Violet's Valentine (Love in Holiday Junction #1)

by Tami Franklin

  “Why do you say that?” Liam asked. “You had a dream. You went after it. Maybe it didn't work out quite how you hoped—”

  Vi snorted. “That's putting it mildly.”

  “—but you're still using your gifts to make the world a better place,” he said, nodding firmly.

  She fiddled with her earring, scrutinizing his face. “You make it sound so noble.”

  “Teaching is noble,” he replied. “And it's not easy, I know that.” Liam's mom had taught history at the high school until she retired. She'd taught Vi, and all of her friends, at one point or another.

  “No, it's not,” Vi said, looking out at the water wheel again. “It's just not how I saw my life turning out, you know?”

  “You thought you'd be a star,” he said, and there was no mocking edge to his voice. “We all did.”

  She tilted her head, studying him. “You did, too?”

  Liam sighed and smoothed his napkin over his lap. “Of course. You were so—” He searched for a word and evidently couldn't find it, so he shrugged.

  “I thought we'd go to college. You'd become a big star. I'd become a lawyer—”

  “Two out of three ain't bad,” Vi muttered.

  “Then I thought we'd get married,” he admitted. “Eventually. And have a family.”

  And didn't that make Violet feel like the scum on the bottom of her shoe. “I'm sorry,” she said. “For how I—” She shook her head. “I hurt you and it was wrong. I feel terrible about it and I'm so sorry.”

  Liam gave her a small smile. “It was a long time ago. I got over it.”

  “I know . . . I'm sure you did.” Vi bowed her head for a moment, the guilt still eating at her. Then she looked up. “But I need you to know I am sorry.”

  “It's okay.” Liam looked up as the waitress approached and set their plates before them.

  “I tell you what,” he said. “If you want to make it up to me, let me try one of those tomatoes.”

  Vi laughed and held out her plate. He plucked off one of the blistered tomatoes and popped it into his mouth, humming appreciatively.

  Vi took a bite herself and had to agree. The meal was simple, but delicious, and they fell into an easy conversation about lighter topics. Liam told her a few stories about college and law school . . . filled her in on what some of their old friends were up to. In return, Vi told him about some of the stranger auditions she'd been on.

  “There was one,” she said, setting down her fork. “It was for a soap—”

  “You auditioned for a soap?” His mouth twisted.

  “Hey, don't judge. A job is a job.”

  His eyes crinkled. “My mistake. Please continue.” He sliced off a piece of steak.

  “Anyway,” she said, “the whole audition was me emoting to the camera. They didn't want me to say a word. I was just supposed to look at the camera and be angry! Be frustrated! Be conniving!”

  Liam wiped his mouth and set his napkin on the table. “Okay, I have to see this. Be conniving.”

  “No!” She laughed, covering her face with a hand.

  “Come on. I want to see it. Show me your talent!”

  “Okay, okay . . .” Vi forced down giggles, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

  “Is that it?” Liam asked.

  “No!” Her eyes flew open. “I'm centering myself to get into character.”

  Liam's lips twitched. “Oh, sorry.”

  “If you don't want to see it—”

  “No, no! I do. I promise, I'll be quiet.” He mimed zipping his lips and Vi fought back another giggle.

  She was a professional, after all.

  Vi closed her eyes again and took a breath, then opened them and did her best conniving—an evil smile, arched eyebrow and hands rubbing together gleefully.

  Liam burst out laughing. “I have to say that is the best conniving I've ever seen.”

  Vi did a little bow at the table. “Thank you. That'll be twenty bucks.”

  “What?”

  She leaned forward, eyeing him seriously. “You don't think I perform for free, do you?”

  He shrugged and reached for his wallet, but she waved him off, laughing.

  “That one's on the house,” she said. “Besides, you're driving tomorrow, so we'll call it a wash.”

  Liam laughed, and Vi felt a sudden rush of relief. She had been so nervous about tonight, but it was turning out fine. Liam hadn't changed. He was exactly the same—handsome, smart, kind. Being with him was like going back in time, in a way. They had so many shared experiences, common memories, and being with him was comforting because of that.

