That had been the moment when the last of her hope had shattered. As long as he’d been in the fight with her, she’d been able to hold on, but once he’d let go, she’d lost her grip.
“I’m sure he doesn’t mean that.” Dahlia used the same hushed tone Mags had heard her use to soothe her children. “It must’ve been so stressful, but in time I’m sure he’ll come around.”
Rose seemed to pick up on the doubt that had rooted itself deep in Mags’s soul. “Do you want him to come around?” Her younger sister had always been direct.
She could lie. That’s what she’d been doing for a year. She could say of course she hoped he would come around, that even with all they’d been through they could save their marriage. But lying had started to take more effort than simply coming out with the truth. “We’ve been fighting a lot. I feel like I hardly know him anymore.” Worse yet, he didn’t seem to know her, to understand this consuming desire they’d once shared. Yet again, speaking the words out loud brought this overwhelming sense of finality. It seemed impossible to go back and find all the broken fragments of their love and somehow fit them back into place.
“That’s why he didn’t come with you.” Rose leaned against the counter next to Mags.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Saying it to her sisters wasn’t nearly as scary as she’d thought it would be. “I need some time to sort it all out.”
“I needed time to sort things out, too.” Regal Rose slumped back against the wall.
“What?” Mags turned to study her. What could Rose possibly have to figure out? “You’re practically marrying royalty. One of the most eligible bachelors in the country. And he adores you.” Gregory was always buying Rose gifts, surprising her with jewelry, and taking her on extravagant vacations.
Dahlia gasped. “You don’t know if you want to marry Gregory?”
Rose stared down at her hands. “I don’t know if I can.”
Mags had to drag her jaw off the floor. This might be the first time she’d ever seen her younger sister look lost. She shared a questioning glance with Dally, not knowing what to say.
“Did something happen?” Dahlia asked, supporting her sister with an arm around her shoulders.
“Not necessarily. There’re just so many expectations with his family. I don’t think our life together will ever be about us.”
Mags had met Evaline Cunningham one time and that had been enough for her. It wasn’t that she was intimidating necessarily. It was more that she seemed so judgmental. The last time Mags had visited Rose, they’d gone with their mother and Evaline to interview a caterer for the wedding reception. The head chef had been sweet and quirky, not a five-star chef by any means, but clearly creative and professional. Until Evaline had grilled her for a good twenty minutes about her classical training, that was. Then the poor woman had been reduced to tears.
“If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn’t want Evaline for a mother-in-law either,” Mags offered. Eric’s mom, on the other hand, had always been wonderful. She came for frequent visits, and she’d always treated Mags like a daughter. The pang in her heart deepened. Her and Eric’s lives and families were interwoven. She loved his parents, his sisters. What if they weren’t a part of her life anymore?
“I could stand her being my mother-in-law,” Rose said. “That’s not the issue. I could deal with her if I had to.” A heartsick sigh slipped out. “It’s more that Gregory can’t seem to stand up to her. Even with the little things. What’s going to happen when we have kids? She’ll probably be in charge of raising them.” Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up kids.”
“No, it’s fine.” Mags found her smile coming easier. “You can talk about kids. I don’t want everyone to have to walk on eggshells around me. That’s one reason I haven’t said much.” She didn’t need people hushing away from conversations when she walked into the room. It wouldn’t make her reality any easier. “Having kids is something you should consider when you’re about to get married.” She’d thought she and Eric were on the same page in that department.
“It sounds like you’re asking all the right questions,” Dahlia agreed. “I should’ve asked more questions before my own wedding. I was too swept up in the romance and excitement to think much. Look where that got me.” Their eldest sister laughed. “You two are right. That’s why I was so annoyed when we were talking before. Ike is very good-looking. And, judging from the way he talks to Sassy, he seems kind and friendly. And I think you may be right about him being interested in me too, which is why everything in me is telling me to stay away from him.” She shook her head as though frustrated with herself. “I can’t go through that again. What Jeff did to me. It shattered me. And I’m afraid I’ll never be able to let someone love me like that again.”
