“Oh!” Dallas laughed. “What made you think we didn’t like each other?”
“Well, Uncle Cal said so at that Dixie Dickens thing,” Justin offered.
Cal took a step back and looked worried.
“Oh, really? Hmm,” Dallas said, smiling at Cal with her eyebrows up. “Well, I think maybe this whole plan actually worked. Whadda’ya think, Cal?”
“You know...maybe it actually did,” Cal smiled back at her.
Justin caught them exchanging looks. “Oh, seriously? You two are dating now?” He burst out laughing. “That’s two for two, then. This prank is going down in history!”
Cal moved next to Dallas and snuck his arm around her waist. “He thought if he sent them from Callahan Enterprises, then I’d get involved and, well, we’d spend time together trying to figure out why the emails were coming from my family’s company. So he and his frat brothers ran around with Ms. Peaches’s statue, took the pictures and then tied the matchmaking part of the prank in by sending you those emails. He thought he had a slam dunk until he remembered his uncle Cal here is a computer hacking specialist.” He smiled and shook his head.
“I’m really sorry, and we’ll apologize to Ms. Shelby, too. Maybe we can offer her yard service or something to make up for it.”
“Good idea,” Cal said. “Now get outta here and go talk to her. I’m sure she won’t press any charges if you tell her everything.”
“Justin’s a good kid,” Cal said as his nephew walked away. “He’s a lot like me, pretty good with those computers.”
“Well, I don’t think he meant any harm,” she agreed. “Plus, I guess we actually have a reason to thank him, since he did, technically, get us spending more time together.”
“Speaking of time together, don’t think I’ve forgotten about having dinner served on you....” Cal squeezed her hand.
“I’m game for that, but I need to talk to you about something before I become your dinner plate.” She smiled.
“Really? Me, too,” he answered. “I have an idea that I wanted to run by you. Maybe we could go out to dinner and talk, then head back home for dessert...on you.”
He looked as if he had just figured out the secret to something. She couldn’t wait to see just what was on his mind. And tell him of her brilliant Christmas idea.
46
“Hungry?” Cal asked as he started the car.
“Famished. Where do you wanna go?”
“Oh, I was thinking about the Cypress Inn, whadya think?”
“Are we celebrating something?” Dallas asked with excitement.
“I think we have a lot to celebrate,” he said, smiling at her as he headed left on Fifteenth Street and over the Warrior River Bridge. He held her hand all the way, talking about all that had happened and the big event at the end of the week: the production of Sleigh Bells and then the announcement of the anchor seat.
Her family had said they would all be at the play to see Anna Beth and Austin, and to be there for Dallas’s directorial debut. Dallas wanted so badly to spend as much time with them now as possible. She wanted to invite everyone to eat together after the play, but she remembered hearing her mom say something about the family Christmas dinner that night and she didn’t want to intrude or disrupt the children’s tradition, whatever it was. So she hadn’t said anything.
But there was something even bigger she had been thinking about. In the mix of everything going on this week, Dallas had decided she wanted to have Sara Grace spend Christmas with her. She had bought her so many gifts, and she wanted to give the little girl a real Christmas morning. She wanted to tell Cal all about it, too. She hadn’t gone to the proper people about it yet, so she thought she might run it by Cal at dinner first just to see what he might think.
Cal seemed to have something else entirely on his mind. He had become quiet on the drive along the river to the beautiful restaurant. He turned into the drive, rolling down the hill toward the wooded lot on the riverbanks. The Cypress Inn looked like a lodge, stunningly decorated for Christmas, a huge tree in the lobby and wreaths on the glass front doors. A wide planked porch wrapped around the right side and was dotted with rocking chairs. It was a quiet, tranquil setting and boasted just about the very best menu in town. The hostess seated them at a window table with a view of the river.
Dallas finally broke the awkward silence. “What’s on your mind, babe? You’ve been so quiet.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot and...I was wondering if you’d like to spend Christmas with me and my family?”
It hadn’t even occurred to Dallas that he’d want her spending time with his family, meeting his mother and father and all the rest of the bunch. She just hadn’t really considered it, especially since she planned to start arrangements to take Sara Grace in for a few weeks.
When she didn’t respond right away, Cal looked disappointed. “It’s okay if you’re not ready. I understand.”
“No, baby, no, it’s not that I don’t want to. Maybe I should tell you what I’ve been thinking and see if you still think it’s a good idea, me spending Christmas at your house.” She hesitated, hoping he wouldn’t think she was crazy. She took a deep breath and just threw it out there.
“Cal, I was thinking of arranging for Sara Grace to spend Christmas with me. Do you think I’m crazy?”
Cal smiled at her, giving her a look that told her he was completely in love.
“Not crazy. Brilliant. I love that idea! It’s perfect.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you think so. The play is Saturday night, and I just couldn’t stand the thought that it would be the last time I’d see her. And the idea of her being alone on Christmas morning—well, anyway, I plan to begin the arrangements first thing in the morning.”
“What about the question I just asked you? Wanna spend Christmas with me? And I don’t just mean the family dinner. I’m talking about coming over Christmas Eve to spend the night, so we can wake up and have a proper Christmas morning together.”
