Georgia On His Mind (Hope Valley Book 1)

by Belle Calhoune

  Molly appeared to be choking back tears. “I want more children too. As many as the good Lord allows me.”

  As they finished their coffee and scones, their conversation turned to world travel and hobbies. Molly was an avid skier while Georgia preferred hiking. They both promised to keep in contact more frequently and to get together once Molly graduated and moved back permanently to Hope Valley.

  After finishing up with Molly, Georgia raced back home, knowing she had agreed to have dinner with Eden and Mama. Rosalie had told her daughters that she had some sort of news to deliver. Knowing her mother as she did, Georgia had decided that her news was best delivered in a familiar environment with great food being consumed. By the time she reached home it was almost five o’clock. Georgia began prepping dinner, then grabbed a quick shower and sat in the kitchen reading one of her favorite mystery authors. Eden and Rosalie arrived at the same time, which served as Georgia’s signal to heat up the meal while her sister set the table.

  By the time dinner was served, Georgia’s stomach was grumbling. As they enjoyed her ravioli, spinach salad and garlic bread, Georgia couldn’t help but wonder about her mother’s announcement. She prayed it wasn’t anything about her health. Rosalie was already dealing with MS. Anything further wouldn’t be fair. Her faith told her that God never gave any more than a person could handle, but sometimes Georgia wondered if that was true. God was a constant in her life, but she still wondered why bad things tended to land on the shoulders of the same people over and over again.

  For dessert, Eden pulled a cherry cheesecake out of the fridge. Georgia had made it over the weekend and Eden had been dying to taste it. Eden quickly began to slice the cheesecake and dish out the servings. Georgia had to smile at the look etched on her sister’s face. She was in heaven.

  Once their plates were polished clean, Rosalie set her fork down on her plate with a slight bang. She looked back and forth between her daughters. She cleared her throat. There was a look of nervousness etched on her face. Georgia’s stomach lurched in anticipation of her mother’s special news.

  “I’m seeing someone,” their mother announced.

  Georgia’s jaw dropped. Her mother was dating someone? Although the announcement was surprising, Georgia felt relieved. At least the news wasn’t alarming or health-related.

  “Since when?” Georgia asked. “You haven’t said a word about it.”

  “For a few weeks,” Rosalie said in a crisp tone. A little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  “Who is this mystery guy?” Eden asked. Georgia could tell by the expression stamped on her sister’s face that she was skeptical of her mother’s romance. Georgia wanted to be optimistic. Everyone needed a little love in their lives.

  “It’s Benjamin,” Rosalie said.

  “Benjamin who?” Georgia shrieked. She had a funny, niggling sensation in the pit of her stomach. Dear Lord, please don’t let it be who I think it is.

  “Oh! No way!” Eden said with a snarl. “There is no way in the world you would be…foolish enough to date our father after everything he put you through.”

  Rosalie’s mouth twisted. She glared at her daughters. “Benjamin said I shouldn’t tell the two of you. He was right! Why can’t you be happy for us? For me?”

  “Mama. We just don’t want you to get hurt,” Georgia said, reaching out and patting her mother’s arm.

  Eden made a sucking sound with her mouth. “We know he’s going to hurt you all over again.”

  “Eden,” Georgia said in a warning tone. Eden had the habit of being overly blunt. She could tell by the expression on her mother’s face she was on the brink of tears.

  Eden sent her a loaded glance, then let out a sigh. “We all want to believe in happy endings, but as your daughters we’re worried about you. He might be our father, but we’ve never been blind to his flaws. He hasn’t exactly been a one-woman man.”

  That was an understatement! Benjamin Ballou had a habit of going from woman to woman. It was highly unlikely he would stick with their mother for the long haul. And her heart would be crushed.

  “I know you have my best interest at heart, lovelies. But the last time I checked, this is my life. I never stopped loving your father. And clearly, he still has feelings for me.” Rosalie met their gazes head-on, as if daring either one of them to argue her point.

  Eden let out an indelicate snort. “Mama, it seems as if you don’t want to listen to reason. So all I can say is be happy.”

