Forever in Good Hope

by Kirk, Cindy

  “Be serious.” Fin had waited until they were alone in the car to bring up the subject. Jeremy had sprung the rotary event on her at the last minute, giving her the option of going as his date or staying home.

  As Ruby was having friends over for dinner, Fin chose to tag along. Dinah had promised to stay with Ruby until she and Jeremy returned home.

  Fin crossed her arms over her chest. “Though you haven’t asked, I’m not doing it.”

  “What does she want us to do?”

  “Basically, she wants us to re-create the piano scene in front of a fire.”

  Jeremy’s brows pulled together as he turned the car toward town. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen the movie, I’m not sure I remember that particular scene.”

  “Bing Crosby plays the piano, and he and Martha Mears do a duet of ‘White Christmas.’” Fin had always loved the vintage movie—and she loved Gladys—but a woman had to draw the line somewhere.

  “That song is a favorite.” Jeremy’s hands relaxed on the steering wheel. “We definitely have to watch the movie.”

  “Sure, we’ll watch the movie. But tomorrow I’ll call Gladys and politely decline.” Fin relaxed against the seat. “I’ll say we’re just too busy and while we—”

  “It doesn’t sound as if it’d be much work.” Jeremy slanted a glance in her direction. “I’d have to brush up on my piano skills, but ‘White Christmas’ isn’t difficult to play.”

  Fin turned in her seat to stare at him. “Are you saying you want to do it?”

  “Gladys is one of my grandmother’s oldest friends.” His expression turned serious. “If I can help her out, I will.”

  “I won’t do it.”

  Jeremy exhaled a breath but said nothing for a long moment. “I’d much rather do it with you, but I’m sure Eliza would step up. Her voice isn’t nearly as good as yours, but it isn’t as if either of us are signing up to perform onstage. The way you’ve described it, this would be a onetime thing.”

  “Well, I’m glad we got that settled.” But Fin didn’t feel glad, she felt uneasy, as if she was about to let something precious slip from her grasp.

  During the rest of the drive, Fin kept the conversation light. When she told him about the meeting and Anita’s battle of wills with Eliza, he smiled.

  “She should know better than to take on Eliza.”

  “If Gladys gets to direct Holiday Inn in January, it could help Xander’s cause.”

  Jeremy shot her a glance, clearly startled by the abrupt change in topic. Well, he wasn’t the only one.

  “You’re probably right,” Jeremy agreed. “But that isn’t a reason to get behind her on this venture. We have her back because she’s our friend and we want her to succeed.”

  Fin nodded. She’d learned that lesson on her father’s knee. Somewhere along the way, she wasn’t sure exactly when it had occurred, she’d begun to embrace the “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality.

  “You realize I haven’t sang in years.” She spoke into the silence, not glancing in Jeremy’s direction.

  Keeping his gaze straight ahead, he reached over and took her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Sometimes, change starts with a single step.”

  After a restless night, Fin rose early. She found more than coffee when she reached the kitchen. Dressed for the day, Jeremy turned from the coffeepot and offered a smile. “Good morning, sunshine.”

  “Good morning back.” Good Hope might not be LA, but seeing Jeremy’s suit and tie made Fin glad she hadn’t followed her first inclination and bopped down the stairs in casual attire. Though she’d always taken pride in her appearance, during her year with Xander she’d learned the importance of always being camera ready.

  She may have dressed down her mint-green cotton sheath with wedge sandals instead of heels, but she hadn’t skimped on her makeup.

  “Lookin’ good, Finley.” Jeremy twisted the top onto the to-go cup he’d been filling even as his gaze lingered. “What’s on your agenda today?”

  Fin flushed with pleasure at the appreciative look in his eye. “Dinah is going with Ruby to cardiac rehab at the Y, then a group of women are coming over in the afternoon to play mah-jongg. That’s a long way of saying I have the day free. I thought I’d track down Lynn and find out why she voted against the proposal.”

  Jeremy rested his back against the counter and continued to study her. He sipped his coffee. “I realize you’re eager to get started, but I suggest you wait a couple days.”

