The River Valley Series

by Tess Thompson

  “Or the stars,” said Amanda.

  They spoke for a moment about wedding plans, Bella and Ben assuring them that eloping was the way to go if they could possibly get away with it.

  “You’ve never met my mother if you think that’s even close to a possibility,” said Fred.

  “Same with mine,” said Amanda. “That’s why we’re keeping it to ourselves for a while before all the madness starts.”

  My mother. Ben squeezed her knee under the counter. He understood.

  “I hear from Mike you guys are full force ahead on your business,” said Fred.

  “That’s right,” nodded Ben. “Bella’s going to be famous. We have the business plan of all business plans.”

  “Being married to an MBA is so hot,” said Bella, teasing.

  “Being married to a makeup mogul is so hot.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the mouth. “You taste like blueberries.” He whispered this in her ear, causing her to shiver with desire. They should finish up lunch and head home for an afternoon nap.

  “What’re you naming it, Bella?” asked Amanda, pouring more coffee into Ben’s cup.

  “Bellalicious.”

  “Sounds delicious,” said Amanda, her innocent eyes wide.

  Fred glanced at his watch. “Shoot, I’ve got to get back to work. I’m still on duty here in River Valley for another week and who knows, we might have another big crime.”

  They said goodbye and congratulations once again before Bella happily took another bite of pancake. Bellalicious. She couldn’t wait to tell Stefan tomorrow at Annie and Drake’s Thanksgiving dinner. Gennie had already given her blessing on the name. She’d actually flushed with pleasure when Bella had told her. She couldn’t help but think it had something to do with the fact that Stefan was the originator.

  When Amanda left the counter to tend to another customer, Bella leaned close to Ben. “I’m not giving up hope on Stefan and Gennie. You know that, right?”

  “I would expect nothing less from my blushing bride.” His eyes were laughing as he leaned over to kiss her. Laughing eyes. Her husband had laughing eyes. And there were blueberry pancakes to eat and the possibility of Gennie and Stefan falling in love and her gang of misfits joining together in a feast tomorrow and babies and kissing in the rain and honorable work. All of these small and large joys that were love must be gathered close, experienced fully, knowing all the while they were fleeting and elusive. And in that moment she understood it was only this, only love that offered meaning and even possible redemption in a world too often dark, too often difficult. Just this. Just love.

  “You did what?” asked Annie, her eyes as angry and shocked as Bella had ever seen them. She slid forward on her chair, almost knocking over a bowl of yams. “Please tell me I didn’t hear you right.”

  Alder shook his head, sounding resigned to the inevitability of fate. “They eloped.” Sitting next to Bella at the long table filled with all their friends, he leaned close enough so only she could hear. “You’re in so much trouble.”

  “Don’t sound so happy about it,” she whispered back.

  Linus, sitting on the other end of the long table, had both of his hands covering his mouth. “Oh, sweetie, what have you done?”

  “But I was going to walk you down the aisle,” said Drake, looking positively mournful.

  “And a dress?” said Annie. “Didn’t you want a dress?”

  “Hey, it was my idea,” said Ben, putting his hand up in protest. “Don’t blame Bella.”

  “Bullshit,” said Annie, her eyes wild, scanning the table as if for confirmation. “Everybody knows the woman makes the decision.”

  “Well, that’s not always true,” said Tommy. “I decided what kind of wedding we had.”

  Linus guffawed. “Yeah, but you’re not a normal straight guy and Lee could care less about girly stuff.”

  Lee scowled at him. “That’s not true.”

  “Honey, it kind of is,” said Tommy.

  “Well, we’re staying out of this anyway,” said Lee, with a pointed look back at her husband.

  “Right. Of course,” said Tommy.

  Annie was looking almost accusingly at the silent Gennie. “Did you know about this?”

  “I’m sorry, Annie. But it was what Bella wanted.” Gennie moved her wineglass in a circle, her gaze fixed downward and her voice soft. “Sometimes motherless girls can’t pick a wedding dress without pain ripping the whole thing to shreds.”

