Life sped by in a blur and Flannery watched it from outside the action for eleven months of the year. She was a contemplative in a family where ‘Just Do It’ was everyone’s middle name.
But then Advent rolled around and everything changed. There were secret Santas and afternoons baking traditional cookies and hours spent working on handmade gifts. Her mama took notice of her, sewing her a Christmas dress and trying to suss out what she might want for Christmas. Her daddy would pick out the Christmas tree and after it was decorated, he’d lift her up to put on the star. She wasn’t the awkward youngest child of a big family anymore. At Christmas, she was special. She was noticed.
As she passed First Baptist Church, Flannery waved at Lisa Hudson. The cheerful youth minister was always so full of energy, planning activities and organizing outings for the church kids. A second later she waved back at Alan DuPrau as he was unlocking the side door of Trinity Episcopal. He’d been in the library earlier in the day, asking about the new Clive Cussler novel. She didn’t know why people complained about life in a small town. She liked recognizing every person that crossed her path. She’d been glad to move out of Boston and back home. The big city always gave her anxiety, although she hid it with a smile, or what her siblings would call a ‘game face’. But as successful as she was in Boston, Flannery always felt alone. In Natchitoches, people knew her name.
The rain came down harder and she shivered in her short trench coat. It was unnaturally cold in Natchitoches, even for December. She’d heard rumors of a white Christmas but that was just wishful thinking. Snow would be a lot more romantic for Charlie and Austin’s wedding that weekend, but it hadn’t snowed in Cane River for years.
Her fingers were starting to go numb and she tugged her Hufflepuff scarf higher. Rem had given it to her last Christmas and after she’d gotten over her slight irritation at not getting a valiant Gryffindor scarf, she had to admit he was right. She was all about comfort, friendship, and food. Gryffindors might lead armies, but Hufflepuffs would make sure everybody had a comfortable chair and a hot bowl of stew when they returned from the battle. They were big on books, fairness, and equality. They weren’t very flashy, but neither was Flannery. Flashy was out of her league. Rem told her she was whimsical but she was pretty sure he meant goofy.
The rain fell harder by the minute and Flannery thought of how she’d purged her wardrobe so completely of cold-weather items. No matter. It was Christmas, she was back in her hometown, and she was going to surprise Rem. She skipped a little as she imagined his reaction when he saw what she’d arranged for them. He was always one step ahead of her, ferreting out her plans. For the first time, she had the jump on him, she was sure of it.
“Flannery Beaulieu!” Bernice Watterson had been heading for the front door of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, but changed trajectories to meet Flannery. “And how is our new library director this fine day? Settling in?” Bernice asked. She was smiling but her brown eyes were assessing from under her rain cap.
“Yes, ma’am.” Flannery lifted her umbrella so they could both fit under it. “Organized and rearranged the children’s section this week. It’s starting to feel like home.”
“I don’t know why the board had to interview so many applicants. They shoulda just picked you.”
“I appreciate the thought. It came down to me and another applicant from Iowa, but she decided to take a job in Oregon.” Flannery realized she might have sounded petulant. “Mais, I don’t mind being second choice. Not at all. I’m just glad I got the job.”
“And I’m tickled about it. See, we’ve got room on our bowling team. The Gutter Gals have taken the championships every year since 1990, but we’ve lost a few members to the passage of time.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” She remembered watching the Gutter Gals play last summer and the average age was around seventy. Her grandmother hadn’t mentioned losing anyone. Or maybe she had. Flannery immediately regretted not reading the obituaries her mother had sent all the way to Boston every week. It had always seemed so morbid.
“Ain’t nobody dead yet. We’re tougher’n that. Our joints just aren’t what they used to be.”
“I’m afraid I’m not very athletic. People get the wrong impression because of my family, but―”
Bernice ignored her. “I bet you’ve never had tennis elbow. Librarians don’t get that, do they?” She glanced at the hand Flannery was using to grip the umbrella handle.
