Operation Ginger Avenger

by Heather Rainier

  “More shopping? Why?” Dad said as he peeked around the closet door. “What’s wrong with what Tankina already had on? The color makes your eyes thparkle,” he lisped with a simper. “It didn’t make your ass look huge or anything. You know how thweater dresses are.” He flapped his hands and jumped back with a laugh when Tank playfully swiped at him before yanking off the sweater dress.

  The sweater definitely fit better, and it was way less itchy, too.

  His mom reached for the offending article and said, “Can I have that sweater dress? Your Aunt Winifred was telling me how much she liked mine and she’s just about your size.”

  “Now there’s something you don’t hear every day,” Troy said as he sauntered by before he got smart and started running.

  “What did you want to talk to me about earlier?”

  He pulled her into his bedroom, now that it was empty, and told him their plan.

  His mom was so excited he was surprised they didn’t hear her squealing and jumping up and down from downstairs.

  “Oh, honey, I’m so happy for you and Troy.”

  “Yeah? Troy was going to tell his parents, too.”

  “They’ll be thrilled, too, I’m sure, once they get over the shock. I’ll talk with both of them. Your fandom is going to be bummed out.”

  “They’ll live.”

  “Ready to do the family Christmas portrait?”

  “I am now. Thanks, Mom. For everything.”

  “You’re welcome, although I don’t know what I did,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “What?”

  “Nothing?”

  “Mooommm, what did you do now?”

  “Well, Operation Ginger Avenger worked so well I decided to do the same thing for Scotty—”

  “Wait, Operation what?”

  “Uh, oh nothing. I…it just seems I have a knack for this matchmaking stuff, and Scotty has been divorced for three years now, and Kate might know someone for him, and…”

  “Mom.”

  “What?”

  “You know Kate Benedict?”

  “Of course! We go way back.”

  “Shoulda known. What’s Operation Ginger Avenger?”

  “What’s what?” she asked, her eyes sparkling as she beckoned him, slipped from the room, and hurried down the hallway. “Come on! Erika should already be here by now.”

  “Crap.” Another ex-girlfriend. Erika’s braying laughter echoed up the stairs, and he cringed.

  * * * *

  On the long trip back to Divine, Jessica giggled as she listened to Tank in the back seat, giving Bella tips for dealing with boys.

  “And what do you do if a boy tries to kiss you?”

  “I tell him I’m not that kind of girl!”

  “Because boys are icky, right?”

  “Right! No kissin’ icky ol’ boys!”

  “That’s right,” he affirmed from the back seat, humor lacing his tone. “And you don’t go chasing after boys to kiss them, either.”

  “Yuck!” Bella gasped and said, “Wait a minute. That lady kissed Toy, and he only kisses his mama and my mama. What’s up with that?”

  Jessica pressed her lips together to hide her snicker and glanced back at Tank to see if his ears were turning red. Troy’s sure were.

  Troy squeezed her thigh gently, and she patted his hand. It wasn’t his fault he’d been attracted to relentless hose beasts in his younger, more foolish days.

  “Some people kiss to show excitement or surprise. Isn’t that right, guys? Your ex-girlfriends were simply delightful. That Ericka has quite a sense of humor, Tank. And Sabrina…well, at least she apologized for laying one on you when she found out you were there with your girlfriend.”

  Troy was driving them home, and he chuckled and glanced at Tank in the rearview mirror before smiling at her.

  Tank had driven on the trip out to Dripping Springs, and now, the day after Thanksgiving, they were headed back to Divine with Troy driving while Tank sat in the back chatting with Bella.

  “Totty has a bunch of liddle girls, and they played with me, Mommy. They like Princess Belle, too!”

  “I know. I saw the flock of yellow dresses.” To Tank she said, “Your cousin Scotty sure has his hands full with four little girls under the age of seven.”

  She thought it was hard raising one daughter as a single parent. She couldn’t imagine being the single dad to four girls, but he seemed to cope okay. Subconsciously, she began to think of all the single women she knew.

  “Nana Maryetta liked my princess dress, too. I love my sweater she gave me!”