  Georgia reached under the table and squeezed Eden’s hand for support. She knew how difficult it was for her sister to wish her mother well when they both knew that things were going to implode in a few weeks.

  “Ditto to what Eden said, Mama. Be happy,” Georgia said. Unexpectedly, tears blurred her vision. She wanted happiness for her mother, but she knew her father wasn’t going to be the man to give it to her. Why did it seem as if love brought nothing but pain? For the life of her she couldn’t think of many couples who were blissfully in love.

  After Rosalie had left for the evening, Georgia and Eden sat in the living room and dissected their mother’s announcement.

  “Can you believe it?” Georgia asked. “I wonder how this all came about. I thought daddy was seeing someone.”

  “As if that’s ever mattered.” Eden threw her hands in the air. “What is in the drinking water in Hope Valley? I think everyone has gone a bit crazy with the exception of yours truly. Kit’s marriage is in the dumpster. You’re all goo goo eyes over the guy who dumped you. And our mother is dating her cheating ex-husband.”

  “You forgot to mention Max Stone,” Georgia said, smiling at her sister. For some reason Max got under Eden’s skin like no other.

  “He’s not relevant to this conversation,” Eden said in a clipped tone.

  “I think he is,” Georgia said. She pointed at the bouquet of white roses sitting on the side table. “Those roses were from Max, weren’t they?” Georgia asked. “You didn’t say who sent them, but clearly it was somebody who has money to burn and is very fond of you. All roads lead to Max.”

  Eden dismissively waved a hand in the air. “Flowers mean nothing in the scheme of things.”

  “But you kept them, didn’t you?” Georgia asked.

  Eden let out a groan and stood up, then stormed over toward the flowers. She plucked them from their vase and marched over to the trash where she unceremoniously dumped them in. “There! Is that proof enough that I do not have feelings for Max Stone?” With a groan of annoyance, Eden stormed out of the kitchen and stomped upstairs.

  Georgia sat back in her chair and let out a huff of aggravation. There really was something in the water in Hope Valley. Everyone seemed to be on the verge of losing it. Eden. Mama. Kit. She shook her head. All things considered, she was doing pretty well for herself. At least she wasn’t dating an ex like Mama. Once again, Riley’s handsome face flashed before her eyes. She shut her eyes tightly, but his image wouldn’t disappear.

  Who was she kidding? Riley Somers wasn’t going anywhere, especially now that he might be moving back to Hope Valley. Riley was still firmly entrenched in her heart. She had no business shaking her head at Mama regarding her decision to date her ex-husband, Georgia’s own father. She was no better, silently pining away for Riley.

  That night as Georgia drifted off to sleep she began to toss and turn. It had been an eventful day. The news about her mother reuniting with her father was weighing heavily on her heart. Georgia didn’t trust her father as far as she could throw him. Benjamin Ballou was her father and she would always love him, but he couldn’t be trusted with her mother’s heart. Rosalie was a romantic at heart, much like Georgia herself. But there was nothing she could do to stop it. Mama would have to make her own decisions about her romantic future. All she could do was pray on it.

  Chapter Six

  There was nothing quite like a bake sale at Hope Valley Church, Riley reckoned. As he walked around the room, he was stopped frequently by a friend or acq
uaintance welcoming him back to town. He had to admit it felt nice to be treated with such graciousness. Although living in upstate New York was lovely, he wasn’t one of their own. They didn’t really know him or Aidan. He missed being part of the fabric of Hope Valley.

  The church bake sale was an annual fundraising tradition he enjoyed tremendously. Where else could a person find themselves surrounded by baked goods being sold for a good cause? Everything smelled delectable. Treats were scattered on tables throughout the fellowship hall. The scent of chocolate and cinnamon wafted in the air. Children were running around clutching treats in their hands. Aidan would have loved this event if he wasn’t battling a cold.

  He looked across the crowded room and spotted Georgia manning a table. Even in a room filled to capacity with parishioners, he would have spotted Georgia in a heartbeat. The very sight of her caused a tightening sensation in his chest. She was wearing a bright yellow shirt with a candy red skirt. Even if she hadn’t been wearing the brightest colors in the rainbow, Georgia still would have shined like a beacon.

