“And now you have a clue.”
Mia’s laughter gurgled through the tears. “Yes, I do.”
Violet pointed to the doorway. “Um, might that be your daddy?”
Mia turned around and nodded. She gave Violet a hug. “Thanks for everything. Will you be at the game?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Now, go to your daddy.”
“Dad!” She jumped up and ran over to him, nearly knocking over a display of hats. She hugged him. “Oh, I’ve missed you!” she gushed, but then she pulled back and put her hands on her hips once they were outside. “Wait, I should be mad at you!” She blinked at him, trying to ward off more tears. “But I’m not. Well, maybe a little bit. How did you find me?”
“Jessica saw you walk past Wine and Diner and called Noah.”
“Oh …”
“You’re needed back at the baseball park.”
“My job is pretty much taken care of for the day. I won’t be missed.”
“Really, because there’s a certain ballplayer who I do believe will be devastated if you don’t show up and cheer for him.”
“Cam knew the whole time too, didn’t he?”
“No, Mia, Cam didn’t. He only found out when I wanted him to take you to Nashville to pick up Cat.”
Mia absorbed that information for a moment and then whispered, “So he knows who I am and doesn’t care.”
“He’s in love with you and not your money,” Mitch said and then chuckled. “Mia Money … really?”
Mia laughed. “I was on the spot.”
Mitch laughed with her but then put his hands on her shoulders and his eyes turned serious. “It’s taken me a long time to realize what life is all about.” Mitch took her hand in his. “I wish I’d had your little hand in mine a lot more while you were growing up.”
“We can’t change the past, Dad.”
He sighed. “I know that.”
“But every step we’ve taken has led us to here and now. And I’m in a pretty good place. How about you?”
“Are you quoting country music to me again?”
“Sort of.”
“What about that fine-arts degree? Shouldn’t you be quoting Shakespeare?” he teased.
“‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,’” she said with a grin. “Romeo and Juliet.”
“Meaning that the name doesn’t matter, only what things truly are … No truer words were ever spoken.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “We have a ballgame to catch. Are you ready?”
Mia nodded and slipped her hand back into his grasp. As they walked down Main Street toward the riverfront, Mia said, “You’ve got big plans for Cricket Creek, don’t you?”
Mitch nodded but stopped in his tracks and pointed to the buildings. “Noah was right to breathe life back into this town. But it’s not really about saving shops and restaurants. It’s about people, tradition, and community. It’s about a way of life.”
Mia looked up at her father and smiled. “We’re home, aren’t we?”
“Yes, Mia, coming home is all about love and happiness, and we are here to stay.”
Epilogue
Cheers!
WHEN SUNNY WALKED TOWARD THE TABLE WITH A POT of coffee in one hand, Mia raised her mug. “Refill, sweetie?” Sunny asked with a smile.
“Please!” It was after hours at Wine and Diner, but Sunny had offered to stay late to help out at the first committee meeting for Heels for Meals, the charity Mia was spearheading. “Thanks!” Mia said after Sunny handed her the two creamers that she always requested.
“My pleasure. Anybody else need some heat? It’s a fresh pot.” She looked around the table for takers. Myra had informed Mia that Sunny was an excellent waitress and had a great rapport with the customers.
“Decaf for me, when you get the chance,” Jessica replied with a yawn. “I could use the caffeine but I’m still breastfeeding and I don’t want any stimulants getting into Ben’s milk. He has a hard enough time sleeping as it is.” She looked across the table at Madison. “I don’t remember you having so much energy.”
Madison held up her mug for Sunny to top off. “Um, Mom, I think it was probably you that had more energy. You weren’t over the hill when you had me.”
Jessica wrinkled her nose but then gave Madison a lift of her chin.”Hey, forty is the new thirty.”
“I agree,” Olivia said with a firm nod. “Besides, Jess, you sure don’t look it!”
“Age is just a number,” Violet scoffed with a wave of her hand but then shook her white head no at Sunny’s offer for coffee. She pointed to the pitcher in the center of the table. “I’ll stick with the water. Coffee keeps me up, and I need my beauty sleep.” She gave her cap of curls a delicate pat.
