by Cindy Kirk
The laughter and congratulations abruptly ceased. Her sisters stepped back and exchanged glances. Once again, Jeremy moved to her side, a strong, supportive presence. Though Fin knew he’d willingly step in if she needed him, this was her family.
“Despite that huge rock on your finger, something tells me we’re not going to be toasting your engagement. Not yet, anyway.” Marigold’s light tone didn’t match her watchful gaze.
“Let’s sit.” Their father, Steve, swept an arm wide, gesturing to the assortment of chairs, settees, and the new chaise with its ornately carved legs. “You and Jeremy sit there.”
Steve pointed to a couple of high-backed chairs that someone had brought in from the dining room.
Hot seats, Fin thought, and had to stop herself from reaching for Jeremy’s hand. Instead she cleared her throat and smiled. “That will work.”
As the silence was making her nervous, she turned to Max. “Where are the twins?”
Connor and Callum, two redheaded charmers with loads of spirit, had been six when Prim had married Max. They were such a happy family it was easy to forget he wasn’t the boys’ biological father.
“The twins already had a playdate scheduled with Chris White. When, ah, Jackie and Cory heard we were coming to Ami’s to, ah, celebrate, she offered to have them stay for dinner.” Prim’s cheeks were now as red as her hair.
“A nice pinot. Perfect for any occasion.” Beck returned to the room with a bottle in each hand and a liter of ginger ale tucked under one arm.
Beck had proven to be a good brother-in-law and a considerate husband, always thinking of his wife and her happiness.
Will Xander be like that with me? Fin wondered.
Although the movie director had run somewhat hot and cold in the past six months, Fin told herself she and Xander were a good fit. Every relationship had its ups and downs. On the whole, things were good between them. She didn’t need hearts and flowers like some women.
There had been no point in waiting for some all-consuming passion that would likely burn out before the ink on a marriage certificate dried. Besides, she’d eventually like to have a child or two, and she wasn’t getting any younger.
Beck made quick work of filling the glasses and dispensing them. Fin idly noticed Prim went with ginger ale. Likely so Ami didn’t feel left out. Her accountant sister was considerate like that. Fin, well, right now she wouldn’t mind a shot of whiskey. She’d make do with the wine.
Marigold heaved a heavy sigh. “I wish we had chocolate.”
The fact that Fin’s baby sister was there without her husband meant Sheriff Cade Rallis was on duty this afternoon. Fin never thought she’d see the day when Marigold, hairstylist to the cream of Chicago society, would return to Good Hope to stay.
At one time, not so long ago, Ami had been the only one of the sisters in Good Hope. Now Fin was the only bird who hadn’t flown back to the nest.
She’d always been a big-city girl, Fin reminded herself. Always searching for . . . more.
“Delphinium, I believe it’s time you explained about your engagement.” Steve’s eyes might hold worry, but his smile told Fin he was on her side, no matter what kind of news she shared. His gaze shifted to Jeremy. “I thought you’d have come to me, asked my permission. I realize that’s a bit old-fashioned, but my girls mean a lot to me, and I’m a traditional man.”
When Jeremy opened his mouth to respond, Fin squeezed his hand.
“The situation is, shall we say, complicated.”
“Are you pregnant?” Marigold blurted out.
Fin blinked. Her heart fluttered. “No. Why would you think that?”
“The sudden engagement. All the secrecy.” Marigold gave a shrug. “It’s the only thing that seemed to make sense.”
Pregnant. Fin forced herself to breathe as the image of herself big with Jeremy’s child took shape. The longing that assailed her was sharp enough to bring a stab of pain to her heart and tears to the backs of her lids. But Marigold had sharp eyes. Somehow, Fin maintained her composure and even managed a light tone. “I’ve only been back in town a week.”
“You were back for Marigold’s wedding,” Prim said pointedly. “And Jeremy took a vacation last month.”
“To Naples to visit my parents,” Jeremy explained.
Marigold shot him a saucy smile. “So you said.”
