Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes

by Nancy Naigle

  Carolanne watched the smile spread across Gina’s face. “I think you’re in good hands.”

  “Apparently.” Gina waved, sank down into the wooden chair behind the monitor, and followed Mrs. Huckaby’ s directions.

  Carolanne headed for the shelf where Mrs. Huckaby stored all the new inventory and loaners from other branches. She scanned the shelves, tugging one novel out after another to read the back copy, but her attention kept drifting back to the conversation between Gina and Doris.

  “Nineteen seventy-four,” Gina said. “I think that was the last summer Mom spent here.”

  A few clicks and Mrs. Huckaby had the girl all set. “You said she went to high school here. We’d be about the same age. I might’ve known her.”

  “She did. Lindsey Edwards. Well, Lindsey Dixon back then.”

  “My goodness. No wonder you looked familiar when you came in. Now that I know, yes, you look just like her. I see it now. I never knew she had a daughter.”

  “So, you really knew my mom?”

  “I did. Everyone knows everyone around here.” Her smile pushed her cheeks into rosy mounds that shifted up her glasses. “Nice to meet you, Gina. My husband and I both grew up here in Adams Grove—and we both knew your momma. Nicest gal. She lived over off Route 58 near Old Pond. Well, anyway…Yes, we knew her. Oh my word, you know the whole town is just still so sad about the accident. I guess a town never really does get over a tragedy like that. Goodness gracious, look at me.” Doris swept at a tear.

  Carolanne turned and saw the look on Gina’s face, and Doris must have, too, because she went right into damage control. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even mentioned it. If it makes me that sad, no telling how you feel about it. He was your uncle. Oh goodness, I’m always saying too much. You just holler if you need me.” Doris rushed back to her cart and started shelving books.

  Carolanne slid the book she was looking at back on the shelf. She’d read nearly every book they had in this place over the past year. She walked past Gina, then stopped and turned back.

  “I didn’t mean to be eavesdropping,” Carolanne said, “but I overheard you talking a minute ago. You’re a Dixon?”

  Gina nodded.

  “You should’ve said so. You need to stop by my office and talk to my partner, Connor Buckham. The address is on the card I gave you. We hold the trust for the Dixon family farm.”

  “A trust?”

  Carolanne slid into the chair next to Gina. “Yes. It means that the law office handles the care of the land for your family. I don’t know any of the details—Connor is handling that—but you definitely need to talk to him.”

  Gina’s heavily mascaraed lashes flew up, and when she spoke, her voice wavered. “The farm where my mom grew up?”

  “Yes. In fact, we were just talking about that property the other day. Connor can go through all the details with you.” She watched Gina take in the information like she was processing a bigger picture.

  “I didn’t know the farm was still even in our family.” After a short pause, Gina switched gears. “Have you always lived here in Adams Grove?”

  “No. I’ve been away for a long time. I moved to New York City straight from college. I just moved back this past year.”

  Gina’s eyes sparkled with interest. “I’ve always wanted to live in a big city. Jacksonville is huge compared to Adams Grove, but I mean a real one. I’ve been thinking about moving to New York City.” She looked Carolanne in the eye, pausing like she was looking for a reaction. “I can’t imagine moving back to a little town like this on purpose. Do you like it here?”

  “Yes. Believe it or not, I used to think the same as you, though. I couldn’t wait to move to a big city. It had this whole, I don’t know, mystique about it, and frankly, I liked the idea of being lost amid the masses,” Carolanne admitted for the first time.

  She recognized the dreamy look in Gina’s eyes. She’d had those illusions once, too. “I guess sometimes you have to leave and come back to appreciate the real charm of a small town. New York is busier, faster, and more intense. It took me a while to retrain myself to the slower pace around here. Actually, I’m still kind of struggling with that, but I’ll tell ya, between the two, I think I’m much happier here.”

  And it wasn’t until those words came out of her mouth that Carolanne realized she actually believed them.

  Chapter Six

  After a nearly sleepless night, Carolanne had gotten out of bed early but was still running late when she heard the knock at her front door.