  Maryetta was easy to love, and their families had both accepted her and Bella into their midst, although she’d seen a few curious looks from some of the cousins and other relations.

  “I’m gonna wear it a bunch before Christmas. Pawpaw said it made me look beautiful!”

  “You do look beautiful,” Jessica said as she looked back between the front seats. Maryetta had found the funniest reindeer-festooned sweater that Jessica had ever seen.

  Bella continued chattering on about Tank’s and Troy’s nieces and nephews and their brothers and sisters, and it was clear she’d made some real connections with some of them.

  “It was so funny when Miss Ewicka was making people move around for the camera, and she made goo-goo eyes at Totty. Katie said maybe Miss Ewicka wants to be their new mommy.”

  Jessica’s eyebrows lifted a fraction, but she didn’t say anything. Bella could be like a dog gnawing on a bone when she warmed to a topic.

  “Katie says Totty makes goo-goo eyes at Miss Ewicka, toooo.”

  Jessica bit her lip. Bella was definitely setting her teeth into this bone.

  “Katie asked me if since her daddy didn’t have a wife, and my mommy didn’t have a husband, if you could get married. Cuz they wike me. Miss Ewicka is nice, Katie says, but she doesn’t understand kids very well, and you do, Mama.”

  “Oh?” Jessica murmured. Less said, the better.

  “But I told them you couldn’t because you’re in looove with Tank and Troy and they might wanna be my daddies, and Katie said that’s not fair to take two, and I said—”

  “Wait. What?” Jessica turned to look back at her daughter. “Bella, where are your manners?”

  “What?” Bella asked, lifting her hands in confusion, and giving her mother that trademark clueless and innocent look she’d picked up lately. “We was talking, and I told them it just wasn’t going to work out, but maybe if Tank and Troy were my daddies we could still be fambly. Tank and Troy, you wanna be my daddies?”

  Troy exited from the highway. “I think it’s time for a rest stop.” He pulled over to a travel station that, besides gas pumps, included two fast food places and a small grass area and picnic benches.

  Embarrassment sent heat flaming into Jessica’s cheeks. While it was true that Bella was only three and didn’t understand the intricacies of adult relationships, she still needed to be set straight. “Honey, it’s not right for you to talk about things like that, even with family, nor should Katie be talking about if her father likes Miss Erika or not. I’d like for you to apologize to Tank and Troy.”

  “But why? I love them. You love them. Riiight?” Her little lower lip pooched out a bit, and her chin trembled.

  Oh, shoot me now. If she starts crying, I’m going to start crying.

  “That’s not appropriate for you to say, though. It’s not up to you or me—”

  “Actually…” Troy said as he put the truck in park and turned to her. Tank leaned forward. And they both had a look in their eyes.

  “Did I do something bad?” Bella asked, her breath hitching. “I didn’t mean to. You say when I want something to ask nicely, so I asked nicely, wiff good manners. Mommy, why are you crying? Did I do something bad? I didn’t mean tooo.”

  Tank tilted Bella’s little chin so she’d look at him. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Belly-blooper. Your filter will get better as you get older…unfortunately. I k
ind of like the tell-it-like-it-is strategy you’re utilizing.”

  Bella raised her hands in the air again. “I don’t know what any of that means.”

  He smoothed her hair back as he chuckled. “It means you’re not in trouble. Would you like us to be your daddies?”

  She bobbled her head back, her little eyes goggled, and she gaped like a fish. “Would I? Would you? Do I?”

  Troy laughed and nudged Jessica’s arm as he leaned into her space. “Do you want us to be yours? All yours? And nobody else but yours?”

  He lifted a little white velvet box into her line of vision, and Bella let out a blood-curdling scream. “Yes! We will mawwy you!”

  Jessica chuckled, a pathetic croak, and then chuckled again, and then began laughing. “You want to marry me?”

  “Yes, we want to marry you,” Troy said as he removed the ring from the box.