“Fin isn’t engaged to Jeremy.” Ami practically sighed the words. “She’s engaged to Xander.”
“Xander?” Prim and Marigold said in unison.
Fin nodded. “He proposed yesterday.”
“Oh.” Prim exchanged a look with her husband.
“I thought you were going to break up with—” Marigold stopped when Ami slanted her a warning look.
“It was a wonderful surprise.” Fin gazed at her sisters, one at a time, daring them to say different.
Their confusion was totally on her. The last couple of times she’d been in Good Hope, Fin had complained about Xander to any sister who would listen. In February, when she’d made an unexpected trip home, she’d been down on him for canceling their plans to go to St. John. Then, when he’d backed out of his promise to come home with her for Marigold’s wedding, she’d been livid.
If Fin were the blushing type, she’d be blushing now as she recalled all the not-so-complimentary things she’d said about her fiancé during the sisterly get-together before the wedding. Marigold was correct. She had said she was going to break it off with him.
Fin expected Marigold, the most straightforward of the Bloom sisters, to take the lead. The littlest Bloom didn’t disappoint.
“If you’re engaged to Xander, why does Ruby Rakes think you’re engaged to her grandson? And why is Jeremy with you now?” Marigold sipped her wine and studied her older sister through lowered lashes.
“Funny you should ask.” Fin glanced at Jeremy, who offered an encouraging smile. Taking a deep breath, Fin laid it out for her family.
She didn’t omit anything except Xander’s comments to Jeremy.
“Xander is okay with you pretending to be engaged to another man?” Steve asked.
“It was supposed to be only for a couple of days, a week at the longest, until Ruby had her operation and was stable.” Fin glanced at Jeremy.
“My grandmother is scheduled for bypass surgery tomorrow afternoon in Milwaukee.” Jeremy expelled a long breath. “We had it all planned out. Fin wouldn’t wear her ring while in Good Hope, only at the hospital. We were going to inform all of you, then tell Ruby once she was through the surgery and stabilized. Several days, a week at the most. We never thought anyone in Good Hope would hear the news and run with it.”
“We don’t like lying to her,” Fin acknowledged, “but her life is at stake. She saw the ring and immediately said she’d have the surgery. I was the one who suggested to Jeremy that we play along.”
“I agreed.” Jeremy reached over and gave Fin’s hand a squeeze.
Steve took in the gesture, his gaze thoughtful. “I knew about the heart attack but didn’t realize she was still at risk.”
Jeremy cleared his throat. “If she doesn’t get the operation, she’ll die.”
Ami’s hand rose to her throat. “Ohmigoodness.”
“I’ll call Katie Ruth.” Jeremy pulled out his phone. “Explain the situation and ask her to leave the announcement out of the newsletter.”
“Too late.” Marigold held her own phone high. “It’s already gone out. Do you want me to read it to you?”
Expelling a resigned breath, Fin nodded.
“Congratulations to Mayor Jeremy Rakes and Delphinium Bloom on their engagement. While this news may come as a surprise to some Good Hope residents, it doesn’t surprise your editor, a former classmate. Even back in high school, it was apparent these two were meant to be together. Best wishes, Fin and Jeremy!”
“That’s sweet.” Prim’s lips lifted in a soft smile.
“Except it isn’t true,” Marigold, always the practical one, pointed o
ut.
Ami rested her hands on her big belly. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know that we have much choice but to continue the charade.” Fin rubbed the bridge of her nose, where a headache was attempting to form.
Steve’s gaze settled on Jeremy. “You realize the position you’ve put my daughter in. When she goes back to LA and announces her engagement to another man, it will reflect poorly on her.”
“What about Xander?” Marigold sipped her wine. “He can’t be okay with this arrangement.”
“He understands how ill Ruby is and how much she needs this procedure. He has grandparents. He sympathizes. At the time we spoke, we all thought this engagement would be short-lived. Now it appears we’ll have to string it out a little longer to avoid a real mess.” Fin slanted a glance at Jeremy. “If that’s okay with you.”