“No, ma’am. Carpal tunnel is more our style.”
“Hm. Well, your mamere has some good wrist supports she got from Dr. White. She can loan you a few. We practice on Tuesdays. We usually carpool and I’d pick you up but…” She gestured to the bright blue electric car at the curb. Flannery tried not to show her surprise at Bernice’s choice of vehicle. She’d thought of her as a Cadillac woman.
“Well, I better git.” Bernice ducked out from under the umbrella and headed back to the church door. “I’ve got Advent decoratin’ to do before folks start arriving for the afternoon rosary. Just a little bit of greenery. Of course we’ll hold off on the tree and the crèche until Christmas Eve. And congratulations again, sha. Everybody’s real glad to have you back in town. Especially Rem, I’m sure.”
Seconds later, she was gone. Flannery stood motionless on the sidewalk, trying to pinpoint the exact moment she’d lost control of the conversation. Being inducted into a female bowling team definitely hadn’t been on her agenda, but Bernice’s sly mention of Remington Becket was a lot more worrisome.
Flannery had assumed the match-making would stop as they grew older, but people only seemed more determined to force them together. Maybe that was because Rem had only grown more handsome every year. It was hard to see why he wasn’t snatched up by some smart, beautiful woman. But Rem said he was happy just as he was.
Flannery would worry that he’d regret being single forever but the man never made mistakes. His decisions were always good ones, so she would just follow his lead and ignore the busybodies. She was the one who always took a wrong turn before she found her way.
No matter how many hints people gave, or how many awkward conversations she endured, he would always be her friend and nothing more. Rem, her handsome and brilliant friend, was like a cousin to her.
Flannery stopped at the corner to wait for a slow moving delivery truck to pass. After what seemed like hours, it finally turned onto Trudeau Street and rumbled away. She stepped off the curb and plodded onward toward the waterfront.
Well, to be completely honest, Rem wasn’t quite like a cousin. Maybe more like a second cousin.
Or a third.
Actually, if they’d met as adults, perhaps there could have been something. But it was too late now. They knew each other too well. There was no mystery, no romance. She figured there had to be a special bubble of time where a person appeared charming and polished and sophisticated. Rem had seen her at her worst. He’d been there the day she slid down a muddy hill in a skirt. When they were sixteen, he’d put in a marathon five hour session picking nits out of her hair when she’d caught lice from some kid at her day care job. Then there was the night when he’d answered her panicked call and kept her from dissolving into hysterics. She’d rear-ended a cop car in the fog and she’d been sure she was going to jail. Rem had jumped out of bed to stand by her side as she got the ticket, then made her a tea at midnight to calm her nerves.
Of course, maybe the mystery was only lost on one side. Rem had never done anything truly ridiculous. At least, not in her presence.
As she reached the other curb, another voice caught her ear, this time from just a few feet away. Charlie Soule was leaving the florist’s shop, her pale pink hair clashing with her bright red umbrella.
“Hey, girl,” Charlie said, looking as if she wanted to hug Flannery but realizing two umbrellas in the pouring rain didn’t allow for that. “I hear you’re renting one of Alice and Paul’s apartments.”
“I’m headed over there
now to give it a look.” Flannery shouldn’t have been surprised that half of Natchitoches seemed to know about her new living arrangements. “Who told you?”
“Bix let it slip this morning,” she said. “Austin went in to pick up the new Magnus Chase book. He’s just thrilled about it, making all sorts of plans.”
“I heard it’s really good but I’ve only read the Percy Jackson series. I have so many books on my ‘to be read’ pile. I should get a chance to read through some of them at Christmas.”
Charlie tilted her head, then let out a laugh. “I meant Bix is excited about the apartment, not that Austin is excited about the book.”