  Tank unbuckled his seat belt and moved to the edge of his seat. “Honey, if it wasn’t so windy and cold outside, I’d take you out there right now and get down on one knee, but we’re in full view of the truck stop, and that doesn’t seem quite right. But the moment is here, so…will you marry us? Say yes, and make us the happiest men and insta-daddies in the whole world.”

  “Yes!” Bella screeched. “Put it on, Mama! Put it on! I’m gonna have daddies!”

  Bella bonked noggins with Tank when he leaned down to her, and then he turned to Jessica, his cheeks and ears as rosy as they could be and his hazel eyes full of love. “Say yes, Jessica.”

  “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you. But it’s me and one very nosy little girl that you’re making the happiest ever.”

  Bella clapped her hands while the three of them kissed. “It’s like my birfday and Christmas all rolled into one. Can I be your fowwer girl?”

  “Of course you can be my flower girl,” Jessica warbled, barely able to hold it together as she slipped the gorgeous diamond ring on her finger. It fit perfectly, much like Tank and Troy fit perfectly in her life with Bella.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Christmas Eve found Jessica standing in the honeymoon suite of the Hourglass Inn. She had no idea how they’d made the last-minute reservation for the bed and breakfast that night, only that Grace and Charity had helped to make it happen.

  She’d been willing to just go to Judge Woody Porter and have him marry them at town hall, but thanks to all of her friends, they’d managed to put together a wedding and reception during the busiest season of the year. Woody was still officiating, just in a more romantic setting.

  “So it was Bella who actually proposed?” Cassie said as she fastened the catch on the gorgeous diamond pendant Tank had given her when she woke up that morning, a Christmas present one day early. Troy had given her matching diamond earrings, saying something about probably being in trouble with Grandma Kate for giving them a day early, but she didn’t mind.

  “I guess you could say she got the ball rolling. Once she blurted all of that out, the guys took over. I was so surprised.”

  A knock came at the door, and Bunny set down the curling iron she was using on Jessica’s hair to answer.

  “Who is it?”

  “It’s Charity! Are you about ready?”

  Bunny looked back at her and then said, “Five more minutes, okay?”

  “Make it snappy! The grooms are getting nervous and blushy. It’s actually kind of adorable. And when I pointed it out, Tank turned even redder. Take your time. And they look absolutely fantastic in their kilts. Some of the guests from their sides of the family are also wearing kilts!”

  Jessica chuckled. When they’d sent out the announcement about the wedding, she’d assumed that not many people would come, because of it being on Christmas Eve. But the Burnett and Drummond clans hadn’t disappointed. The ceremony had been moved from the parlor in from of the lit fireplace to the ballroom to accommodate all the guests.

  There was muffled talk outside the door while Bunny finished curling Jessica’s hair and she put the earrings on.

  She couldn’t believe this moment was here and that it was taking place in such an idyllic setting, although she’d never forget being proposed to outside a gas station. The moment was still a romantic one to her.

  “Let me ask her,” Charity said to someone standing on the landing with her. There came a knock at the door. “Hey, let me in, guys.” After being let in, she went to Jessica and said, “Are you still set on walking yourself down the aisle?”

  “Yes, why?”

  She’d already had this conversation with the guys and with Grace and even with Charity.

  She hadn’t known anyone besides Val and Ransome, prior to coming to Divine. It would be inappropriate and weird to ask them to walk her, although Charity had assured her they would if she wanted them to.

  Lydia had told her Chance and Clayton would be thrilled to walk her down the aisle, and as fatherly type men in her life went, they were a really good option. But no.

  And Brian had only been in Divine a few weeks. He was barely back on his feet, and why in the world would he be willing to give her away when she wasn’t in fact “his” to give away. So, she decided she and Bella were going to be big girls and hoof it on their own—although Bella was all kinds of pleased that little Grant Warner was the “ring bear.”

  Charity helped to arrange the veil when Jessica stood, as she softly said, “Brian is out on the landing. He thought it would be cool if he dressed like the rest of the family. Tank had an extra kilt and was willing to help him with all the accompanying pieces. He looks nice.”

  “And…”

  “He came up here himself and offered to do it. No one sent him or asked him or made him feel obligated.”

