As Good as the First Time

by K. M. Jackson

  Just then a warm breeze ran into the shop as the door opened, letting in the heated air and it was followed by a cool voice. “Care to add one more for that celebration tonight?”

  Clayton froze as Hope turned around, her mouth opening in shock before it spread into a wide grin and she took off at a run. “Mama!”

  Celeste.

  “How did you know we were here?” Clayton didn’t mean for his voice to come out as harsh as it did, but from the way Celeste’s eyes immediately narrowed and the silence that filled the shop he knew it had.

  She then looked down at Hope again and smiled. For a moment he thought she’d ignore his question as she hugged Hope, looking up at Clayton, her eyes and intentions unreadable. Celeste pulled back from Hope’s embrace. “I stopped by the firehouse and they told me you two had headed this way.”

  Was he wrong or did she direct a glance at Liv then?

  Hope hugged Celeste again, and something in Clayton twisted. “I missed you, Mama. Are you really back?”

  “Where else would I be?” Celeste said, her eyes filling with tears. “I’ve missed you too, baby. I never want to be away from you so long again.”

  Clayton turned to Livia, catching the look of sad resignation as it came across her face.

  Chapter 22

  Founders’ Day was turning out to be everything that Liv remembered: bright, sunny, full of cheer with happy kids running about, excited over the day’s festivities and eager for the night’s fireworks. The large field behind the United Church had been decked out with every sort of stall imaginable. There were pony rides and tons of carnival games, as well as some fun rides trucked in.

  Though it was Sugar Lake’s Founders’ Day, folks came from as far as four towns over to participate in the festivities and celebrate with the local residents. The local businesses were mostly closed for the day or on skeleton crews, having shut down to set up stalls highlighting their wares, and thankfully everyone was doing brisk business. Goode ’N Sweet was practically sold out, and Aunt Joyce was overjoyed by the fact that the individual blackberry pockets and peach cobblers were the first to go.

  But at the moment, they had the men of the family manning the pie booth—Cole and Clint, Warren and Wiley—while the women headed over to the real excitement, at the judging booth for the bake-off. Liv was trying her best to concentrate on the announcements of the winners, but her attention was caught by the beautiful family scene that was taking place in front of her.

  Just up and over to the left, by the dunking booth, she could see Clayton as he paid his money to the carnival attendant and got three balls to take his turn at trying to knock down Coach Farrington, the Sugar Lake High School baseball coach. She watched him take a stance—a sure and steady pitching stance that reminded her of his teen days—but he pulled back and wound up missing on the first and then second try. She stared as Hope gave her father a pat on his back. Celeste—looking carefree and lovely, tall and slim, her hair long and straight as it hung past her shoulders, her eyes almond shaped and upturned at the end—gazed at Clayton with obvious admiration as she leaned in and kissed him easily on his cheek. She pulled back and gave Hope a smile as she took a bit of the girl’s cotton candy and fed it to Clayton, causing Hope to laugh. He shook his head, and Liv watched him laugh too. This time he shrugged his shoulders and shook out his hands, and then he wound up before letting the ball go, hitting his target perfectly.

  Hope jumped up and down, waving her cotton candy wildly while her father handed her a large stuffed bear. Liv closed her eyes and exhaled, committing the scene to memory, knowing—no, hoping—she would be able to pull it back up in her later moments of weakness.

  “And finally, bringing home our top prize in blue ribbon, it’s once again someone from Goode ’N Sweet—Olivia Gale with her berry swirl pie!”

  Liv opened her eyes to Aunt Joyce shaking her and her mouth moving, but she wasn’t quite able to make out the words. “I knew it would be you. Did I tell you? Didn’t I tell you we’d sweep it all?” Aunt Joyce leaned in close to Liv, then whispered. “Just you look at that Lottie Douglas over there. Holding her participation ribbon. That’ll teach her about going on and on to me about her dang fried chicken. She can take her chicken and most accomplished nephew. She can take them both and stuff it. Look at the real winners right over here.”

  Liv blinked and wondered how she got up on the stage in the first place. Had Aunt Joyce with her trick hip and all carried her up there? Oh well, she was there now, so she might as well go with it.