“Me too,” Myra said, accepting the pitcher from Violet.
“What are y’all thinking?” Bella announced as she entered the dining room with her mother. “Water? Coffee? What’s up with that?” She held up a bottle of wine in one hand and angled her head toward another bottle clutched in Nicolina’s grasp. “Red or white, ladies?”
“Now you’re talking!” Violet raised a fist in the air, making them all laugh.
“I’ll get the glasses,” Sunny offered.
“Bring one for yourself and have a seat with us,” Myra told her. “You’ve been on your feet long enough.”
Mia watched with a warm heart when Bella and Nicolina uncorked the bottles with flair and began pouring. She was so happy that her father had found such a vibrant, wonderful woman to marry, and Bella was going to be such a fun stepsister! Once they were all seated, Mia raised her glass. “I have a toast!” She cleared the emotion from her throat and looked at the smiling faces of strong-willed, beautiful women seated at the round table. “I’ve only been living in Cricket Creek for a short time, but this lovely town already feels like home. When I was down on my luck, I was welcomed with open arms. And I am fully aware that you are all busy, hardworking women with mouths of your own to feed, but not one of you hesitated when I asked you to be a part of Heels for Meals. I know that we can raise lots of money gathering donations of designer shoes,” she said, but she had to clear her throat once more. “But tonight is also about friendship.”
“And an excuse to drink wine,” Bella added, raising her glass higher and getting a huge cheer from them all.
“To fund-raising and friendship!” Mia shouted over the laughter. They tapped their glasses together, took a collective sip, and then started brainstorming. After a while, Olivia, the organized schoolteacher, was selected to take notes, as Mia was unable to keep up with the fast-flowing ideas, which included everything from events at the baseball park to fund-raisers at Wine and Diner. Violet and Nicolina both volunteered to sell donated shoes at their shops, with the proceeds benefitting local shut-ins. Olivia offered to get a list of students on the free-lunch program to ensure they would get hot meals at home as well.
“I’ll write up a kick-ass press release when you’re ready,” Madison offered.
“Thanks! You guys are amazing! I’ll get donations rolling in,” Mia promised. “Sunny’s son Daniel is my assistant at the ballpark. And doing a very fine job,” she added with a wink at Sunny, who blushed with pride. “We’ll start a database of shoes and go from there!” she said brightly and was met with applause just as Cam walked through the door.
“For me?” Cam raised his hands and grinned.
“You wish,” Mia chided, but as always her heart skipped a beat at the mere sight of him.
“Personally, I sure think he deserves a standing ovation,” Violet announced, rising to her feet. “You don’t have an older brother, do you?” she asked, batting her eyes at Cam. Her question drew another round of laughter, and Mia couldn’t remember when she had enjoyed herself more. She may have lived life in the lap of luxury before coming to Cricket Creek, but nothing could compare to this moment. Mia looked up at Cam, and when their eyes met she felt a warm rush of happiness. She would be forever grateful that her car
had chugged to a stop in this wonderful town.
*
Click here for more books by this author.
*
Read on for a sneak peek
at the next book in LuAnn McLane’s
Cricket Creek series,
available soon from Signet Eclipse.
*
“WILLIE! NO! DON’T JUMP!” THE LOUD, DESPERATE plea frightened social director Savannah Perry into sprinting toward the pool at Whisper’s Edge. Willie’s dangerous plunge attempts had been happening all too often. “Oh, baby, please don’t! It isn’t worth it!” Although the tearful wail had Savannah picking up her already swift pace, she did manage to notice a sleek sports car parked in front of the main office. The sun glinting off the silver hood piqued Savannah’s curious nature, but a splash followed by another wail of distress kept her placing one flowered flip-flop in front of the other. The shoes with daisies adorning the rubber thongs—the result of last Wednesday’s craft workshop—were not very good for running.
“Doggone it!” Savannah nearly tripped as she hopped over the curb, but she refused to slow down. Willie was not a strong swimmer. In fact, acting as a lifeguard was another hat Savannah wore at the retirement community.
