A dog might help Danny with his therapy. Then again, moving to Fort Lewis and living on base were big enough adjustments.
“That’s a shame. Pets are one of life’s greatest blessings. Having a pet can help decrease your blood pressure and help you relax. Athena and Artemis soak up the sun and keep me company while I garden.” Hyacinth beamed and settled her reusable cotton bag on the table. “Do you mind if I join you? I love riding my bike, but I could do with a minute of rest before I run the rest of my errands.”
She plopped herself at the place he’d reserved for Natalie, and her eyes widened. “You’re expecting company, aren’t you?” She glanced around the coffeehouse and then turned back to him. “You’re smarter than you look, Major M. Hi, Natalie!”
Everyone in the coffeehouse stopped and stared.
His cheeks grew hot. Natalie finished ordering and came over to his table, a scone in hand, while Hyacinth brought another chair. Not the cozy seating arrangement for two he’d been hoping for.
Conversation buzzed around them again as Natalie glanced at the strawberry scone and cappuccino he’d purchased. “For me?”
Aidan nodded, and Natalie looked at Hyacinth. “Would you like this cinnamon scone I just ordered?”
“How lovely. What a pleasant way to start the day.” Hyacinth beamed.
Natalie settled herself and picked off one corner of the scone. “Thank you, Aidan.”
Deb had told him it was her last strawberry scone before she’d sold out this morning. Natalie’s sweet expression was all the thanks he needed. Especially after he’d been so rude to her last night.
Hyacinth pulled a long rectangular leaflet out of her bag and handed it to Aidan. “I have a feeling you’ll need these soon.”
He glanced at Hyacinth’s gift, which appeared to be some sort of homemade pamphlet.
“They’re babysitting coupons. For Danny.” Hyacinth fixed her gaze on him, then Natalie, then back on him. “And the future.”
The heat in his cheeks grew to an inferno, and he dropped the pamphlet like a hand grenade. “Thanks for the gesture, but I…”
“Wait, there’s more.” Hyacinth rummaged through her sack.
“But—”
“Nothing’s too good for the brave men and women who serve our country with honor. My pear trees came in so nicely this spring.” Hyacinth pulled out a jar of poached fruit and placed it before him before glancing at Natalie. She extracted a second jar and gave it to her. “I appreciate teachers, too.”
“The red velvet cake was delicious.” Natalie rubbed her stomach and licked her lips.
One thing about all of this puzzled the interrogator in him. “How’d you know I was here?”
Hyacinth cinched the sack tight and rose. “When Artemis, Athena and I took a small walk, nothing like our long weekend jogs, mind you, I ran into Ginny. She told me you had just checked out and were stopping here before you move into Shelby’s house. I took a chance you’d still be here. Natalie, too. I was right. I have a couple more deliveries before Artemis and Athena enjoy a beautiful day in the yard while I prune my trees. Toodle-oo.”
Her long, wispy floral scarf trailed behind her as she floated out of the coffeehouse.
Unsettled, he turned toward Natalie. “Did I just imagine that?”
She inhaled the coffee he’d bought her. “I haven’t had any caffeine yet, so I’ll answer your question in a bit. It’s the little things in life, you know, that make it so worthwhile.”
Natalie stopped talking, picked off another piece of scone with her fingers and popped it in her mouth. Her look of bliss said everything, and he liked seeing that expression too much. That was only one reason he was attracted to her. Going out of her way to help others, which seemed as natural to her as her red hair, was another. Whereas he often kept his distance, she went all in, a worthy opponent in basketball and horseshoes and… That smile and her sunny outlook could impact his every move.
If I let her in. “About last night on the porch.”
Taking a bite, she leaned back and regarded him with some wariness. “How about we talk about today instead? Caleb is dropping Danny off to you at Shelby’s after the session ends. After that, could you bring him to the park and help me with the float?”