Dallas felt her heart melting at the thought. “Well, now that you know I might have Sara Grace, is that still okay?”
“Of course it is. Actually, makes it even better. I have a massive house and only me there, so she can have her pick of bedrooms, and I think she’ll love that big ole tree, don’t you?”
“Oh, my gosh, this is so awesome. I can’t wait. Yes, yes, we will spend Christmas with you. Oh, Cal, this is gonna be the best Christmas ever.”
* * *
After dinner, Cal drove Dallas home. The conversation was excited now, with all the plans they were making for Christmas.
“Why don’t you invite your mom and Houston and his family over to my house, too? Tell them they can choose the day so we don’t interfere with their own traditions. But I was thinking that since Sara Grace already knows your niece and nephew from the play, it’ll be nice for her to have some other kids around to play with.”
“Fabulous idea. I will call Houston first thing in the morning.”
Just as Cal turned onto Dallas’s street, they were startled by flashing red lights and loud sirens. A police car whizzed by them, stopping in front of the house with the Times Square Christmas lights. As they got closer, they realized the front porch was on fire. A WTAL news van pulled up in front, and one of their night reporters jumped out and raced over to her neighbor.
“Good Lord. I’m gonna run over and see what happened,” Dallas said, barely waiting for Cal to put the Porsche into Park.
“Scott!” she shouted to the reporter. “What happened?”
“Hey, Dallas. What are you doing here?”
“I live right there,” she said, gesturing to the other side of the street.
“We got a call about a house fire. We heard he was trying to deep fry the turkey on the front porch, but he slid the whole bird in froze
n. He forgot he had to defrost it. Whole damn thing exploded.”
“The guy’s an idiot. He has so many lights, you can see this house from space,” Dallas said.
“Well, if not then, you certainly can now.” They both laughed just as the owner, Eddie Crawford, came over to talk to them. The firefighters had managed to save the house before any real damage was done. The porch was all but gone, though, but that couldn’t be helped.
“Hey, Mr. Crawford.” Dallas smiled as he approached Greg.
“Damn fryer. Nuthin’ in those damn directions said a thing about havin’ to thaw that freakin’ bird out first.”
“Well, you did want your house on TV, so I guess it will be now,” Dallas said, happy to have had the last laugh. “Scott, I’ll leave the rest of the story up to you.” She patted Scott on the shoulder and walked back to her house across the street.
“What the hell happened?” Cal asked as he got out to meet her.
“That guy’s been so rude, trying to get me to do a story on him and all those blasted lights. He was trying to deep fry his turkey, and it all went up in smoke, so to speak.”
“Well, I guess that means his lights won’t be on tonight.” Cal smirked. “Now let’s go see what fires of our own we can start inside....” He winked as they walked inside.
Cal closed the door and pulled the blinds.
47
It was already Thursday, and Dallas’s week had gone by in a blur. For Dallas, this job had always been a passion. When someone asked you, If money weren’t involved, what would you do for free? Dallas would always answer: TV news. It always felt less like work and more like fun. She loved being out on the front lines, connecting with the people of Tuscaloosa and making sure everyone was informed. Broadcast news just pulsed through her veins. The fame was an added perk, the icing on the cake.
Rehearsals had been pretty uneventful in the week leading up to the opening, with only minor glitches here and there. But the soloists were ready, and the gingerbread house was finally intact. No one could even see the glue that held the new roof in one piece. Blake had done an excellent job of putting the whole thing back together again.
Dallas sat at her desk on pins and needles, waiting for word from the children’s home about Sara Grace. She had gone down to the facility on Tuesday to file all the proper papers. She was supposed to hear today, as they had done a rush job for her since it was Christmas and because of who she was in town. Fame, even a little bit, always helped. She was staring at the phone when she got a brilliant idea.
Blake always knew how to pull strings in the legal world, and her grandmother, Meridee, knew everyone in Tuscaloosa. Maybe they would be able help. She picked up the phone and called Meridee first.
“Hey, Miss Meridee, this is Dallas. How are you doin’ today?”
“What a nice surprise! I’m doin’ better than a witch in a broom factory, darlin’. How ’bout you?”
“Oh, great. I was wonderin’...you happen to know any of the higher-ups over at the children’s home?”
“Honey, I sit on the board myself, so I’m sure I do. Lemme think—oh, Margerie Hinton works over there, and last I heard they had made her one of the executives. Why? Whatcha need?”
“I am trying to arrange for a little girl who’s in my play to come spend Christmas with me. Her name is Sara Grace.”
“Oh, I know that child. She’s been there since her momma died, poor thing. I’ll tell ya what, you let me get on that and I’ll call you right back,” Meridee said.
“Thanks so much! She and I have gotten so close. This would mean so much to me.”
“No problem,” Meridee said. “Hey, I’m havin’ a Christmas party here tomorrow night. Why don’t you come and bring that new man of yours?” Meridee asked.
“How did you know I was seein’ somebody?” Dallas asked.
“Child, I have lived here far too long not to know pretty much everything, so y’all come on. I’ll call you back now in a few. Don’t you worry. I’m sure it’ll be okay. Always is. Bye now.” And she hung up. Meridee was relaxed and confident.