  Liv smiled through clenched teeth and took the trophy, trying her best not to cast her eyes toward the dunk tank. Anywhere but the dunk tank. As they made their way back down and into the crowd eager to give their congratulations and compliments, it seemed that the dunk tank crew was coming toward Liv. She was surprised to see Clayton looking down at her, his expression in no way showing congratulations or even happiness. His eyes were hardened, and his tone suggested all business.

  “Clayton, are you all right? What’s going on?” Liv looked around, immediately thinking that perhaps something had happened with Hope. Then she looked to the side and saw that Hope and Celeste were just off by the ring toss game.

  Clayton shook his head, “I’m fine. There’s just a bit of a situation, and I need to borrow you for a moment.”

  Liv couldn’t help but frown. What could he possibly need to borrow her for, and why in the middle of the Founders’ Day celebration, and with his ex-wife and daughter so near. “I don’t understand. What could you possibly have to say to me now? Today? Besides, it looks like you’re quite busy, and Hope is waiting for you over there. I think you should go.”

  Clayton gave her an impatient glare. “Livia, it’s not like that, and I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important.” He turned toward Aunt Joyce, and although she was busy accepting her accolades, Liv knew that she had half an ear on the conversation. “Miss Joyce, sorry, but I need to borrow Livia for a moment; I hope you don’t mind. Congratulations. Not that I didn’t know you all would sweep everything. You can expect me bright and early Monday morning to place my orders.”

  Aunt Joyce preened as she waved a hand. “Oh, don’t you worry about that, Clayton, you know I always have something set aside for you. You kids be off now. I’ll see you soon.”

  And with that, Clayton took Liv’s hand and left her no choice but to follow him out of the Founders’ Day celebration. Once they were away from the crowd she jerked her hand out from his. “What are you doing? This is causing a scene, you holding my hand, especially where people can see. Your daughter’s right over there with your ex-wife no less. Really, Clayton, I don’t think it creates a good picture for Hope.”

  Clayton turned to her. “Livia, my ex-wife is none of your concern. Heck, she’s hardly even any of my concern, but this is not about her. I just need you to come on and follow me. There’s been another incident at Goode ’N Sweet, and I didn’t want to worry your aunt about it.”

  “Oh my goodness, not another fire? Please tell me it’s all under control. I don’t know what my aunt would do without that bakeshop,” Liv said, bringing her hand to a suddenly out-of-control beating heart.

  “Don’t worry, there is no fire, and everything is contained and handled, but it looks like we’ve solved what’s been going on. Let’s head over there and see; you can advise me on how to handle things with your aunt. At least for now, let her have her moment.”

  * * *

  It was later, the afternoon having turned to evening and Liv was disappointed, but at the same time she felt a bit of relief over seeing Deidre’s husband, Paul from the ice-cream shop, being questioned by one of Sugar Lake’s police officers. It was the same young officer who had stopped by when they had the Dumpster fire, and Drea kept giving him the cute-man-in-uniform side-eye, but then again that was par for the course when it came to Drea and cute men in uniforms.

  But Liv needed to focus. Was this fire mystery finally now solved? She let out a cleansing
breath.

  “Relieved?”

  She looked up at Clayton and nodded, then looked back over at Paul being questioned by the cop.

  “I am,” she said. Then she looked seriously at Clayton. “I’m also embarrassed to say I’m slightly relieved it turned out to be Paul. Though the greed of it all puts a bad taste in my mouth. The fact that he wanted the space to get rid of not only his ice-cream shop but ours too and replace both with a franchise type restaurant, that’s just awful. Talk about thumbing a nose at the town and tradition.”

  “I can agree with you there. But money talks and easy money the loudest,” Clayton said.

  “True. But he did seem nice.” Liv worried at her bottom lip a moment before looking back at Clayton. “I hate to think of Deidre and what she and her daughter will go through once this gets out.”

  “Yes, that really is the saddest part. I don’t know how much Deidre knew. That’s something to speculate. But the fact remains that her daughter will be the one to suffer in the process.”