“Oh, of course. Sorry.” Flannery got excited about books all the time so it had been a natural assumption. Now, she loved her grandpa but the man could be a mite overbearing. She wished he would have asked her before spreading the word that she was moving in. Of course, Charlie had worked at By the Book for years, and even though she worked for Paul’s company now as a game designer, she was practically family. And since Austin and Charlie were engaged, Bix wouldn’t have thought twice about telling him.
Flannery said, “My mom thinks By the Book is too old. She’s worried it will burn down in the night. Alice has kept all those fireplaces, especially the big one in the foyer. But he’s so protective. I think it was the only place he would have accepted besides moving back home, or in with him and Ruby. I think he feels like a single girl shouldn’t be living alone.”
“Of course, with Rem right next door, you won’t be.” Charlie’s voice went up just the tiniest bit at the end.
Flannery ignored the question. Rem had taken the apartment first. He wasn’t swooping in to save her from a lonely existence, although he would if she’d asked him, she was sure. “I’m just happy that Alice is open to renting out the apartments again. I thought with the nursery upstairs, they were going to let them stay empty.”
“I don’t think she could resist you. You’ll be her first librarian tenant. Add in the name and―.”
“―she’s in literary heaven,” Flannery agreed, forcing a laugh. Her mother had named her youngest child after her favorite Southern author, but Flannery would have much rather been called Edith or Zora. For the life of her, she’d never been able to figure out the popularity of Flannery O’Connor’s stories. They seemed horribly violent and never ended well. Getting a degree in Southern Literature and a master’s in library science had been an exercise in fielding constant questions about her name, and Flannery had been subjected to years of discussing writing that she didn’t understand and thoroughly disliked. It never seemed to matter to anyone that her focus was children’s literature. They all wanted to discuss the other Flannery and her grotesque tales.
“Well, I’m meeting Austin for lunch at The Red Hen, so I’d better run. I just checked on the flowers for Saturday and I’m dropping off a few personal props for the photographer. We’re hiring Tater Leaf, the kid who does some beta testing for Andy and Paul. He’s not really a wedding photographer, but he’s talented.”
“I’m so excited for you two.” Even thought they’d only been dating two years, Flannery felt like she’d been waiting for this wedding for much longer. They were so in love it was hard to remember they weren’t married already. “You know if you ever need help with the last minute details, I’m available. When my sister got married last year, she was a wreck by the time the day arrived. I’m more than happy to make calls or run errands, whatever you need.”
Charlie seemed touched by the offer. “I think we’re almost done. It’ll be pretty simple. Very low key. Fr. Tom’s worried there won’t be enough room for the reception but it’s just for close family and friends so I think it will be perfect. You’re coming to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow, right?”
“Sure thing. I wouldn’t miss it.” It was Flannery’s turn to feel touched. She wasn’t family and she didn’t know Charlie that well, but she’d received her invitation months ago. Remington was a groomsman and he’d invited Flannery to the rehearsal dinner. She definitely felt like family now. Maybe being Bix’s granddaughter was all it took. In such a small town, long time coworkers were almost related and Southerners counted family several degrees farther down than most.
“Oh,” Flannery said, remembering the first thing Charlie had said to her, “And if you don’t mind, don’t mention it to Austin.”
Confusion flashed in Charlie’s eyes. “Mention what?”
“The apartment. I know Austin and Rem are cousins, and I wouldn’t want him to have to keep a secret. It’s just that Rem doesn’t know yet. I really wanted it to be a surprise. So, if we can keep this under our hats just for the day…”
“Oh.” There was that odd note again, like there was more to the sentence but Charlie had decided to keep it to herself.
“It’s probably a lost cause but I still hope I can pull it off, if everything works out.”
“In this town? Surely he already knows. But I won’t say a word, I promise.”
“He didn’t know when I talked to him this morning,” Flannery said. She held up two crossed fingers. “I can’t wait to see his face. It’ll be great, like when we were kids, except now we won’t be risking a whooping by crossing Mr. Roque’s newly planted fields to see each other.”