Dallas leaned back in her chair and exhaled. She knew deep down Meridee was right. Things were somehow always okay in the end. She could see it all now, the party, the play, Cal and Sara Grace and her family...This may be the year even I believe in Santa Claus, she thought.
It wasn’t too long before her phone rang. She jumped, startled back to reality from her daydream.
“Hello?”
“Hey, hon, it’s Meridee. It’s all gonna be okay. Ms. Hinton said they were working on it right this minute, and they’d have it all set by the end of the day.”
“Oh, my Lord, thank you so much. I am so grateful for this.”
“No, baby, the home is so grateful to you. Little Sara Grace needs this so much.”
“Do you think they could let me tell her instead of them? I just want to surprise her.”
“Oh, yeah, I don’t see why not. Lemme get Margerie back on the horn and I’ll call you back.”
She hung up. Dallas sat on the edge of her seat, literally crossing her fingers like a schoolgirl. A minute later her phone rang again.
“Hello?”
“All set,” Meridee announced.
“You are the best! Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, baby girl. Now, what about tomorrow night?”
“You can count on it. Cal and I will be there for sure. Can we bring anything?”
“Just yourselves and be ready to party. We do Christmas up big at my house.”
“Okay, see y’all then—and, Meridee, I appreciate this more than you know.”
They hung up and Dallas was elated. She picked up the phone and immediately called Cal, an ear-to-ear grin plastered involuntarily across her face.
“Hey, baby, guess what? We got her! Yes! I’m having a girl for Christmas and it feels wonderful!”
48
“Thanks for picking me up. I am so ready to get out of here for the weekend,” Dallas said, sliding into the front seat of Cal’s Porsche. It was Friday night, and the air was so damp and cold she could see her breath as she spoke.
“No problem, babe. This’ll be fun. A little distraction before your big night tomorrow,” Cal said, pulling out of the parking lot of WTAL.
“I know. And I love Meridee’s house. It was my favorite thing about being Blake’s stepsister all those years. Well, it was the only good thing, actually. At least I always knew Meridee liked me.”
“I have heard her parties are legendary. Lewis went to a few after Harry and Blake got married, since he was Blake’s brother-in-law. Actually, I hear he and Meridee are pretty close”
“Well, they must be if they own that radio station together,” she replied. “I’m so nervous about tomorrow. There’s so many things happening all at one time. Abigail called me from the radio station today and said they will announce the winner of the Twelve Days of Christmas contest right after we take our final bow, then Mike’s coming up to represent the TV station sponsorship, and then the mayor’s gonna speak. I hope I haven’t passed out by then.”
“No, sweetheart, you’ll be in your element, everyone clapping and looking at you. And I’ll be enjoying every second, knowing I get you all to myself after we get home—well, after we put Sara Grace to bed. Does she know yet?”
“No, I wanna tell her right after the play. Ms. Hinton is packing up her things and will have them waiting in the dressing room. I went out last night and bought her some new clothes and a new pajama set for Christmas morning. Oh, Cal, isn’t this awesome?”
“Yes, baby, I am the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”
“Me, too.”
They pulled into the upward slant of the cracked driveway at Meridee’s old house in Glendale Gardens. She
lived just down the street from Peaches Shelby. Dallas could see Ms. Peaches’s manger scene all lit up with her Baby Jesus safely in the little plastic manger.
“I can’t wait to see everyone,” Dallas said as she got out and headed toward the screened-in porch. She and Cal entered the front door to Christmas carols being sung a cappella. Everyone had a highball glass with rum or Jack in hand, and Meridee had a necklace on that lit up with little Christmas lights. The main living room displayed a beautiful Noble fir tree filled with old decorations from all the years of history the house held. The scent of alcohol, evergreen and Meridee’s signature scent, Charles of the Ritz, filled the happy home. A large grand piano sat in the far left corner of the room, near the dining room, just begging to be played.
“Hey, y’all! Get your asses in here and have a drink,” Lewis said as he swung by, dancing with baby Tallulah in his arms.
“Hey, Lewis. Hey, baby girl,” Dallas said, grinning at the little redheaded baby as they passed.
“Hey, man, Merry Christmas,” Cal said, patting Lewis on the back.
“Be right back, baby,” he said to Dallas. “Rum or Jack in your Coke?”
“Jack, sugar,” she answered with a grin. Cal kissed her on the lips and then headed to the kitchen to get them both a drink.
“Hey, Meridee, aren’t you so pretty and festive?” Dallas said, hugging her. “Thanks so much for inviting us—and for everything, really.”
“Oh, honey, you are certainly welcome for everything. Now, come on in and have somethin’ to eat. Rum balls, cheese balls, sausage balls—hell, we got all kinds of balls here!” She winked and threw her head back, laughing her trademark rolling laugh, and walked away, toasting Kitty and the mayor as she passed by. Meridee was truly one of a kind.
“Hey, Dallas, child. How in the world are you? You were amazing the night of that Christmas parade, by the way,” Kitty said. “Mayor Charlie here and I watched the playback the next day and laughed our asses off.”
Sleigh Belles Page 25