  Who would be knocking on my door at this hour? Following a quick peek through the peephole, she opened the door. “Since when do you knock?” She leaned against the doorjamb. “Is this payback for the other day?”

  “I’m being polite,” Connor said with a serious look, but Carolanne caught the hint of playfulness in his voice.

  She moved to the side so he could come in. “Oh, Lord. This is about the other day. You’re a smarty-pants.”

  He thrust a cluster of coral begonia blooms in her direction. “And charming.”

  She couldn’t control her burst of laughter. They’re so pretty, but…She lifted a damp hand from the flowers and saw the fresh soil clinging to the bottom of them. “Connor Buckham. You pulled these flowers out of the planter in front of the office. That’s not charming—that’s a crime. Johnny Cash went to jail for that!”

  “That’s a rumor.”

  “Still. That’s wrong, and you know it,” she said.

  “I know a good lawyer and the sheriff. Here,” he said, shoving them in her direction again. “Put them in some water. Is it safe to come in for coffee this morning or not?”

  “The garden club is going to have your head for disturbing their hard work, but yes, all’s clear.” She headed to the kitchen to float the contraband begonias in water.

  Connor followed her. “Actually, I think your dad has that gig these days.”

  “The planters on Main Street?” She didn’t know why she’d thought she’d be able to come back to Adams Grove and avoid her dad, but that wasn’t something she wanted to deal with this morning. She slipped the flowers into a squat vase. “There.”

  “Yep, and now you’re an accessory to my crime.” Connor leaned on the counter and nodded toward the flowers.

  “You are just full of yourself this morning. Wish I woke up all eager to go like you. I got a late start, but the coffee should be ready by now.”

  “Good. I need some,” he said.

  “You were probably already up and out jogging before I got out of bed. I don’t know how you do that. I’d get bored running.”

  “You should come with me. I’ll slow down. I won’t even talk to you.” Connor crossed his heart. “Promise.”

  “It would never work for us to run together. We’re too competitive. We’d just end up racing.”

  “True, but it’ll wake you up and free your mind.”

  “Free my mind? Oh no, that’s not going to happen.” She tapped the side of her head. “There’s too much stuff happening up here.”

  “Now who’s full of themselves?” Connor poured himself a cup of coffee. “Do you have a cup yet?”

  “No. I’m just going in circles.” She disappeared into her bedroom to finish getting ready.

  He poured her a cup of coffee and added one sugar and a splash of cream to get it to the right tan, then walked to her bedroom doorway. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks, Connor.” She took a sip. “It’s perfect.” The surprise in her voice made the statement sound like a question.

  He gave her a smug look. “Some people would say I’m a pretty observant guy.”

  Yeah, but since when did you become so observant of me? “I guess I’ll be one of those people now, too.”

  Connor slugged back his coffee and went to pour himself another cup. “I’ll be in court this morning, but I’m going over to Hale’s Vineyard for an estate auction in the afternoon. Want to join me?”

  “I’ve never
been to an auction. That sounds like it could be fun. What kind of stuff?”

  “Antiques and collectibles. Mostly guns and jewelry, some furniture.”

  She flicked on her mascara and then turned. “Count me in.”

  “It’s a date.” Connor grabbed his briefcase and headed out of the room.

  The door slammed behind him, and as she heard him clomp down the stairs like a horse galloping for the finish line, those words played an endless loop in her mind.

  It’s a date? It’s just an expression, so why do those words bother me so much?

  Carolanne’s morning schedule was light. Thank goodness for that, because for some reason, ever since she’d met Gina yesterday, her mood had been as black as Gina’s hair.

  She’d barely been able to concentrate all day. Her mind swirled with questions about the past, the future, her purpose. Would she make a mark on this world that made any difference at all? If not, what a waste that would be.

  My work is important. I have a good life, don’t I? Is that enough?

  She stood up and stretched out the hours of sitting behind her desk. When that yoga studio opens up, maybe I’ll sign up for that class. Until then, maybe the ritual of a morning walk would be a good start.

