by Brenda Novak
Lourdes pushed herself into a sitting position. “Yes, they do. Derrick will drop me. He said he would. And then there’ll be no ‘Crossroads,’ and probably no deal with my old label. Derrick got them Crystal. They want to keep him happy, so he’ll bring them more young talent.”
“That’s your fear talking,” her mother scoffed.
“What?” Lourdes said.
“You don’t need anyone else’s songs,” she replied. “And I’m willing to bet you don’t need Derrick or your old label, either. There are other people out there who make good music and might be interested in a talented artist like you.”
“And if there aren’t?”
She took Lourdes’s hand. “Maybe being a big star isn’t the only life that will make you happy. Maybe the joy isn’t in the end result—in the success. Maybe it’s in living, loving—and trying.”
“But it’s such a risk,” she murmured. “Especially since I don’t know Kyle all that well.”
“You’ll never get to know him any better if you don’t give yourself the chance,” she said and got up to finish the cooking.
* * *
Kyle was as nervous about Riley’s wedding as Riley probably was. He’d memorized what he planned to say and fully believed what he’d written. But therein lay the problem. It was a lot easier to joke around with his friends and hide his more serious feelings behind the laughs and the ribbing. He wasn’t looking forward to standing in front of half the town and revealing his more sober thoughts on love and marriage. After everything he’d been through—and everyone knowing what he’d been through—he felt too exposed.
“You’re going to do great,” Eve murmured, giving him a brief hug as she hurried past, dressed in her teal bridesmaid’s gown. (He knew better than to call it green; he’d been educated on the difference while they were decorating and setting up.)
Lincoln, Eve’s husband, was holding their baby, but used his free hand to slug him in the arm, backing up what she’d just said—that he’d do fine. Kyle smiled as if he wasn’t worried. But the second they walked away, he glanced at his watch. It’ll be over soon, he told himself.
Ten minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start, Olivia asked him to take his place. She was in full-blown wedding-planner mode; he could tell by the intensity of her focus.
“You all set?” she asked.
He nodded, and she hurried off to see that everything else went according to plan.
The friends and family who’d shown up early watched him expectantly, making him eager for the people in Riley’s line to come and join him at the front so his audience would have something else to look at. He was starting to perspire and wished he could loosen his tie. Although it was a cold, crisp day outside—the storm that had rolled in on Christmas Day was gone—the heat inside seemed overwhelming. He straightened his shoulders, trying to cope with his discomfort as more people straggled in, chatting excitedly among themselves.
Kyle recognized Riley’s parents, who’d given Phoenix such a hard time when they were in high school. Even the parents of the girl Phoenix had been convicted of murdering had come, along with their living daughter. Only their son, Buddy, wasn’t with them. Kyle guessed he wouldn’t be coming; he’d been too unkind to Phoenix when he’d thought she was guilty.
A lot of people were there. But Kyle noted that Phoenix’s mother wasn’t in the audience. He’d just decided Lizzie must’ve refused to come, when Phoenix’s older brothers, whom Kyle had met an hour earlier, helped her through the door and down the aisle. She was so obese she couldn’t fit in a wheelchair, so she had little choice except to walk. She inched down the aisle on swollen and purple ankles, but she was wearing a dress and her hair had been done. She also had a corsage pinned to her chest.
“I don’t need to sit in front,” she said to the people who were trying to lead her. Riley bent his head closer to hers and must’ve encouraged her to sit in her “place of honor” because she screwed up her mouth, stared down at the rose-petal-strewn walkway in front of her and allowed him and the others to half support, half drag her bulk onto the bench that had been positioned for her on the front row.
“God, it’s hot in here!” She spoke so loudly almost everyone could hear. Then she wiped her upper lip, turned to glare at those who were staring at her and pulled a fan from her purse.
Kyle regretted paying such close attention to her entrance when Lizzie’s rheumy eyes shifted his way—and narrowed.
“What are you looking at?” she snapped.
“Ignore her,” Riley whispered as he came to stand by Kyle. “She’s just self-conscious.”
Phoenix’s oldest brother hurried out, and not too long after, the music sounded. It was starting...
Jacob appeared first and came to stand by Riley. Then the groomsmen walked in with the bridesmaids and finally Phoenix walked in on the arm of her oldest brother.
As she came toward them, gorgeous in a mermaid-style gown, Kyle tried to overcome his nerves. He really didn’t want to screw this up for her. She’d been through so much...
Her brother’s tattoo “shirt” extended well above his collar. He had his ears pierced and his hair bleached and spiked on top—and looked even more ill at ease than Kyle felt. It was obvious that he’d lived a hard life and wasn’t accustomed to wearing a suit. Kyle would’ve bet fifty bucks this was his first time.
But Riley didn’t seem to notice anything except his bride.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” he whispered as he watched Phoenix, and somehow that put Kyle more at ease. This wedding was meant to be. Maybe it was the perfect moment for some serious reflection on love and commitment, even if it did have to come from him.
Unfortunately, when Phoenix’s brother handed her to Riley and the two turned to face him, that comforting feeling fled and, inexplicably, Kyle choked up. There was no explanation for his emotion, except that he cared so much about both Phoenix and Riley. He figured caring was okay; he just couldn’t break down in front of everyone he knew.
