Hometown Hope: A Small Town Romance Anthology

by Zoe York

  “Nah. Died in his sleep,” Stone said. “Kind of like he lived.”

  “I guess he did the best he could,” Kyle said.

  “Most people do,” Autumn said.

  “The problem is,” Stone said, “some people’s best sucks.”

  Chapter 18

  Violet

  * * *

  Violet spent the week before Christmas helping Kara with last-minute details for Honor and Zane’s wedding. Because Honor was busy with Brody’s affairs, helping him negotiate changes in endorsements and contracts since the announcement of his retirement, Kara and Violet agreed to take over the last-minute details. Brody had insisted on paying for the wedding. Kara had spared no expense, even ordering a heated tent for the outdoor reception. With fewer than twenty guests, it was an extravagant event, but Kara insisted that Honor have the best.

  Now, Violet sat with Kara in the Mullens’ kitchen. The wedding was five short days away. They’d finalized everything with the wedding planner and were now having a cup of coffee before Violet left for Christmas shopping with Kyle in the city.

  “We’re staying overnight,” Violet told Kara. “He won’t tell me where we’re going, only to pack a nice dress.”

  “Flora called this morning to tell me how excited she was to have the kids again,” Kara said. “She has a new purpose now that Zane and Kyle have kids.”

  “It’s nice to have someone we can trust.”

  “Do you think Kyle’s going to propose while you’re away?” Kara asked.

  “It did cross my mind.”

  “You’ll say yes, right?”

  “Oh, gosh, yes. I’m so in love with him it’s ridiculous.”

  “Isn’t it amazing when you find the right person?” Kara asked.

  “It is. You and Brody are happy, right?”

  “Very much so. We’ve had to go deep the past few weeks. Ending his career has knocked him for a serious loop. Football was his life.”

  “Giving up my store felt like I was dying, so I can only imagine.”

  “But he’s getting used to the idea. He’s starting to see the positives now. In a weird way, it’s brought us closer. Besides losing his dad, he’s lived a charmed life. I had to give up everything I knew and come out here. He’s tried to understand but up until recently he couldn’t empathize.”

  “Is he still talking about having a baby?”

  “Yes.” Kara gazed out the window. Drops of rain water slid down the glass, like they were chasing one another. “I was close with my mom. When she died I lost all sense of what it’s like to have a family. I missed her so much it hurt. I still do. To have a child terrifies me.”

  “You mean because you could lose them?” Violet flashed upon her conversation with Mary about the loss of her baby. Kara was right to be terrified.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s true of all love, though, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose it is.” Kara drew an imaginary circle on the table. “Sometimes I dream my friend Jessica is still alive. We’re doing the most ordinary things like cooking pasta together and laughing. It feels so real and then I wake up and remember she’s gone.”

  Violet squeezed her hand and said how sorry she was, even though she knew how inadequate it was.

  “Thanks for being my friend,” Kara said.

  “Back at you.”

  Kyle came into the kitchen with Brody right behind him. Both wore mischievous expressions, like two boys up to no good.

  “You ready to go, Lettie?” Kyle asked. “I want to get to the bike shop before noon.”

  “Dakota asked for a big boy bike from Santa,” Violet said. “We’re picking it up today.”

  “Scoot along then,” Kara said. “Brody’s going to keep me company this afternoon while the decorator comes. By the time you guys get back, it will be a winter wonderland fit for Queen Honor’s wedding.”

  “Thank God he didn’t ask for a puppy,” Violet said.

  Kyle laughed as he put the bicycle in the back of car. “I need a bigger car.”

  They were parked in a lot near a busy section of shops, including the bicycle shop where they’d just purchased Dakota’s gift. Shoppers scurried past them carrying packages and bags. The sound of a Salvation Army bell rang out into the cold evening. White lights decorated the trees and lampposts. “I love the holidays,” she said.

  “I do now that I have you and the kids.” Kyle took her hand and they crossed the street to the toy store Kyle had spotted earlier. They stood in front of the display window where a Christmas train circled a three-foot tree.