  She flipped the sign on the door to BE RIGHT BACK and set off for a stroll down Main. The naked spot in the planter made her smile as she thought of the flowers Connor had sprung on her. It wasn’t unusual for Connor to be silly or playful, but those flowers were schoolboy sweet and there wasn’t anything laughable about that.

  A slight breeze sent delicate, paper-thin pink petals swirling around her like wads of tissue paper from the rows of flowering crepe myrtles lining Main Street. The weather had been so summerlike that the Southern magnolias in front of the bank were already displaying their large cream-white flowers as big and audacious as Kentucky Derby hats.

  Down the next block, the front doors of the bright-orange storefront rumored to be the future home of the yoga classes was propped open with a big gray paint bucket.

  Carolanne slowed down and poked her head inside. A woman stretched, balancing on one leg with the grace of an angel, then slowly transitioning into another pose. Mirrors reflected blue and pinkish lights in a soft, serene glow. Shiny hand-painted silver words in a flowing script adorned the walls like clouds of hope. Harmony. Balance. Love. Peace. Joy. Share.

  The woman moved her slim body into the different positions without a single wobble or creak of the joints. Like a choreographed ballet, it grabbed Carolanne’s attention and made her yearn to move like that.

  Carolanne stretched up, standing a little taller with each of the woman’s stretches and wishing for the calm that seemed to exude from her as she carefully moved from position to position.

  Suddenly, the woman dropped from the pose and skipped to the door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even hear you come in.”

  “No. I’m sorry. I’d heard you were going to be opening a yoga studio down here. I was walking by, and I saw you. Your movements—they captivated me. I just walked right in uninvited.”

  “Don’t be silly. Welcome!” Anita laughed like a xylophone working its way up the scale. “The warrior poses. So basic, but I love them. I can go through all of those poses without even thinking anymore. They totally clear my mind. Have you ever done yoga before?”

  “No. I was pretty athletic back in school, but nowadays, it’s just work, work, work.”

  “Well, then you have to come to my class. Try a couple for free. I bet you’ll love what yoga will do for you.”

  Carolanne grimaced. “I’m not very graceful.”

  “Oh, it’s not about grace. It’s so much more. A lifestyle, really. It’ll change your life.” Anita paused. “You look skeptical.”

  Lifestyle? Next, this woman will want me to give up burgers. If I couldn’t nail ballet after four years of classes, it’s doubtful that in my thirties I’ll move like her. What was I thinking? “No. I mean…Well, I don’t know much about it.”

  “Don’t let me scare you away. I get a little overenthusiastic about it sometimes, but I swear it’s such a great workout and life balancer. A good thing these days.”

  “Life balance is something I’m not too good at.”

  A flash of recognition crossed Anita’s face. “You’re the lady lawyer working with Connor Buckham, aren’t you?”

  “That would be me.” Carolanne extended her hand. “I’m Carolanne Baxter.”

  “I thought I recognized you from your picture in the County Gazette last month. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Anita Foster.”

  “I know you from the paper, too. For a paper that only comes out twice a month, they sure do a good job of getting us all in it.”

  “Slow news days around here. Part of the charm of Adams Grove.”

  Carolanne thought about the number of times her dad had been in the news. She’d have given anything for them not to have had room to run those stories back then. Charm? Depends on your vantage point. “Somebody was just telling me I need to free my mind a little. They suggested I jog, but that’s really not my thing. I thought maybe yoga would be a better fit for me.” At least, I did before I saw you doing it. Looks more like really slow dancing than exercise.

  “Running is hard on your joints. Yoga would be so much better. It’s like a little gift to yourself. You have to make time to relax. It’s absolutely essential to a healthy life.”

  Carolanne pictured herself all twisted up like the bow on a package. She couldn’t deny this lady’s enthusiasm was a little contagious. “When are you going to start classes?”

  “Not until August. I’m trying to talk Mac into entering a couple cake competitions this summer. He was so close to winning last time. Can you imagine what that would do for his business?”