  She looked at Clayton seriously, taking in his somber expression. “It’s always the worst when a child has to suffer for her parents’ deeds.” Liv let out a sigh. “I’m really ashamed to admit it, but for a minute I thought it may be someone else.”

  Clayton nodded. “Brent?”

  Liv looked at him with shock. “You too?”

  He shook his head. “Yeah, me too. But it wasn’t him. Of that I’m sure. He and your aunt asked me to set up the cameras.”

  “Wow. I’m so glad to hear that. I’m glad that Aunt Joyce is healthy and has all her faculties and she can trust her family. I’m feeling like when I leave she’s in the best hands.”

  “So you are leaving?” Clayton’s voice was soft.

  Liv stared at him long and hard then. Her voice came out low

  “I always was.”

  Clayton nodded as his phone beeped when, at the same time, the first crack of Founders’ Night fireworks erupted. They both looked up to the sky at the bursting red, blue, and green sparks. “We’d better get back. We’ve been gone a long time, and I’m sure folks are wondering what happened to us,” he said.

  Liv nodded back at him. “Yes, we’d better. Folks are probably getting curious.”

  Clayton let out a sigh. “Aren’t they always?”

  Chapter 23

  Liv looked at the potential job offer once more before typing out her reply. She hit send and closed her laptop, letting out a sigh. She looked out the window once again, glancing toward Clayton’s window.

  “So, you’ve made your decision, huh?”

  She turned and looked up at her sister as Drea entered her room. Liv nodded. “I have,” she said. “And you’ve made yours. Are you certain about this?” she asked Drea.

  Drea smiled as she sat down across from her. “I am sure, probably more sure than I have ever been about anything in a long time. Now is not the time for me to head back to New York. There really isn’t anything for me there. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling good about myself. Content. And I never thought that word could feel so good. I think I can make something of myself here, if not forever, at least for now. Aunt Joyce has agreed to let me expand on my idea of putting tables out back and creating more of a bistro dining area there. I think we can even expand on the Goode ’N Sweet idea and add some savory dishes. Maybe a few savory pies and salads for the lunch crowd. With me and Rena helping out together, I’m sure we can figure it out.” She looked worried, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.

  Liv reached and grabbed Drea’s hand. “What is it, what’s bothering you? Your ideas all sound wonderful to me.”

  Drea stared at her, her eyes shining brightly. “I don’t know, do you think this’ll be all right with Mom and Dad? I don’t want them to feel like I’m abandoning them.”

  Liv shook her head and smiled. “I’m sure it will be fine with them. They’ve always wanted nothing more than the best for us, and for us to be happy. Sometimes I think to their detriment, which is why they put off their own happiness for so long. You should do this. If this is where you feel you should be and you feel you can grow, then go for it.”

  Drea smiled as she blinked away tears. “What about you?”

  “What about me?” Liv asked. “I’m fine. I’m doing what I said I would do. Leaving near about when I said I would leave. My subletters just moved out, and I just received a great job offer that I absolutely can’t refuse.”

  “Well, isn’t that just like you. Little Miss Perfect always right on time.”

  Liv frowned. “Come on with that. It’s been a minute since you called me that. Don’t start. How can I refuse this? I can hardly believe they are offering me this type of package after only three video chats. Somebody upstairs must be looking out for me. It’s more money than my last job, the perks are great, plus I’ll be running my own department. Can’t you be happy for me?”

  Drea glanced out the window, her eyes going immediately to Clayton’s window just as Liv’s had moments before. “I am happy for you. I just want to be sure that you are truly happy for you. If that’s what your heart is telling you to do, then you should do it. But don’t go fooling me, Liv, or worse yourself, by putting on a mask and pretending it’s your true face if it’s not.”

  “Oh, come on with that now, Drea,” Liv said. “I know what’s real and what’s not.” She blinked. She would not look toward Caleb’s window. She couldn’t. “I always knew that for me Sugar Lake was just a dream.”

  Drea smiled then and let out a breath, taking her sister’s hand. “Okay, big sis. If you say so. But you’re wronger than wrong leaving me to handle Aunt Joyce on my own.”

