Summer's Belle

by Paige Winship Dooly

  ❧

  Matt’s lighthearted mood had evaporated the moment his father had overturned Brit’s probation. He couldn’t explain his change in disposition, even to himself, but Britney had certainly noticed.

  It wasn’t that he wanted her to be on probation. But probation guaranteed that she’d be around for the better part of the summer. He’d been busy at work and hadn’t had much time with her this week, but now that he did have time, she was free to go. She could move on, and he might never see her again. He didn’t know why the thought rankled, but it did. She’d looked confused at the café when he blurted that he wasn’t interested in a relationship. It wasn’t like she was throwing herself at him or anything. He’d regretted the comment the moment it cleared his lips, and now he might never have a chance to tell Brit he’d changed his mind. He focused his glower on his father, who had the audacity to grin back.

  They neared the island, and Matt swung over the side and dropped into the shallow water. He tugged the bow of the vessel ashore. His father dropped the anchor to keep the boat from drifting, and Matt helped everyone down. The little kids instantly splashed through the water, and Allie offered to watch them. She, too, sent Matt a peculiar, knowing look.

  “Jim, I could use your help over here with the picnic hamper,” Ethel said. She winked at Matt.

  Brit hurried over to help.

  Ethel shooed her away. “You’ve worked hard enough. Matt? Why don’t you take Brit on a walk, show her the island. She needs a break, and if you don’t get her out of here, she’ll be rearranging everything around our space.”

  “I’m not that bad!” Brit laughed. She turned to Matt. “You don’t have to entertain me. I’ll be fine.”

  Matt took advantage of the moment. “No. Aunt Ethel has spoken. I know better than to defy her. C’mon.”

  He felt a rush of relief. Their families might not have been subtle about their intentions, but Brit seemed oblivious to the forced situation, and Matt had a chance to be alone with her. He wasn’t going to miss the opportunity. Thanks to his dad, he couldn’t sit on his laurels anymore. He had to jump into action. “So I guess you’re free now.”

  “It appears that way, yes.” Brit smiled, and he felt guilty that something that brought her such peace caused him to be grumpy and resentful. He knew better. He wanted the best for Britney, and it was his fault she’d been in that situation in the first place. He could have let her go with a warning after hearing her explanation.

  “I’m sorry you had to start out here on a bad foot because of me. I was overzealous with that ticket.”

  “Not really. You did what you felt was right, and I did pull in last minute.”

  “Yes, but still. . .I could have listened and saved you a lot of embarrassment.”

  Brit stopped walking. “I’m fine with it, Matt. Everyone knows what happened, and they seem to have accepted me just fine. Caleb has done a wonderful job in downplaying the situation with everyone we’ve met.”

  Matt’s jealousy meter went up a notch. He started walking again. “Oh. I didn’t realize you two were out and about meeting people. Have you been spending a lot of time together?”

  “Quite a bit, yes. We’ve had to go over a lot of paperwork and details for the festival’s fund-raiser. He’s been really helpful to me.”

  “Helpful, huh?”

  “Yes.”

  Brit’s calm presence was wreaking havoc on Matt’s concentration, but she seemed completely at ease with him. He’d have felt better if she’d gone all stuttery and nervous in his presence. He couldn’t put his finger on what had changed. He couldn’t pinpoint when it had become so important to him to catch her attention. He’d enjoyed working with her the previous Tuesday. The more they’d been apart as the week had progressed, the more he’d missed her. Meanwhile, she’d been busy with Caleb. Or Caleb had been busy with her.

  “You like the guy?” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts, trying to look nonchalant.

  She laughed. “Of course I do! I couldn’t have made the progress I have without him. He’s made sure to be accessible every time I’ve needed him.”

  I just bet he has. What about the progress she’d made because of Matt? He’d been accessible, too. Or had he been? The first day he’d had her to himself he’d drawn a line in the sand. What an idiot.

  “Well, now that you’re free, will you, um, do you think you’ll, uh. . .” He didn’t know how to ask if she’d skip town without sounding interested.

  “Matt? I’ve never seen you at a loss for words.”

  He mentally kicked himself. There he went again! What did it matter if he sounded interested? He was interested! “Now that you’re free, will you be moving on?”

  Her eyes softened. “I don’t know. Your dad just gave me my walking papers. I haven’t thought it through. Do you want me to move on?”

  They’d rounded a bend and had reached the south side of the island. Everyone else remained out of sight on the west side. He walked over to the water and started flipping rocks over with the toe of his tennis shoe.

  Brit came up beside him. “Matt, what is it? You were in such a good mood when you came over to Gram’s, and then your whole demeanor changed. Was it something I did? Something I said?”

  “No.”

  “Then what?”

  “I know I haven’t known you very long. You probably hate me for causing you so much trouble.”

  “What are you trying to say, Matt?”

  “It doesn’t really matter. If you and Caleb have a relationship brewing—he’s a good friend, and I don’t want to mess with that.”

  “Me and Caleb?”

  Brit touched his arm, and Matt turned to her.

  “I’d like to say Caleb and I are friends, Matt, but I barely know him well enough to say for sure.”