His eyes never left hers. “Whatever you want to do.”
“How are you going to do it?” Prim asked.
“Do what?”
“Pretend to be in love with one man when you’re in love with another.” Prim glanced at her husband. “I couldn’t pull it off.”
“I’ll think of it as simply playing a part.” Fin slanted a sideways glance. “Jeremy and I acted opposite each other in a lot of high school productions, so I know we can do it.”
“For how long?”
Was it Ami or Prim who’d shot out the question? Did it even matter?
“I suppose until I’m ready to go back to LA.”
Marigold’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you were leaving soon.”
“The town board will reconsider Xander’s proposition at its September meeting.” What had initially seemed so simple had sprouted wings. “Xander has gotten my boss to agree to let me stay here until the vote. I’m going to see if I can present arguments to Eliza and Lynn to sway their vote.”
“I don’t like it.” Ami set down her glass of ginger ale, her eyes troubled. “Though if I’m being totally honest, I love the idea of you being here for the next month. You’ll get to be here when our baby is born.”
Beck, who’d remained standing behind his wife’s chair, rested his hands lightly on her shoulders, massaging lightly.
Ami glanced around the circle. “It’s been my dearest wish to have all of my sisters with me for this joyous occasion. If you go through with this playacting, you’ll be here.”
Fin met her sister’s gaze. “There’s no if about it.”
“You’re a forthright person.” Ami’s eyes softened. “You and Jeremy both have that reputation. Your word has always meant something. Once everyone finds out—”
“No one will ever know.” A muscle in Jeremy’s jaw jumped. “When this is over and Ruby is fully recovered, Fin will break up with me and return to Los Angeles. It will be up to her when to tell everyone about her engagement to Xander. If she wants, she can assert this time with me made her realize how much she loved him.”
Beck gazed thoughtfully at the couple. “That might work.”
“It will work.” Jeremy’s expression remained placid and under tight control, but Fin recognized the determined gleam in his eyes.
“You’ll look like a schmuck.” Marigold lifted her glass. “Just sayin’.”
“Marigold,” Ami shot out.
The youngest Bloom lifted a shoulder, let it fall. “It’s true.”
“It is true.” Jeremy’s lips lifted in a humorless smile. “But I’ll do anything to save my grandmother. Being thought a schmuck is a small price to pay for her life.”
Fin touched his arm. “I’m not going to let you do it. If anyone is going to look like a schmuck, it’ll be me. Your life is here, mine isn’t, not anymore. We’ll have a public blowup where I’ll look like the spoiled, self-centered woman most consider me to be. When I toss the ring at you and head back to Los Angeles, all will be right in your world.”
Jeremy shook his head, the muscle in his jaw jumping. “Not gonna happen that way.”
Fin lifted the wineglass to her lips, her gaze steady on his. “We’ll see about that.”
Tension simmered in the air as her and Jeremy’s gazes locked.
“Since you’re going to be doing all this pretending, how about we start by pretending you’re engaged to Jeremy?”
Marigold’s odd question had Fin breaking the stare-down with Jeremy and turning toward her sister. “What are you talking about?”
“I brought over several bottles of this really good champagne. Ami baked your favorite coconut cake.” Marigold sighed hugely. “We don’t know Xander very well, but we love Jeremy. So let’s kick off your fake engagement by eating a great meal, toasting you two with champagne, and topping it all off with cake.”
Before Fin could respond, Ami rose. “I think that’s a fine idea.”
“I like it, too,” Steve said.
Fin glanced at Jeremy.
He smiled. “I love coconut cake.”
The tension that had gripped Fin since she’d stepped out of the car slid from her shoulders to pool at her feet. “Well then, bring out the champagne, and let’s get this party started.”
Chapter Six
Jeremy pulled into the parking lot of the Sweet Dreams Motel just east of the business district, taking the spot next to Fin’s vehicle. He’d barely stepped from the car when he saw Mavis Rosekrans, the proprietress, hauling a box almost as large as she was.
“Be right back,” he called out to Fin as he sprinted to Mavis’s side.