  “I want that,” Kyle said.

  “The train?”

  “I always wanted a train when I was a kid,” he said.

  “I remember.” She’d remembered it all right. The train set she’d ordered from an online store had already arrived at the house.

  “I’m getting this.” The lights hung in the window reflected in his eyes as he looked down at her. “We’ll put it around the tree like in the movies.”

  “But you don’t want that one, do you? I mean, you’d only be able to use it once a year.”

  “For the entire time the Christmas tree is up,” he said. “Like a month.”

  She almost laughed. “We have yet to put up a tree this year and Christmas is in a week.”

  “We’re late this time, but next year Dakota and I will put it up with this train the day after Thanksgiving.”

  She brought her gloved fingers to her mouth. Next year. Would there really be a next year?

  “Why did you sigh?” he asked.

  “Did I? I was thinking about next year. What it will be like.”

  “I hope we’ll be moved into the new house by then.”

  Something cold hit her on the forehead. “What’s that?” She looked up toward the sky. Hail fell in hard pebbles that smacked the sidewalk.

  “Where did it come from?” Violet tugged her knit hat over her ears.

  Kyle pulled a small box from inside his coat. He dropped to one knee. “I was going to do this later, but when the sky opens and dumps hail, it’s a sign.” Pieces of hail caught in his dark hair looked like white sprinkles on a chocolate cupcake. “Lettie, you came into my life just like this hail, without warning and changed everything. You’re the finest person I’ve ever known. That you love a dope like me is a miracle. I love you. I adore you. I want to make sure you’re always by my side now and forever. Will you marry me?” He opened the box and presented the ring to her. Tiny diamonds encircled a center diamond the size of her knuckle. A scroll motif gallery and diamond-set shoulders made it sparkle from every angle. “I swear the ring is vintage. Edwardian period, according to the jeweler. He purchased it from an estate sale. Brody found it for us. The guy knows all kinds of rich people.”

  “It must’ve been a large estate. I know a little about antiques and this must’ve cost you a small fortune.”

  “Can we stay focused on the question?” He gazed up at her, still on one knee. The hail stopped as suddenly as it started. He brushed his hair back with his fingers. A small crowd had gathered around them, all waiting for her answer.

  She flushed and took off her gloves. “I’m sorry. What I mean to say is yes. Yes, yes, yes!” She threw her head back and laughed as she held her hand out to him. He slipped the ring onto her finger. It was the perfect fit. “How did you know my size?”

  “Honor told me. She knows everything.” Kyle rose to his feet and lifted her in his arms. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.” He spun her in a circle. The sidewalk was slick. Down they went, falling in a heap together, Violet on top. The crowd went silent, waiting to see if Kyle had hurt himself. He lifted an arm. “Nothing to see here.” The crowd clapped. Violet laughed with her head buried in the scarf around his neck.

  “Way to make a scene,” she said.

  “Can we buy the Christmas train now?”

  She looked down at his chiseled, gorgeous face. My husband. My love. He peered up at her with thos
e eyes the color of the twilight sky and she saw the little boy who wanted a train and never got one. She would give him a thousand trains if she could. “We can get the train.”

  “The big one with extra track?”

  She kissed him. “The biggest and best they have.”

  The next day, they sat Dakota down to tell him the news. She showed him her ring. “While we were away, Kyle asked me to marry him. I said yes.”

  Dakota stared at Kyle but didn’t say anything.

  “What do you think, little man?” Kyle asked. “Can I marry your mom?”

  “I think it’s a very good idea.” Dakota scooted from his chair and crossed over to them. He kissed Violet’s cheek before crawling onto Kyle’s lap snuggling into his chest. “This means we stay together forever, right?”

  “That’s right,” Kyle said. “Forever and ever.”

  “Until you grow up,” Violet said. “Which is a long, long time from now.”

  “I don’t want to grow up,” Dakota said.

  “That makes two of us.” Violet sighed and nestled closer to Kyle and Dakota. How was it possible that she could be this content?

