Sold! In the Show Me State

by Jessie Gussman

  With her hand on the doorknob, she yanked it open, determined she was going to put her month with Chandler out of her mind. If not completely out, at least file it under things that were fun, but over.

  There was only one thing in that file.

  It took two seconds for her to realize that Chandler was standing in her doorway with his hand raised to knock.

  He looked just as surprised as she felt to see her yanking the door open before he touched it. It made her want to giggle. She didn’t. His eyes looked her up and down; she was suddenly nervous. She hadn’t realized before what a big movie star he was, and she was, frankly, intimidated.

  She was glad she hadn’t known when she bid on him, or she never would’ve done it.

  Maybe just to humble him. And teach him a lesson. She never had figured out who had given her the money.

  Not that it mattered. She was the one who’d been humbled.

  She’d learned that she wasn’t as different from her mother as she thought she was. In fact, she was just like every other woman in America who had a major crush on Chandler Hudson.

  Although, the Chandler that she’d known, especially at the end of their month together, was completely different than the Chandler in the movies he made. She could almost see the progression of his change, from the first movie to the last.

  They stood there staring at each other. She supposed it was her job to start the conversation since the house was hers.

  “I can’t think of what to say,” she said. There. She talked.

  “How about, Hi, Chandler,” he said, his face completely serious.

  “Hi, Chandler.” She hadn’t said his name out loud since the day he left. It felt good on her tongue.

  “Hello, Ivory.” His voice was a low rumble, and her hand tightened on the doorknob that she’d never let go of.

  There wasn’t a hint of smile on his face. “You could ask me in.”

  Hurt tumbled in her chest like leaves whipped by storm winds. The man in front of her, was the man on the screen. The same one she’d been watching for two months. But she’d never seen him look this insecure. It made her chest clench and loosened something in the tightness of her neck.

  But her fear was stronger than her hope, and she said, “Why are you here?”

  He flinched, just barely, but she saw it.

  She shouldn’t have said that. She’d been two months trying to get over him, hadn’t been able to.

  She thought that she’d been just like her mother, and the rest of the girls in the world. But now, she realized that maybe that thinking was wrong. Because she wasn’t going from man to man to man depending on anyone who would have her.

  It was only Chandler.

  “Forget that. Please come in. It’s good to see you. It’s very good to see you.”

  She stepped back, opening the door wider, and wondering if, after her rather cold and awkward reception, it probably would be even more awkward for her to step forward and hug him now.

  “If you don’t want me here, I can leave.”

  “I do want you. I didn’t want you to leave to begin with.”

  “You said something about a clean break?”

  “I’m sorry. I thought it would be best. Easier isn’t always better I guess.” She wanted to reach for him, but held her hands out instead. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have been more concerned about what was going to hurt less and what...was going to make me less like my mother.” She looked at the floor. That was the only way she could think of to describe it.

  “I’m glad I wasn’t the only one that was hurting.” He hadn’t moved from where he’d stood just outside the door. “You’re the farthest thing from your mother.” He spoke fiercely, but soft, and her head jerked up.

  “No.” She thought there would be pain. She hadn’t realized how much pain. And she’d already figured out that loving one man didn’t mean that she would fall into anyone’s arms.

  “I told you that I loved you. I just want you know that’s still true. It’s never going to change.”

  It wasn’t hard to know what to say to that. “I love you too. I had no idea that love involves so much pain.”

  “We’re a crazy pair, aren’t we? I don’t think it needs to be painful.”

  She had to smile. Because she thought he was right. “I guess we’re just pretty good at making simple things complicated then? It’s probably not a talent that’s in high demand.”

  Her smile came easier. “Speaking of talent, I bought a TV and watched all of your movies.” She wasn’t going to tell him how many times she’d watched him. “You are talented.”

  He lifted his shoulder, shrugging, shaking his head. “No. That’s not the kind of talent that matters. I mean, it’s fun to entertain people, but it’s more important to live a good life. I messed up when I left here. I should have taken more time.”

  “You had a hard blow.” She hadn’t even asked how he was, and she felt bad. She’d been inconsiderate, just thinking of herself and how much she’d been hurting. “Are you okay? How is RaeAnne?”