“I thought we agreed Danny would go to the Corner Grocery with me.” Besides, he had so much to organize at Shelby’s. He also had work to do for Mayor Wes. No time like the present to figure out how to keep an eye on Danny while doing other tasks.
“Oh.” She examined her jar of pears and glanced at the door, then at her scone. The scone must have won out because she hadn’t bolted yet.
His own jar of pears caught his eye. Are they a genuine gift or a bribe? Does it matter? Hollydale residents had opened their doors to him. Already The Busy Bean, with its aromas of coffee and sugary carbs that brought a smile to Natalie’s face, was becoming one of his favorite spots. Where was the last place I went on base with half this enthusiasm? The Harrisons had warmly included him at their barbecue, treating him as one of the family. And yet he’d rejected Natalie’s request a minute ago.
“We’ll help for a little bit later this afternoon.”
Her smile was his second reward of the morning. He gripped his coffee cup and stopped from groaning. He couldn’t let himself get attached to Natalie. The military was his family. He, they, made a difference.
“What time should we…” No sooner did he start to ask a question than Belinda strode into the coffeehouse, her laser beam gaze focusing on him.
Did Ginny announce his location on social media? Or just text everyone in town?
“Good morning, Major Murphy, Natalie.”
Belinda hung her large canvas knapsack on the back of Hyacinth’s former seat before sitting and reaching for the coupon book. She fanned herself and then saw what she held. Her laugh boomed in the calm atmosphere of the coffeehouse. “Goodness gracious, you want a babysitter, just call me. I’m bursting to overflow with all the love and attention my grandkids have spoiled me with. Least I can do is pass it on.”
Perplexed, Aidan kept his mouth shut. What is at work here? Small-town friendliness or blue-ribbon envy?
He sipped his coffee the way he liked it, without sugar or cream, and then found his tongue again. “Thanks for the offer.”
Why is everyone assuming Danny will remain in Hollydale?
Belinda eyed the jarred pears in front of him and Natalie and then reached for her own canvas bag. She pulled out two jars of preserves and placed one near each of them. “Share it in good health with Danny. Little boys love frog jam.”
“Frog jam?” Aidan blurted out while eyeing the glass jar with some trepidation.
“You ought to see your face right now. I’ve never seen a man turn purple before.” Belinda laughed and turned the jar around so the label faced him. “Figs, raspberries, oranges and ginger. It’s one of my specialties. Figs come from my sister’s backyard. Picked them fresh myself on my last visit.”
“Thanks.” He and Natalie spoke in unison.
Their gazes met, and humor lurked in the crystal-blue depths of her eyes.
Belinda rose, knapsack in hand. “Wait, one more thing before I go.” She extracted a crocheted blanket in varying shades of camouflage green. “I make these and send them to our troops at Christmastime. You can take yours with you.”
“This is too much.” Aidan fingered the yarn of the blanket, the fine rows consistent and even. It was beautiful.
“Not nearly enough.” Belinda smiled and patted his hand. “And it’s not on account of anything in the foreseeable future either. I don’t know how hard it’s going to be for you to say goodbye to that adorable nephew of yours when you return to duty, but we’ll all be thinking of you and hoping you come home real soon. My little granddaughter’s coming over today. I’m teaching her how to make pie crusts. See you later.”
&
nbsp; Her words sank in as she left, his jaw clenched. “Would you explain?”
“Explain what?” Natalie’s wide blue eyes connected with his gaze, and he inhaled.
Once in the army, always in the army. Once a kindergarten teacher, always a kindergarten teacher, he supposed. He folded his arms. “Explain, please.”
She laughed and tossed back her hair. “While you might think I’m being obtuse on purpose, I wasn’t. I honestly don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Why does everyone think Danny is staying here?”
Her smile faded from her lips. She propped her elbows on the table and said in a low voice, “Are we back to that again? I thought we agreed you were going to keep an open mind about Hollydale. I don’t want Danny relapsing and having night terrors again.”