He cleared his throat, trying to gain control. But that didn’t seem to solve the problem. He had to do it two or three times, until Lizzie groaned as she shifted and said, “Are you going to get on with it?”
Fortunately, that broke the spell. Several people snickered. Then Kyle was able to laugh, too, and proceeded to tell Phoenix and Riley, and everyone else, what the Beatles had already said so well—love is all you need.
30
It had been great to marry Riley and Phoenix and to witness their happiness. It’d also been great to visit with Gail, since he didn’t get to see her very often. Kyle always enjoyed hanging out with his friends, but he’d had enough socializing tonight. He was ready to go home, except that he didn’t feel free to leave. The reception wasn’t over. They’d eaten and taken pictures and had the toasts and special dances, but the live band was going to be there until eleven, which was more than an hour away, and the bride and groom hadn’t yet left for their honeymoon. He stood by the champagne table, his tie loosened as he leaned against the wall, watching his friends dance with their brides or hold their babies. Only Baxter stood near him.
“A lot’s changed in the past five or six years,” Baxter mused.
“Yeah. But for the most part, everyone’s happy,” Kyle responded. “That’s what’s important.”
Baxter selected his own glass of champagne. “Are you happy?”
Kyle shrugged. “I’m doing better now that the plant is almost repaired.”
“That’s not what I was talking about.”
“I know.” He sipped from his glass. “How’s your father?”
“I’m worried about him or I wouldn’t have moved home. I love it here, love being with all of you. But I wouldn’t have come back if it wasn’t for my father.”
“I guessed as much,” Kyle said. “I’m sorry. It’s shit
ty timing, shitty luck. I hope he pulls through.”
“He’s just ornery enough to do it.”
They continued to observe the revelry until Kyle had finished his champagne. “Do you think they’d notice if we left?” he asked as he put down his glass.
Baxter checked his watch. “It’s too early,” he said. Then Callie came over and drew him away. She’d met someone who had a question about a particular stock, and she thought Baxter might be able to answer it. That provided Kyle with the perfect opportunity to slide over to the exit. He’d done his part. The fact that they’d all helped decorate had saved Riley some money, but the cleanup would be handled by Riley’s parents, some of their church friends and the staff here at the venue.
Kyle had just stepped outside, finished removing his tie, which he stuffed in his pocket, and taken a deep breath when a different song started. A woman was singing this one, which was odd, since he didn’t remember seeing a woman in the band. It made him curious but not curious enough to go back. He started toward his car and would’ve kept going, except that a second later, he recognized the voice.
* * *
Lourdes had never been so nervous about a performance. It wasn’t just that she was crashing a wedding. By coming back to Whiskey Creek, she was putting her whole future, her entire career, on the line—as well as her heart. After achieving success, losing it and wanting it back so badly, trusting her instincts had been especially difficult. She’d walked away from her best chance at success when she got on the plane to come here. But she knew she wouldn’t be happy, even if she returned to the top of the charts. Not if she had to live without Kyle.
Besides, showing up and taking the stage didn’t really count as crashing, since she would’ve been invited to sing if she’d stayed.
She’d seen Maroon 5 crash weddings on YouTube to sing their song “Sugar,” and everyone loved it. So she hoped this would go over just as well. She couldn’t think of a better way to debut the song she’d written for Kyle.
“All the things I never knew...until I met you,” she sang as she began the first chorus.
Everyone had stopped talking. They’d even stopped dancing. She recognized many of their stunned faces as they turned toward the stage, including Phoenix’s and Riley’s. Noah and Addy, Ted and Sophia, Brandon and Olivia. They were all there, and the rest of Kyle’s friends, too.
But she couldn’t find Kyle.
“Oh, my God, it’s Lourdes Bennett!” she heard someone exclaim. Then her name went through the crowd like a ripple, and even those around the perimeter who hadn’t yet realized what was happening started paying attention.
Lourdes caught the sound of Kyle’s name, too. She could tell everyone was searching for him. So where was he? Why wasn’t he here?
She was beginning to worry that he’d already left, when the crowd parted and she saw him standing in the center of the floor with his collar loosened, looking casual and yet elegant at the same time.
She experienced a moment of terror, wondering if she’d made a mistake doing this in public—doing this at all. When she’d told Derrick she was returning to Whiskey Creek, he’d severed their business relationship and given “Crossroads” to Crystal, which Lourdes had expected. Now she was entirely on her own and would have to start over, not much ahead of so many other artists who were trying to gain the ear and the confidence of the right people. But whether she made a comeback or not, she hoped to have Kyle as her husband and life partner.
If getting back on the country music charts didn’t work out, she could always do weddings, she told herself and couldn’t help smiling at the lengths she was willing to go for the man who was walking slowly toward her.
“I never knew love...until I knew you,” she finished.
The room was completely silent as the final notes of the song died away. Everyone was too intrigued by the drama playing out before them to clap.
Shaky and a bit breathless, she set her guitar aside and stepped back up to the microphone. “I’d like to wish Phoenix and Riley a long and happy life together. I hope they aren’t put off by this little surprise.”
