She shook her head. “I don’t know. I want to― I’m not sure how―”
Taking her hand, Mrs. Olivier nodded. “I understand. Let’s see what we can come up with together.” And she led them down the sidewalk, joining the packed crowds that surrounded the store. Alice glimpsed Mayor Cointreau getting out of his car.
“Hi, Mrs. Olivier,” a man said, standing at the end of the line, dressed in the black pants and ScreenStop T-shirt uniform of one of the security crew.
“Could you walk us inside?” She grabbed onto Charlie and Alice. “Hold on, girls. We’re going around the line.”
Charlie let out a squeal of glee and Alice glanced around. They were already attracting attention as they jumped forward, the security guard ushering them beyond the ropes. There was a bright red ribbon stretching across the front of the store, just waiting for Paul and Andy to cut it.
“Must be performing.”
“Weirdest costume ever.”
“Who is that?”
“I think it’s Lady Gaga! She wears crazy stuff. Remember that meat dress?”
Alice tried to get Mrs. Olivier’s attention. “I don’t want special treatment. I just wanted...”
“To see Paul? We’re going to have to come up with something to get his attention. These things are a real madhouse.” Mrs. Olivier laughed over her shoulder as they moved to the side of the building. The security guard flashed a badge, and two men waved them through the open, double doors leading into the main area of the store.
“You don’t mind missing the ribbon-cutting, right? We’ve got to get you set up somewhere.” Mrs. Olivier glanced around.
“Set up?” Alice swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m not trying to ambush him. I just thought it would be nice if I came to the party.” She scanned the room, sure that Paul was going to be only a feet away. The interior looked like something from a movie. The lights were dimmed, except for spotlights shining on stacks of equipment around the perimeter. There was a stage set up in the middle of the store. Glass and steel gleamed with the reflection of multi-colored laser beams roaming the space above the first floor. There were black-shirted workers standing at the ready, their stations marked by red and black balloons.
“Of course, dear.” Mrs. Olivier squinted toward a counter. “I think you need to be a shopper who needs help. I’ll tell him it’s a friend of mine.”
“Mrs. Olivier, please.” Alice felt panic grip her. “I don’t want to lie to him just to get him to talk to me.”
She turned, reaching out for Alice’s hand. “Honey, nothing I said there was a lie.” She gave Alice a quick kiss and pointed her toward a display of electronics. “You stand right here until the hullabaloo dies down.”
And then she was gone, leaving Alice and Charlie parked in the corner of the store. Alice felt sweat bead on her forehead and she swiped a sleeve over her face. This had been a really bad idea, and she’d only made it worse with her choice of outfit. Now that Paul’s mother was involved, her fate was sealed.
“Miss Alice, I’m gonna go get a game and stand near the check out. I can’t believe we got to pass all those people.” Charlie was already skipping toward a tower of games.
“Sure,” she said, her voice hardly more than a whisper.
There was a roar from outside and Alice jumped. The ribbon cutting had started. Any moment now, Paul would come inside and see her standing there, a nineteenth-century poet in the land of dragon-riding queens.
The front doors opened and a stream of people flooded in, the noise level rising to deafening levels. Alice didn’t see Paul come in and soon she was surrounded by people, most of whom were wearing some sort of armor. She pressed back against the wall and tried to stay out of the way.
“Here he comes!”
“Wait, I have to get my phone.”
“Can you sign my arm?”
Alice looked up to see Paul moving toward her, a group of people surrounding him like he was some kind of rock star. His expression was pleasant and he stopped for what seemed like an endless stream of selfies. Pretty girls wrapped their arms around his waist and beamed into the camera. Alice watched him, feeling as if she was observing someone she’d never met and certainly never considered a friend.
“Ok, guys. I’ve got to help someone so give me five minutes.” He was moving away from the crowd. “I’ll be right back.”
