A quarter to ten.
One hour and fifteen minutes until the ball landed in Times Square. Another hour after that until the city fathers set off the fireworks on the riverbank, signaling the coming of a new year to Southeast Texas.
Sue Ellen looked down at the dessert plate. “Guess I’d better chew slow.”
Heavy footsteps echoed on the steps. “Is there room in there for me?”
“ ’Course there’s room, Bud,” Sue Ellen said in an exasperated tone. “Dessert hasn’t gone to my hips yet. Most of it’s still on my plate.”
“I didn’t reckon it had.” Bud peered around the wall of tulle and ribbons. Sure enough, his plate held a decent smattering of pineapple chunks, orange slices, and pieces of apple and banana.
Figures.
Then she saw it. A single chocolate-covered almond wobbling dangerously close to the remains of a dab of fat-free yogurt.
“Why, Bud Briggs.” She pointed to his plate. “Is that what I think it is?”
He had the decency to look surprised. “Wonder who put that on my plate?”
“Here, let me help you with that.” She reached for the offending chocolate delicacy only to be stopped when Bud beat her to it.
Bud popped the almond in his mouth. “That’s what you call removing the evidence.”
Chapter Seven
The sugar in that one bite would set him back for a week. Bud was about to calculate the calorie content when a strange thing happened.
He just didn’t care.
Try as he might to berate himself for allowing a sugary treat into his regimen, he couldn’t. This was certainly a new state of affairs.
New and distinctly uncomfortable. But then, Sue Ellen made him feel uncomfortable on a regular basis. Why should today be any different?
“What’s wrong, Bud? Adding up how many extra hours you’ll have to spend in the gym tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow I run. It’s not a gym day.” Bud knew by the look on Sue Ellen’s face that this was the wrong answer. He tried again. “Besides, I already know it will add precisely thirteen minutes and seventeen seconds.”
This answer seemed to do the trick, as Sue Ellen went back to gazing off in the direction of the river. It was dark, too dark to see anything but the slightest glint of moonlight on the slow-moving water, but she seemed to be studying it intently. Every once in a while, she would pause from her contemplation to take a bite of the ice cream–covered chocolate goo.
On one of those occasions, Bud decided to break the silence. “Nice wedding.”
She made one of those humph sounds that let a body know disagreement was in the air. Bud waited a minute to see if she’d elaborate.
When she bit into another piece of fudge, he decided to press on with polite conversation. “Sure do like New Year’s Eve. It always feels good to go out with the old and in with the new.”
Another humph, this time a bit louder.
Bud gave her a sideways look and took her expression as a challenge. If Sue Ellen Caldwell thought she could get away with wallowing in a foul mood on New Year’s Eve, she could think again.
Slowly he developed his plan. With a skill and precision gleaned from his years in the Marine Corps, Bud gripped his fork and aimed for a particularly appealing slice of pineapple on the easternmost edge of his plate. At the last second, his hand changed directions, and he snagged a bite of Sue Ellen’s dessert.
Before she could complain, he’d swallowed it whole.
Sue Ellen’s mouth gaped open, and she made a funny squeaking noise. “Bud Briggs,” she finally managed, “I’ve known you since we were both knee-high to a grasshopper. I’d be willing to bet you haven’t had that much chocolate since junior high.”
Bud leaned back against the fancy fabric-covered post and savored the flavor of the forbidden treat. Sue Ellen was wrong, of course. Diet and exercise hadn’t been the priority during his military days. Staying alive had.
He’d never tell her that, though. No sense in ruining a perfectly good night talking about the past. Time to lighten the mood and change the subject.
Setting his plate aside, Bud turned to face Sue Ellen. “So, are you making any resolutions this year, Sue Ellen?”
“I hate resolutions.”
“Oh, come on,” Bud said. “Resolutions are a good way to make positive changes.”
“Give me a break, Bud.” Sue Ellen finished the last of her dessert, and then set her plate on the floor beside her. “I figure it this way. If I don’t start the year telling myself what I can’t do, I won’t finish the year wishing I’d kept my resolutions.” She looked up at him. “Make sense?”