  “We’re fine. It was a crazy week until we got everything settled. Hollywood does everything big. And Las Vegas is just the same.” He looked off into the distance and swallowed. “I think RaeAnne will be fine. She loved her mother. Obviously. And Jessica was a good mom.” He nodded, looking back, as though needing to confirm that she agreed.

  She had no idea what kind of mom Jessica was, but she nodded anyway, just to make him feel better.

  “But it’s a blur, because I wanted to be able to call you and talk to you and be with you, and as it was they delayed filming for me, and I had to get on set as soon as possible, and you don’t have a phone.”

  She held up the phone that she’d bought since he left. “I do now.” She weighed the phone back and forth.

  “Looks like you’re proud of that thing.” He chuckled.

  “It’s fun. Addicting. I’ve definitely lost some work over it.” Mostly googling him.

  “It’ll wear off some in a bit. You’re right, though. It is addicting.” His expression became serious.

  They hadn’t been talking about anything important, almost like they needed to find their footing with each other again, but his face said he had something he wanted her to know.

  A little shot of fear sparked through her, tempered by the hope that had blossomed in her chest.

  “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He lifted a hand like he was going to reach for her, but dropped it. “Couldn’t stop thinking about being here. I’ve been discontent before, but I’ve never longed for a place, nor for a person, the way I long for you and this farm. I know I’m springing everything on you, after being gone for so long, although I would have called you every day if I’d have known that you had a phone,” he gave her a lifted brow look, “and maybe we have some things to work out. But you just said you love me...”

  She nodded. She wasn’t taking it back.

  “I know I’ve said in the past that I’ve tried marriage and it didn’t work, but I think maybe I wasn’t ready for it? Or maybe I wasn’t serious about it.” He sighed like the words were hard to say. “I’d like to be serious about it with you.”

  “Are you asking me to marry you?” It was about as a backhanded proposal she’d ever heard of if he was, which almost made her smile – he might play in rom-coms, but his real life technique maybe needed some work, except it didn’t, because it only meant he didn’t say things like this to every girl he dated.

  “I guess I kinda was. Maybe I was just saying that I’m back here because I want to court you and would like get you to agree to marry me.”

  Her brows lifted. “Courting sounds fun. Old-fashioned, but fun.”

  “It seemed like it suited you. Although now you have a TV and phone, maybe we should just hook up.”

  “Or not. I’ll take courting.”

  He laughed. “How long do you think this courting stuff will take?”

  “Well if you’d asked
me to marry you, I’d have said yes right now. But courting...a year?”

  He dropped to a knee. “Will you marry me?”

  Ivory froze. Was he serious?

  No ring, no long, drawn-out declaration of love, just a simple question. She kind of liked simple. She was a simple person.

  “Yes. I will.”

  “Just like that?” He said, his head tilted.

  “Are you giving me a chance to change my mind?”

  He stood, drawing her to him, and tilting his head. “No.” Then his eyes narrowed. “Did you want to?”

  In answer she reached up, slipping her arms around his neck, and tugging until he lowered his head. “No,” she whispered as their lips finally met.

  Epilogue

  Deacon Hudson walked into church, the soothing environment wrapping around him and easing the burdens from his shoulders with just a few deep breaths.

  Of all the places in the world, he loved God’s house the best. He’d always felt at home here.

  He was early for Sunday school, as always. It’d been his habit to come and pray before he got in the bus and drove the route to pick up kids for Sunday School.

  He walked behind pews toward the center aisle when Miss Lynette came up the stairs from the basement. She seemed like she’d expected to see him.

  “Deacon, I thought that was you. I wanted to see you for a moment?”

  “Sure.” Her words had been phrased as a question, but he wouldn’t tell her no, and she probably knew it.

  “You know Miss Inez. She lost her husband last fall?”

  “Sure do. She’s been going here for years.” The church had done all kinds of fundraisers and gift baskets for her and her seven kids. They’d bought gifts for the family for Christmas and Deacon actually mowed her yard every week.

  Lynette had more on her mind, he was sure. He waited.

  “I’m just going to come right out and say, I think that you and she would make a good pair. I’d like for you guys to meet and talk about it.”

  His stomach bounced up and hit his tonsils.

  Okay. She’d surprised him.

  Deacon shifted, looked over Miss Lynette’s head at the cross hanging on the far wall of the church. It was empty. Of course. Just a plain wooden one. Not fancy in any way.

