They turned onto Main Street. “Hold up a second, Danny.” Natalie stopped in front of the River Art Gallery. “Come look at this painting. See how your eye is drawn to the primary colors, yet there’s much more there.”
Aidan contemplated the canvas, then turned his gaze on Natalie. The same could be said for her. There was more to her than what was on the surface. From her interaction with Gigi, it was obvious she cared for her students. He’d bet she was one of those teachers whose name her students would remember long after they finished school.
The sun glinted off her auburn hair, the gold highlights as vibrant as Natalie. Somehow, she conjured up happy endings, summer mornings and flights of fancy, seemingly untouched by the complexity of the real world. With her around, it almost seemed possible to balance the light and the dark, grief and joy. However, harsh lessons always infiltrated. He’d found routine the best answer to getting through the day without resorting to the messiness Natalie favored. His father had taught him that, while navigating the rough patch after his mother died. Consistency is the hallmark of strength, his father said, greeting him the same way every morning. Aidan thought he might start Danny’s day the same way. It would keep his nephew safe and help him become a man Shelby would be proud of.
“You met Lucie already. She’s one of my best friends.” Natalie’s voice broke him out of his reverie.
Is everyone Natalie’s best friend?
“She’s great with kids and animals.”
“I thought the idea, though, was for Danny and me to spend time together.” Aidan started walking and fixed his gaze on his nephew as Natalie presented more dangers than enemy territory.
“Her husband, Caleb, organized this outing a while ago. He’s showing them his metal detector and letting them use it. When he was dating Lucie, Mattie found a coffee tin with toy soldiers and an antique watch. I don’t want to disappoint Danny. He loves all of Lucie’s pets. And the twins are great.” Natalie stayed by his side, pointing out tidbits about each of the buildings and the people who worked in them.
“Glad we’re doing this today, then. I can only be at the bed-and-breakfast for the length of my original stay. Monday I’m moving into Shelby’s house temporarily.”
Four days from now, the local Realtor would meet him so he could sign papers to list the house. Danny skipped ahead, and Aidan continued sweeping the area. The architectural cornices of the government buildings on Main Street caught his eye before the downtown district gave way to a residential section.
The rhythmic humming of lawn mowers provided a steady buzz, the aroma of fresh-cut grass filling the air. They passed a yard filled with wind chimes of every imaginable color and size. He stopped in sheer fascination. Blue metal elephants graced one tree branch while a sun and moon twirled on another. One with glass prisms caught the rays of the sun, splaying rainbows on the sidewalk.
He counted twenty-eight when Natalie finally tugged at his arm. “Come on. Hurry up!”
A window on the lower story of the white carriage house swung open. A woman with long curly gray hair tied back with a wide tie-dyed headband stuck out her upper body and waved her arms. “Yoo-hoo!”
Natalie muttered something under her breath, the first time he’d seen her out-of-sorts, and sighed. “She’s one of my favorite people, but she likes to talk.” She cupped her hands to the sides of her heart-shaped face. “Hold up, Danny.”
The woman shut the window, the shrubs under it perfect green boxes of hollyhocks. In less than a minute, the bright blue front door opened, and she appeared, swaths of dress fabric whirling about her legs. “Aren’t you Major Murphy?”
He almost snapped to attention. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Stay right there. Don’t move a muscle.” The woman ran back inside, slamming the door behind her.
Aidan’s muscles twitched. He blinked and glanced at Natalie. She placed her arms around Danny’s shoulders, his brown hair, so like Shelby’s, ruffling in the breeze. “Get comfortable. We’ll be here a while.”
Danny wriggled out of her grasp. “Which wind chime is your favorite, Uncle Aidan?”
He scanned the yard. The simple gray metal one appealed to him with its austerity. Then a bright sunflower one made of stained glass caught his eye. It had shiny copper chimes. Sunflowers had been his mother and grandmother’s favorite flower. He pointed at it. “That one.”