  The table went quiet. Finally, Drake reached out across the table and took Bella’s hand. “Congratulations.” He looked at Ben. “Welcome to the family.”

  Stefan, sitting next to Gennie, put his arm around the back of her chair. “Maybe we could have a reception. You know, just a party or something.”

  Her gaze on Gennie, Bella nodded. “That would be wonderful.”

  Ellen, sitting next to Verle, raised her glass. “Here’s to the happy couple.”

  Verle, nodding vigorously, raised his glass as well. “Mazel tov.” Everyone raised their glasses and toasted them. She looked over at Ben, who winked at her.

  “If you’re all so hellfire determined to have a wedding to plan, Verle and I have decided to go ahead and get hitched.” Ellen straightened her dessert fork and sniffed. “So you know, feel free to go crazy on the planning.”

  “Badass, Momo,” said Alder.

  Ellie-Rose clapped her hands together. “Yay, Momo.”

  “You don’t even know what we’re talking about, Munchkin,” said Alder, shaking his head and laughing.

  “Thank you, children,” said Ellen before looking over at Tommy and Lee. They were staring at her as if she were a stranger that had suddenly come in from the street to join them for dinner. “And I want a big wedding. Huge. Pulling out all the stops.” She took a large sip of wine. “What? You two can afford it.”

  Tommy laughed. “It’s not that. Whatever you want, Ellen, I’ll give you. We’re just surprised.”

  “Good.” She turned to look at Linus and then Gennie. “Feel free to take over the planning if you’re so inclined. I’ll be much too busy preparing for the big day to bother with all the details. I mean, I am almost seventy-five. I may get a little Botox before the big day.”

  “Do you even know what Botox is?” asked Lee.

  “Botulism injected into your skin,” said Alder, matter-of-factly.

  “You’re not getting Botox,” said Lee. “It’s ridiculous.”

  “I may or I may not,” said Ellen.

  “I’m sending you on a honeymoon,” said Drake. “Wherever you want to go.”

  “I’ve always wanted to go to France,” said Verle, who had methodically worked his way through a heaping plate of food, never ceasing except during the toast to Bella and Ben. “I live for bread and cheese, you know.”

  “Done,” said Drake.

  “I do not think it’s a good idea for you two to go to a foreign country alone at your ages,” said Lee. “Absolutely not.”

  “You’re not the boss of me,” said Ellen.

  “We’ll talk about this later,” said Lee.

  “I’m excited to help plan your wedding, Ellen. I’ll get my planner on it right away,” said Gennie, already typing something into her phone.

  “I don’t think so, Missy,” said Linus. “I’m doing the planning.”

  Gennie looked over at him and put up her hands. “Of course. Just let me know if you need anything.”

  Stefan leaned close to Gennie, whispering something in her ear that made her blush. Bella wondered what he’d said. What was going on between them?

  “Bella, could I throw you guys a party? At my house in Malibu,” said Gennie. “Nothing fancy. Just however you want it. You can all come and stay at my house. Enjoy the beach.”

  “Like a big barbeque type of party with tequila shots and chips and guacamole?” asked Bella, blowing her friend a kiss. “And can we have cake? White with raspberry filling?”

  Stefan laughed and slapped the
table. “That’s the spirit, Bellalicious.”

  “I had my toast prepared and everything,” said Annie, sniffing.

  “You can give it at the party,” said Drake, with an indulgent look at his pregnant wife.

  “Fine,” said Annie, smiling in her gentle way. “But it won’t be the same.”

  “I’m sorry, Annie. But maybe this will make it up to you.” Bella cleared her throat. “We have another announcement.”

  “Oh God, don’t tell me you’re knocked up too?” said Alder.

  “Alder!” said Annie. “Completely inappropriate.” She turned to Bella, appearing almost hopeful. “That’s not it, is it?”