  While the thought of taking a few more days to relax and enjoy some time with her family was appealing, Fin thought of Xander. Easing into anything wasn’t an option. She lifted the cup from Jeremy’s hands, took a drink, then handed it back to him. “Why would I wait?”

  “With our engagement being the talk of Good Hope, likely the only thing Lynn will want to discuss is the wedding. You’ll be spinning your wheels.”

  As Fin considered the point, she glanced longingly at his cup.

  He handed it to her without comment. “You grew up in Good Hope. You know how it is here.”

  Fin sighed and shoved the cup back into his hand.

  With her optimistic mood in danger of crumbling, Fin strode across the room and grabbed a cup from the cupboard and gestured to the stainless-steel percolator. “Mind if I help myself?”

  “No need to ask. For the next month, consider this your home.” Jeremy rested his back against the counter, no longer appearing in a hurry to leave.

  Fin poured, then lifted the red mug to her lips, taking a moment to inhale the rich aroma before fortifying herself with a big gulp. “I enjoyed the rotary dinner last night.”

  “You sound surprised.”

  Finding comfort in the easy conversation, Fin sipped her coffee. “A dinner honoring high school athletes sounded boring. But it was fun. Took me back.”

  Although Fin and her sisters hadn’t been any star athletes, they’d participated in most sports.

  “I was thankful Dinah stayed with Ruby. That way we could enjoy the evening without worrying.”

  “Your grandmother is doing remarkably well.”

  “She’s a remarkable woman.” The admiration in his voice matched the look in his eyes.

  What would it be like, Fin wondered, to have someone look at her that way? She glanced away for a second, then forced a casual tone. “What time will you be home?”

  “Since I’ve been out of the office so much, I still have some catching up to do.” Jeremy reached for his briefcase. “I’ll try to be home by six.”

  Fin set down her mug and closed the distance between them. With a wifely gesture, she adjusted his tie. “Have a good day.”

  For a second she thought he might kiss her, but that was absurd.

  Since Dinah would be around all day, after Jeremy left, Fin called Blooms Bake Shop and confirmed Ami was working. Though her sister warned the morning rush might make taking a break impossible, Fin decided to swing by anyway.

  Before leaving the house, she phoned Xander. Once again, the call went straight to voice mail. Fin pasted a smile on her face so her tone wouldn’t reveal her irritation.

  “Hey, Xan, quick update. Speaking with Lynn Chapin, one of the two board members who voted against the proposal, may have to wait a few days.” Fin saw no reason to say Lynn would be too excited about her pretend engagement to Jeremy to want to talk business.

  With the phone still pressed to her ear, Fin opened the French doors and took her coffee out to the back terrace. “There’s also the possibility of the community theater performing Holiday Inn during January. I’ll tell you more about that when we talk. I’m seeing that as a positive for our side.”

  Is there an “our” side? Fin wondered. Shouldn’t the decision come down to not only what was best for Xander’s film, but what was best for Good Hope?

  “Hope all is well. Talk soon.” She hesitated for a long moment. “I—I love you.”

  Fin wasn’t sure why she found it so difficult
to say the words. Probably because they were new. New for him, too. Until he proposed, Xander had never even hinted he loved her.

  Before that day at the Pfister Hotel, his hot-and-cold act had her wondering exactly how he did feel about her. Yet Fin couldn’t imagine him giving her such a large diamond unless he really did love her.

  Fin held the ring up to the morning sun, admiring how the stone caught the light. She and Xander were perfect for each other. They both enjoyed fine dining and travel. Their sense of humor was in sync, although Xander’s could be caustic at times. But he did his best to not go too far when joking.

  The chink was that he wasn’t particularly family-oriented. Xander found the closeness she shared with her sisters and father difficult to understand.

  An only child, he’d been estranged from his parents for as long as she’d known him. Celebrating holidays and special occasions with family was a foreign concept. Which, she assumed, was why he’d never accepted any of her invitations to come to Good Hope, preferring to spend holidays in exotic locations or with film-industry friends.