“I like that one, too.” Danny clapped and jumped up and down.
The woman emerged, carrying a cake carrier. “Major M., it’s a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Hollydale. If there’s anything I can do to be of service, please don’t hesitate to ask. Having someone active in the army is going to light up our Fourth. Do you like red velvet cake? It was my husband’s favorite. He said no one in North Carolina made red velvet cake like me.”
His mind reeled at the speed with which she delivered all of that without stopping for a single breath. He accepted the carrier. “Um, thank you, but I didn’t expect anything, Mrs….”
“Hyacinth Hennessy. If you don’t like red velvet cake, I have a hummingbird cake that makes the sirens sing.”
Her chirpy voice reminded him of a bird, but since he wasn’t sure what hummingbird cake was, he’d stick with this one. “Thank you for the welcome. Appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it. Friends stick together. Any friend of Natalie’s is a friend of mine. People are like nature in that respect. Plants grow best with tender loving care. Take my roses—”
Natalie rushed over and patted Hyacinth’s arm. “Aidan will be here a month. He has a full schedule, what with helping me with the float this afternoon and then moving into Shelby’s house on Monday.”
“You’re moving into Mommy’s house? Does this mean you’re staying forever?” Danny’s eyes grew wide and he rushed over and threw his arms around Aidan’s middle. It was all Aidan could do not to drop the cake.
Hyacinth reached for the carrier, and Aidan let go and hugged Danny back. For a second, he closed his eyes and reveled in having his nephew’s arms around him. He might not have much experience with children, but he wanted to be a part of every aspect of Danny’s life. “My leave is only for a month.”
Danny’s body tensed, and he let go as Aidan opened his eyes. “Oh.”
That one word said so much more. Once Danny moved to his new home at Fort Lewis, they’d adjust to this new normal together. He caught Natalie’s gaze, her clouded expression at odds with her sunny openness.
Hyacinth fluttered about like a hummingbird, handing him the cake carrier again. “Do you do much gardening, Major M.?”
What does gardening have to do with cake? “Can’t say I have the time.”
“It’s very restful. My husband was a military man, air force, you know. At first, he was skeptical of the benefits of gardening until he studied it in depth. That was his character, always learning, always striving for knowledge.” Hyacinth’s hands kept moving, flapping like a bird’s wings. “Soil composition, new composting methods, optimal placement for sunlight. He loved the challenges.”
Aidan nodded and now understood why Natalie had urged him to hurry. He held up the cake carrier. “Thanks for the cake.”
Hyacinth waggled her finger at him and planted herself in his path. “Yet for all his planning, there’s so much more to gardening, you see. There’s so much life teeming underground, but the time and effort to bring forth beautiful blossoms are worth it. When the flowers bloom and the yard is a riotous wonder of color, I love to come out here with a slice of pie and revel in nature’s beauty. You have to take the time, though, and see the whole picture. A month is nothing to military men, but it’s an eternity for a gardener. We’re patient and see more than what’s on the surface, you know. Enjoy the cake, Major M. You, too, Natalie. Say hello to your folks and Becks and Mike for me, won’t you?”
She flounced along her front path until she disappear
ed inside, away from view. Aidan glanced at Natalie, unsure of what had transpired.
Natalie reached for Danny’s hand. “If we’re lucky, maybe your uncle Aidan will share his bounty with us.” She glanced at him and winked. “I have a feeling, though, that’s just a taste of what’s to come.”
“What do you mean?”
She only laughed. “You’ll see.”
* * *
AIDAN RAN HIS hand along the cool metal of the toolbox, content with a few hours of honest labor ahead of him on the float. He needed to lose himself in sweat and exertion. Hollydale had him turned every which way. A coffeehouse owner who gave away strawberry scones as a thank-you for doing his job. A gardener who gave away a red velvet cake for the same reason. Thank goodness Natalie’s friend hadn’t given him Ethel, although the miniature pig had made a positive impression on him.
