Jessie Belle: The Women of Merryton - Book One

by Peel, Jennifer

  I had to hold onto that sweet moment as the game ended on a sour note. We had pulled ahead, seven to five, when Riley’s team headed up to bat. I felt good about our chances, but I sat nervously holding onto Maddie’s hand. Shane struck out the first batter up and we cheered. Landon was up to bat next. The idiot ended up getting to second. Then it was downhill from there. The next player up made it to first, Landon moved to third, and then their best player, Danny, came up to bat. Two strikes, three fouls, and then the bat and ball met forcefully. It was like one of those perfect moments in a movie, but for our team it was a nightmare as the ball sailed across fence. Not even Blake had a chance of catching it.

  We all watched in horror as one, two, three idiots crossed the plate. The game was over. Their side cheered and our side sank pitifully into the bleachers. Another year and another loss.

  Landon directed a smirk and a wink my way. I quickly turned from him.

  “The guys played well,” I said to my friends.

  “We would have won had they not cheated the first half of the game,” Cheyenne growled.

  “It is what it is,” I sighed. “Let’s go get your dad,” I said to Maddie.

  I hugged all of Abby’s kids, even though the twelve-year-old boy wasn’t that excited to hug me anymore. “I’m always going to hug you, Connor,” I informed him.

  He gave me a half-smile. “Okay, Aunt Jessie.”

  I tussled his light brown hair and he begrudgingly let me.

  We all sullenly trudged down the stands. The other side had already rushed the field to congratulate their team.

  “It wasn’t fair,” Maddie said on our way down.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard this, but it’s true. Life isn’t fair, honey.”

  She made disgusted noises just like her dad.

  I hugged her to my side and she wrapped her arms around me. I found I quite liked it.

  Our guys were tired, dirty, and I would say a tad, or perhaps a lot, ticked off. No one wanted to talk. Everyone wanted to disperse and nurse their wounded egos at home.

  Blake was walking slowly and I could tell he was stiff. I felt bad for him. I would have offered to take his bag for him, but that would have been an insult to him. Instead I threaded my arm through his and held on as we walked back to our car.

  Maddie took his other side. “You played really good, Dad.”

  “Thanks,” he said quietly.

  I squeezed his muscular, dirty arm. “You name it and I’ll make it for dinner.”

  “Ugh.” Maddie said in response. She knew when her dad picked dinner it was probably not going to be to her liking.

  Blake looked down at her and chuckled. “Anything sounds good to me.”

  Maddie was securely wrapping her dad around her finger.

  Blake placed his gear in the back of the Tahoe. Before he closed the hatch, I hugged him tightly. “Thank you for playing this year.” We still had a few games left, but I felt like I needed to say it now.

  “I’m sorry we lost to those … uh …”

  “Yeah, I know. I have some choice words for them, too.”

  “There’s always next year.”

  I looked up to him and he looked down at me in his way. “Are you saying you would play again next year?”

  He kissed my forehead and lingered for a few seconds. “Yeah.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I think I may be falling in love with my husband.

  He was making it difficult for me not to. I mean, the fact he was willing to play for my team was kind of momentous, but it was nothing compared to what lay ahead. It had me seeing my husband in a way I never had before.

  It all started with that ridiculous mayor’s ball. I was even less inclined to go considering the major bragging Landon had been doing. The idiot had even called me under the guise of checking on the order that his secretary had already confirmed.

  “Jessie, I wanted to make sure everything is in place for my big night.”

  “Don’t you mean the town’s?”

  “Of course,” he replied slimily.

  “Well, don’t you worry, everything will be picture-perfect.”

  “Everything you do is perfect, well, except maybe managing your team.”

  “If you mean we don’t cheat, then I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Now, Jessie, I can’t believe you would accuse me of cheating. I have a reputation to protect, you know.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, your reputation is intact. Have a nice day.” I hung up without another word or a reply from him.

