Paradise Found

by Sarah O'Rourke

  “We’re in the middle of nowhere! How the hell can anything be booked up? There’s nothing to do here! No shopping. No museums. No anything!” Sami yelled, clamping a hand over her mouth as she realized she’d just shouted at the town sheriff. “Sorry,” she mumbled around her hand. “I guess I’m a little frazzled after the drive and our tire mishap.”

  “Don’t mind her,” Armando said, waving a dismissive hand toward Samantha. “The real problem is she’s just a little hangry. She gets that way when she gets tired and forgets to eat.”

  “Especially when somebody steals my Snickers bar and eats it,” Sami returned out the side of her mouth. “I’m pretty sure I could press charges for theft, couldn’t I, Sheriff?” she asked, glaring at a now innocently whistling Mannie.

  Nodding his understanding, Zeke gestured toward his vehicle. “It might be easier for me to just find you some food. Less paperwork,” he replied with a wink at her. “Why don’t I give you two a ride to the restaurant in town? My wife owns it with her sisters and I promise you can get a great meal. It’s Friday, too, so it’ll be even better. Catfish night at the I Don’t Care Café. And my wife’s hush puppy recipe will blow your mind.”

  Sami’s stomach turned at the thought of eating those fried bottom feeders. Catfish were the scum of the river in her opinion and there was nothing edible about them. “Yum,” Sami replied unenthusiastically. Good God, she wasn’t even sure when she’d last had something fried. It had to have been at least five years. She could feel her arteries clogging from this conversation alone.

  “Or if your health conscious, I’m sure she can rustle you up something. Her grilled chicken salad is amazing. She makes her own honey mustard dressing from scratch and after you taste it, you’ll never want anything else,” Zeke continued, noting Sami’s curled nose as his eyes ran up and down her petite frame. “While you eat, I’ll call the local garage and have them tow in your Land Rover and fix the tire. It shouldn’t take too awful long. I’ll also try to locate you a couple of vacant hotel rooms, but I have a feeling your best bet will be to rent a couple of rooms out at the Quack & Rack Hunting Lodge. I know Axton Calhoun, the owner. He a good guy and owes me a favor or two. In fact, it’s where Vivian’s been staying while she’s been in town. We might not look like we’ve got much going on in Paradise, but I assure you we do have a thriving town here. Right now, there is a tractor show going on for the next week and we’ve got a lot of visitors who have claimed most of the rooms in town at the hotels and motels.”

  “Ooohhh…. A hunting lodge, Sami! Doesn’t that sound so fantastically rustic? I wonder how big the owner’s gun is, chica? Do you think he keeps it as locked and loaded as our studly sheriff?” Armando enthused as he linked his arm through hers.

  “Would you please get your mind off the swinging dicks around here and onto what’s truly important? “ Sami muttered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment as the sheriff stifled another laugh.

  Holding out an arm toward his own SUV, the sheriff ushered them toward the vehicle. “The good news is my wife just texted and said she just saw Vivian at Abel’s office a few hours ago so we can give her a call when we get to the restaurant and have her meet you there. Hopefully, she can convince you we’re not holding her here against her will,” Zeke remarked, holding the back door of his SUV open for Samantha to slide inside.

  Smiling stiffly as she climbed inside the vehicle, Sami knew it was going to take more than a few pretty words from Viv to convince her she hadn’t been sucked up into some kind of crazy community cult.

  ~~***~~

  An hour and a half later, Samantha couldn’t help smiling at Honor McKinnon Monroe as she slid a huge slice of coconut crème pie in front of her. “Oh, no, Miss Honor,” she denied sweetly, holding up a graceful hand to stall her. “I couldn’t possibly eat another bite. If I do, it’s going to go straight to my hips,” she tried to murmur demurely as she eyed the fluffy white merengue covering the pie filling, privately thinking that not only did she want this slice of heaven, but she wanted to devour the whole damn pie. Good Lord, but this woman could cook! She’d eaten at five star restaurants that didn’t have food this scrumptious.

  “Well, I certainly can help with that, chica. Slide that delicious pie my way,” Armando offered eagerly, reaching over his own half eaten piece of pecan pie to pull her plate closer.

  Smacking his wrist sharply, Sami glared at her grabby friend. “That’s mine,” she hissed, pulling her pie closer to her side of the table as Honor laughed beside them.