“So basically, we all have issues.” Mags slung one arm around Dahlia and the other around Rose. “It sounds like we all needed an escape for the holidays this year.”
“I know I did.” Rose rested her head on Mags’s shoulder.
“Do you think Sassy somehow knew that?” Dahlia asked. “I used to think that woman had magical powers. She’s always seemed to know just what we needed.”
Mags thought back to all the times Sassy had played with them, encouraged them, believed in their dreams. She’d brought them back together, and this was their chance to finally help her. “Maybe it’s our turn to figure out what she needs.”
Chapter Twelve
Rose
Rose couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed an afternoon so much. She walked in step with her sisters, each of them bundled in hats and scarves and their bulkiest coats while they made their way down Main Street, pausing to peer in the windows of the shops, which had been decorated so festively with garlands and red velvet bows and locally made candy canes of all different colors dangling from ribbons.
After they’d finally left the coffee shop’s bathroom, they’d ventured to the market so Magnolia could start planning desserts—and they’d had to stop by every sample station, filling up on chocolate and popcorn and bits of fresh-made pastries from the bakery down the street. Now they were window-shopping, working their way down the block, and even with the frostbite on her toes, Rose could stay out here all day. Everyone they walked past seemed to greet them with a welcoming hello and a smile. The streets weren’t crowded, but they were bustling, as if the whole town was in full swing with holiday preparations and anticipation. “I love it here,” Rose said with a contented sigh. “It’s so different than Savannah.”
“Well, it’s colder, that’s for sure,” Mags said, her teeth chattering. “I think we need to go back to Grumpy’s for another round of hot chocolate. I’m not sure how much more of this cold I can take. I miss the beach.”
Rose had never been much of a winter person either, but she wasn’t ready to duck inside just yet. The festive downtown streets were joyful and, more important, made Rose feel joyful. And as much as she loved being warm, the snow only added to the merriment. “We can go back in a—”
Wait a minute. Hold the phone. Rose’s gaze fixated on the sign hanging above one of the shops across the street: “Sew It Seams—Quilting, Sewing, Fabric.”
Seriously? Could there really be a cute little fabric store in this small town? “I knew I loved it here,” she squealed, making a beeline across the street without even looking both ways.
“Hey! Where are you—” Dahlia’s voice faded behind her as Rose slipped in through the glass door. She couldn’t stop herself, couldn’t help herself. She hadn’t been in a fabric store for so long, and this one was even bigger than it looked from the outside!
“Good afternoon.” A grandmotherly woman standing behind the counter welcomed her with a warm smile. “Welcome to Sew It Seams. Is there anything I can help you find today?”
Rose could hardly tear her gaze from the rows and rows of colorful fabrics—paisleys and damasks and ginghams and beautiful chintz patterns. “I’m not sure
what I’m looking for,” she told the woman in awe. “But whatever it is, I’m pretty sure I can find it here.”
Chuckling, the woman came around the counter and offered her hand. “I’m Eloise. Always fun to meet a fellow fabric junkie.”
“Rose.” She shook the woman’s hand as she continued to scan the store. “You have an incredible collection here. I mean—”
The door whooshed open and in blew her sisters. “Next time you ditch us you might want to make sure there are no cars coming,” Mags said crossly. “Oh wow.” Her scowl lightened. “It’s so warm in here.”
“Sorry.” Rose stepped aside so she could introduce Mags and Dally to Eloise, who, with her long white hair and heart-shaped face appeared to be her angel from above. “These are my wonderful sisters. Girls, this is Eloise, and she has one of the most wonderful fabric collections I have ever seen anywhere. Ever.” She turned to the woman. “Seriously. I’m from Savannah, and it’s hard to find a store that carries such variety.”
“Well, it’s our passion.” The woman’s blue eyes shone. “We have quite the large quilting and sewing community in the area, so I try to make sure we’re always stocked.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Dahlia removed her glove and shook Eloise’s hand.