  If my own reputation weren’t on the line, I would have purposely messed up the order, or perhaps canceled it all together, but I reminded myself it was for the town, not him, no matter what he and his psycho wife thought.

  The large order had me working more than I had the past several weeks. Maddie spent half the time with me and the other half with my parents. My dad was turning out to be a great tutor and he loved passing on his knowledge, so it was a win-win situation. Maddie and I still read together because I had to know if Cassie and Eric ended up together. We were close to finishing book two in the series and they had just broken up—again. I couldn’t believe I was hooked on some YA novel.

  Wednesday, two days before the ball, Blake came home happy. He kissed me on my neck as I prepared fettuccine Alfredo with grilled shrimp for dinner. “I was able to reserve us a prime camping spot in the canyon for the holiday weekend,” he said into my ear, causing me to shiver.

  I turned and faced him. “That sounds like fun, but I can’t go.”

  “Why?”

  “Blake, the mayor’s ball is this weekend, and I’m helping with the Fourth of July festivities Saturday afternoon at the community center. Remember?”

  His face dropped to the bottom floor. “I’ve been promising Maddie we would go.”

  I rested my hand on his cheek. “Why don’t you go Friday and I’ll meet you up there in the evening on Saturday.”

  “Why don’t you skip the weasel’s ball and come with us?” He pulled me closer to him.

  “I would love to, but Jessie Belle’s is providing the desserts and my dad is really looking forward to taking me. And I promised Abby I would help her on Saturday.”

  He groaned.

  I smiled.

  He kissed me once and stalked off to take a shower.

  Believe me, I would have much rather gone camping with them, but I had obligations and I didn’t want to disappoint my dad. When I picked Maddie up earlier from his house he had said, “Get your dancing shoes ready. I can’t wait to take a spin with my Belle.” It was really cute. Besides, my mom was going to be gone that weekend and my dad was like a lost puppy without her. He was looking forward to my company.

  Friday was crazy at Jessie Belle’s. We had done what we could in the days before, but some things—like chocolate covered strawberries—didn’t have a long shelf life, and the mini triple-chocolate mousse pies were best when eaten within twenty-four hours. Despite who the mayor was, I wanted everything to taste perfect.

  I was at Jessie Belle’s by six on Friday morning. Summer school was over and Abby agreed to have Maddie over for the day. Blake wasn’t thrilled with that option, but I promised him that Abby would protect her virtue. I didn’t mention she had laughed when I told her of Blake’s worry. She knew Connor better than anyone, and while she noticed that he seemed to have a small crush on Maddie, she knew he was still too awkward around girls to do anything about it.

  I warned Blake to be nice when he dropped Maddie off.

  He was all for letting her stay home alone as an alternative, but I was uneasy with that option. Not because I didn’t trust her, but from talking to her I got the feeling she spent way too much time alone growing up. I would almost say that Sabrina had been neglectful, and I didn’t want Maddie to think she was anything but important to us. Even though I knew she was too old for a babysitter, I wasn’t ready to let her loose yet. Besides, I knew Abby would make her feel like s
he was just having a friend over.

  Even with a full kitchen staff we had to work tirelessly. Not only was it the start of a holiday weekend, which made the café busier than normal, but some idiot planned the mayor’s ball for the same weekend. In years past it was always done at the end of the summer. My only saving grace was that I’d had the foresight to make the dozens of sugar cookies for the community center festivities the week before. They froze beautifully and would be ready to go on Saturday. Naturally, they assigned me to man the cookie decorating station for the event.

  By the time the last strawberry was dipped and the last mini chocolate cookie crust shell was filled at noon, I was exhausted. We barely had enough time for everything to set and be delivered by three.

  I let Aaron take care of the delivery. I had a date with my stepdaughter at Cheyenne’s salon. We were getting our toes and nails done again, and Cheyenne was going to do my hair and makeup for the ball.