  Rubbing his smarting flesh, Armando pouted. “I was just trying to help you by removing temptation from your reach.”

  “No. You were just trying to help yourself to my pie,” Sami corrected, pointing her fork toward him. Next time, you’ll lose a finger,” she warned as she slid her fork smoothly through the pie, spearing a bite and lifting it to her lips. “Mmmmm,” she hummed as the burst of flavor exploded over her tongue. “This is soooo good, Miss Honor,” she moaned, savoring the creamy texture before swallowing another bite. “Best pie I’ve ever tasted.” And it was the truth, too. Sami had been all over the world modeling, but she’d never had food as good as what she’d put in her mouth the last hour. She’d never met people as friendly either, she thought to herself as she looked up into Honor’s beaming face.

  “I’m happy you like it. You eat all you want, Samantha. Trust me, your hips and all the rest of your body will be just fine,” Honor assured her in a sweet voice. “Everyone deserves a treat now and then. Let yourself indulge a little bit.”

  Sami nodded as she tightened her fingers around her fork and looked around at the friendly faces surrounding her. In the past ninety minutes she’d met Honor (the sheriff’s soft spoken and newly pregnant wife) and all three of her unique sisters. Harmony McKinnon Stone was the eldest and married to a former DEA agent. Next had been the mouthy, but funny Patience McKinnon Turner who was married to attorney, Abel Turner – the man Vivian had been working with the last few months. Lastly, she’d met Faith McKinnon Turner. Faith and Patience had each married twin brothers and her husband Cain was a physician at the hospital. Most remarkable of all the women she’d met this afternoon, however, had been Orla McKinnon, the McKinnon sisters’ elderly aunt. If Sami could have bottled that woman’s energy and sold it, she’d be a millionaire. Orla and Armando had become fast friends, almost instantly bonding over the difficulty in finding a good man with a big package in the world today. It didn’t matter to either of them that they each already wed a great man with a good sized package. Apparently, it was still a prevalent worry today.

  Sami hated to admit it, but she actually liked these exceptional women and the little town where they lived. And if she liked them and it, she imagined Vivian had already fallen in love with Paradise.

  Which would make coaxing Viv into coming home a challenge.

  “And don’t you worry either, Mannie. I’ll box you up a few slices to take with you. Zeke called and said he had your keys waiting over at the Lodge. You got lucky. They only had two bedrooms left,” Sami heard Honor soothe her friend. “And Axton’s housekeeper makes crepes that will melt in your mouth. Her breakfasts are the talk of town, y’all!”

  “I can’t imagine getting better food than we’ve had here,” Sami replied truthfully, shaking her head as she licked her fork. “Seriously, Honor, your desserts are gourmet quality.”

  “Oh, no,” Honor denied bashfully. “It’s just plain food for good folks, but I’m real happy you both are enjoying it. I’ll make sure to put some of our chocolate fudge cake in a box for you, too. Y’all will have a midnight snack for later.”

  “You are just too sweet, snookums. I wish I could just put you in my pocket and carry you back to Atlanta with me,” Armando thanked Honor profusely. “Did you hear that, Sami? I’m getting cake for the road, too.”

  “No. We are not getting cake for the road. I am. You already stole my Snickers. Don’t come for my cake, too,” Sami warned as she jabbed him with h
er fork.

  “Don’t worry,” Honor declared with a soft laugh. “I’ll make sure to include enough for both of you in the container.”

  Looking at her over her shoulder, Sami’s smile widened. “I swear, if you hadn’t already been snapped up, I’m with Mannie. I’d load you in the SUV and cart you back to Atlanta with us, Honor. We need a wonderful restaurant like this where we’re from, don’t we, Armando? Sheriff Monroe is a lucky man.”

  Blushing slightly, Honor’s gaze dropped as one hand lightly touched her gently rounded belly. “I’m the lucky one, y’all. I put that man of mine through the ringer before I finally said yes to him. The fact he never gave up on loving me will never cease to amaze me. The day I decided to be brave and seize the future I wanted with Ezekiel was the best day of my life. I nearly wasted my chance at a happily-ever-after with him, Sami. But what I’ve learned is when love is true and real, it will find a way to bloom. Even in the darkest, dankest climate. Sometimes it takes a day and other times it takes a lifetime, but if it’s what God has planned, there’s no avoiding it.”

