a family dealing with its ancestors’ involvement with the KKK was at times uncomfortable. I was very concerned with getting the tone right for all readers, and I hope I’ve done so. One thing I do not worry about getting right is condemning hate speech and the very existence of white supremacist groups. We absolutely must do this—as a nation, as communities, as members of the human race. Hate is hate and I can’t ever fathom why anyone would choose that when love feels so much better and takes far less effort.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
— Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Teach love. Spread love. Just…love.
Thank You!
Thank you so much for reading So in Love. I hope you enjoyed it!
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So in Love is the third and final book in the Love on the Vine series. Be sure to check out the Ribbon Ridge series, featuring the Archer family! If you like historical romance, I hope you’ll check out all my series: The Untouchables, Secrets and Scandals, and Legendary Rogues.
I appreciate my readers so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Books by Darcy Burke
Historical Romance
The Untouchables
* * *
The Forbidden Duke
The Duke of Daring
The Duke of Deception
The Duke of Desire
The Duke of Defiance
The Duke of Danger
* * *
Secrets and Scandals
* * *
Her Wicked Ways
His Wicked Heart
To Seduce a Scoundrel
To Love a Thief (a novella)
Never Love a Scoundrel
Scoundrel Ever After
* * *
League of Rogues
* * *
Lady of Desire
Romancing the Earl
* * *
Contemporary Romance
* * *
Ribbon Ridge
* * *
Where the Heart Is (a prequel novella)
Only in My Dreams
Yours to Hold
When Love Happens
The Idea of You