“This may be a challenge for you,” warned Hope. “I would've given you a smaller piece, but June had already cut up the pie.”
Lloyd sunk his fork into the fluffy confection. “Thank you, Hope.”
“Did you hear that the church basement suffered some water damage?” Alice attempted to redirect a conversation to a safer topic.
“No,” said Lloyd. “Is it serious?”
She explained what little she knew of the situation to him, then turned to Belle. “Lloyd is on the church board of Grace Chapel.”
“Oh,” said Belle. “I had the pleasure of meeting Rev. Thompson this morning.” She sighed. “He seems like a wonderful person.”
“He's a very good man,” said Lloyd. Then he glanced at Alice with a questioning look. “And he's also a bachelor.” The last word came out very slowly.
“Yes,” said Belle. “I know.”
“Aha,” Lloyd nodded knowingly. “Our good pastor is a viable candidate then?”
Belle tipped her head down and smiled shyly. “Well, God did send me that dream, Lloyd. I simply cannot rule out anyone just yet.”
“Not even an old mayor?” teased Lloyd as he straightened his bow tie.
“Not even a charming mayor.”
Alice had a strong urge to point out that Lloyd was almost old enough to be Belle's grandfather, but she stopped herself. Alice felt certain that Lloyd could never seriously fall for Belle's Southern allure. Although it was interesting: Belle in some ways reminded Alice of Ethel. They were both short and plump. They both enjoyed playing up their feminine charms. But, to be perfectly fair, Belle was softer around the edges than their occasionally sharp-tongued and somewhat bossy aunt. Still, it seemed preposterous to think that Lloyd would be seriously interested. No, Alice was convinced that she was simply witnessing some good-natured, harmless flirting.
She glanced out the window to see that the sun was still shining. “I've given Belle a partial tour of town, Lloyd, but with this wonderful change of weather, I wonder if I shouldn't check in at the inn. It's possible that Louise has booked guests.” Even as she said this, Alice felt it was probably unlikely. “I probably should get back to help out.”
“I have heard that the nasty weather is supposed to be over for now.” Lloyd nodded toward Belle. “Maybe Belle brought this good weather with her from the South.”
Belle giggled. “Well, I must admit it was lovely down there when I left.”
Alice set down her fork, acting as if she'd just come up with a good solution. “I have an idea. Perhaps you could finish showing Belle around town, Lloyd. If you're not too busy, I mean.”
“I'd be pleased to,” said Lloyd. “That is, if Belle doesn't mind.”
“Mind?” She shook her head. “Of course not. I would be honored to have the mayor as an escort.”
“Ethel mentioned some people I might introduce you to,” said Lloyd.
“And don't forget to stop by Time for Tea,” said Alice. “Wilhelm is mixing a special tea for her.”
“Oh yes,” said Belle. “That's right. He was such a sweet man. I can't wait to try what he's put together.”
“Thanks for the pie, Belle,” said Alice, waiting for Lloyd to stand up so she could get out of the booth. “Now, if you two will excuse me, I'll head back to the inn and see if business is brightening up with the weather.”
“That reminds me,” said Belle. “I completely forgot to ask Louise if she would reserve another room for me for the first weekend of June and perhaps a couple of days prior to that, starting on Wednesday to Sunday or even Monday.”
“A room for yourself?” asked Alice, confused.
“No, I already asked Louise to reserve my room until that weekend.” She turned to Lloyd. “Oh, I'm staying in the most beautiful room. It's called the Symphony Room with rose wallpaper that's simply lovely.”
“Louise picked out that wallpaper,” said Alice.
“I want to reserve the second room for my parents,” said Belle. “After all, I wouldn't want them to miss my big day.”
“Your big day?” asked Lloyd.
“Oh yes,” said Belle. “Perhaps Ethel didn't tell you, but my dream came with a date for my wedding. I'm to be married on the first Saturday of June.”
“Really?” Lloyd slowly shook his head. “That seems hasty, Belle. Especially considering that you haven't got a specific man lined up just yet.”