  “No, I’m not knocked up. But Ben and I are moving to River Valley. We’ve bought Lee’s house.”

  “And I’m quitting my job and opening a fly-fishing shop.” Ben said it like it was nothing important.

  The room, for the second time that night, went silent.

  “Cool,” said Alder, breaking the tension.

  “Yeah, cool,” said Stefan. “Can I invest?”

  “Dude. Totally,” said Ben. “What the hell? Really?”

  “I love fly-fishing,” said Stefan.

  “Can I work there when I get older?” asked Alder.

  “Sure.” Ben paused, lifting his glass toward the two of them. “You guys get me.”

  “You sure about this?” asked Drake.

  Ben nodded, glancing at Bella. “Life’s short and unpredictable. If the last couple of months have taught me anything, it’s that.”

  “Well, maybe keep your job for a while longer,” said Lee, with a worried nod of her head. “Just until you get the shop established.”

  “That’s smart,” said Ellen, mirroring Lee’s expression. “Best to be cautious.”

  And the room erupted in laughter.

  After dinner Bella stood with Drake on the deck. The temperature had dropped into the 30s and the forecast called for snow. The night sky was inky black. “My sister. Married. Hard to believe.” Drake lit a cigar and the unique and pungent scent filled the air. “You realize Annie’s going to cry over this for several more days. It’s the pregnancy hormones. She’s a mess.”

  She laughed, thinking of the reception and dress in her future for the supposedly casual affair. There was no way that was happening if Gennie and her party-planner-on-steroids were in charge. “She’ll have her revenge.”

  “I’m glad for you, Bella. I love Ben like a brother. You know that. And I’m proud of you. Beyond proud.”

  “Speaking of which, there’s something I want to talk to you about.” She hesitated, nervous to say it out loud. From the yard she heard a rustling. It was the doe, her soft brown eyes glimmering in the light from deck. She pointed at the doe and Drake murmured something under his breath she couldn’t decipher. A sudden gust of wind came, blowing Bella’s curls.

  “I miss Mom. Every day.” She slipped her hand into Drake’s like she had when they were children.

  “Me too.” He squeezed her hand.

  “Someday we’ll see her again. All of them. There’ll be rose gardens for you and Mom to tend for eternity.”

  “I want to believe that so very much.”

  They stood in silence then watching the doe. She remained near the rose garden, steadfast in her gaze. The clouds parted, suddenly, revealing a slender window of stars. Bella took in a deep breath, startled by their unexpected brilliance. Anything was possible if the universe made such a thing as this, she reminded herself.

  “I’m ready to start my makeup line. Ben helped me with the business plan. Before I left Los Angeles I found the chemists to do it. They’re willing to do it how I want—no preservatives and with natural ingredients and all that. Mike’s agreed to help me build a factory where the mill was in exchange for providing jobs for his displaced workers. Gennie said she’d be the face of the product and wants to invest as an equal partner but I’d need the capital in order to match her contribution equally.”

  “Bella, you know I’ll invest. I’ve told you that for years. What good is my money if I can’t do something for people I care about?”

  “What if it flops?”

  “Gennie’s face? Your talent? I don’t think so.”

  “Thanks for always being here for me. I don’t say it enough. I love you.”

  “Jeez, Bella, you’re getting soft on me.” But his voice was strangled as if he was fighting back tears. “I love you too, kid.” He squeezed her hand. “Make it rain, Bella Webber. Make it rain.”

  Such a thing as this. Surely anything was possible.

  The doe moved her head toward the forest as if someone called to her. Then, she bounded across the yard and was swallowed by the thicket of trees.

  A bright star, larger than the others, twinkled. “Coming in?” asked Drake.

  “No, I’ll stay with the stars for a while longer.”

  “Don’t linger too long. It’s cold.”

  “You’re so bossy.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.”