“No way!” Riley called as everyone applauded.
She grinned at him. “That song is called ‘Refuge.’ This is the first time I’ve ever sung it in public, but it seemed appropriate to do it here, since I wrote it in Whiskey Creek.” Her gaze landed on Kyle. “And the man I wrote it for is a good friend of yours.”
Several people whistled as she gestured for Kyle to join her onstage.
“What are you doing?” he murmured as he reached her, his soft lips curved in that half smile she found so sexy.
“For anyone who couldn’t hear, he’d like to know what I’m doing,” she said into the mic. “And to tell the truth, I’m not sure. I’ve never gambled on love the way I’m doing now. You see, I know Kyle doesn’t really want a music artist for a wife, especially one who’s as involved in her career as I am. But, in spite of that, he asked me to marry him before I left. And I didn’t answer. I was too afraid to say yes and didn’t want to say no. So...I’ve come back to see if he’ll ask me again.”
She thought he might ham it up for the audience. She’d put him on the spot, after all, had probably embarrassed him. But he seemed too caught up in the moment to care about who might be watching. He never took his eyes off her.
“I don’t mind that you’re a performer,” he said, speaking into the mic himself. “What’s important to you is important to me. So I’ll support you in that, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t regret coming back to Whiskey Creek—if you’ll marry me.”
“I’m not too young?” she teased.
“I don’t know... Nine years is nine years.”
Everyone started to boo.
“Sounds like I’m outvoted,” he teased back. “No matter what age you are, you’re just right for me.”
“Then I have your answer. It’s yes,” she said, and he pulled her into his arms to kiss her.
“Tell me you still have my ring,” she murmured amid all the noise and congratulations people were shouting at them. “I love that ring.”
“I took it back,” he said.
She pulled away. “You did? I’ve only been gone a week!”
He chuckled at her disappointment. “It’s at home, waiting for you,” he told her and kissed her again.
Epilogue
Four weeks later...
“So we’re planning another wedding?”
Kyle moved his chair to one side to give Baxter room to join them. Since Baxter had arrived at Black Gold Coffee a little late, the tables they’d pushed together were already about as crowded as they could get. But now that he was living in town again, the whole gang could be present for coffee on Friday mornings, and this was one Friday when they were. Even Eve’s husband, Lincoln, who rarely showed his face in Whiskey Creek because of his unusual past, had made the drive from Placerville with her and was sitting at the table with his coffee.
“You weren’t expecting it after what happened at my wedding?” Phoenix asked, laughing at his surprise.
Baxter’s eyebrows went up. “Last I heard it was a ways off.”
When Lourdes’s hand tightened on Kyle’s, he felt the same rush of happiness he’d experienced every day since she’d come back to him. She’d been in Nashville quite a bit—more than he’d consider ideal—but she’d spent all her weekends with him, and he’d gone with her on the last trip. He hoped they could make enough compromises; he knew he was going to give it everything he had. “It is,” he conceded. “It’ll be next winter, on December 1.”
“We’re just handing out the initial assignments,” Lourdes explained.
Baxter looked from him to Lourdes. “Do I get one?”
Lourdes grinned at Kyle. “Olivia will be the planner,” he said.<
br />
“Of course,” Callie responded. “We couldn’t have a wedding without Olivia as planner.”
“And Brandon will be my best man.”
“Of course,” Noah chimed in.
“The rest of you? You’ll all be in my line—”
Before anyone could say “of course,” Lourdes broke in. “Except the women. You’ll be in mine.”
“All of us?” Addy asked in surprise.
“All of you, along with my sisters and mother.”
Dylan whistled. “That’s going to be a long line.”
Lourdes winked at him. “Fortunately, there’s no limit.”
“Sounds great to me,” Riley said. “We’ll be there, ready to help with anything you need.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Kyle shifted his focus to the man who’d been the latest groom. “Especially from you.”
Riley’s eyes widened. “What? Don’t tell me—”
Kyle clapped him on the back. “Yep! You’re going to be performing the vows, buddy.”
Riley shook his head. “I asked for that, didn’t I?”
“You’ll do great,” Lourdes said, giving his arm an affectionate squeeze.
Kyle was delighted by how quickly she’d become one of the gang, how easily she fit in.
“Just don’t choke up the way Kyle did,” Noah said with a laugh.
“Here we go again,” Kyle groaned.
“I still can’t believe I missed that part,” Lourdes said.
“I’m glad you did,” Kyle grumbled. “I wish everyone had missed it.”
“I thought it was wonderful,” Phoenix said, but she would say something like that. Phoenix had more empathy in her little finger than most people had in their whole bodies.
Kyle rubbed his chin. “I knew the second it happened I’d never live it down. So I hope you do choke up,” he told Riley. “I hope you cry like a baby.”
Riley motioned for everyone who’d jumped in to quiet down. “You’re going to be a tough act to follow,” he said. “But I’ll do my best. Maybe by then I’ll feel more experienced at this whole marriage thing.” Leaning over, he dropped a kiss on Phoenix’s lips, and Noah threw a balled-up napkin at them.