Alice patted Lloyd on the back and grinned. “I guess that's where you come in, Lloyd. While you're touring the town, you'll have to make sure that Belle continues to meet Acorn Hill's most available bachelors.”
Lloyd looked uncertain.
“Oh my,” Lloyd nervously adjusted his bow tie, which was already straight.
“I better get on my way,” said Alice as she left Lloyd and Belle. She waved from the door. “You have a nice day.”
“Bye, Alice,” called Hope. “Enjoy the sunshine.”
“I will,” said Alice as she exited the Coffee Shop. She paused on the sidewalk to take in a long, deep breath of fresh air. As she hurried back to the inn, she felt like a kid who'd just gotten an early release from school. She just hoped that Ethel wouldn't mind her foisting Belle onto Lloyd like that. But Jane had foisted Belle onto Alice. Besides, Ethel had asked Lloyd to help.
By the time Alice reached home, she decided to check on her aunt before going to the inn. Perhaps Ethel needed more medical attention. But to her surprise, Jane was at her aunt's house—probably salving her guilt for having assigned Alice to Belle's tour. She had brought over some leftovers from last night's dinner for their aunt's lunch.
“How are you feeling, Auntie?” asked Alice, seeing that her aunt's face was still quite puffy and red.
“Better, I suppose,” said Ethel as Jane set a cup of tea next to her, “but I'm afraid I don't look much better.”
“Well, it looks like you've had a serious allergic reaction.” Alice bent down to examine the raised hives more closely. “Something this severe might take several days to clear up completely.”
“Poor Auntie,” said Jane, sitting down on the couch beside Ethel and rearranging the pale peach afghan that covered her aunt's legs.
“Is there anything I can get for you?” offered Alice.
“I only want to know how our Belle is getting along.”
“Just fine.”
“I would so enjoy showing her around town,” said Ethel. “But not looking like this, of course. I do hope that Belle finds her man. I think it would be such fun to have a wedding and see her happily settled in Acorn Hill. Belle even told me that I might be one of her bridesmaids.” She chuckled. “Imagine me, a bridesmaid.”
Alice tried not to imagine it. At least not with her aunt looking like she did at the moment.
“Tea, Alice?” offered Jane.
“No, thanks. I just had pie and tea with Belle.” She turned back to her aunt. “In fact, Lloyd joined us at the Coffee Shop.”
“Oh, good for him. I asked him to help out. Did he seem to mind terribly?”
“Not at all. In fact, I even coerced him into finishing Belle's tour for me. I thought I might be of more use back at the inn. With this sudden change in weather, I'm hoping that Louise might be getting some bookings. Or perhaps some of the cancellations will reconsider now.”
“Yes,” agreed Jane. “That does seem likely. By the way, Alice, thanks for covering for me. I owe you one.”
Alice chuckled. “Yes, we'll discuss that later.”
“I have no worries that Lloyd will do a good job of introducing Belle about,” said Ethel. “No one knows Acorn Hill as well as my Lloyd.”
“Except for you, Auntie.” Alice stood. She felt more tired than if she'd spent a whole day at the hospital. “Since all seems well over here, I think I'll head back to the inn.”
Alice paused to look at Jane's garden before going into the inn and remembered the letter that had come for Jane the day before. Perhaps if Jane really did feel she owed Alice a favor, she might b
e willing to explain what Justin's letter was about.
Chapter Eight
Louise,” said Alice as she entered the front hall office area. “Belle asked me to have you reserve another room for her.” Then she repeated the dates and for whom the room was intended.
Louise frowned. “Do you think she honestly believes she's going to be married on that date?”
“She seems sincere.”
“Oh my.” Louise shook her head as she jotted down the reservation. “I'm afraid she is setting herself up for disappointment.”
“But what if she's right?” questioned Alice. “I do understand your concern, Louise, and I do think it sounds bizarre, but the more I hear Belle talk, the more I wonder if it might not actually happen. It's possible that God sent Belle that dream.”