This sense of community overwhelmed him, and he wasn’t used to it. Despite his training and the camaraderie he found in the service, the warmth of Hollydale was something special, something different. People in this town surprised him with their kindness, and he didn’t like surprises.
Aidan snapped open the lid to the toolbox and located the laser pointer and measuring tape. Palming both, he closed the box and headed toward the trailer chassis, the shouts from the splash park a dull enough roar not to disturb his attention. Movement in the picnic pavilion caught his eye. Some of Natalie’s teacher friends were off in the distance creating wooden crates to decorate with hawks on one side for the elementary school mascot and stars on the other for the front of the float. In spite of himself, his gaze was drawn to Natalie, a picture of summer in her sundress and gladiator sandals.
Through it all, Danny responded to her like a moth to a porch light. How would Aidan be able to console Danny for losing Natalie’s presence in his everyday life? Would he have to stay connected to her, to the town, for Danny’s sake? He strode the rest of the way to the chassis, whipped open the measuring tape and glanced at the plans. At the front would be the mascot boxes and at the back, crates decorated in primary colors with numbers painted on them. In the middle would stand the overarching display of a rainbow of stars. First he had to ascertain the distance from the trailer platform to the ground in order to know the dimensions of the apron frame, which would then accommodate Natalie’s chicken-wire-tissue creation that would decorate the sides, hiding the wheels and frame.
Nearby a car door slammed with an excessive amount of force. He jerked up, sizing up any threat to the immediate area.
An older woman in a red polo shirt and blue jean capris stormed toward him with a cake carrier. What was it with the residents of Hollydale? Did they always walk around with homemade cakes? He glanced around, wondering who her target was. She zeroed in on him and pointed toward the picnic tables.
“Major Murphy, I presume. Join me at the pavilion.” She held up the cake carrier. Although her fluffy gray hair projected the image of everyone’s favorite grandmother, her no-nonsense demeanor reminded him of his first drill sergeant. “I’m Belinda Chastain, better known as the Pie Queen in these parts.”
He sighed and placed the tools and plans atop the trailer platform. With the constant interruptions, this float might be ready for the Christmas parade.
There was a hint of bemusement on Natalie’s face. “So, you happened to be in the neighborhood with your famous three-layer lemon coconut cake?”
Belinda shot her a look of pure disdain, which would have made him drop and give her twenty pushups in boot camp. “Don’t be impertinent or I’ll order Major Murphy not to share.”
“Aidan.” He lowered his shirtsleeves and folded his arms. “Another member of the Welcome Wagon, I presume?”
“You’ll count your lucky stars someday and place moving to Hollydale atop your list of blessings.” Belinda gave a curt nod for emphasis.
Why was everyone assuming he was moving here? “I’m just visiting.”
“We’ll see.” Belinda handed him the cake carrier, and she bobbed her head, her hair not moving an inch. “My daughter moved back recently. Smartest thing she’s done in years. You don’t seem like a dumb chicken to me. You’ll come to your senses.”
“Thanks.” It came out more like a question than an acknowledgment, and he cleared his throat. “Lemon coconut’s my favorite.”
A sly smile spread over her square face. “Good. Best news I’ve had all day.” She turned toward Natalie. “You know where to return the carrier. See you on the Fourth, if not before.”
Belinda marched away, and Aidan found himself at a loss for words. He glanced at the volunteers, who appeared to be fighting a losing battle not to laugh. They saw him and hastily went back to assembling their parts of the float.
Natalie’s musical laugh brought him back to earth. “Mattie and Ethan will be so disappointed Caleb turned down Mayor Wes first.”
“I’m not following what Lucie’s family has to do with this.” His mouth watered at the sight of the cake now resting on the wooden table in front of Natalie. “Why bring them up?”
Natalie patted the bench and he settled next to her. Her sweet strawberry scent almost knocked him off the bench, and he narrowed in on the cake.