Night terrors. Aidan shuddered. He wouldn’t wish those on anyone, let alone a six-year-old. For a while, after his arm injury, his screams would wake him and he’d be covered in sweat. Until he’d been informed of Shelby’s death, it had been years since one of those vivid nightmares gripped him. Now it had only been three months.
He toyed with his napkin, shredding the end of it. “You can’t go around telling everyone he’s staying.”
“I’ve done no such thing.” Her indignation was clear. “Well, I told my mom you want to take him to Fort Lewis. While Mom told Dad, I know the two of them. It ended there.”
They both held firm, neither willing to concede an inch but both willing to do anything for the boy at the center of it all.
Why did she expect him to blink first? In all honesty, he had expected her to relent by now. On the basketball court, she had committed her all, then moved on. This was a woman whose character he couldn’t wrap his head around. What did she expect from him?
What did he expect of himself?
Even a few short days in Hollydale proved he’d better figure that out fast, especially before the next meeting with the attorney on Tuesday, which happened to be tomorrow.
“You really believe Carl and Diane would keep that to themselves? Look at Ginny this morning, giving my itinerary to Hyacinth and Belinda.”
“I do believe the best about my parents. What you see is what you get. Kids respond well to that. No matter what happens with Danny, remember that.” She reached for her drink and raised her cup. “To Danny.”
He also raised his disposable cup, and she clinked hers against his with a smile.
“For Danny’s sake, I’ll keep an open mind.”
“What time is it? I never wear a watch in the summer.”
He glanced at the watch his father had given him when he finished officer candidate school. “Ten thirty.”
“That late.” She scarfed down the last of the scone and grabbed her disposable coffee cup, raising it in his direction. “Thanks for the coffee. Gotta run.”
“Wait. After I dropped Shelby’s car at her place with my duffel, I walked here to clear the cobwebs. Can you take the bribes, er, I mean, preserves and pears and quilt, with you and drop them off at Shelby’s?”
“Do you want a ride back?”
“Thanks, but I need another walk.” And some time alone.
* * *
Once he finished eating, he left the coffeehouse and started out for Marigold Lane. No sooner had he passed City Hall than he noticed Mayor Wes heading his way. Hmm, Ginny probably had him on speed dial.
“Aidan, just the man I needed to see. By the way, Woodley says you’re doing a commendable job on the security for the parade.” Mayor Wes came up beside him and patted his shoulder. “I’m on my way to the police station, and it was my good luck I ran into you. Where are you headed?”
“To my sister’s house.” Maybe Natalie was wearing off on him as he offered that without hesitation.
“Want some company for a stretch?” Mayor Wes walked alongside him, as if he didn’t expect Aidan to say no.
“The police station is the other way.”
“It’ll still be there when we’re done talking.”
Aidan moved along the sidewalk, the steady marching rhythm his standard trade. “What did you need to talk to me about? We’re scheduled for a meeting later this week.”
The mayor laughed once more, and nervousness welled inside Aidan. “Always straight to the point. Here in Hollydale, we like our visitors to take time to eat at our restaurants and spend time in the great outdoors so they’ll come back again. Are you liking our fair town?”
Yes, especially one beautiful whirlwind. “No complaints, although Hyacinth and Belinda are coming on rather strong.”
Mayor Wes shrugged and kept a steady pace alongside Aidan. “You’re army strong. Judging from your attention to detail, you can handle that situation. By the way, Sheriff Mike and Woodley are impressed with the schematics you emailed them this morning.”
They were still a couple of blocks away from Shelby’s house. Judging from the mayor’s body language, the mayor hadn’t revealed the real reason for stopping him yet.
“Good to know.” Light conversation wasn’t his strong suit, but he could give it a try. “Beautiful summer day.”
And it was. The gazebo stood proud in the town square, decorated with bunting and twinkle lights. The mountains provided a shield against the heat and humidity associated with the South, and a cool breeze made his morning run enjoyable earlier. People waved their greetings, and the mayor acknowledged each by name, asking after loved ones and pets before returning his attention to Aidan.