“I suppose it's possible. It just seems highly unlikely. But suppose Belle did manage to garner the interest of one of Acorn Hill's eligible bachelors, and suppose this fellow did propose marriage and even agreed to her preposterous wedding date: What if the marriage turned out to be an enormous mistake? Wouldn't that be terribly sad?”
Alice nodded. “Yes, of course. On the other hand, well-meaning people get married all the time, often under what seems the best of circumstances, and yet about half the marriages in this country end in divorce. Look at what happened to our own Jane.”
“Yes, you make a good point.” Louise sighed. “I think I am just very old-fashioned when it comes to marriage. There's a right way to go about things and a wrong way. And I feel she's is going the wrong way.”
“Who's going the wrong way?” asked Jane as she entered the hall from the kitchen.
“Belle,” said Louise and Alice simultaneously.
“Oh,” Jane sighed, “I thought you were talking about me.”
“Actually, we were talking about marriage.”
“Right.” Jane looked curiously at her sisters. There seemed to be something they weren't saying.
“I was simply telling Alice,” explained Louise, “that Belle's unconventional attitude toward matrimony might land her in divorce court later on down the line.”
“And I said that even marriages that start out on the right foot can end in divorce,” added Alice.
“So, it's the luck of the draw?” asked Jane teasingly.
“I wouldn't say that,” said Louise. “I'm simply saying that I feel worried for Belle. I hope she's not devastated.”
“Or maybe she'll find Mr. Right and live happily ever after,” said Jane.
“I guess time will tell,” said Alice.
“It always does,” said Louise. “Well, I'll go ahead and reserve these dates for Belle's parents. Although I'd be surprised if there's a need for them to come. Goodness, do you think she's told them about her dream? I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if Cynthia informed me of something like this. I'd think she had taken leave of her senses.”
“Our niece is far too sensible to do anything like that,” said Alice.
Louise frowned. “Of course, to be perfectly honest, I'd love to see Cynthia married. I'd love to have grandchildren. And at the rate she's going, midthirties and not even seriously dating, well, perhaps I'll pray to the good Lord to send her a dream too.”
Jane laughed. “Louise, I'm shocked.”
“I'm joking, of course.”
“Of course,” said Alice.
“Oh, by the way, we have guests coming tomorrow. They'll be here through the weekend. I even took it upon myself to call one of the cancellations, just to let them know the weather has improved and the inn is getting busy again, and she said she'd speak to her husband about coming.”
“So things are looking up,” said Alice.
“Yes. I think our slump is over.”
“Well, I hope we're nice and full up for the next few months.” Jane had briefly wondered about asking Louise to reserve a room for Justin, but then thought otherwise. The idea of having him under the same roof for even one night was just completely unnerving. For the sake of everyone, she sincerely hoped that all rooms would be occupied when, and if, Justin actually made an appearance.
Jane went to the kitchen and began to putter. First she cleaned out the refrigerator, then she gave the sink a good scrubbing. But cleaning didn't distract her from her thoughts about Justin. Why was he coming? What did he want? When their marriage finally deteriorated, she had purposely blocked out the happy memories from their early married life. Perhaps it had been a form of self-preservation—a way to prevent her aching heart from hurting even more. But now, thanks to that letter, these memories seemed to be coming at her from left and right. Now she found herself reliving their first date, although Justin hadn't called it a date. He'd invited her to dinner, saying that he wanted someone to go with him to the dining room at the Fairmont Hotel so that he could check out the new chef there and try some of the dishes that the reviewers were raving about.
She had dressed carefully in a sapphire jersey dress that the salesgirl said made her blue eyes bluer. She wore strappy patent leather high heels and put on dangling freeform silver earrings. Finally, she swept her hair back in an elegant twist. She could tell he was surprised and pleased by her appearance when he came to pick her up. As coworkers, they had only before seen each other in jeans or chefs' uniforms. She was impressed by how handsome and trim he looked in his blue blazer and gray slacks. His curly blond hair was freshly trimmed and his face showed no trace of the five o'clock shadow that he sported every evening at the restaurant. Naturally, they paid great attention to the dishes they ordered, trying to detect which seasoning and herbs were used. And their conversation was easy, filled with friendly banter. By the time their dessert arrived, it was clear they were on a date—a very exciting date.