“That’s a lot of fabric.” Mags seemed to take in the many aisles. “We should take our time looking through every shelf. Maybe my fingers and toes will finally thaw.”
Eloise laughed. “Yes, please do take your time looking around. And let me know if you need anything.” She gestured to a table on the other side of the counter. “And please help yourselves to a warm drink. We have hot water and tea bags, or a wonderful spiced cider mix, as well as some cookies I baked myself last night.”
“Now we’re talking.” Mags thanked her and headed right for the refreshments, but Rose couldn’t fight the pull of those fabric samples calling to her. She might never leave this place.
Another group of customers walked into the store, so Eloise hurried off to greet them. Rose wandered deeper down one of the aisles, almost not knowing where to start.
“You’ve always picked out the perfect fabric for your projects. Do you remember that skirt you made me for the eighties dance my freshman year?” Dahlia walked alongside her, but her sister didn’t gawk at the different patterns and colors the way Rose did.
“How could I forget?” Rose laughed at the memory. “You said you’d never wear it.” The fabric had been hot pink with black tiger stripes and Rose had slaved over that skirt for days, leaving a mess of fabric scraps and thread and discarded attempts in her wake. She hadn’t been able to tell what Dally hated more—the skirt or the mess Rose had made. “But you did wear it.” She slung an arm around her sister in a half hug while they walked.
“I knew I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t wear it,” Dally muttered hugging her back. “And I got a ton of compliments at the dance.” Her sister pulled her to a stop. “You’ve always been talented. And creative. Do you still sew?”
“No. I can’t even remember the last time I wandered around a fabric store,” Rose commented, running her hand over a bolt of a soft baby pink Paris chiffon. It felt like butter beneath her fingertips. She thought about the sketches she’d done before Evaline had shot down her dreams of making her own dress. “This would be the perfect fabric to make a wedding gown with.” Soft and elegant…
“I have to say, I was surprised when you decided not to make your own dress.” Dally felt the fabric, too. “You always talked about that when we were younger.”
“I wanted to, but…” Well, it didn’t fit Evaline’s vision for the wedding. From the day they’d announced their engagement, Evaline had been talking about a royal affair. Just wait until so-and-so sees this, she’d kept saying. So-and-so will be so jealous about that.
“Let me guess.” Her sister faced her. “Evaline didn’t want you to make your own dress.”
“Why would she care?” Mags asked, walking over to join them.
“It seems to me Evaline has been dreaming about her son’s wedding since she was a little girl,” Rose joked. But she couldn’t quite find a laugh to back up the humor.
“Well it’s your wedding. It’s supposed to be about you and Gregory.” Mags bit into another sugar cookie. “Oh Mylanta. You guys have to try these. They’re absolutely amazing. I thought I had perfected the Christmas cookie. Now I’m rethinking my whole life.”
Rose stole one out of her hand. She could go for a little sugar rush right about now. “It’s not just Gregory’s and my wedding.” She slowly wandered farther down the aisle, unable to keep herself from touching almost every bolt of fabric. “Not really.” She didn’t need to explain. Both of her sisters had met Evaline.
“Well, the wedding’s not nearly as important as everyone thinks it is.” Dally sighed. “What happens after is way more important.”
That was exactly what Rose had started to worry about.
“You guys should elope!” Mags slipped in front of them, her eyes alight with excitement. “You could come to Florida! Have a beautiful ceremony on the beach right at sunset!”
“As romantic as that sounds, it will never happen,” Rose assured her. “The wedding will be the way Evaline wants it or there won’t be a wedding. Gregory won’t disappoint his mother.”
Dally pulled Rose to a stop. “Do you love him?”
“Yes.” She’d thought she loved Gregory with her whole heart. She’d always believed that would be enough, that true love could conquer anything. “But it’s starting to feel more complicated than that.”