  “Can we have bacon at the wedding?” Dakota asked.

  Kyle laughed. “What’s a wedding without bacon?”

  In one of the guest rooms at Brody and Kara’s, Violet fastened the veil onto Honor’s intricate updo. When it was secured, she stood back to admire the bride. The beaded bodice sparkled under the lights but not as brightly as Honor’s eyes.

  “You’re breathtaking,” Violet said.

  “Do you think?” Honor asked. “Because suddenly I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

  “You’re just nervous.”

  “Thank God we didn’t do anything too elaborate. You look beautiful too, by the way,” Honor said. “Kyle’s going to want to eat you instead of the wedding cake.”

  Violet looked at herself in the full-length mirror. The dress was the color of cranberries and cut low in the back. The halter top displayed her shapely shoulders. She’d had the hair and makeup girl give her bouncy, soft curls and a smoky eye. “I do look pretty good.”

  Honor laughed. “That’s my girl.”

  Kara, Maggie and Sophie came into the room, carrying glasses of champagne. Maggie wore a long royal blue velvet dress that draped elegantly over her dancer body and contrasted beautifully with her fair skin. Her wavy hair had been coaxed straight and shone like a new copper penny. Kara had on a dark green taffeta with a short A-line skirt that showed off her muscular legs. Sophie, in contrast, was dressed in a simple pink sheath with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. She’d had the stylist pile her blond hair into a complicated updo. She reminded Violet of a young Grace Kelly.

  “You ready to do this?” Kara asked.

  All day long Kara had bustled around making sure every detail was taken care of while the other girls had their hair and makeup done. They’d finally had to force her to sit in the chair for makeup and hair. She’d opted to have her hair swept up into a slick bun, so she could show off the new diamond earrings her newly retired husband had gotten her for a birthday present.

  “Is it time?” Honor asked, accepting the glass of champagne.

  “Five minutes. Long enough for a toast,” Kara said.

  “I saw Jackson pouring shots for all the guys,” Sophie said. “Zane’s looking a little pale under his tan.”

  “He hates people looking at him,” Honor said.

  “It’ll be over in a flash,” Kara said.

  “And then you’ll wish you could do it all over again,” Maggie said.

  A knock on the door drew their attention. It was Flora and Janet. “You guys have room for two old ladies?” Janet asked.

  Honor smiled and waved them inside. “Yes, yes, come in.”

  Flora’s dark eyes flashed with approval. “My oh my, don’t you look nice.”

  Janet nodded. “Like a doll.”

  “We won’t keep you long,” Flora said. “But we wanted to come say hello and give you a gift. Over the years, we’ve come to feel motherly toward you.”

  “You’re part of our family,” Janet said. “As are you girls.” She nodded at Violet and the others.

  “We weren’t sure you had something old,” Janet said. “I thought you might like to carry this hanky. It was my mother’s and I held it when I married Brody’s dad. It can be your something old.”

  “How sweet,” Honor said. “I would love to.”

  Janet brought a lace handkerchief from her pocketbook as well as a small box. “We also got you something. This is from Flora and Dax and Jon and me. We’re sort of your parents de facto, whether you want us or not.”

  Honor took the box from Janet’s outstretched hand and gasped as she lifted the lid. “Oh wow.” She lifted a sparkly tennis bracelet from the box. “It’s too much.”

  Flora shook her head. “No, we wanted you to have something special that would last a life time. Every time you look at it, please remember how loved you are by two women who would’ve been proud to be your mama.”

  Honor waved her hand in front of her eyes. “I cannot cry and ruin my makeup.”

  Janet fastened the bracelet around Honor’s wrist.

  “I couldn’t love it or you two more. Thank you,” Honor said. “It’s not my mom I’m grieving today. I wish Hugh was here.”

  “Speaking of Hugh. We have something for you too.” Violet grabbed the box from her bag. “This is from all of the girls.”

  “The Wags,” Kara said.

  “And me,” Sophie said.

  “You’re a Wag,” Maggie said. “A little sister Wag.”