“Guess I’d better get to the point before we’re interrupted again. The grand marshal of our parade, a former baseball player turned manager with ties to our community, received an offer to star in an advertisement for Japanese sake. He called me personally to ask for a release from his obligation before he accepted. Nice of him. He threw in a new fire engine, so I could hardly turn the man down, could I?”
Aidan grunted his acknowledgment, unsure of any other response. “Danny won’t be upset about that. He’s more into fire trucks than baseball at the moment.”
“That leaves me in a bind, though. The grand marshal leads the parade, unites the town, so to speak.” The mayor paused and dipped his head in greeting to more passersby.
Aidan nodded and pursed his lips in his semblance of a smile, unused to this much attention. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
The mayor seemed bright enough to forge a solution. “That’s where you come in.” The mayor’s soft drawl belied his authority. “You’re my top choice.”
Stunned, Aidan stopped marching forward and rubbed his ear. Then he started laughing. “Sorry. Heard you wrong. Thought you asked me to be grand marshal.”
“I did. The Boulevard of Stars Parade is a celebration of everything good about our country on its birthday.” The mayor pointed to Aidan’s arm. “You’ve made sacrifices while serving in more ways than one. You answered my call for a project when you arrived, and your work is top-notch. What’s more, I need an honorable man for a day that should bring people together.”
Aidan lowered his sleeve. Until now, he’d been unaware he had bunched the fabric around his elbow. “How do you know the scar isn’t a personal injury with no connection to my military service?”
“Was it?” The mayor leveled a look at him.
“No. I did sustain it in combat.” He shifted his weight, uncomfortable with the subject. “There are other veterans. Why me?”
“You’ve endured and survived, and I believe you’re thriving in these parts.”
“That’s my point. I’m only visiting these parts. Shouldn’t the grand marshal have ties to the community? Be a leader.”
“I stand by my choice. In the short time your sister lived here, she made a big impact, thinking and dreaming big about Snickerdoodles. The lunch café would have had a real niche in Hollydale, one not represented by our other fine dining establi
shments. The other businesses in the area and I were hoping she’d make a go of it. Since her loss, the residents have rallied around Danny. That little boy represents us supporting each other in times of crisis. We want to extend that to you as well.” The mayor sounded genuine, and Aidan understood why the man spoke for the town.
A strange feeling came over him as he accepted how much Hollydale was rallying around him. Cathy had once rallied around him, and he rejected that kind of concern and affection, only to realize later that he’d missed out on something special. Still, a town going out of their way to embrace him? When he’d seen the hard truth of life out there? Maybe that was what he was fighting for.
“I can see you’re skeptical. I would be, too.” Hesitation halted Aiden voicing his concern, and Mayor Wes tapped his chin. “There’s a perk I haven’t mentioned. Georgie’s offering her convertible for the parade. You and Danny would get to ride in a beaut of a fully restored Thunderbird.”
“Anything else?” While some operations in the army required split-second decisions when your life and the lives of your fellow soldiers were on the line, others required all the necessary information spread out on the table for an informed decision. Having a backup plan would have prevented the mayor from being entangled in this type of sticky situation, where he was asking a total stranger to be the grand marshal.
“I need an answer about the grand marshal position. Today. Think it over and call me this afternoon.” The mayor called out to two well-dressed women, and he crossed the street. “Kitty, Beverly. Good to see you both out and about. How are you on this fine day?”
This was an honor, and Danny loved his aunt’s Thunderbird. He’d call the mayor later to accept. Another unexpected turn of events, but he was starting to expect nothing less from Hollydale.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“THANKS FOR YOUR help today, Mike. Glad to know they give you a day off every once in a while.” Natalie hammered a stud in place.
Mike wiped his forehead with the back of his arm and swallowed a big swig of water. “The least I can do is help today since I won’t be around this weekend.”
Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set Page 57