“Lucie told me Mayor Wes approached Caleb about accepting the position of pie judge first. Her new husband turned him down before Mayor Wes finished the question.” Natalie swung her legs the other way and stared at the cake. “The twins will be upset Caleb said no, thereby depriving them of the chance to receive Belinda’s and Hyacinth’s bounty of baked goodies. They love Belinda’s cakes.”
The pieces of the puzzle clicked. “So they weren’t welcoming me to Hollydale? These are bribes.” Where’s the mayor’s office? Committing to something was one thing. Committing to something with strings attached changed everything. “This wasn’t part of the deal.”
He began to rise, and she reached out, her hand winding around his arm. Her presence touched something inside him best buried. “Hold on.” She released him, and he missed her connection immediately. She unlatched the sides of the carrier and opened the lid, the smell of lemon and sugar enticing and sweet. “One thing you should know about Belinda and Hyacinth. They may want that blue ribbon, but they’re honest to a fault. Neither one of them has a dishonest bone in her body. Devious, yes. Dishonest, no.”
Aidan accepted his fate, knowing he was up to the challenge. He’d survived fifteen years in the military; he could handle the likes of Hyacinth and Belinda. “Okay, I won’t back down. By the way, you and Danny can come over tonight for dessert. I have plenty.”
“I’ll make you a deal. You’re still staying at the Eight Gables, aren’t you?”
“Until Monday, but there’s a reception area where we can share the cake.”
“How about you come to dinner tonight at my house instead? There’ll be more than plenty. The invitation especially stands if you bring the cakes for dessert.”
It would beat eating takeout alone in his room. “What time?”
“Six works for me.” Natalie glanced in one direction and then the other. Then she tapped his arm, a playful expression brightening her face. “When was the last time you did something for the sheer fun of it? Other than the swings the other day, of course.”
Why did Natalie keep harping on him having fun? Fun wasn’t going to get that float accomplished or prepare Danny as he grew up.
“Do I come off as stuffy or something?” He shifted in his seat. If he was going to take on the role of guardian uncle, an air of formidability was a necessity.
“A little.” The admission was wormed out of her as though she hated to admit it. “But your demeanor has nothing to do with what I’m about to do. Belinda’s cakes are legendary around here.” She dipped her finger into the coconut icing on the side of the cake and then licked it off. Bliss radiated from her face as she closed her eyes, obviously savoring the deed. Then she o
pened her eyes and laughed. “Mmm, delicious. I couldn’t resist. I dare you to try the frosting, although I don’t think you’ll take me up on it.”
His finger darted out and swiped a swath of frosting before he smoothed their indentations over. One taste and he was hooked. “You’re right. That is good. I won’t tell Danny we did that if you don’t.”
“Deal.”
She licked her lips and missed a speck of coconut that still lingered next to her mouth. His gaze was drawn to her pink luscious lips. He swallowed the urge to kiss her. Kiss her? Where had that thought come from? One surprise after another greeted him, and the biggest surprise of all was sitting next to him, making him lose his equilibrium. Getting involved with Natalie would be trouble, and he had enough going on in his life. He made the mistake of meeting her gaze. Her eyes widened, and the air around them stilled. Natalie leaned forward as if she sensed the same feelings and was willing to act on them.
For Danny’s sake, he staunched the attraction flowing through him. Romance was part of his future, once he was settled with a safe job and a house.
He jumped off the bench. “Don’t want to ruin my dinner. I’ll get back to measuring. Measure twice, cut once.” He never babbled, yet words were flowing from his mouth like raging rapids. He stepped backward and almost stumbled where the concrete gave way to grass.
“Somehow, I think I’ve managed to ruffle the unruffable Major Murphy.” She stole another glance at the cake before looking at him. “Don’t forget. Bring both cakes. I’ll work up an appetite with all this work, and Danny’s always hungry.”
Her blue eyes twinkled again, and he appreciated her attempt to put this back on firmer ground. He’d go along with that. “The way you say that, I’m not sure if you’re inviting me or my cakes.”
Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set Page 51