by Bree Cariad
“Oh?”
“And he just moved to Hyacinth.”
“Maybe he can give you a ride to and from school instead of having to take the bus,” Deeka suggested, nicely not saying any of the things that were probably going through her head.
DeLynn and Barrett kept the two company while they ate and not for the first time, DeLynn watched Deeka and Curtis knowing that was what she wanted. They were happy and so much in love with one another and discipline played a huge part in that. However was she going to date and stay true to the Hyacinth way of life? She really needed to figure that out.
While DeLynn had expected a full house the next day—after all, Evan’s troop was rather large—she hadn’t taken one thing into account. Many of these boys had sisters, some of whom were of courtable age. And while the boys cleaned, stripped wallpaper, and helped Zachary put up a new wall, girl after girl showed up with food, homemade food they had obviously made just for him.
The poor man looked bemused by the attention which surprised DeLynn. He was so incredibly good looking and all the girls at school were slightly gaga over him. How could he not realize what a catch he was?
As dinner time slowly approached and the majority had left, leaving a much cleaner house and a new wall in place, Zachary shook his head. “Thanks so much,” he said as DeLynn and her two brothers who were the only ones left came into the living room. “I’m basically now where I expected to be by Sunday. This is fantastic.”
“We’ll be back tomorrow,” Evan said in his usual cheery voice. “Tonight we’re going to the tree lighting. Are you coming?”
“Tree lighting?” Zachary asked, focusing his attention on her youngest brother.
“Yeah, the Hyacinth tree lighting’s tonight. Have you seen the huge monster tree at the park? They string lights every year and there’ll be hot mulled cider and other stuff to help keep us warm.” Both of her brothers had taken an instant liking to Zach which made her happy. And that the feeling seemed to be mutual made her feel even better.
“Sounds fun. When does it start?”
Evan looked over at DeLynn, who smiled and answered. “The lighting happens at seven, but the activity starts around six. It’s a pretty huge event. Almost as big as the Memorial Day Picnic.” Just thinking of the picnic made her uncomfortable. Zach had to have seen just what a hot commodity he was from all of the girls coming by today. If he was still available come May, he’d probably never have to worry about cooking all summer as all the girls brought food.
“Fantastic. It’ll be a great way to meet some people as well. I guess I’ll see you there?” He asked the question of all of them, but his eyes focused on her.
“Yeah. We’ll be there,” she whispered.
“Wonderful. And again, thanks so much for coming to help.”
The three of them climbed into Barrett’s truck and as she pulled away from the cottage, Blaine looked over at her and nodded. “What’s that for?” she asked him.
“I approve. He’s ten times the man Conners was.”
Well that was true enough.
“Do you think Mom’ll be mad that I offered to go back tomorrow?” Evan asked, looking out the window.
“Why would she?” Blaine asked.
“She was telling Barrett that she wanted to take me’n’Cherry to get some new clothes.”
“Cherry and me,” DeLynn corrected without thinking.
“Me’n’Cherry,” Evan said again with a mischievous grin.
“I don’t think the roads will be good enough,” DeLynn told him, fighting a laugh. “You know how she hates driving in snow and the snow’s still piling up. Plus, she’ll be happy you’re helping Zach out.”
The table was packed with leftovers when they got home and they warmed themselves with mugs of hot chocolate while filling plates.
“Did you get a lot done?” Liz asked, walking into the room.
“Some. The place looks better. We’re going back tomorrow to help out some more.”
Her mother raised an eyebrow. “All right,” she said slowly. “But make sure there are other people around at all times.”
“Mom, I see him at school all the time.”
“True, but here in Hyacinth, things can be misconstrued, honey. You don’t want people wagging their tongues for the wrong reasons.”
“No, we’d rather have them wagging for the right ones?” DeLynn snapped, surprising everyone including herself. Not one to lose her temper, she stared at her mother aghast. “Mom, I—”
Barrett wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Why don’t we chat in my study?” Embarrassed, and still annoyed, DeLynn put her plate and cup down and quickly left the kitchen. Spanked. She was going to get spanked. That hadn’t happened for three years, not since her brother Blaine had taken her to task for skipping out one night when she was supposed to be studying. That she had just wanted to watch the meteor shower had not been a good excuse and her brother proved that he knew how to spank. She’d never asked him where he learned it—Blaine had only been eight when their father died—but had shown himself proficient in the art.