  “Hi, Riley,” Georgia said. “Where’s your little partner in crime?”

  “He has a little cold. Mama wanted to stay home with him. She’s missing being around her grandson.”

  “Aww. I hope he feels better.”

  “He’s a trooper. And what I’ve discovered is that kids are resilient,” Riley said. “He’ll bounce back in a few days.”

  “I’m happy to hear it,” Georgia said.

  “Wow. Your lemon bars are almost sold out,” Riley said, surveying the nearly empty platters in front of Georgia. “I’ll buy the rest of them.”

  “Oh, that would be awesome. Thanks so much. Sales today have been terrific.” He loved the way her face lit up with joy. It had always been the simple things that meant the most to Georgia. He would have bought a thousand of her lemon bars if only to see her smile like this.

  He watched as she bagged up the lemon bars. Riley could almost taste them melting in his mouth.

  “And the sale is almost over, isn’t it?” Riley asked, looking around him at some of the sellers who were packing up their items.

  “Just about,” Georgia said with a quick glance at her watch. She smiled at him. “And thanks to you, I have nothing to pack up but the containers.”

  “Happy to help,” Riley said.

  “I’m glad you came by. Hope Valley hasn’t been the same without you.”

  Riley’s heart melted a little bit at Georgia’s sweet sentiment. It was probably the nicest thing she’d said to him since his return. It was a sign that Georgia really was thawing toward him. He cared so very much about what she thought of him.

  “So,” Riley said, “any chance you might like to spend some time with me tomorrow night?”

  Georgia’s mouth hung open. She made a little squeaking sound.

  “Okay, you don’t have to act so surprised. If you want to say no, go ahead. I know we have a lot of water under the bridge, but the truth is, I’ve missed you. I’d like to spend some time with you.” He shifted from one foot to another. Suddenly, he was regretting being so impulsive. What if she completely shot him down?

  Georgia grinned at him. “I’d love to spend some time with you, Riley. What were you thinking?”

  “I have tickets to the opera concert tomorrow night at the Grand. I figured we could grab dinner then attend the concert. Sound good?” He was holding his breath waiting for her response. All he wanted to do was spend a little time with her. Georgia Ballou was like food for the soul.

  “Sounds good to me,” Georgia said. “I better pack up and give my proceeds to Maggie. We’re hoping to make a record amount for a church bake sale.”

  “I hope you meet your goal. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six,” Riley said with a nod.

  Riley practically skipped out of the church hall. He’d followed his instincts and asked Georgia out. And she’d said yes. If he wasn’t afraid of looking like an idiot, he might just be tempted to jump up in the air in triumph. Instead he decided to thank the Lord for giving him favor with Georgia. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so joyful about something. Or someone.

  Maybe, just maybe, this feeling would last.

  **

  The following day, Georgia’s heart and mind was still consumed by Riley. Georgia couldn’t believe he’d asked her out or that she had agreed to go out with him. She felt like twirling around in circles like a ballerina. Although she’d been aware of romantic tension hovering in the air between them every time they were in each other’s orbit, she hadn’t allowed herself to think that they might pick up where they’d left off.

  Was it even possible? Or was she setting herself up for another fall? Could she go on this one date with Riley and not allow herself to get caught up in the past? Could she put her feelings on ice? She shouldn’t get her hopes up.

  A quick glance at her watch caused her to put some pep in her step. Riley would be here in an hour to pick her up and she still needed to pick out an outfit and fix her hair and makeup. She pulled open her closet doors and took a look inside at her wardrobe. Finally, she pulled out a white silk blouse and a black skirt. Simple yet classic. She placed a jade necklace around her neck as a finishing touch along with a pair of matching earrings. Since they were going to the opera, she wanted to jazz up her outfit a little bit.