“None whatsoever,” he said.
She made that humph sound again.
On the outside, Sue Ellen Caldwell was as pretty as a woman could be. Inside, she had to be suffering the consequences of years of junk food. “What if I told you that you could keep your resolutions? Better yet, you give me one month and I’ll promise you will want to keep them.”
Sue Ellen chuckled. “I’d say you weren’t nearly as smart as you look.”
He pretended to be offended, then broke down and laughed. “Come on, Sue Ellen. What do you have to lose?”
“A month of good food?” Her eyes narrowed. “Stop looking at me like that.”
Bud held his stare until she relented.
“All right.” She held her hands up in a gesture of surrender, then stood and gathered her plate and fork. “I’ll listen to what you have to say, but I’m not making any promises.”
“That’s all I ask.” Bud trotted behind Sue Ellen until they reached the house, then he raced ahead to open the door for her.
“But not tonight.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Tonight I’m going to enjoy myself, and if that means I shock you with chocolate-covered almonds and sweet tea, then so be it. The shop’s closed on Monday. How about we meet over at the Catfish House for lunch on Tuesday and you can educate me?” She shook her head. “No, wait, let’s make it a week from Tuesday. The first week of the year’s always a busy one because I run my New Year, New Do special.”
“All right,” he said as the sound of the guests’ chatter made conversation nearly impossible. “A week from Tuesday it is. You won’t be sorry. I promise.”
“I think I already am,” she shouted, but her face belied her statement.
While Sue Ellen rejoined the party, Bud hung back to watch. There was something special tonight about the cranky beautician. More than just pretty, Sue Ellen Caldwell was, well, the word escaped him.
He pondered a few choices as Sue Ellen carried on an animated conversation with Leota and Matt. Elegant. Yes, that’s the word his mama probably would have used. And fancy. Far too fancy for Port Neches, Texas.
The fact she’d returned to small-town life after so many years away perplexed him. The only family she had left here was Gus. If she felt as though she needed to take care of the old coot, she was most likely about to be relieved of her duties. At least, that’s the way things appeared tonight.
As far as Bud could tell, Fanny hadn’t left Gus’s side all night.
When Fanny caught him staring and waved, he returned the gesture, and then went back to thinking about Sue Ellen. Was it possible that surviving the hurricane last year caused her to want to come back and set down roots here?
“I reckon staring’s the next best thing to speakin’, but I wouldn’t recommend it long term.” Wendell clamped his hand on Bud’s shoulder. “Take it from me, Deputy. If you want a woman, you just have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, head yourself in the right direction, and take no prisoners. Semper fi, Marine.”
Bud looked down at the little man and tried to decipher his statement. Wendell, however, had already turned his attention to his bride. When the new groom wandered away toward Sassy, Bud could only watch in amazement.
If anyone doubted God was in control, they only had to look at the new Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Meeks. No one but the Lord Himself coul
d have made that match.
Then there was the improbable match between Gus Caldwell and the town’s favorite grocer. Last Bud heard, Gus had declared himself a bachelor for life.
Showing up at the party of the year with Fanny meant one of two things: Either Gus had changed his mind, or Gus was up to something.
Bud would bet his badge the truth lay somewhere in the second option.
Chapter Eight
Hey, Bud, it’s almost time.” Gus slapped Bud on the shoulder and grinned. “You’d better not be thinkin’ you’re gonna pair off with my granddaughter for a kiss come midnight. You hear?”
“Until tonight, I would’ve said that’s about as likely as you pairing off with Fanny.” He grinned. “Say, what was it you said about never marrying again?” Bud gestured to Gus’s date, who was currently in the kitchen with Dottie Jean, Leota, and Sue Ellen talking women talk. “Looks like you might have forgotten to tell someone. From what I hear, Fanny sure doesn’t know.”
“Did I hear my name?” Fanny waved from the kitchen. “Are you boys watching the clock?”
Gus gave Bud a look, then turned to face his date. “We’re letting you women watch the clock.”