After that, they went out frequently, visiting many of the finest restaurants in San Francisco, including places like Bix and Chez Spencer and Ana Mandara. They also shared a love of the outdoors and hiked in the hills, exploring Monterey, Big Sur and other coastal towns. They took turns making picnic lunches and meals for each other, one trying to surprise and delight the other.
A clear memory of one of those picnics rose in Jane's mind. Justin had told her to dress casually but refused to say much else. They drove up Highway 1 in a borrowed convertible. It was a warm, sunny day, and the view of the coastline was breathtaking. They stopped at times to look at the sea, the breakers crashing on rocks, and occasional groups of surfers waiting for a wave. Eventually, Justin turned off the highway and onto a sandy road along the edge of a cliff, announcing it was time for lunch.
Selecting a smooth sandy area near the cliff's edge, they spread out a red plaid woolen blanket. Then Jane watched with amusement as Justin opened a picnic basket, setting out china, silver and glasses. He had prepared crabmeat sandwiches on thin slices of homemade bread, and a bowl of arugula salad with blue cheese and toasted pine nuts, as well as a cruet of his delicious secret salad dressing. Dessert was a selection of tartlets and cookies served along with peach iced tea. She didn't say so, but Jane felt this was a perfect setup for a marriage proposal. And it was a perfect day—the food, the company, the scenery. The only thing missing was the ring.
Then, suddenly, things changed. The wind picked up, the clouds rolled in, and they hurriedly packed things up. They returned to the car, Justin put the top up, and they quietly drove home. Despite the lovely day, Jane felt let down. She knew she was in love with Justin by then. And she desperately wanted him to feel the same way. Several pleasant but uneventful dates followed, and Jane began to think that marriage was not in Justin's plans.
About a month later, Justin invited her to dinner at the Cliff House. He had reserved a table that overlooked the sea, and midway through the meal they enjoyed a magnificent sunset, watching in awe until the last brilliant shades of orange and red faded into purple. Then, just as they finished a wonderful and filling meal, despite Jane's protests, Justin insisted on ordering dessert for both of them. Minutes later, the waiter set an incredible nest
of spun sugar on the table. Jane was just marveling at the pretty confection when she noticed a small blue velvet box inside. Justin feigned surprise but suggested she open it. Inside was an impressive solitaire diamond, exquisitely set in platinum. Then Justin took her hand in his and said the words she had been longing to hear. “Jane Howard, will you marry me?”
“Stop it,” Jane scolded herself out loud as she came out of her reverie still holding the sponge and scouring powder above the sink. These memories were not helping her mental state in the least. What she needed right now was a good project, something consuming enough to distract her from obsessing over Justin like this. She took down her mother's old cookbook and sat down at the table to peruse it. There must be something in it that would be a challenge to make. Wendell hopped into her lap and, as she flipped through the pages with one hand, she smoothed his silky coat with the other. It was amazing how calming it was to pet an animal. She felt as if her anxiety diminished with each stroke.
“Hello?” a hushed male voice spoke from the back porch.
She gently set a disappointed Wendell down and went to the door. She was surprised to see Rev. Thompson there. “Come in,” she said. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company three times in one day?”
He glanced over her shoulder. “Belle isn't around, is she?”
Jane laughed. “No, but she should be back in an hour or so. Would you like me to give her a message for you?”
“No, I would not.” He gave her a stern look. “Jane Howard, I thought you were my friend. And, suddenly, I feel as if I've been blindsided by you.”
“By me?”
“Yes. Inviting me to breakfast, introducing me to Belle, bringing her to the church. What exactly are you up to anyway?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “I am not up to anything, Kenneth Thompson. Belle just happened to show up at our door without a reservation. And she just happened to have a particular mission as the result of what she honestly believes was a God-given dream. I do not see how you can possibly blame any of that on me.”
Memories from Acorn Hill Page 27