  Sophie and Maggie linked arms as Honor opened the box.

  The locket was adorned with gemstones the same color as Hugh and Zane’s eyes. Violet had had it specially made from one of her former vendors. Photos of both Zane and Hugh were glued inside.

  Honor lifted the necklace from the box. The gemstones caught the light and made a pattern on the ceiling. “Oh, ladies, it’s so pretty.”

  “Open it so you can see the inside,” Violet said.

  “Violet thought of it,” Maggie said. “She had it made just for you.”

  “This way Hugh is walking down the aisle with you,” Violet said.

  “And it’s your something blue,” Maggie said.

  “For once, I don’t know what to say,” Honor said. They all embraced in a group hug, like a huddle before a football game.

  “It’s time to say I do,” Kara said.

  “Let’s do this,” Honor said. “Then we can party.”

  Kara and Brody’s house had been transformed into a holiday wonderland. Lights were strung throughout the living room, everything in cranberry and silver, including the decorations on the thirty-foot Christmas tree. Silver snowflakes hung from the ceilings. Strings of berries and candles in glass containers wound around the mantel and shelving.

  The ceremony was to take place in front of the large gas fireplace. Honor had decided against chairs. Instead they would form a semicircle around the couple as they exchanged vows. Regardless, Kara had insisted that Honor must have a grand entrance on Brody’s arm. She would enter from the foyer and have her walk down an aisle defined by white rose petals.

  Violet waited with Dakota, Jubie and Jackson in the foyer. Dakota held tightly to the pillow with the rings carefully tucked under a ribbon. Violet fanned her eyes to keep from crying. Jubie, eyes like saucers, gripped her flower basket with both hands. Jackson adjusted his tie. Behind them, Honor fidgeted beside Brody.

  “Is it time yet?” Honor asked.

  “Almost,” Jackson said.

  “Stop wriggling,” Violet said to Honor. “We don’t want your veil to fall off.”

  “What if I trip?” Honor asked.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll hold you upright the whole way,” Brody said. “You’re not that much bigger than a football.”

  From inside the living room, Maggie played the first notes of the Beatles’ “L
ong and Winding Road”. They’d had a piano brought in for the occasion. Violet didn’t even want to know how much that cost.

  “It’s your cue,” Violet said to Dakota.

  “I remember, Mama.” Dakota stepped into the room holding the pillow out in front of him. Kyle coached him from the front of the room, but he did fine, standing straight and walking slowly as he made his way toward Zane. When he arrived, he flashed his mother a jubilant grin, then moved close to Zane. Jubie’s tiara sparkled under the lights as she tossed rose petals left and right. Violet took Jackson’s arm and they entered the room. With her skirt swirling around her legs, it was like she floated down the aisle on Jackson’s arm. Kyle smiled at her and blew her a kiss. Dressed in a dark blue suit and a cranberry hued tie that matched her dress, he took her breath away. Her man.

  When they arrived in front of the fireplace, Jackson took his place next to Zane. As they embraced, Violet heard Jackson say, “Be in one another’s pictures.”

  Zane smiled. “Yes.”

  Violet stood next to Jubie, who gazed up at her with a look of relief. She squeezed the little girl’s shoulder.

  Maggie paused in her playing and turned toward the entry to the living room.

  It was time for the bride. Honor appeared just outside the double doors that led into the living room. She held a cascading bouquet of red and white roses that shook slightly in her hands.

  A spot of sun broke through the clouds and shone down on her golden hair from the skylight above her head. Next to her, Brody looked even larger than usual, regal like a lion in his gray suit. He offered his arm and she took it.

  Maggie played the first refrain of “Glasgow Love Theme” from the movie Love Actually. Just then, Honor’s veil fluttered as if someone had opened a door. She removed her hand from Brody’s arm and reached up to the locket that hung around her neck and brought it to her lips. Hugh made it after all.

  Brody whispered to her and she nodded, then slipped her arm into his once more. They entered the long room and walked slowly toward them.