  Chilled by the wisdom in the young woman’s words, Sami bit her lip. “You really think so?” she asked, keeping her eyes on Honor’s serene face.

  “Oh, honey, I know so,” Honor returned softly. “I’m living proof.”

  “I guess I’m jaded,” Sami admitted with a small shake of her head.

  Honor merely smiled. “Don’t worry. This town has a way of changing a person’s perspective. Stick around, Miss Dixon. You might just find your own piece of Paradise in this little town of ours.”

  “I doubt that, hon,” Sami denied dryly. She’d had her one shot at happy, and she’d lost it. Now she just hoped for finding a way to be content with the way things were for her. “But I’m definitely seeing this place a little differently than when I arrived.” Leaning back in her chair, she shot Honor a look as she tried to think of a way to change the subject to something a little lighter and brighter. “I still wish we could talk you into opening one of these little cafes of yours in the city though. Maybe you should think about franchising. Seriously, I think you’re sitting on a hidden goldmine here.”

  “Nah,” Honor replied with a sweet smile. “My sisters and I never had big city dreams. All we’ve ever wanted can be found right her in Paradise. You stay with us long enough, and I guarantee you’ll feel that way, too. This place will weasel its way into your heart whether you want it to or not.”

  “Oh, I’m not sure about that, but I’m glad you have someone like the sheriff that makes you that happy. I guess when the right one comes along, you know it,” Sami noted softly as she longingly watched Honor’s hand curve protectively around the tiny mound of life nestled in her belly. Staring at where the other woman’s unborn child rested, she silently acknowledged she’d seen the right one come along only to reject him. Perhaps it had been stupid on her part, but she’d been trying to do right by him in the long run. “Unfortunately, that’s not something I’m likely to experience. At least not again,” she murmured, forcing her gaze away from Honor’s stomach.

  The other woman offered her a small smile. “Don’t be so sure of that. The thing about Paradise is that our bread and butter seems to be in making sure miracles don’t stay so impossible,” Honor shared softly as the door behind her opened and a bell tinkled, announcing the arrival of yet another café customer.

  “Armando! You did get her up here, you sexy beast! I knew if anybody could manage to get our prickly pal up here it was you, mi amigo!” Samantha heard a familiar voice squeal happily before the voice was overtaken by the clickity clack of a pair of incredibly high heels as footsteps hurried toward their table. Seeing Armando rise from his chair beside her and turn to embrace the newest player in the riveting southern drama currently unfolding around her, Samantha frowned as she caught a whiff of her best friend’s expensive perfume. “Vivian?” she breathed as she watched her dark haired pal hug Armando like he was her long lost brother. Blinking several times as she tried to process what she was seeing and hearing, she shook her head and tried to make sense of what was happening. Relief at finally seeing a happy and healthy Vivian Miller warred with confusion. What did Viv mean that Armando had “gotten her here?” Hadn’t they been the ones hunting for Vivian?

  Waiting until Viv released Armando and turned toward her, Sami pursed her lips and shook her head as she got a good look at the raven haired woman dressed in a vibrant red suit that virtually screamed badass feminine powerhouse. Still compact and curvy, Viv looked mostly the same, although it did appear as if she’d gained a few pounds. Hardly a surprise after the scrumptious late lunch Sami had just shoved in her mouth. Sami knew that if she was stuck in this town longer than a few days, she’d need to go up a size or two in her clothes, too.

  Holding up a quelling hand when Vivian would have moved in for a hug, Sami lifted her chin and glared at her so-called best friend. “You can hold it right there, you treacherous wench!” she demanded, her eyes sparkling with fury. “Keep your hug for now and explain just where in the hell you’ve been, Vivian Ann Miller, and why the hell have you not been returning anyone’s phone calls?” she drilled as Samantha’s eyes met those of her shifty looking gal pal.

  “Well….that’s a bit complicated, Sami,” Vivian hedged as her forehead furrowed and she exchanged a wide-eyed look with Armando. “Maybe you’d like to sit down and talk…”

  “No. Absolutely not! I don’t wanna sit down. I’ve been sitting for hours… you know, on the drive up here to find your ass. As for talking? No, I don’t wanna talk to you. You could have talked to me by answering any of the hundred and fifty phone calls I’ve made. You know what I’d like? I’d like for you pull the pin on this little clusterfuck and tell me exactly what’s going on here,” Sami ranted, cutting Vivian off before shooting Armando a hard look when he would have opened his trap to defend their mutual friend.