“Don’t count on me, Grandpa,” Sue Ellen called. “Far as I’m concerned, midnight’s just the time the clock chimes. It certainly doesn’t mean anything special.”
There was no missing the look Sue Ellen gave him. He almost grinned when Dottie Jean swatted at Sue Ellen with a dishtowel. Words were exchanged, but in a whisper. From their expressions, it looked as though Dottie Jean was explaining to Sue Ellen just how wonderful Bud Briggs was.
Or at least he hoped that was the case.
“How ’bout you and me take this conversation a little farther away from the females?” Gus headed for the front porch and motioned for Bud to follow.
Bud stepped into the brisk air and sucked in a deep breath. Somewhere between dessert and now, the temperature had plummeted. Tomorrow morning’s run would be a good one, but he’d probably need a second layer under his sweatshirt.
Gus took up pacing and only stopped when the door closed behind them.
“Here’s the thing, Bud,” Gus said. “I figure I’m about done for in the wife department. I had me the best, and we spent a lot of good years together.”
Unsure of the correct response, Bud kept it neutral. “I reckon you did.”
“I’m not sayin’ that a body don’t get lonely. And my wife, rest her soul, she made me promise I’d marry up again if I felt the Lord a-leadin’ me to it.” He started pacing again. “I figured I could ease my way through what’s left of my life here on earth without having to worry about any of this. Then the competition started.”
“Competition?” Bud chuckled. “Over you?”
“Yeah, I know.” Gus halted his pacing. “It don’t make no sense, does it? The trouble all started when the new widow woman came to town.”
“You mean Miz Ledbetter?”
“That’s the one. Ever since she came to town, Fanny’s been working twice as hard to get my attention. Guess she thinks she’s got to best the sheriff’s sister-in law.” He shook his head. “Faeoni Ledbetter’s a fine woman, but I don’t cotton to her or Fanny as the next Mrs. Caldwell.”
“If you’re not looking, Gus, why’re you here with Fanny?”
He shrugged. “I figure to nip this silliness in the bud. If I pay attention to Fanny, maybe Faeoni won’t think she’s got a chance and will drop out of the race. Once Fanny spends time with me, I figure she’ll lose interest, too. I don’t believe you’d know this, Bud, but I’m not the easiest man to live with.”
It was Bud’s turn to laugh. “Why’re you telling me this?”
“Laugh all you want, young man, “ Gus said. “Let’s just see if you’re laughing when it happens to you.”
A shiver snaked down Bud’s spine, and he wished for his jacket. “If that’s all you’re worried about, then we can go back inside.”
“Maybe so, maybe not.” He paused. “I figure if my granddaughter takes a shine to you and you don’t cotton to settlin’ down with her, you’ll know how to handle the situation.”
“Let me get this straight. You think I’m in danger of having your granddaughter fall for me?”
“I’d say it’s more than a danger.” Gus leaned closer. “She’s here with you, ain’t she?”
The old man looked so solemn, Bud almost bought it. Almost, but not quite.
Had it not been so cold out, he might have stuck around and argued the point for the craziness it was. Instead, he decided to cut to the chase.
Bud took a step back and shook his head. “All right. You got me, Gus. Where are the rest of the guys?”
“What’re you talkin’ about, Bud? It’s just you and me out here.”
“Sure it is.” He gave Gus a sideways look. “You’re ribbing me again, and this time I won’t be fooled. You got me here by challenging me to ask your granddaughter to the party, then prodding my ego until I took the bait.” He stomped his feet to get the circulation going. “I did that, but I shouldn’t have. Sue Ellen and I are like matches and dry kindling.”
Gus had the audacity to laugh. “I know that, boy. Been knowin’ that since the two of you were knee-high to a grasshopper.”
He did a quick check of the shrubs lest the others in Gus’s crowd were hiding there. The sound of laughter from somewhere inside drifted past.
“I’m going back in, Gus, and I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense. You do whatever you want about Fanny and Miz Ledbetter, but leave me out of it. And as for Sue Ellen—”
“What about Sue Ellen?” a familiar female voice asked.
Bud cringed. Of course the woman would come outside just now.