  While she didn’t kid herself that he’d embrace family togetherness as her sisters’ husbands had, Fin hoped when he spent time in Good Hope for the filming, he’d get to know her family and eventually grow to like them.

  There were some hopes she knew would never be realized. Fin tried to picture Xander playing pond hockey with his brothers-in-law or relaxing with a beer on her father’s back patio while Prim’s twins pelted each other with water balloons.

  The thought of his horrified expression had Fin smiling all the way to the bakery. It faded when she drew close and saw the crush of people inside. There was no way she and Ami would be able to share even one second of conversation.

  “I just got back in town last night. I hear congratulations are in order.”

  Fin whirled. Lynn Chapin, head of the Chapin banking empire and current president of the Cherries, offered a bright smile. “Your father told me the wonderful news. I’m thrilled for you and Jeremy.”

  Fin smiled.

  And the charade begins.

  For many reasons, including Lynn’s seat on the town board, Fin was glad to see the woman. She’d always liked the pretty blonde, admired her coolness under pressure, whether business or personal. She totally approved of her father dating Lynn.

  “Thanks.” As Fin took note of her trim summer suit in ice blue, for the second time that morning she was glad she’d chosen to look her best. “Jeremy is a great guy.”

  When Fin offered up the sentiment, it sounded completely sincere. Probably because it was sincere.

  Lynn’s gaze returned to the packed bakery. “I haven’t yet had my caffeine boost. Do you have time to grab a cup of coffee at Muddy Boots?”

  This was life in Good Hope. A day could be as fluid as you allowed it to be. “I’d like that.”

  As they walked past the bakery window, Ami glanced out. When their gazes met, Fin mouthed I’ll call you, and Ami responded with a thumbs-up.

  In minutes Fin sat across from Lynn in a booth with a steaming mug of freshly brewed coffee in her hand.

  “Your ring is lovely.” Lynn’s gaze lingered on Fin’s left hand.

  “It came as such a surprise.” The words were out of Fin’s mouth before she could pull them back. Actually, Xander’s out-of-the-blue proposal had been more shock than surprise.

  “Oh, I imagine not so much of one.” Lynn smiled around her cup and took a sip. “I daresay there are any number of people in Good Hope who always believed the two of you would end up together.”

  “Grandma Ruby never lost hope.” The thought of how Jeremy’s grandmother would feel once Fin returned to LA brought a ping to Fin’s heart.

  The greater good, Fin reminded herself. That’s what this charade was about. She’d done this for Ruby.

  And, also, she reluctantly admitted, for herself.

  She had a lot riding on the outcome of a repeat vote. Both personal and professional.

  “Was it difficult to leave your job in LA?” Lynn forked off a bite of coffee cake.

  “I haven’t left.” Fin took a drink of coffee. “I’m on temporary leave.”

  “Really?” Lynn’s perfectly tweezed brows drew together.

  The suspicion that filled her eyes had Fin carefully choosing her next words.

  “I can’t quit right now. I’m in the middle of a big project. Jeremy and I agree it wouldn’t be fair to leave the company in the lurch.” Bring her fake fiancé in, Fin told herself, say his name to make it seem more personal. “Jeremy is very understanding. And I’ll be back in Good Hope before I’m even missed.”

  Again, true. Yes, she would stick as much to the truth as possible. She would be back, for holidays and baptisms and all sorts of family events. But when she returned, Xander would be on her arm, not Jeremy.

  “When will you need to go back?” Lynn gazed at her over the top of her mug.

  “Mid-September.” Again, true.

  “A woman can get a lot of wedding planning done in a month.” Lynn’s expression turned soft, almost dreamy. “I love everything about weddings. Unfortunately, it will be years before Greer walks down the aisle. The girl doesn’t even have a steady boyfriend.”

  Lynn’s daughter and Marigold had been friends in high school. “How is Greer?”

  “Doing well. Back in Good Hope. Learning more about the local banking industry every day.” Lynn’s smile held a touch of pride. “When I’m ready to step down—which won’t be anytime soon—the family’s banking enterprises will be in good hands.”