She was a portly woman, almost as wide as she was tall, with tightly curled gray hair and a ready smile. “Oh, Mr. Mayor, you don’t need—”
The box was already in Jeremy’s hands. Considering its size, it was surprisingly light. He jiggled it. “What’s in here, anyway?”
“Christmas lights.”
“Hello, Mrs. Rosekrans.”
“Delphinium.” The woman’s smile widened farther. “I read the good news just an hour ago. Congratulations.”
“Why, thank you, Mrs. Rosekrans. I’m pretty excited.” Fin held out her ring for the woman’s inspection.
Jeremy was impressed. Fin was an excellent actress.
He gave the box a little jiggle. “Where do you want this?”
“In the office. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all.”
“What are you doing with Christmas lights at this time of year?” Fin walked beside Jeremy and eyed the box.
Mavis laughed. “First, I’m going to make sure all the bulbs work. I plan to put them up next month and leave them up until after the first of the year.”
“Why so early?” Fin called over her shoulder as she hurried to open the door. She let the two step inside the office before following them.
“You’ve been gone too long, Delphinium.” Mavis pointed to a spot on a card table set up behind the counter. “The weather here isn’t like California. It’s unpredictable. We could have a long fall or it could jump into winter at the end of September. With Ervin gone, I have to put them up myself. I don’t like climbing a ladder when it’s twenty degrees and the snow is blowing.”
“You shouldn’t have to climb a ladder. Call me when you’re ready.” Jeremy offered a warm smile. “Either I’ll come out or one of the other rotarians, depending when you want it done, and put those up for you.”
Mavis stiffened. “I take care of my own. I don’t need charity.”
“Mrs. Rosekrans, you’ve lived in Good Hope all your life.” Jeremy placed a hand on her shoulder, let his gaze lock with hers. “Neighbors helping neighbors is the Good Hope way.”
The woman’s gaze softened, but he could see she wasn’t fully convinced.
He tried another route. “Consider it a personal thank-you for making my fiancée so at home here.”
The older woman glanced at Fin. “I appreciate you staying in Good Hope when those two with you didn’t find it fancy enough.”
A startled look crossed Fin’s face. “I don’t think they thought—”
“I know one of them was your boss and you feel you have to defend him.” Mavis’s jaw jutted out. “And, granted, where they stayed in Egg Harbor is very nice. But it meant a lot to me to have you choose my motel. Your mother and I were good friends.”
Tears filled the older woman’s eyes. “I’ll do whatever I can to make you comfortable while you’re here. Not only because that’s the way I run my business, but because of Sarah.”
Fin reached out, clasped the woman’s hands. “Thank you.”
Mavis gave Fin’s hand a squeeze, then stepped back, her gaze returning to the box. “Your mother loved Christmas almost as much as I do. That last Christmas she had, well, it seemed extra special. I was glad of it, and glad all you girls could be with her and your dad that year.”
Jeremy thought back. “Was that the year we brought in actual reindeer to pull Santa’s sleigh in the parade?”
“Yes, and it was a huge hit.” Mavis beamed. “That was also when we used the old A&W tracks for the Christmas Polar Express.”
“I remember that . . .” Fin’s green eyes were dark with memories. “I was older then, but it seemed a big hit for the kids. I know Prim’s boys would get a kick out of riding it if they had it now.”
“Maybe we can look at bringing it back.” Jeremy paused at the look Fin shot him, then turned to Mavis. “I don’t know if you heard, but the town board is going to revisit accepting the offer to have that company film here in December. I don’t recall you voicing your opinion and wondered what you thought of the idea.”
A look of startled surprise flashed across the woman’s lined face. “That got voted down. You broke the tie and stood up for Christmas.”
“It’s not really standing up—”
Jeremy gave his head a barely perceptible shake, stopping Fin’s protest. He wanted to hear honest opinions from his constituency. “A lot of the merchants have come to me and said they didn’t believe they’d been given a chance to voice their opinions. That’s what will happen at the mid-September meeting.”