  He grinned.

  She shook her head, baffled. “That makes you happy?”

  “Very happy.”

  “You don’t want Caleb and I to be friends?”

  “I’d love for you to be friends.”

  “You’ve lost me.”

  “I want you to be friends with Caleb. He’s a really nice guy.”

  “Why would you think we were any more than that? He’s quite a bit older than me.”

  “Lots of men date younger women.”

  “Do you?”

  At twenty-eight, he wasn’t that much older. “I. . .”

  “You have to think about it?”

  “It’s not relevant.”

  “I’ve never seen you like this.”

  Matt hadn’t ever seen himself like this either. “I think it would be really nice if you stayed here. A lot of people are counting on you to finish out your obligations. I’d love it if you stayed to finish out the summer.”

  “I’d like to stay.” A strand of Brit’s dark hair blew free from her ponytail and blew across her face. She tucked it behind her ear. Ears that were adorned with tiny gold hoop earrings. “I don’t want to leave the kids. I like it here. But I need to find a job.”

  “What if we talk to Caleb and see if he can put you on staff? We need to hire a director for the pregnancy center. They might as well start with you. I mean, as long as you’re willing to stay.”

  “Do you think he would?” Excitement danced in her eyes.

  “I can’t think of anyone who’s better suited.”

  “Oh Matt, that’s a wonderful idea. Thank you!”

  He started to tell her to hold off on the gratitude until they’d talked to Caleb, but before he had a chance, she threw her arms around his neck. He figured it would be completely inconsiderate of him to dampen her enthusiasm. He returned her hug and relished the feel of her in his arms. She pulled back and smiled up at him. He smiled back, and something changed in her eyes. Awareness. Interest. Anticipation.

  He leaned down. She closed her eyes. He brushed her lips with his. She lowered her head and rested her cheek against his T-shirt. She felt so right in his arms. “What just h
appened?”

  He could barely make out her words. “You threw yourself into my arms, and then I think we kissed.”

  “I didn’t throw myself into your arms!” She pushed away and slapped at his chest. Embarrassment and laughter danced in her eyes. “And you think we kissed? Weren’t you there with me?”

  He didn’t let her go. She relaxed back into his arms but turned to face the water. He rested his chin on her head. The sweet scent of a flowery shampoo filled his senses. After a few moments of silence, she tilted her head to look up at him. “You told me you aren’t interested in a relationship.”

  “A little kiss doesn’t make a relationship.”

  She elbowed him.

  “Ouch. You didn’t tell me you could be this mean.”

  “I’m not being mean. And a kiss, little or not, leans more in the direction of moving toward a relationship than it does toward moving away from one. And you insinuated wanting nothing to do with relationships. Your kiss says otherwise.”

  “Huh?” She’d thoroughly confused him. “Remind me not to get into arguments with you.”

  “So what changed your mind?”

  “You mentioned spending time with Caleb.”

  “And that changed things?” She looked up at him. Her amused grin had him blushing. “Am I sensing some jealousy here?”

  “Not anymore.”

  She laughed out loud and moved away.

  He wanted to pull her back.

  “So you want me to stay?”

  “I do.”

  “Why?”

  “I think we might need to spend some more time exploring the differences between moving toward a relationship versus moving away from one.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes.” He took a step forward, wanting one more taste of her soft lips. Wanting one more whiff of that flowery perfection.

  She stepped back. “No more being grumpy?”

  “I wasn’t grumpy.” He moved closer.

  “I imagined the black cloud that suddenly passed over the boat?”

  “Must have.”

  “Nope. I didn’t.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “If I let you win, do I get a reward?”

  One step closer and they stood toe-to-toe.

  She looked nervous and moistened her lips. “You aren’t letting me win when I’m right to begin with.”

  “Can’t you let me go down with a little pride?”

  “I suppose.” Her smile widened, and her dimple deepened.

  He leaned in and claimed his kiss.

  Sixteen

  Four days later, Brit sat with Allie on the front-porch swing. Matt had promised to stop by for lunch. The past few days since they’d gone out on the boat had been some of the best days of her life. They planned to make the Saturday event a weekly routine, and Brit couldn’t wait for the next trip. Three more days.

  Brit forced her attention back to her sister. Allie was unusually quiet as she twirled her hair with her index finger. “If I tell you something, Brit, will you promise not to get mad?”

  “Why would I get mad?”

  “You aren’t going to like what I’m about to say, but I need to get it off my chest. I just hope you’ll understand and won’t think less of me.”

  Brit shifted so she could give her younger sister her full attention. She leaned her back against the swing’s armrest and wrapped her arms around her knees. “You can’t tell me anything that’ll make me think less of you, Al. You should know that.”

  “This is pretty awful.”

  “We’ve already covered the pregnancy surprise. Did that make me love you any less?”

  “I certainly hope not!” Allie’s eyebrows raised in alarm.

  “It didn’t.” She reached out and took Allie’s hand. “I think if we made it through that, I can handle just about anything you have to tell me. Nothing you do will ever change the love I feel for you. We’re sisters.”

  “This is different. It’s pretty awful.”