  Keep her talking, Fin thought. She offered an encouraging smile. If Lynn was busy updating Fin on her children, she wouldn’t be able to pump her for information about wedding plans.

  Jeremy had warned her. The questions Lynn was asking were the same ones she’d be asked a thousand times in the next month. She and Jeremy should have done more to prepare. Fin idly wondered if he was fielding similar questions.

  “Anyway, enough about me and my family.” Lynn leaned forward, her blue eyes fixed on Fin. “Have you chosen a venue for the wedding?”

  Sometimes, Fin decided, a woman must make an executive decision. As both Fin’s family and the Rakes family always attended services at First Christian, that made it the logical venue for the ceremony. She’d once hoped, if Xander did propose, that she could convince him to be married in Good Hope.

  Being married in her hometown was no longer an option. She knew how the citizens felt about Jeremy. No matter what the spin, after the breakup, Fin Bloom would be persona non grata in Good Hope.

  Her heart rose to her throat, and for a second—a very brief second—she found herself fighting back tears.

  “Perhaps you’re considering having it outdoors, like your sister?” Lynn asked when Fin didn’t immediately respond.

  “Marigold’s wedding was lovely.” Fin summoned a smile, recalling how breathtakingly beautiful her little sister had looked under an arbor of flowers on a stage specifically built for the ceremony. The property Cade had purchased prior to their marriage overlooked Green Bay, so the view had been breathtaking. “Being married on the same land that will eventually be the site of their home made the ceremony incredibly special.”

  “Each couple brings their own personality and flavor to a wedding.”

  Fin could see where this conversation was headed. She recalled a tidbit of information that might get this conversation off her and Jeremy. “Someone mentioned at the reception that your son David and his wife’s home is just down the road from Cade and Marigold’s property.”

  “That’s correct.” Lynn set down her mug, her expression inscrutable. “David designed the house. It’s very special to him.”

  Okay, so it appeared Lynn didn’t want to discuss her eldest son and daughter-in-law. Fin wondered if the rumors of trouble in their marriage were true.

  Lynn leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. “So, yes or no to the outdoor wedding?”

&nbs
p; “No. I’d like to be married at First Christian. It might sound crazy, but . . .” Fin hesitated, then plunged ahead, “whenever I’m in the sanctuary, I feel my mother’s presence. If I got married there, perhaps she could be part of my special day.”

  The sweet, heavy mass that filled her chest took Fin by surprise. She didn’t consider herself to be an overly sentimental person. Which meant she must be more tired than she realized. She cleared her throat to dislodge the lump that settled there.

  Lynn reached across the table and covered Fin’s hand with hers. “Sarah wouldn’t miss your wedding. She was so proud of you.”

  Would her mother be proud of her now? Fin wondered. Would she understand that Fin had agreed to this charade out of love for Ruby?

  Fin’s head began to ache. She was about to motion to the waitress for another cup of coffee when she stilled. Her heart gave a little leap.

  Jeremy stood inside the doorway of the café. His eyes lit up when he saw her.

  Fin lifted her hand in welcome, the headache disappearing in a rush of pleasure.

  He immediately began weaving his way through the tables to the booth, followed by another man who Fin barely noticed.

  Lynn swiveled in her seat, intent on seeing who’d caught Fin’s eye. Her lips curved. “Well, this is perfect timing.”

  “Isn’t that your fiancée by the window?” Dan asked Jeremy when the two men stepped inside Muddy Boots.

  Jeremy had run into the young minister on the sidewalk, and they’d decided to grab a cup of coffee together.

  Following the direction of Dan’s gaze, Jeremy spotted Fin in the booth by the window. He was embarrassed to admit his day got just a little brighter. “She’s with Lynn Chapin.”

  That fact didn’t surprise Jeremy. Even though he’d suggested she give Lynn time to adjust to news of their engagement, Fin did as she wanted.

  Dan shot Jeremy a questioning look. “Shall we see if we can join them?”

  “I’m sure Fin won’t mind.” Jeremy reached the table a half second before the minister. Going with instinct, he leaned over and touched his mouth to Fin’s. “This is a nice surprise.”