They let out a collective sigh and dispersed, leaving Paul to finally reach the counter. The smile was gone from his face. His mouth looked tight, although his voice was cheerful enough. “Hey, Tina, my mother said there was a friend of hers here who needed some help?”
The dark-haired girl behind the counter shook her head. “She didn’t tell me anything. I’ve been standing right here.”
Paul frowned and patted his pocket. “I could try to call her but she almost never answers.” He sighed. “Well, if you hear anything, will you―”
Alice stepped out from the shadows. For a moment, Paul’s expression was blank as he took in her costume, from the black boots to the parted hair. One side of his mouth lifted.
She cleared her throat. “I was thinking of buying one of these.” She pointed to an e-reader. “I hear there are some really good books you can only get in digital.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, just looked her up and down. His smile stretched wider until he was grinning. “Miss Browning?”
Alice laughed, nodding. “Charlie tried to give me some kind of weapon but I told her if I got to dress up, I wanted to be someone I really admire.” The smile faded from her face. “Paul, I know this isn’t really the time or the place―”
He stepped closer and took her hands in his. “It’s just the right time.” He glanced around. “And a pretty nice place, if I say so myself.”
She snorted. “Rub it in.”
They smiled at each other for a moment and then Paul reached into his jacket pocket over his heart. “I was going to have Charlie bring this to you, but since you’re here….” He held out a small envelope. “I put them on another chain.”
Alice took it, opening the flap. She withdrew the necklace, feeling the warmth in the gold where they had rested against Paul’s chest. Her parents’ wedding rings sparkled in the light, a permanent reminder of the love they’d shared, the love that had brought her into being. But ever after, the rings would also be a sign of one man’s generosity.
“Let me put it on you,” he said, taking the necklace back. She turned, letting him fasten it around her neck. She put up a hand, her throat tight with the knowledge that something irreplaceable had been returned to her.
She turned back to him. “I don’t know where to start.”
“Skip to the end,” he said, smiling. “We can talk about the middle parts later.”
Alice swallowed hard. Words ran through her mind. Poems, quotes, famous lines. Nothing fit. Finally, she stepped forward and kissed him. It was a short kiss, just the barest touch. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Again.”
“And I accept, again.” He said, leaning his head down to hers. “I’m so far from perfect, Alice. The next time, I’ll be the one apologizing. I can promise you that.”
The next time. Alice closed her eyes against sudden tears. She felt his arm reach around her waist and pull her close. Their first kiss bore the freshness and innocence two people who had barely met. The second kiss bore the passion of two people who refusing to give an inch, not able to find that middle ground. This one carried the weight of the days that had passed. It spoke of misunderstandings and mistakes, of hard choices and bad decisions, of anger and heart ache and forgiveness. And most of all, it spoke of hope for all the days ahead.
Alice leaned against him, unable to believe that it had been that simple. The help of a few good friends, a simple apology, and he was there in her arms. She closed her eyes against the flashing strobe lights and the noise of the crowd. Even here, in this place, she felt at peace. Her heart had finally found a shelter ‘out of the swing o
f the sea’.
Epilogue
Whoever says
To a loyal woman, "Love and work with me,"
Will get fair answers, if the work and love
Being good themselves, are good for her–the best
She was born for
I, too, have my vocation, –work to do,
The heavens and earth have set me, ―
Most serious work, most necessary work,
As any of the economists'.'"
― Aurora Leigh, Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“I don’t see why I have to dress up. I think a hat and a jacket are enough.” Alice frowned at Charlie as the girl fussed with Alice’s hair.
“I want to get some pictures and I want you to look cute,” Charlie said. She caught Alice’s look. “Cuter, I mean.”
“You have tons of photos of me.” Alice sighed. “I love the Christmas light festival, but I was really hoping Paul could be here.” She held up a hand. “I know he’s busy running a big company. That fact doesn’t escape me.”
“Well, there’s always next year,” Charlie said. “And doesn’t New York have some great parades? You guys can go see something up there.”