“Nothing, darlin’,” Gus said. “Bud and me were just jawin’. Say, what’s this I hear about you takin’ a tumble off my ladder?”
Sue Ellen approached and wrapped her arm around her grandfather’s waist, then gave Bud a look. “Did you tell on me?”
“Of course not, girl. That boy’s got more sense than to tell on you. He knows I’d have had your hide for being on the ladder at all.” He looked down at Sue Ellen. “Where did you find that thing anyway?”
“It was leaning behind the garage.” Sue Ellen frowned. “It’s cold out here.”
“I told you to wear your sweater,” Bud said.
Another look and then Fanny came to the door.
“Gus, honey, are you planning to stay out there all night?”
Leota knocked on the window and gestured for Sue Ellen to come inside. Bud watched her go, helpless to find the words to keep her with him.
“One minute,” Gus said. “Bud and me aren’t quite finished with our business.”
Gus’s date looked disappointed, but she merely nodded and disappeared inside. When the door closed, Gus clamped his hand on Bud’s shoulder.
“You’ve got to get hold of your senses, Bud Briggs, else you’re going to ruin it for the rest of us bachelors.”
“What’re you talking about?” He watched Sue Ellen through the window as she appeared to be deep in conversation with Leota. My, but she looked pretty with her hair done up like that.
“Now that’s exactly what I’m talkin’ about. The last fella who went around with that hangdog look ended up married—tonight.”
Bud swallowed hard. He tried to protest, but there wasn’t any use. Gus had him caught, and good.
“I can’t help it,” he said. “That girl’s been a thorn in my side long as I can remember.”
Gus shook his head. “Well, all I got to say is fish or cut bait. Me, I’m going back inside.”
The older man made good on his statement, and Bud followed. It was warm inside but crowded. He hated crowds.
The idea of leaving now appealed to him, but in reality it defeated the purpose. In order to make his exit, he’d have to take Sue Ellen and Reverend Jordan with him.
“Pondering the great mysteries of the universe?”
Sue Ellen tapped him on the shoulder, and then yawned. “I hate to be a party pooper, but I think I’m going to head home.” She gestured to the hulk of a man standing near the door. “Bubba Lee said he’d be glad to run me home, since it’s on his way.”
Bud exchanged nods with the man who, back on the high school football team, threw blocks so Bud could run for touchdowns. Without a word to Sue Ellen, Bud made his way to the door and Bubba.
He shook hands with the burly fellow, making sure his handshake was every bit as strong as Bubba’s. When Bud saw the big man wince, he released his grip.
“I ’preciate the offer to take Sue Ellen home,” Bud said, “but I’ll be seein’ her home tonight.” You got a problem with that?
Bubba caught on quick. “All right, then.”
“All right, then,” Bud added.
Reverend Jordan chose that moment to come between the men. Thankfully, he needed a ride home, and Bubba made his services available. “Yes,” the reverend explained. “I promised my wife I’d get home in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square.”
“I’m particular fond of watching that myself,” Bubba added. “Might ought to get on out of here, then. I’d hate to miss it.”
Bubba opened the door for the reverend, and just before following the preacher outside, he gave Bud a smile and a big thumbs-up.
Bud palmed his keys and checked his watch. Twenty minutes to twelve. If he hurried, he could have Sue Ellen home before the clock struck.
“You ready to go?”
“Oh no, you can’t leave yet, Bud Briggs,” Sassy said. “You’ve got to stay here until midnight.”
“Who’s leaving before midnight?” Dottie Jean grasped Sue Ellen’s wrist. “Are you feeling ill? Have you caught cold?” She stepped back to give Sue Ellen the once-over. Apparently satisfied, Dottie Jean let her go. “Bud told you to bring a sweater.”
Although he could have said more, Bud only nodded.
“I’m fine, Dottie Jean,” Sue Ellen said. “Just a little tired. I thought I might—”
“Go home and watch the year change on television?” Dottie Jean shook her head. “I declare that’s what’s wrong with the two of you. Instead of watching life on television or from the inside of a squad car, why don’t you start actually living it?”
Falling for You Page 4