  “Okay…I know you’re upset,” Vivian began in that tone she used to soothe her agitated clients. It was a tone Sami had heard Viv use many times… just never with her. And it only pissed her off even more.

  “I’m not upset, Viv. I’m pissed. Severely friggin’ pissed! See, I thought Armando and I were on the same page,” Sami began, gesturing between her and her abnormally silent co-captain of this trip from hell. “We thought you’d gone and gotten yourself kidnapped by a bunch of redneck renegades or something up here in the mountains! Especially since your case with this Fuentes fella was done weeks ago. Yet, you’ve still got your ass parked up here in this so-called Paradise! Yesterday, when Mannie mentioned that maybe it was time to stage a rescue mission, I was the first one in the damned car. That’s what you do when your best friend since we were both running around in pigtails doesn’t come home when they’re supposed to! Mannie and I were convinced we were gonna find you up here being held hostage by some homegrown He-man! But here you stand…,” she yelled, gesturing to where Vivian stood, simultaneously managing to look both elegant and shamefaced. “You sure look safe and sound, hale and whole. Heck, unless I need glasses, I’d say you even seem more than a little guilty, too! Tell me, did you stage this whole damned thing with Mannie?” Sami continued to rail, throwing out an arm toward the tall, nervous looking man and nailing him with another furious look that promised gruesome death to every single one of his designer neckties if a good explanation wasn’t forthcoming real soon. “Spill it, you two! What chaos have you two criminal masterminds managed to concoct between you?”

  “No one has staged anything, Samantha. Well, not exactly anyway. The worst we might have done is conspire a tiny bit,” Vivienne soothed calmly.

  “And what we did was for your own good, mi amor!” Armando interjected firmly. “Especially with all the drama you’ve had lately. You’ve been surrounded by sleazebags for way too long. We needed to get you away from all that nastiness before something truly bad happened. Or are you gonna lie and say you haven’t been on the cusp of having a nervous breakdown for months? The peo
ple that love you all decided that it was time for us to act!”

  Silently fuming, Sami looked between her two friends as the few people still seated around the café’s tables seemed to hold their collective breath. Reminding herself to take deep breaths, she slowly reached down to grab her oversized Gucci handbag from beside her feet. “Armando,” she began slowly, “At the moment, I have more than a few doubts regarding your ability to decide what’s best for anybody’s own good including your own, but we can discuss that later. Vivian, it’s time to grab your Manolos and head toward home. We can talk about all of this on the ride back to Atlanta. As much as I’ve enjoyed my brief stay in Paradise, I’m ready to hit the road. Since you’ve been off the radar, a lot has happened. I’m not sure you realize it, but my career is currently tanking and unless I find a way to resurrect myself into the hot new thing of tomorrow and shave ten years off my age, I’m going to be just one more has-been hottie!”

  “Honey, I’m sure things aren’t that bad,” Vivian automatically comforted.

  “Ha! Let’s just say that I’m in a little bit of personal and career crisis. According to my modeling agency, I’m over, Viv,” Sami shared unhappily as she fought a fresh wave of tears. Man, admitting the truth out loud was more painful than she’d anticipated.

  “I’m sure that’s not what they said, Sami,” Vivienne consoled Sami gently.

  Closing her eyes to keep her tears from falling, Sami swallowed painfully. “You’re right! Their words were a whole lot less kind, but the consensus was that Samantha Dixon is officially too old to be a supermodel! In the words of my agent, my boobs just no longer have the bounce they need in this business and my body had exceeded its shelf life.”

  “Those assholes don’t know what they’re talking about, Samantha. Maybe they’re doing you a favor in the long-run though. This is the perfect time for us to sit down and re-assess everything, and this is the perfect place to do it,” Sami heard Vivian declare adamantly as everyone in the café seemed to shift in their seats, each one intent on watching this episode of the Sami Shit Show. God, how could this be her life? When had she become some kind of walking, talking reality show for the masses? And had Viv finally gone and lost her tiny mind? There was no way she was staying in this hole-in-the-wall town to reflect on her life! She was going home! ASAP!!