Breathing hard, Savannah pushed open the gate that should have been latched and looked past umbrella tables and lounge chairs. “On no!” She spotted eighty-year-old Patty Parsons teetering precariously close to the edge of the water at the deep end of the pool. “Please back up,” Savannah warned but hard-of-hearing Miss Patty was further hampered by the pink bathing cap covering her ears.
“I’ll rescue Willie!” Savannah tried again but Miss Patty’s attention remained focused on her sinking dog.
“Oh, Willie, swim harder!” Miss Patty wrung her hands together as she watched her beloved basset hound trying to capture a yellow tennis ball that bobbed just past his nose. Willie’s ears fanned out over the surface of the water and although he doggie paddled at a furious pace, his short legs and rotund body were no match for gravity. He sunk a little lower.
“Baby, forget about the danged ball! I’ll buy you a dozen!” Miss Patty wailed, but Willie was on a mission and paid his master no heed. Then, to Savannah’s horror, the spry little lady pointed her hands over her capped head and bent her body toward the glistening water. “I’m coming for ya!” she promised. Although Miss Patty was in great shape for her advanced age, Savannah knew from experience that without her flotation noodle she’d sink like a stone.
Savannah was about to have quite a situation on her hands. She cupped her fingers at the corners of her mouth and shouted at the top of her lungs, “For the love of God, don’t dive in, Miss Patty! I’ll save Willie!”
God must have been listening because Miss Patty suddenly straightened up and looked at Savannah across the width of the pool. Her eyes were opened wide as she put a hand to her chest. “Oh, praise the lord! Child, puh-lease save my Willie!”
Savannah kicked off her flip-flops, losing a hot-glued daisy in the process. “I will,” she promised, and, holding her nose, she jumped fully dressed into the pool. Although she’d cranked up the heat for afternoon water aerobics, the sudden plunge still felt shockingly cold. Ignoring the discomfort, Savannah bobbed to the surface. She lunged for Willie and managed to wrap her arm around his midsection.
“You got him,” Miss Patty shouted, but her glee was short-lived. Although Savannah kicked with all her might, she and her canine buddy sank beneath the water. Willie, apparently sensing doggie death by drowning, wiggled away. With a gurgled protest Savannah followed in swift pursuit but Willie swam like a manatee while underwater. He did not, however, manage to paddle his way back up to the surface and started sinking closer to the bottom of the pool.
Although her lungs protested, Savannah knew her only hope was to get beneath Willie and push him upward. She lunged forward and gave his furry rump a huge heave-ho, repeating the action while using her legs as a spring board off the bottom. The old Olympic-sized pool was deep and Savannah was short, so by the time she and Willie reached the side of the pool Savannah started struggling. Her lungs burned but she somehow managed to give Willie one last hard shove closer to where Miss Patty was bent over paddling her hands in the water, as if that would somehow help.
The effort sent Savannah sinking backward, but she pushed off the bottom one last time and stroked as quickly as her tired arms would allow. Savannah broke the surface and took a huge gasp of much-needed air. Wet hair obscuring her vision, she dipped under the water once more to slick the long auburn tresses back from her forehead. Just as she raised her head above water another splash had her cringing. Not again! Savannah was flailing around in a circle trying to get a bead on where Willie landed when—to her surprise—a strong arm snaked around her waist and pulled her against a hard body.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” a man said next to her ear. Savannah tried to twist to see his face but his firm grip prevented her from budging. “Stay calm and put your arms around my neck. I’ll get you over to the edge.”
Savannah obeyed but then felt silly. The words I’m not drowning formed in her head, but the exertion coupled with the lack of oxygen scrambled Savannah’s brain. She attempted to talk once more but unfortunately only a breathy “drowning” got past her lips.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you,” her knight in soggy clothing promised in a whiskey-smooth voice laced with a touch of the South. Savannah loved accents because they represented a sense of home and roots, something she never had until landing the job at Whisper’s Edge. “Hang on and you’ll be just fine.”