  And I needed to make sure Maddie was packed for camping. She had never been and was excited to go with her dad. Blake, on the other hand, as of that morning was still trying to convince me to change my plans. I suggested that he stay and go to the ball with me and then we could head up on Saturday together. I even offered to take Monday off so we could still go the same amount of time. He was still not interested in the ball and Monday he already had appointments set up for two estimates.

  It’s funny how circumstances can change unexpectedly. And lately, unexpected was a term I would use in regards to Blake.

  Maddie and I rushed home from spending way too much time at Cheyenne’s salon. We were having so much fun we lost track of time. I decided I was going to have to watch Cheyenne around Maddie. They both had a mischievous streak and Cheyenne was filling Maddie’s head with ideas, and most of them centered on the opposite sex.

  “My dad and Jessie said I can’t date until high school,” Maddie informed Cheyenne as Cheyenne worked on my hair.

  “Getting strict in your old age?” Cheyenne teased.

  “Hmm. Funny how we’re the same age.”

  “I’m young at heart,” Cheyenne replied.

  I rolled my eyes at her.

  “Well, Maddie, I can’t help you with the dating restrictions, but when you do start dating, come to me for advice. Your stepmom here thinks romance has to do with doing the dishes and laundry.”

  Maddie giggled loudly.

  “I’m telling you, flowers wilt and die. A man that cleans up after both himself and you is priceless.”

  “That is the lamest thing I’ve ever heard,” Cheyenne said through her laughter.

  “Doesn’t my dad ever bring you flowers?” Maddie asked.

  I looked at her through the mirror and thought about a few months ago when he brought me flowers as his way to announce her. It wasn’t a happy occasion for me. In fact, it was devastating. My feelings about the situation had changed so much in that short period of time. My mother had been right. Maddie was a blessing in disguise. I smiled at her warmly. “Oh, he does about every thirteen years or so.”

  She scrunched her face. “That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”

  “Oh, really? And how is it supposed to be?”

  “You should at least get flowers on your birthday or anniversary.”

  “I think your dad missed that memo.”

  “I’ll talk to him,” she offered.

  “That’s not a good idea. Your dad’s not a fan of being told how things should be done.”

  She grinned like she knew. She was a smart girl.

  “Well,” Cheyenne said as she spun me around in her chair, “he’s going to be sorry he’s missing out on tonight. You are a knockout, my friend.”

  She handed me a handheld mirror so I could see both the front and back of my hair, as well as the makeup. She had given my hair beachy waves, but added lots of volume. The red lip stain really offset my creamy complexion. Even though it was way more glamorous than I usually looked, for the first time in forever I felt like the old me, the me I missed. My eyes started to well up with tears.

  “You don’t like it?” Cheyenne asked painfully.

  I lowered the mirror and smiled at her worried face. “I love it. Thank you.”

  “Now you’re going to make me cry.” She smacked me gently. “Go home and get ready.”

  I jumped up and hugged Cheyenne tightly.

  “I missed you,” she whispered in my ear.

  I totally got what she was saying. I had missed me, too.

  The first thing Maddie and I did when we got home was to pack a bag for her. I made sure she had outfits for any kind of weather. You never knew about camping in Colorado, even in the summertime. One minute it could be warm and sunny, and the next you could have snow flurries. Blake and I had been camping once in July when it had snowed on us.

  I briefly thought back to that trip, which happened when we were first married. I was freezing and ready to go home, but Blake promised he would keep me warm if I stayed. We zipped our sleeping bags together and he made an exception to sleeping wrapped up together. I say sleeping, but if memory served me correctly, and I knew it did because I was feeling warm just thinking about it, we didn’t sleep much that night.

  Maybe we should go camping just the two of us? I thought. Maybe that would help. I think Blake had given up on sex. He hadn’t really tried to make a move in quite a while. And I was still too insecure to make the first move. Oh well, I didn’t have time to think about my nun life.