Alice nodded, unconvinced. It seemed everybody loved New York City but her. It was so crowded, so noisy. “It’s the festival’s eighty-seventh year, and I just thought it would be so romantic. It took Bix and me all day Friday to put up our lights. I think our building is the nicest.”
Charlie finished Alice’s French chignon and stepped back to admire her work. “You’re ready.” She put her hands together and Alice was alarmed to see tears in her eyes.
“Are you okay?” She stood up from the chair. “Did something happen? I know I’ve been preoccupied with Paul and then I left for that week last month. Is it school? Are you worried about starting college?”
“No, no!” Charlie shook her head. “None of that. And we’re going to be late. Bix and Ruby are holding our seats for the parade.”
Alice frowned as Charlie bolted from the bathroom. She’d been acting strange all week and Alice was worried. Maybe she should reach out to Charlie’s parents and see if they knew anything.
A few minutes later they were headed down the boardwalk. The river reflected the bright colors that draped the buildings all along the waterfront. Long boats floated lazily up and down, their sides and beams strung with twinkle lights. Alice inhaled the chill air of a December in Cane River and she smiled. It was almost perfect. If only Paul― No. She was going to enjoy this night and focus on the people here with her at the moment. She put a hand to her necklace, feeling the warmth of the rings against her palm.
“There they are,” Charlie said, pointing out a familiar straw hat and army-green coat. Bix waved from a chair near the end of the block. Ruby beamed beside him.
“Donne moi un p'tit bec.” Ruby stood up and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Alice started to reply but Charlie stepped in and wiped the lipstick from her cheek. Alice shot her a confused look.
“Pictures,” Charlie said, waving her camera.
“How’s your new grandbaby doing, Ruby? How old is he now?” Alice asked.
“Oh, he’s real fine. And let’s see. He’s not old enough to eat Popeye’s but he can suck on a biscuit.”
She grinned. She could see why Bix got such a kick out of Ruby. They were one of those couples that reminded you true love existed. Her mind went back to Paul and she tried not to sigh. She was as bad as Charlie had been the year she’d been struck with unrequited love for the school quarterback. Paul certainly loved her back, but he wasn’t here. Christmas was a time for family, and she missed him so much she ached with it.
“Bonswe, Alice.”
For a moment, she thought she’d imagined that voice. She turned, eyes opening wide. The next moment she’d launched herself into Paul’s arms.
He hugged her tight, laughing into her hair. “Surprise!”
She leaned back and socked him a few times in the shoulder. “I hate surprises.”
“Even this one?” he asked, and knelt down.
Alice felt the world stop around her. Charlie had her camera up, trying to take shots while wiping her eyes.
“I love you, Alice, probably from the moment you asked me about the books on my shelf. Definitely from the moment you refused to sell me a book even though you had a whole store of them.” His voice was rough. He held out a small box, a ring glinted in the darkness. “Love and work with me, Alice?”
She looked from him to the ring and back. His words slowly filtered through the shock and she laughed out loud. “Oh, you couldn’t just ask me to marry you the normal way, could you? And Aurora Leigh turns Romney down in that poem, you know.”
“Elizabeth Barrett Browning always says it better. And I figured I’d take my chances.” He was grinning. He knew her answer before she spoke.
“Yes,” she whispered, trying hard to make herself heard. “I’ll love and work with you.”
Bix and Ruby let out a cheer, and Charlie almost dropped her camera as she clapped. The tourists around them turned to look and soon they were surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers. Alice didn’t recognize a single face, but they were all celebrating with the two of them as they stepped out in faith.
He stood up, gathering her close. She felt her parents’ rings against her chest, warmed between them, a connection that was broken and then repaired by grace and generosity.
Paul leaned back, took the ring from the box and reached for her hand. “The heavens and the earth have set you a most serious work, a most necessary work,” he said, quoting another line of the poem. Alice nodded, her throat tightening with the words. Aurora Leigh believed she had work to do and Alice believed it, too. Keeping By the Book open to the people of Cane River was important and Paul saw it as clearly as Alice did.