  “He didn’t rehearse with us yesterday.” She needed time to think this through.

  “Okay, so you get to walk him down the aisle. How hard could it be? I can always send for Val and Ransome.”

  Jessica began to giggle. “You pain in the ass. I love you. Tell him I’d be honored if he walked me down the aisle, if he’s comfortable doing it.”

  “Cool. He looks so cute in his kilt, with his knobby knees. Who knows? He might get a girlfriend out of this. I’ll leave him on the landing and wait for you at the bottom of the stairs.” Charity air-kissed her cheek. “You look gorgeous.”

  “Okay, luscious,” Bunny said, patting and primping her hair. “You’re ready to get hitched. We’ll be waiting downstairs with the ‘fowwer girl.’”

  “Okay.”

  Cassie and Bunny hugged her and hurried out. She took a few minutes to breathe slowly, in and out, not because she was panicking but because she was relishing living in this moment. Social gatherings, or any occasion where she was the center of attention, had always made her nervous, but her men were waiting downstairs—in all their kilted hotness, evidently. She giggled and paused when she caught her reflection in the mirror set into the mantel above the fireplace.

  That woman’s cheeks glowed, her makeup was perfect, and her hair was gorgeous. But the real victory was in her eyes. They were the eyes of a woman set free. Free to love and be loved.

  A bit of white silk, hanging on a brass hook in the bathroom caught her eye, and she smiled as she smoothed the peignoir Tank and Troy had won for her in the live auction, another early Christmas gift from her lovers. She shut off the light. It was time for her to go downstairs, and she breathed a happy sigh as she looked around at the romantic setting for her new beginning.

  She pulled open the door, and Brian was waiting right there for her, looking very dapper in his borrowed blue and red plaid.

  “You look lovely, Jessica,” he said earnestly.

  “Why thank you, sir. You’re not half bad yourself.”

  He crooked his arm out for her. “Just so you know…I’m wingin’ this. Shall we?”

  They took the stairs slowly, and she smiled as the music of violins and a cello filtered up over the voices of the gathered guests. At the bottom, all of her dearest friends waited for her, faces
glowing, tears overflowing, so happy for her. She waved her hand at her face.

  No crying! No crying!

  “Mommy, you look like an angel!” Bella cried at the top of her lungs. Laughter rippled from the other room. Jessica truly felt beautiful. This was a moment she’d never forget.

  Brian stopped where Charity directed him, outside the view of the ballroom, and her friends arranged her chapel-length train while Charity straightened her veil.

  “You are going to blow them away,” Charity mouthed softly to her. “I’m so happy for you, my friend.”

  Her friends touched her arms and shoulders, murmuring similar sentiments, and then they turned and, one by one, filtered into the room on the arms of the ushers until it was just Charity, holding Bella’s and Grant’s hands and whispering last-minute instructions to them and Jessica and Brian.

  Brian patted her arm, and he had to clear his throat before he said, “You are going to have a happy life. I know it.”

  “Thank you,” she said as heat gathered in her cheeks. “I’m happy you’ve become a part of our family. And thank you for doing this.”

  “I’m honored you’d let me.”

  “Ready to go, Mama?” Bella said in a stage whisper. She was dressed in a silky white dress with a furry white sweater over it, and her hair had been done in a fancy up-do by Bunny. She wore little white gloves on her hands and a red poinsettia in her hair. She looked like a Christmas fairy.

  “I’m ready.”

  The processional started, and Charity nodded her head at them, getting them into the slow rhythm so they could walk at a stately pace down the aisle, Bella sprinkling red rose petals on the runner and Grant bearing the wedding rings on a ribbon pinned to his lapel so they wouldn’t get lost.

  Charity halted Brian and Jessica just outside the doorway.

  The children’s stately walk lasted until Bella set eyes on her daddies to be. With the utter glee of a child, she tossed the entire basket filled with petals into the air, screeched, “My daddies!” and ran down the aisle. Thanks to Bunny’s skills and Clairol’s extra hold, her hair-do stayed nicely in place as she flung herself into Tank’s and Troy’s arms.