  Thankfully, Eden was going out tonight with friends. Georgia didn’t want to have to explain the fact that she was going out with Riley this evening. It was cowardly of her, but she wanted to avoid conflict with her sister for as long as possible. Eden happened to be the most opinionated person she’d ever known. And after all the complaining Georgia had done about Riley after their break-up, she really couldn’t blame her sister if she had a problem with him.

  When Riley arrived to pick her up, Georgia was ready to go. Riley stood at her doorstep with a grin on his face and a bouquet of wild flowers in his hand. The flowers made Georgia smile. It had been a ritual for Riley to bring her a bunch of wild flowers every week. It brought her back to what they’d meant to each other when they were an item. No one had ever made her feel more appreciated and loved.

  “You look great, Georgia,” Riley said, his eyes roaming over her face and figure.

  “Thank you. You look pretty nice yourself,” she said, taking in his gray suit jacket, the crisp white shirt and dark slacks.

  They soon fell into familiar rhythms. In many ways, it felt as if no time at all had passed since they had been together as a couple. Although Georgia knew this didn’t mean they were back together, she had to admit it felt really nice to be in Riley’s company. Riley had made reservations at a new farm to table restaurant in town called Farmer’s Table. Although the food was delicious, Georgia found herself occupied by Riley’s presence. She felt slight jitters as if they were on a first date. At the same time, Georgia felt completely at home. Whenever he talked about Aidan his entire face lit up with joy. Georgia got a kick out of hearing about the little boy’s antics. She felt slightly ashamed of herself for being so outraged by his existence when she’d been blindsided at Libby’s funeral.

  When it came to children, God didn’t make any mistakes. They were all blessings from above.

  Once they arrived at the Grand Theater, Georgia and Riley received plenty of curious stares from the townsfolk. She couldn’t help but notice a few of her mother’s friends as they glanced at her and Riley, then nudged each other and engaged in loud whispers. At this rate, her mother was going to hear about her date with Riley before she was able to tell her, courtesy of the town mavens.

  Riley bent down and whispered in her ear. “I think we’re the talk of the town.”

  Georgia let out a groan. “You just increased their gossiping ten-fold by whispering in my ear.” People were now blatantly gawking at them.

  “Aww. Let ‘em talk. That’s the rule of law in small towns.” He made a face. “Trust me. I’m already the subject of their gossip.”

  Having hea
rd some of the gossip herself about Riley, Georgia knew it had to do with the fact that he’d returned to Hope Valley with a child, no wedding ring and no wife. Georgia knew the townsfolk were good people, but there was a tendency to engage in gossip. And since Riley was one of the most eligible bachelors Hope Valley had ever seen, he was bound to be the subject of flapping lips.

  Riley met her gaze. “I assume by your silence you’ve heard the whispers.”

  Georgia nodded. “I have. And you’re right. Who cares?” she said in a flippant tone. She tucked her arm through his and said, “As they say, let’s give ‘em something to really talk about.”

  Riley winked at her. “I like your style, Georgia Ballou. Let’s go find our seats.”

  As she walked arm and arm with Riley toward their seats, Georgia made a point to smile and say hello to everyone she walked past. If they wanted a show she would give them one, Georgia thought with a giggle.

  For the next two hours Georgia was entranced by the world of nobleman Don Giovanni. The costumes and the actors and the singing transported her to another place and time. After the performance ended, they headed outside to the parking lot across the street where Riley had parked.

  A full moon sat in a velvet sky. The Colorado air was fresh and clean. It was a beautiful night in Hope Valley. The possibilities were endless.

  “Would you like to go to the diner for dessert?” Riley asked.

  “Hey. Why don’t you come back to my house for some peach cobbler? I just made it this afternoon and it’s pretty amazing if I do say so myself.”

  “You really are trying to fatten me up, aren’t you? Peach cobbler is my favorite.”

  “I know,” Georgia said with a grin. “Years ago I learned to make it because I knew you loved it. I wanted to impress you.” She wrinkled her nose. “Pretty cheesy of me, huh?”

  “It’s not cheesy at all, Georgia,” Riley said, reaching out and grazing his palm across her cheek. They locked gazes. Something sparked between them. Chills popped up on Georgia’s arms.