  Liv laughed at the same time she tried her best to hold back a sob. “You’re a big girl, and you’re also a Gale woman. You’ll handle her and anything else that comes your way just fine. Let me get some sleep. I want to get on the road bright and early in the morning to beat the traffic.”

  Drea got up and Liv rose too, giving her sister a hug, letting go so incredibly hard. “Oh, you’ll get up just fine. You and I both turned into regular country gals. We get up with the roosters now.”

  * * *

  As Liv sat in the brightly lit and sterile conference room she had to practically fight not to bolt out of there. For one, despite the cool air-conditioning, she was practically sweating through her tailored business suit. Though it wasn’t yet officially fall, New York was already in that weird weather transition stage, of three seasons in a day where you could go from forty-five to seventy-five degrees and an umbrella must always be close at hand. Though she didn’t take off her jacket for fear of everyone seeing what she was sure were now permanent pit stains on her silk blouse. Number two, her feet were being pinched to all get-out by the supposedly casual walking pumps that she was wearing to this get-acquainted interview. And for three, to top it all off she was sitting across from the company’s Chief Operating Officer and the company’s new chief sales director, who turned out to be the man that requested her for the head marketing position, none other than chief full of bull-crap artist himself, Damon freaking “where is my flat-screen TV” Harding.

  Liv was more than done.

  She had to give herself credit for looking over their proposal, pretending to consider their generous salary and quite lucrative benefits, and not telling them to completely shove it up their rears. There was no way she was putting herself in any situation where Damon Harding was a part of her day-to-day business. There was only so much she could take, and maybe in the past she thought she could take him, even as an ex, as part of her day-to-day for the right price. But it would seem that she’d come to realize that there was no price high enough for her to trade on her own peace of mind and happiness.

  Liv looked at both men and gave them her best plastered smile, but even that didn’t feel right, like too much effort and one they didn’t deserve, so she dropped it and got down to business. “I thank you both for the offer, but looking over your company”�
� she looked at Damon with her next comment—“and seeing your personnel structure, I have to regretfully decline.” She closed the prospectus and pushed it back toward them. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be taking the position here at GLM.”

  Without even waiting for their reply Liv got up and put out her hand to the COO to shake. “I’m very sorry, not to mention shocked, to hear that, Ms. Gale. You came highly recommended, and I thought this was a done deal.” He looked over at Damon, who looked as if he could spit nails, he seemed so angry and embarrassed.

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you. It would seem you were given promises under false pretenses.”

  Liv put out her hand for Damon to shake, but in his anger he just looked at her, so she pulled her hand back with a half smile, went for her handbag, and started toward the elevator bank.

  “You’re making a huge mistake, you know that, right?” Damon’s voice hit her ears just as the elevator doors opened.

  She looked at him and shook her head. “Am I?” she asked. “Funny, it doesn’t feel that way,” she said as she stepped into the elevator. “As a matter of fact, it feels like one of the best decisions I’ve made in a very long time.” Then as the elevator doors began to close, she shouted, “And don’t forget you still owe me a TV!” Liv burst out laughing when she saw the embarrassment bloom over Damon’s face as the receptionist started to laugh behind him.

  * * *

  As Liv made it back to her apartment, her dinner just picked up from the new salad bar that opened two blocks down, where the fresh veggies looked freshly thawed, she couldn’t get past the quiet as she closed and double locked the door behind herself. It was too quiet. Quiet despite the city sounds outside her window and amplified, she guessed, by the fact that she still was down a TV.

  The quiet brought down the high she was feeling over turning down the job with Damon, and once again the same old thread of sadness she’d been engulfed with ever since she’d driven away from Sugar Lake started to weave its way throughout her being. It also reminded her of the chill she couldn’t seem to shake. She shivered and was annoyed. She had no reason to be cold. At the moment it was a seasonable seventy degrees and the air was clear and crisp now that she was out and away from the hateful glare of Damon Harding. No blazing heat or high humidity and no blasted ants or even bees. Heck, she should be doing a happy dance. Not doing this odd thing of going from sweating to shivering all the while moping like a sad salad barfly.