  Carolanne pasted fake enthusiasm on her face to match Anita’s, because honestly, she didn’t quite see how Mac winning a competition would really help his business at all, since his business was local and everyone around was already his customer.

  “Anyway,” Anita said, “that doesn’t matter, because I could get you started on some basic moves. In fact, why don’t you stop by Monday and I’ll show you some stuff that you can do on your own until the classes start?”

  Carolanne liked the thought of that. “You wouldn’t mind? I’d pay you, of course.”

  “Oh, don’t be silly. I’d enjoy it. I’ll see you around four, if that works for you.”

  She’s so nice. “Well, thanks. I’d say I’m sorry I interrupted your workout, but this seems to have worked out very well.”

  “I agree. I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Thanks.” Carolanne left, feeling a little more relaxed just having talked to Anita. She could only imagine what the yoga might do for her.

  Carolanne said hello to a couple walking down the street, then paused in front of Jacob’s Diner. Every table was full, and all but two seats at the long Formica counter were, too. She turned to leave, then stopped on the sidewalk out front. Why am I always in a hurry? I have time. Relax. Besides, the smell of fresh local bacon and sausage was too yummy to resist. So she slipped inside and took one of the last seats at the counter. Several folks issued good mornings to her as she settled in.

  She eyed the menu on the wall, but she knew what she was going to order. The clanking of the pans and loud murmur of the patrons reminded her of the feel of a New York diner on an early weekday, only friendlier.

  The waitress, Lara, took her order, poured her a cup of coffee, then whisked by her to greet someone near the cash register. Lara gave the person’s shirt a friendly tug, and when she stepped aside, Carolanne recognized Gina standing there.

  Gina dug something out of her purse and handed it to Lara.

  Lara wiped her hands on her apron and took it, then gave Gina a hug and rushed away, yelling over her shoulder for Gina to wait as she ran back to the kitchen, shouted out two orders, then reappeared from the back with two big brown grocery bags. “You said you wanted the
m all, right?”

  Gina looked excited. “Yes! Oh my gosh, you just don’t know how much I appreciate this. Thank you so much.”

  “No problem. This is the best kind of recycling I know of. Have fun.”

  “I will.” Gina took the two brown paper bags and practically ran from the diner.

  Lara slid Carolanne’s breakfast in front of her, and Carolanne couldn’t resist asking her about Gina. “I saw you talking to that girl. She’s new around here, isn’t she?”

  “Oh yeah. Sweet girl. She’s from out of town.” Lara pulled the change purse from her apron pocket. “Look at what she made for me. It’s made totally out of old candy wrappers. Is it absolutely adorable, or what?”

  Carolanne took the handcrafted item from Lara and turned it over in her hands. “Did she make that purse she carries, too? Those things sell for hundreds of dollars in the city.”

  “She did. I’d never seen anything like it before. I mean, we used to turn gum wrappers into key chains in camp when I was a kid, but I never thought anyone ever made nothin’ else from them. I’ve been saving potato chip bags for her. She’s working on some project using potato chip bags with the foil inside.”

  Carolanne held up the change purse. “It’s great. I bet Jill would love to have these for sale in the artisan center.”

  Lara’s eyes widened. “That would be great. I get the feeling Gina is a little short on cash. I’ll tell her to contact Jill next time she stops by.”

  “Great. Or tell her to stop by and see me. I gave her my business card the other day. I met her at the Gazette and showed her to the library. She’ll remember.”

  Lara tugged the towel from her waistband and swept an area of the counter clear. “I gotta run, girl. Eat up.”

  Carolanne finished her breakfast and then walked back down to the office, looking forward to the short day and the afternoon at the auction with Connor.

  Once she cleared all the work from her desk, she sat there thinking about some of the things she needed to change in her life. She opened a new page in her notepad and wrote balance across the top. There was something to be said about life balance; she preached it to others all the time. Not that she practiced what she preached. Her whole life centered around her work.