  As they shared a piece of decadent chocolate cake, Vi made a decision. She and Liam were right for each other, she was sure of it. And Violet was going to do whatever it took to make sure he knew it, too.

  Kade couldn't sit still Friday night. He felt fidgety and anxious and couldn't figure out why.

  He tried to correct papers, but his mind kept wandering. He got up to get something to eat, but nothing sounded good. He flipped on the TV but couldn't find anything interesting. He walked from room to room, not even bothering to turn on the lights, lost in thought.

  Kade sighed as he looked out the living room window for the hundredth time, his gaze drifting to the driveway next door.

  Again.

  What was wrong with him? Ever since the meeting with Vi that afternoon, he'd been on edge. As a matter of fact, now that he thought about it, it'd been longer than that.

  Ever since he first spotted her in the driveway, and she’d yanked that suitcase out of the car, her clothes scattering everywhere.

  With a huff of frustration, he grabbed his jacket and keys and headed out to the car. He couldn't stand waiting around for Vi to get home from her date—there was no pretending that wasn't exactly what he was doing. So, he'd go for a drive and try to get his mind off things, maybe stop for coffee or ice cream.

  In the end, he just drove around town aimlessly, his eye catching on every SUV that looked like Liam Durant's. Was that them at the diner? No, he would have taken her somewhere nicer. Maybe The Mill or even somewhere in the city.

  In the end, he parked in front of McKenna's, annoyed with himself for acting like a crazy stalker. There was only about a half an hour before the shop closed, and it was empty except for Lena, elbows on the counter as she played on her phone. The perfect spot for Kade to drown his sorrows in a hot fudge sundae.

  “Hey!” Lena said, straightening. “How's it going?” She arched her neck, looking behind him. “Where's Vi?”

  “We're not joined at the hip,” he groused.

  “Ouch, okay.” She held up her hands. “Didn't mean to poke a nerve.”

  Kade sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. “You didn't. Sorry. Just a little tired, I guess.”

  “Mmm hmm,” she said, nodding slowly. “What can I get you?”

  He got up onto a barstool and tapped his fingers on the counter. “Hot fudge sundae. Double scoop of chocolate peanut butter. Extra whipped cream, please.”

  Lena scooped the ice cream silently, topping it with a good dose of hot fudge, and squirted whipped cream until he nodded that it was enough. She slid it across the counter to him, along with a napkin and spoon. “Want to talk about it?” She wiped down the counter, waiting.

  He shrugged. “Nothing to talk about.” He took a bite of the sundae and nodded. “That's the ticket.”

  “Good?”

  Kade took another bite. “Awesome.”

  Lena didn't press him to talk. It wasn't her style. Instead, she worked quietly, cleaning up dishes and polishing the glasses. Still, it only took a few minutes for Kade to buckle.

  “She's out with Liam,” he said, licking his spoon.

  “What?” She paused, holding her rag in mid-air. “Who?”

  “Vi,” he said. “She's out on a date with Liam.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” he huffed out a laugh. “Why do you think, why? Because they're perfect for
each other, obviously.” He stabbed at his ice cream and took an extra-large bite, wincing at the brain freeze.

  “But—” She tossed the rag in the sink. “I though she and you . . .”

  His brow lifted. “She and me . . .” He gestured for her to continue.

  “You know.” She propped her fists on her hips. “I thought you and Vi finally figured things out.”

  He studied her carefully. “Figured what out, exactly?”

  Lena rolled her eyes. “That you are perfect for each other, obviously,” she said, mimicking his tone.

  He laughed. “Right.” He scooped up the rest of the melted ice cream in the bottom of his bowl. “Vi's head over heels for Liam.”

  “But that doesn't make any—She told me—” Lena stammered.

  “What did she tell you?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Maybe I misunderstood,” she said, leaning her elbows on the counter, her brow creased. “So . . . she's dating Liam? Again?”

  “Go figure, right?” he muttered. “Welcome back to high school.”