“Oh, it’s complicated all right,” Mags agreed, pulling a cookie out of her pocket. “Love is so much harder than I ever thought it would be.”
“So much harder,” Dally agreed.
Rose studied her older sister. “Do you still love Jeff?”
Dally didn’t hesitate. “I think a part of me will always love him, love the life we had together.” Sadness filled in her smile. “We’ll always be connected through Ollie and Maya. And I’ll always appreciate him for giving me those two. But I’m not in love with him anymore.”
The revelation made Rose’s heart skip. Was it possible to fall out of love? No, that wasn’t the question that scared her the most. Was she falling out of the love with Gregory? She pushed the thought out of her mind. Things had been intense, that was all. She still loved him, and he still loved her.
Rose and Dahlia walked in silence, turning to go down another aisle.
“So, how’s the design business going?” Dally finally asked.
Her sister was always so good at picking up on when Rose didn’t want to talk about something, but this topic of conversation brought up yet another sigh. “I haven’t had time to do much lately. Everything has been so busy with the wedding plans.”
“You haven’t been working?” Mags sipped something out of the insulated cup she was holding.
Rose inhaled. Cider with real cinnamon. It smelled like Christmas. “Not really.” She’d done a few consults for friends who had moved, but nothing significant. “Evaline suggested I put things on hold until after the wedding.” And Rose couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever be able to take things off hold.
Mags rolled her eyes but seemed to bite back any choice words about Gregory’s mother. “You love to work.” Mags did, too. They’d always been the same that way. That’s how it was when you did something you were passionate about. It didn’t feel like work.
“I miss it.” After their bathroom confessional, Rose had decided she wouldn’t hold anything back from her sisters anymore. If she couldn’t be honest with them, she couldn’t be honest with herself. “Evaline doesn’t understand why I want to work. And I’m starting to wonder if Gregory does. He keeps telling me I won’t need to. He keeps telling me I don’t need to now.”
“Financially, maybe,” Dally said. “But you’re so creative and artistic. I can’t imagine you ignoring that side of yourself.”
She
had been ignoring that need, that craving, and now that she stood in this store, she couldn’t imagine why. Rose rested her hand on yet another bolt of fabric, a pink chintz that almost looked vintage. “Doesn’t this remind you of the upholstery in Betty?” They’d spent hours curled up on the floral-patterned benches inside the old trailer. She and Sassy had made the curtains and covers for the cushions themselves.
“Yes.” Mags pulled the bolt off the shelf and studied it. “Wow this brings back memories.”
“The trailer is still around.” Dahlia took a turn admiring the pretty pattern. “I saw it this morning. Sassy told me she hasn’t done a thing with it. Poor old Betty has simply been sitting there neglected all these years. I think we should fix her up.”
Rose gasped. “That’s amazing. That’s perfect.”
Mags looked at them like they’d both lost their minds. “Don’t we have enough going on right now?”
“No.” Rose couldn’t hold back a squeal. “I’ve been dying to find a project like Betty.” Taking something old and decrepit and giving it new life. That was exactly the kind of thing she loved. “I seriously need to redecorate something! Something where I can do all the work, the sewing and the painting. Everything.” And there was no one here to tell her she didn’t have the time.
“That sounds like a ton of work.” Mags glanced at Dally like she was hoping their older sister would shut the idea down, but instead Dally grinned. “You’re right. It’s perfect.”
“Yes!” Rose squealed right at the same time Mags said, “Seriously?”
“Come on.” Dally linked her arm through Mags’s while Rose pulled every bolt of the pink chintz fabric off the shelf.
“Wouldn’t you love to see that old trailer restored?” Dally purred.
“It would bring back so many memories from our childhood,” Rose added, though she didn’t know why she was trying to convince Mags. They were totally doing this, and she’d have to get on board eventually.
Mags pulled her arm away from Dally. “I think you two must’ve forgotten how much work we already have to do with the whole Christmas extravaganza.”
Home for the Holidays Page 10