“Okay,” Savannah managed. She tightened her hold, forgetting that she didn’t really need assistance.
“We’re almost there.” His warm breath near her ear sent a delicious tingle down her spine and when he tilted his head back Savannah was able to see his tanned face. “Don’t worry.” He flashed Savannah a reassuring smile that was utterly gorgeous. In that brief moment when their eyes met Savannah felt an unexpected flash of longing she couldn’t quite explain. He must have felt something similar because his gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered. Time felt suspended and slowly unfolded like one of those slow-motion movie moments that needed a Maroon 5 song in the background. Savannah tilted her face slightly closer, but before she could do something incredibly insane like lean in and kiss a perfect stranger, he turned his head and started swimming toward the ladder.
“Thank God …” Damn … didn’t mean to utter that out loud.
“Almost there,” he assured her in a soothing tone of voice.
Savannah could see the hot pink silk zinnias adorning the top of Miss Patty’s flip-flops. Several of the ladies had squabbled over favorite flowers during craft time; Savannah had to make them draw straws.
“Here you go.” With firms hands circling her waist he gently guided Savannah to the rungs of the ladder. She could feel the heat of his body pressing against her back and the urge to lean against him was almost too strong to resist. Luckily, Willie’s deep bark startled some sense back into Savannah’s befuddled brain. With a quick intake of breath she gripped the metal handrails and hoisted herself up, hoping that the wet sweatpants clinging to her body didn’t make her butt look big. Belatedly, Savannah realized she’d worn a swimsuit beneath her clothing and wished she had taken the time to shed her clothes before rescuing Willie. Too late now …
Trying not to think about her butt, Savannah sloshed her way up the ladder. To her acute embarrassment, when she tried to stand her shaky legs gave her trouble, and she stumbled sideways like a drunken sailor.
“Whoa there.” Her handsome hero placed a steadying arm about her waist. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Her voice, which had a low timbre to begin with, came out sounding like a croak. Could this possibly get any worse? It wasn’t until she pushed her wet hair from her eyes that Savannah realized they had quickly drawn a small crowd of elderly lady onlookers, most of whom were dressed in swimsuits and clutc
hing colorful foam noodles for water aerobics.
Apparently, her day could indeed get worse.
“She’s fine,” her rescuer assured them, earning a collective sigh of relief. But then turned to her. “Aren’t you?”
Savannah, who didn’t trust her voice, opted for a smile at him and an awkward little wave at the class. During an uncomfortable moment of silence Savannah searched for what to say. Thanks, but I wasn’t really drowning. Sorry that you’re sopping wet. Who are you, anyway? None of those thoughts seemed appropriate for the current situation. She was about to go with a simple thank-you when Willie sat back on his haunches and barked.
“Just hush! You’ve caused enough trouble now, don’t ya know?” Miss Patty wagged a finger at him, and Willie had the decency to hang his head.
Savannah wanted to be angry with Willie, but his sad basset hound face melted her heart every time he landed his rump in trouble. When his big brown eyes rounded upward and gazed sorrowfully at Savannah, she barely refrained from reaching down and patting his head.
“Thank you both so much,” Miss Patty tearfully told them. She started clapping and then glanced back at the aerobic water class who stood behind her in a neat row. Most of them had color coordinated their bathing caps, foam noodles and flowered flip-flops. “Ladies?” At Miss Patty’s nod they joined her applause by clapping their hands against their noodles, causing a low thumping sound that Savannah found funny. She snuck a sideways glance at her hero, but her smile faded when she noticed that he wore a watch and most likely had a wallet and cell phone in the pocket of his khaki pants. A dark blue polo shirt molded to a very nice chest and clung to wide shoulders and impressive biceps. The only thing he managed to shed before his plunge was expensive-looking leather loafers, now lying sideways near the grass. Savannah swallowed hard. Oh boy …
“It was no big deal,” he said smoothly. When he glanced at Savannah she looked down at her toes. She wondered if his demeanor would change if he knew that his heroic efforts weren’t actually needed and decided that there was no real reason to clue him in on that particular detail. “I’m just glad that I was here to help.”
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