Charlie’s expression softened, as if she were looking at a picture of kittens or newborn babies. “Sure thing, sweetie,” she said, and this time she did reach out to give Flannery a quick hug, their umbrellas crashing together. “You have a great time living up there. I think you’ll look back on this time as something really special. You know… later on.”
Flannery watched Charlie cross the street again and then set off in the other direction. She tried not to feel so irritated at the implication that her life was going to change in dramatic ways just because she lived next door to Rem, as if some kind of magic resided in the walls that connected the apartments.
Chapter Three
“Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does.
Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.”
― James Baldwin
Charlie couldn’t stop smiling as she walked away from Flannery. The woman had no idea what was coming down the pike. It was an open secret that the apartments above By the Book were responsible for bringing no less than five couples together. It didn’t matter if they were opposites, the two residents would fall in love. Rem and Flannery, best friends for years and years, were a verifiable slam dunk.
Her phone chimed and she switched the umbrella to her left hand so she could dig the phone from her pocket. She glanced at the screen and her stomach dropped. Another report from her watchdog program set up to monitor searches on the screen name she’d used in college. When she’d been harassed and trolled out of the gaming community several years ago, it had shaken Charlie to her core, but she’d rebounded stronger and fiercer than before with the help of her friends and Austin’s support. It had been a searing time and although some days the nightmare seemed fresh, the experience had lost much of its power.
Everything had been quiet for almost a year. She’d graduated from college, been hired by Paul and Andy at Screenstop, and reclaimed her place in the gaming world as a designer. But now, as her wedding drew closer, her program caught more references and queries about her on the web. Just a few a week at first, then a few a day, and now it was dozens. Always in protected forums or chat rooms where she could only glimpse the mention of her name and not the full conversation, but it was there. Every time she attempted to hack into the groups, the firewall had crippled her program with a virus that it sent back into her own system. Whoever it was, wherever they were, they knew how to keep their conversations private.
Slipping the phone back in her pocket, Charlie tried to calm her pounding heart. She hadn’t told Austin yet. At first, it hadn’t been enough to worry him. He knew all the sordid details about how she’d been doxxed and viciously shamed over something she hadn’t done, how she’d had
to shut down all of her social media. He understood that some bullies had a very long memory. Austin was a quiet, humble man but he was a protector at heart. Knowing that she was dealing with any kind of threat, no matter how small, would cause him pain. So she’d kept silent.
He’d already agreed to a small, intimate wedding in the historic church rather than the minor basilica for her. Austin had never made her feel as if any of the cyber stalking had been her fault. She just monitored and handled it as best she could alone, protecting herself from the trolls without letting him know how much time it took. But something had changed, and it was growing more serious than she had anticipated.
The rain poured down and Charlie repeated to herself the Bible verses of protection and shelter. She wasn’t alone. It couldn’t happen again. For one, she was older and wiser. She wasn’t as trusting. She was ready for them and waiting. The cyber stalkers couldn’t touch her, not now. She needed to focus on the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and all the wonderful moments that were coming in the Christmas season. The rest was a waste of her energy and time.
This was what she said to herself as she walked the rest of the block, but there was a chill in her blood that wasn’t from the weather. A storm was moving in and Charlie had the feeling she was going to be caught in it, no matter how hard she battled to protect herself and the ones she loved.
***
Flannery trudged on toward the Historic District on her seemingly never-ending journey through the deluge. It wasn’t any surprise that both Charlie and Bernice had mentioned Rem. She loved Natchitoches, but it did have more than its share of matchmakers. Of course Flannery would stand firm against them. She knew it was deceptively easy to go from friendship to romantic love, but nearly impossible to go back. For now, she was first in Rem’s life. He made no secret of it. He didn’t even try to hide it. Flannery was the person he came home to at Christmas time, no matter where she was.
Until Winter Comes Again: (An Inspirational Contemporary Romance) (Cane River Romance Book 6) Page 2