“But the real question is whether you’re willing to share shelf space. You know our books might not get along,” he said, his mouthing tilting up.
Alice looked down at the round ruby inset into gold, and smiled as he slid it onto her finger. “I think the answer might be separate book cases.” She leaned back, looking him in the eye. “Paul, are you really sure? We’ve had such a rocky start.”
“You put the pepper in the gumbo, Alice. I wouldn’t give you up for anything in the world,” he said, laughing. He kissed her cheeks, her eyes, her hair.
She closed her eyes, reveling in that perfect moment. Paul whispered something in her ear, familiar words from the language of her childhood, words that she didn’t quite catch but that her heart understood all the same. It seemed impossible that his love had been waiting for her all those years, and one day she’d woken up, and he was there, the way it was always meant to be.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to give special thanks to people who generously offered their expertise in several areas. All errors are my own, especially any confusion caused by Paul’s grand prize that I created just for the story line. Special thanks to John Abramowitz for gaming terminology and etiquette, and legal terminology. To Janelle Leonard for reading the first chapter when it was just a dim idea of a plot. To Michael J. Frazier for gaming and technology information. To Dennis Carmichael for insight into business and programming, including the dynamic of boards and appointed officers. To Jessica L. Baldwin for cosplay terminology. To Christalee Scott May for her advice on Southern food and culture, for helping me decide whether Converse was ever plural, for pointing out that my heroine’s eyes changed color every few chapters and for cheerfully suffering through several very rough drafts of this book. To my daughters Isabel and Ana for being the beta readers who never gave up, helping me bring this book to completion. And to all my children, for reminding me that moments spent running around the park or watching a few episodes of Arrow are good for the writerly brain.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading the first book in my new series, Cane River Romance. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoy
ed writing it!
Every writer finds herself penning a story that involves a bit of wish fulfillment and this is that book for me. I’ve always wanted to run a rare book store, have a whole herd of cats, and live without technology interfering in my daily life. I also adore anything from the nineteen-forties and fifties, wish I had the tiny waist to wear those shirtdresses and the ankles to walk in high heels. It was pure fun to write this character.
If you enjoyed this story, be sure to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. I love visiting with readers on my author page of Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits, or on my blog at The Things That Last!
BIOGRAPHY
Mary Jane Hathaway is an award-nominated writer of Christian fiction and a home schooling mom of six young children who rarely wear shoes. She holds degrees in Linguistics and Religious Studies from the University of Oregon and lives with her habanero-eating husband, Crusberto, who is her polar opposite in all things except faith. They've learned to speak in short-hand code and look forward to the day they can actually finish a sentence. In the meantime, she thanks God for the laughter and abundance of hugs that fill her day as she plots her next book. She also writes under the pen name of Virginia Carmichael.
OTHER TITLES by Mary Jane Hathaway
Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits
Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread
OTHER TITLES by Virginia Carmichael
All The Blue of Heaven
Purple Like the West
Leaving Liberty
Season of Joy
Season of Hope
A Home for her Family
Novels, illustrators, poetry, and poets which play a role in this story:
Indeed, there is an Arthur Rackham illustrated portfolio of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens that can be had for the low, low sum of sixty thousand dollars. Most of the books mentioned(Mother Carey’s Chickens, The Dukes’ Secret, Tom the Telephone Boy, Beau Geste, Pride and Prejudice, North and South, and Jane Eyre) are books I read in childhood and which occupy a spot on my shelf today. The poets (George MacDonald, Alexander Pope, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Sara Teasdale, Christina Rossetti, and Percy Bysshe Shelley) are some of my favorites. I return to them again and again throughout the year, marking the seasons with treasured lines.
The Pepper In The Gumbo: A Cane River Romance Page 29