  “And you haven't told her?”

  He eyed her sideways. “Told her what?”

  “That you're crazy about her!”

  “Don't be dumb. We’re friends.” He shoved the empty bowl toward Lena. “I just want her to be happy.”

  “Huh,” she said, taking the bowl and heading over to the sink.

  “What's that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing,” she said airily.

  “Lena . . .”

  “Kade . . .”

  He scoffed. “Oh, real mature.”

  Lena wiped her hands on a towel and turned to face him. “All I'm saying is it's obvious to anyone with eyes that you have more-than-best-friends feelings about Violet Chalmers. You always have.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, but Lena's eyebrows shot up in challenge, and he opted for another route.

  “Okay, maybe that was true in high school, but I got over it,” he said. When she kept staring at him, he huffed. “I did! And now—” Now what? He thought he had this all figured out, but now Lena had him questioning himself.

  “Look, even if that was true—and I'm not saying it is,” he said, holding up a finger. “It doesn't matter. I'm Vi's friend. She'll always see me as her friend. Nothing more.”

  “I'm not sure that's—”

  “It's the way it is,” Kade said firmly. “She's out on a date with Liam. He's who she wants. There's nothing more to say about it.”

  He got up from the stool and reached for his wallet. “I should let you close up. Here—” He tossed a few bills onto the counter. “Keep the change.”

  “Thanks.” She picked up the money and put it in her pocket. “But Kade, can I say just one more thing?”

  He fought the urge to sigh dramatically, but he waved for her to continue.

  Lena swiped an errant strand of hair out of her face. “You have a lot of opinions about what Violet wants. What she thinks. But I wonder—have you ever actually asked her?”

  “That's—”

  She held up a hand to stop him from speaking. “You spent a good part of high school pining over that girl, and she never had the slightest idea. I'm pretty sure she still doesn't.” Lena leaned forward onto the counter. “If you let that happen again, it's all on you.”

  “But Liam—”

  “She's gone on one date with Liam,” she said. “One date. That's hardly a committed relationship.”

  Kade didn't respond, so she rounded the counter and faced him, putting her hands on his shoulders. “It's not too late yet. But if you don't man up, it might be soon.” She smacked his shoulders once. “Think about it?”

  Kade nodded. “Okay. Maybe.”

  “That's all I ask.” She grabbed the towel and started wiping down tables. “Now get out of here so I can go home, okay?”

  “Yeah. Thanks.” He shot her a wave and walked out to his car, his head spinning.

  Did he have feelings for Vi? Feelings more than a friend? And if he did—which he was beginning to admit he did—what in the world was he going to do about it?

  Saturday morning, Lou sat on a stool in the kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee. Vi was upstairs getting ready to drive to the city with Liam, and Lou felt a bit . . . ambivalent about it.

  It wasn't that she didn't like Liam. She did. She always had. And when she saw him with Vi, they did seem like a lovely couple.

  But—

  But then she'd see Vi with Kade, and she began to wonder if maybe there might be a better choice.

  Lou sighed. Sometimes this matchmaking stuff was stressful.

  She got up at a knock on the door and crossed the living room, sipping her coffee.

  “Can you get that, Mom?” Vi called from upstairs. “I need a few more minutes.”

  Lou opened the door, surprised to find Kade standing on the front porch, his hands in his pockets as he shifted nervously on his feet. “Hey, Lou. Is Vi around?”

  Well, this could get interesting.

  “She's upstairs getting dressed,” Lou replied, stepping back. “Come on in. You want some coffee?”

  “Um.” He licked his lips and shot a glance toward the stairs. “Sure. Coffee'd be great. Thanks.”

  He took a seat at the breakfast bar as Lou poured him a cup and waved off her offer of cream and sugar. She handed it to him and took a seat next to him.

  “So, how are things?” she asked.

  “Things are good.” Kade spun his cup around on the counter slowly. “How are things with you?”

  “Oh, fine,” she said. “Anne and Mandy are coming by. We may go to brunch at The Mill.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “It's a great place,” she said, watching him carefully. “Liam took Vi there last night, you know. She said it was delicious.”