  As soon as I took care of Maddie, I dashed to my bedroom and unzipped my party dress from its garment bag. It was going to look perfect with my red nails and lips to match. My black, strappy high heels would also show off the perfectly polished red toes. I slipped into my dress and zipped it up as far as I could in the back, then slipped on my shoes before I sought help with the remainder of the zipper. I needed to hustle, my dad was going to arrive any minute. I buckled the last shoe and scurried out my door only to run into Blake, who looked like he had just got home.

  I steadied myself against him, while trying not to touch him. I didn’t want to get dirty, and he was pretty dusty. “Sorry,” I said as I practically bowled him over.

  He held onto my arms and righted me. “Jessica,” he said as if surprised. He then took the opportunity to look me over from head to toe.

  “Do I look okay?” I asked nervously.

  “You—”

  The doorbell rang as he started to answer.

  “Maddie, will you get that?” I yelled out and then turned around quickly. “Will you please zip me up?” I asked Blake.

  I felt him carefully finish the job. I turned around and he was staring at me thoughtfully. I bit my lip nervously. I wanted to ask him what he thought, but by that time my dad and Maddie had joined us. I turned to my dad, who closed the distance between us in one fell swoop.

  “Belle, you are as gorgeous as I’ve ever seen you, honey,” he said as he kissed my cheek.

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  He smiled widely and held out a clear plastic box, opening it to reveal the prettiest white rose corsage with red ribbons dangling from it. He removed the lovely flowers from the container and securely placed them on my wrist.

  “Dad, this is so sweet of you. I can’t remember the last time I wore a corsage. Thank you.”

  “Anything for my girl,” he responded.

  I smiled at him and then turned to my husband and Maddie. I hugged Maddie first. “Okay, sweetie have so much fun camping, but save some fun for me.”

  “I will," she said as she squeezed me back. “You look so pretty,” she added in.

  “Thanks,” I said as I kissed her head. I hoped it wouldn’t leave a red stain on her hair.

  I turned toward my husband, who was just staring at me. I placed my hands against his chest and leaned in to kiss his lips, but not too close. It was a quick peck on the lips.

  He reached up and held my hands against his chest. He didn’t seem to want to let me go.

&nbs
p; “Be safe, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “Jess—”

  “Yes?” I smiled.

  “We better go, honey, we’re going to be late,” my dad interrupted.

  I reluctantly pushed away from my husband. “Okay. Let me grab my purse.”

  “I can’t wait to show off the prettiest woman in Merryton.” My dad directed that comment toward Blake, who still stood there not saying anything.

  Blake glared at my dad, who was very handsome in his tailored black suit with a matching red tie. We were dressed like we were going to the prom. I looked between the two most important men in my life as they stared at one another. It was like they were having a silent argument, but I couldn’t tell who was winning. I could have sworn that my dad’s blue eyes were daring Blake’s. Daring him to do what, I didn’t know.

  “Bye, you two.” I waved at my family.

  “Bye, Jessie. See you tomorrow,” Maddie said brightly.

  My dad extended his arm and I took it, but I felt this pull toward Blake. Why wasn’t he saying anything? His eyes looked torn and I wanted to know what his dilemma was. I kept looking back at him as I walked forward with my dad. At one point he stepped forward, but he stopped, and my dad and I moved forward and out the door.

  My dad led us to his silver BMW parked in our drive. Like the gentleman he was, he opened the passenger side door and helped me in. It was something I wasn’t used to anymore, but enjoyed the service. My dad was all smiles. His happiness reminded me to just savor the evening, even though I was suddenly wishing Blake were taking me. The way he had looked at me in the house was puzzling.

  “Cat got your tongue?” my dad asked as we neared The Pavilion where the ball was being held.

  “Sorry, Dad. I was just thinking.”

  “About Blake?”

  “How did you know?”

  “I’m old, but I still know a thing or two.”

  I smiled. “You’ll never be old to me.”

  He reached over and patted my hand. “This is why you are my favorite child.”

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  “Do you want me to take you home?”

  “No ...”