  “Out with it.”

  “When I first found out I was pregnant, I made arrangements to have an abortion.” This time Allie’s tears were tears of devastation. She spoke between sobs. “I didn’t want you to know. I knew you’d be so disappointed.”

  “Oh Allie.” Brit scooted across the swing and held her sister close. “I’m so sorry you felt you had no other choice at that moment.”

  Allie raised her splotchy, tear-stained face. “You aren’t mad?”

  “I’m not even close to mad. I’m so sorry you had to go through such turmoil and pain alone when I wasn’t there for you.”

  “I honestly thought you’d hate me. For what I was considering and for what I’m telling you now.”

  “I’m proud of you, Allie. It took a lot of nerve to tell me what you just told me. And I’m proud you made the right choice and didn’t go through with it.”

  “I just—I couldn’t. I thought I could, but when we got there, I couldn’t even get out of the car. Mike was so mad. He said I had to go in or he’d never talk to me again.”

  “He’s a jerk.”

  “I know that now, but it was hard at the time. Anyway, I had to tell you. I want you to keep the job at the pregnancy center. I don’t want other girls to have to go through what I’ve been going through. I want them to know they have the option to make something good happen out of this situation. Brit, every time I feel my baby move, I realize how close I came to making the wrong choice. The center is really, really important. I want us to stay here and help make it a success. I want to have the support through my pregnancy.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do. We have just under two weeks left to plan the biggest fund-raiser this town has ever seen.”

  “Maybe they’ll be so impressed they’ll ask us to stay on and help after it’s over.”

  “Maybe. Matt mentioned talking to Caleb about trying to keep me on. Stranger things have happened, Allie girl. It depends on the committee. I’m hoping it’ll work out. This summer has been filled with blessings and surprises.”

  “It has.” Allie sniffled. “I love the people here, and I love Gram’s church. I’m learning so much there. I love the town. I want us to stay. Forever.”

  “There are a lot of things to love in this town.”

  “Meaning Matt?”

  “I don’t recall mentioning Matt in that conversation.”

  “I know, but you light up when he’s around. He softens your rough edges.”

  “Now I have rough edges?” Brit threw a pillow at her. It bounced off Allie’s growing belly and rolled across the porch’s plank floor. “Since when did you get so wordy and poetic?”

  Allie shrugged.

  “Speaking of, we need to get you a journal. I want you to start writing down your thoughts and emotions. Anything you want to put in there.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Brit retrieved the pillow and settled back in. She glanced over her shoulder as Matt’s motorcycle pulled into the drive.

  “And there’s your leading man. I guess I’ll go fix my face.”

  Brit caught her hand. “I love you, Allie.”

  “I love you, too, sis. Thanks for everything.” She bent down and gave Brit a hug before she bounced inside. Their talk had obviously taken a load off her shoulders.

  “Hey.” Matt took the steps two at a time and filled Brit’s heart with his presence. He wore all black, the plain-clothes uniform giving him his bad-boy image.

  “Hey back.”

  Matt motioned toward the door. “I didn’t mean to run her off.”

  “You didn’t.” Brit twisted a strand of hair as she contemplated her sister’s confession.

  Matt had been in such a hurry to get to her that he hadn’t taken time to leave his helmet on his bike. She watched as he laid it on a side table. He leaned in to kiss her. She scooted over, and he sat down. He placed his arm on the back of the swing, and she snuggled against him, resting her head on hi
s arm. She curled her bare feet underneath her, and Matt set the swing in motion. “What’s on your mind?”

  “Allie.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “It is now. But I just noticed how far along she is in her pregnancy. She’ll be starting her sixth month by the festival. She needs new clothes. She needs things for the baby. We’re running out of time to prepare.”

  “The ladies at church will throw her a baby shower. She won’t want for anything after they’re done with her.”

  “They do love her, don’t they? She has that effect on everyone.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  Brit closed her eyes and savored the moment of sharing space with Matt. She loved the spicy scent of his cologne. She loved spending time in his company. They swung for a few minutes without speaking, savoring the quiet. Brit knew it wouldn’t last long. Gram had the little kids down by the lake, but once they found out Matt was there, the silence would end.

  “Any ideas on the fund-raiser?”

  “No.”

  “We need to come up with something.”

  “I know.”

  “We’re running out of time for that, too. We need to announce something on Sunday.”

  Britney let her thoughts wander. They returned to Allie. A baby shower would be fun. The event would give Allie something to look forward to, and Brit would feel better knowing the baby’s needs would be provided for. A lightbulb went off in her brain. She sat upright. “A baby shower!”

  Matt looked amused. “Right. That’s what we said. For Allie. I promise I’ll get the women’s ministry on it ASAP.”

  “No. I mean yes—the baby shower for Allie will be great. But I’m talking about the fund-raiser. Why don’t we do the world’s largest baby shower for the fund-raiser theme?”

  Matt nodded. “I like it. How would it work?”

  “We can ask attendees to bring baby supplies in place of entrance fees.”

  “I like that, too. Maybe we can do a raffle. Each item brought gets the donor a ticket. We can go around town and ask for donations from area businesses.”