  She watched as Kade stared into his cup, his jaw clenching. Interesting.

  “That so,” he said flatly.

  “Oh yeah, she had the chocolate cake. Have you tried it yet?”

  “Can't say that I have.”

  Was it wrong that she was having fun with this?

  “Well, it's delicious,” she said. “There's a hazelnut filling and this buttercream that's just— Well, it's incredible.”

  “I'll have to try it sometime.” He gulped the coffee, then winced, sucking in air.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, patting his back.

  “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “Hotter than I thought.”

  She hummed in acknowledgment but said nothing more. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, waiting . . .

  5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . .

  Kade cleared his throat, and Lou nearly laughed out loud. She didn't even get to two.

  “So, she had a good time?” he asked, not meeting her eyes. “With Liam?”

  “What?” Lou paused with her cup at her lips, then set it down. “Oh, yes, she did. I'm sure it was nice for them to get reacquainted.”

  “Uh huh.” He took another sip, a bit more carefully. “Did she—” The doorbell rang, cutting him off.

  “That should be Liam now,” Lou said with a sunny smile. She walked out to the living room, aware of Kade right behind her. Violet was already coming down the stairs, and they all met at the door.

  Lou could swear her life was better than a soap opera.

  Vi opened the door, and Liam gave her a bright smile . . . a smile which fell slightly when he spotted Kade.

  “Hi!” Vi said, stepping back. “Come on in. I just need to grab a cup of coffee to go. You want one?”

  Liam entered and shut the door behind him. “No, thanks. I have some in the car.”

  Vi nodded and headed back to the kitchen, leaving Liam, Kade, and Lou standing in a loose circle, the men looking anywhere but at each other, tension thick in the air.

  “So,” Lou said brightly, only to be interrupted again by the doorbell. She laughed. “It's like Grand Central Station around here.”

  Anne and Man
dy were waiting on the porch when she opened the door, and she waved them in, widening her eyes in what she hoped was a significant look.

  “What are you—oh!” Mandy stopped in the entry when she spotted Liam and Kade. “You have company.” She smiled widely. “Good morning, boys.”

  “Morning,” they both muttered, as Vi returned from the kitchen.

  “Well, hi!” she said brightly. “You ladies have big plans?”

  “Just brunch,” Anne replied. “But I'd much rather hear about your plans.” She cast a significant glance toward Liam and Kade, and Lou fought the urge to roll her eyes.

  Honestly, her friends were so obvious sometimes.

  “Well, Liam and I are headed to the city to pick up decorations for the ball,” Vi said, slipping into her coat. “I'm not sure what Kade's doing here.” She wrinkled her nose at him and he stuck out his tongue.

  “I've come to sweep Lou off her feet, obviously,” Kade said, throwing his arm over Lou's shoulders.

  “Eeww!” Vi made a face. “That's my mom you're talking about!”

  “Don't be ridiculous,” Lou said, laughing as she shoved Kade away. He grinned but stilled when he noticed Vi watching.

  “I came by to talk to you about something,” Kade said. He flicked a glance toward Liam. “But it can wait.”

  Vi wrapped a scarf around her neck. “You sure?”

  He shrugged. “Yeah. It's nothing urgent.”

  “Okay.” She turned to smile at Liam. “You ready to hit the big city?”

  “I am if you are.” He opened the door, holding it for her.

  “See you all later,” Vi said over her shoulder as she walked out of the house. Liam closed the door and Lou could see him following Vi down the front steps through the side window. Then she realized she wasn't the only one watching.

  Kade stood turned toward the living room window, a frown on his face.

  “Kade, are you all right?” Lou asked.

  He startled, then ran his hands through his hair. “Me? Sure, I'm fine.” He walked over and reached for the door himself. “I should go. You ladies have a nice brunch.” He was out and gone before any of them could respond.

  “Well, that was something,” Anne said.

  They all peered out the window as Liam and Vi drove away, and Kade stopped, watching them go.