  After he was gone, she raised her fingertips to the shards of scattered light. They were made just for her. Of this she was certain. One by one she plucked them from the inky sky, gathering them inside her body until she was satiated and lustrous and courageous and so effervescent the pain and fear diminished to dormancy. Yet, even as the stars filled her they regenerated, perhaps for someone else who stood and watched, who needed and yearned to be nourished with something brighter and grander than their own timorous and desolate heart. And although she could not see it now in this night of silver and black, she knew the currents of the river flowed below her in their undaunted drift to the tumultuous sea and gurgled her name, ever vigilant lest she forget.

  THE END

  Riversnow

  BY TESS THOMPSON

  Copyright: Tess Thompson, 2017

  All rights reserved.

  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution‐Noncommercial‐No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

  Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

  Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

  No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the authorʹs imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.

  This book is dedicated to my clever and courageous mother-in-law, Joci Kerr,

  who made and raised an amazing man.

  Prologue

  1996

  The hallway of Saint Ann Catholic School smelled of floor polish and hair spray. Clusters of girls in white shirts and plaid skirts huddled together near lockers, their chatter a collective rumble marked with an occasional high-pitched shriek. Outside the windows, the first snowfall of the year shed fat flakes. Genevieve Banks checked her appearance in her compact mirror. Big eyes, the color of dark tea and fringed with dark lashes, stared back at her. Her mother didn’t allow her to wear makeup, other than a little mascara and lip gloss. Her small bust seemed completely disinclined to grow. Her unfortunate figure, described by tactless adults as a string bean, made her look like a little girl, whereas some of her schoolmates looked like young women. Apparently, prayers about waking to a bigger chest weren’t heeded by God.

  The bell for sixth period buzzed. She hated to be late to anything, especially Sister Maria’s class. The tiny nun scared her. Gennie grabbed her books and zigzagged through girls on her way to Sister Maria’s class. She slid into her usual seat in the front row, gaze directed at the door. Where is Margaret? If she didn’t show soon, she’d be late, and Sister Maria would send her to the office after school for punishment, which, if the rumors were true, involved a ruler
and the palm of one’s hand. Gennie wouldn’t know. She’d never gotten into trouble. The girls who had didn’t speak of it.

  Around her, girls opened books and settled into creaking chairs, the scent of their hairspray mingling with the particles of chalk floating from Sister Maria’s furious writing on the board. As the final bell rang, a breathless Margaret slid into the seat next to her, crossed her feet at the ankles, and grinned at Gennie. Margaret had a secret. A boy. After school for the past week, she’d kissed him behind the statue of Colonel Murphy in the park. Yesterday she’d let him feel under her bra.

  Gennie had shivered when Margaret had told her. They were only fifteen. Kissing a smelly boy was the last thing Gennie wanted. Margaret, though? She ran wild. This Catholic stuff’s for idiots, she’d said.

  “Good afternoon, girls,” Sister Maria said.

  “Good afternoon, Sister Maria,” chimed the girls in unison.

  Gennie tugged on her long socks to cover a patch of dry skin just under her knee. They all hated the scratchy wool socks that made their feet perspire inside their black loafers.

  “First, some announcements.” Sister Maria stood behind her desk, hands folded in front of her round middle, plump cheeks blazing pink. “Congratulations to Gennie Banks for winning the Wisconsin state essay contest.”

  What did she say? I won? She’d known the odds were against her going into the contest, but she’d decided to write what she knew and felt strongly about—her mother.

  The assignment had been to write about leadership. What qualities make a leader? What person in your life has demonstrated admirable leadership?

  She’d gone against the advice of Sister Maria to profile Sister Isabel, the school’s principal, and had written about her mother instead. Widowed when Gennie was ten, her mother had the responsibilities of single parenthood and a full-time managerial position at their local bank. Having sat under her mother’s desk while she worked, Gennie had observed how fair she was to her team, treating all as if they had a worthy contribution, no matter their position, from the janitors to the tellers to the loan officers.