  He stared, not really seeing the cross. Thinking about Tinsley. He’d never tried to find out who her mother was. He had never tried to find out who had given her to him, and written that note that had derailed everything he had planned for his life.

  He wouldn’t change it for the world though, wouldn’t give up Tinsley for anything.

  What seemed like a horrible awful thing at the time, had produced his daughter whom he loved more than anything in the world.

  He still wondered, though, what exactly God had been thinking when He allowed it to happen.

  “Deacon?” Miss Lynette interrupted his thoughts. His eyes turned back down to her.

  “I was just thinking.”

  “I know seven kids is a lot —”

  He held up his hand. “I love children.” That was true. He hadn’t really thought much about Inez.

  Actually, he hadn’t been thinking about her just now, either. Which probably didn’t bode well for any type of relationship they might have.

  “I don’t want to push you, or make you do anything that you don’t want to do. But she could really use a husband.” Miss Lynette’s lips turned up in a gentle smile. “I hate to see you alone. I think you’d be happier with a wife.”

  Deacon tried to keep his lips from flattening in irritation. She was probably right, and even if she wasn’t, she was only trying to be helpful. But he didn’t want just any wife, he wanted someone...

  He didn’t know. He just wanted God to bring someone into his life that he wouldn’t be bored with. That challenged him, in a good way. He knew he was probably the kind of man people looked at and thought would want a good steady wife. A friend, lots of kids, boring.

  He did want that. Maybe not the boring. He wanted a wife who was also a friend, but he wanted...excitement?

  He couldn’t disagree with Miss Lynette, though. He was lonely. Inez, with her seven children would certainly liven up his life.

  God? Is this what You want from me? Is it You opening a door?

  He really hoped it wasn’t. But, maybe it would be for the best.

  It felt like an open door, so he decided he’d walk through.

  “Sure. I’ll talk to her today. See if she wants to go somewhere and chat. Thanks for suggesting it.”

  He kind of felt like he should feel a little more excited, if this were truly the woman he was going to marry.

  As if God knew exactly what he was thinking, the door opened and his brother Chandler walked in with Ivory. RaeAnne wasn’t with them; she had stayed the night at their mom’s house with Tinsley. They’d be along later.

  But he wasn’t really thinking about their children. He was looking at his brother as he looked at Ivory, almost a look of idolizing worship. Definitely a look of love. It was the way his dad still looked at his mom. It was the kind of look he wanted to give to his wife.

  Ivory laughed at something Chandler said, and her hand went up and touched his arm. He noted the engagement ring on her finger. Blinking under the church lights.

  Chandler probably could have afforded something much bigger, but Ivory wasn’t a pretentious kind of woman, and he didn’t think either one of them cared about diamonds or jewelry or anything like that. Especially since Chandler had retired from acting.

  “Hey bro. Usually you’re on your bus route right now. Running late?” Chandler asked, his hand going down and Ivory’s slipping into it naturally, like they were so in tune with each other, they moved together.

  He wanted that.

  “Have you guys set a date yet?” It wasn’t something he would normally care about, but he supposed with Miss Lynette’s question, it was on his mind right now. He could be married next year this time. Tinsley would have a mom. And if it were Inez, he would have a whole house full of children.

  He didn’t mind that, necessarily. But the idea was foreign.

  Ivory’s cheeks turned a little pink, as Chandler looked down at her. Deacon might have had aspirations to be a pastor, but he was pretty sure what was going through their minds.

  Finally Chandler looked up with a cocky grin. “I think we’re going to have a small wedding in the next few weeks. No point in dragging things out.”

  That certainly made Deacon’s brows go up.

  “You gonna give us marriage counseling, bro?”

  He snorted. “I don’t think you’d take me seriously. You better talk to pastor.”

  “We already talked about it. We’d rather have you.” Chandler was a serious as Deacon had ever seen him.

  “Okay. Four sessions.”

  “Will you marry us?”

  There was something in his chest that seemed to grow and expand, something warm and happy. “I sure will.”

  It would be a blessing to marry two people who were so obviously in love. It was the best five thousand dollars he’d ever spent.

  THANKS SO MUCH FOR reading!!

  If you’d like to read Deacon’s story click HERE.