And Deeka said her father was keen on the strap and while not quick to pick it up, just like most of the men in Hyacinth he did not take kindly to rudeness in any form. As soon as she reached the study, she sat down on one of the chairs facing his desk and looked at the floor. This was mortifying. DeLynn always knew one day she would be spanked by her own husband, but Barrett? Yes, he was her new father, but it was still embarrassing. Charity had been spanked many times over by the man and seemed better for it, but for DeLynn this was horrifying.
Instead of grabbing the folded up leather that hung behind his desk, Barrett sat down next to her. “DeLynn, what’s wrong?” The kindness in his voice was her undoing and she felt tears drip down her cheeks.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’m never rude. Ever. And definitely not to Mom.”
“I know. You aren’t the type. Did something happen today? Did Zach do anything that made you feel uncomfortable?”
Startled, she shook her head. “No. He’s a perfect gentleman. It was just…” She had no idea how to describe everything she was feeling and just let it all tumble out. “They came from everywhere, Barrett. Everywhere! Every few minutes some courtable girl was showing up with cookies or cupcakes. And they flirted shamelessly which just seemed to perplex him. And how can he not know how entirely perfect he is? He’s just…amazing, Barrett. He’s travelled all over and wants nothing more than to serve other people. And his parents are so nice and we had such a wonderful time that night. And when Memorial Day gets here and all the new courtable girls come out, he’s going to forget I exist.” Unable to stop it, she burst into tears at the thought.
Two strong arms pulled her onto his lap and he held her as she cried. Wrapping her arms around his neck she sobbed out all the worries that had plagued her over the last few days. “I really like him, Barrett,” she whimpered. “I’m not even sure he sees me as anything other than one of his flock, but I really like him.”
“I can tell,” he said as her sobs drifted to soft hiccups. “I’ve known you for a long time, DeLynn, and I’ve never seen you this captivated by someone, not even Conners. Then you were more interested in being courted by a good looking guy. Now, you’ve found a man you respect and adore.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Try not to worry too much, honey. He seemed rather taken with you from what I saw last night.”
“He was just thrilled we were coming to help.”
His body shook as he chuckled. “Maybe, maybe not. Now, are you ready to go apologize to your mother so we can eat and get to the tree lighting?” She nodded. “Good. DeLynn, I’m not your father and as you’re a young woman and not a child, I’ll never discipline you unless you specifically ask for it. I don’t feel I have the right to take you in hand and discipline must be a two-way street. You don’t have to say it now, but if you feel you need a spanking to help with your topsy-turvy feelings, I will hand you
one, but otherwise, we’ll consider this over and done with. Deal?”
Surprised, she nodded again and stood up. “I think I’m good.”
“All right. Then let’s go eat.”
After apologizing to her mother who smiled and accepted it readily enough, DeLynn quietly ate her dinner before running upstairs to put on warm clothing. It was cold out and still snowing. It was a good thing there would be a lot of hot cider or hot chocolate to drink tonight. A knock on her bedroom door made her finish quickly before opening it up.
Blaine raised an eyebrow. “You okay, sis?”
“I’m fine.” Well, she was sure she looked a mess with her red eyes and puffy nose, but at least out in the snow people would just think she was cold or suspect she’d been spanked. They didn’t need to know she was falling head over heels in love with Hyacinth’s newest resident.
“You sure?” He opened his mouth as if to say something else and then shrugged. Digging his hands into the pocket of his jeans which slumped his shoulders and made him look fourteen rather than seventeen, he shrugged while looking anywhere but at her. “Zach’s an idiot if he doesn’t ask to court you.”
“He isn’t from here,” she reminded him.
“So? He moved here and someone will let him know what’s going on, if he doesn’t know all ready. Besides, he likes you.”
“How can you tell?” she asked, expecting a flippant answer as she still thought of Blaine as a little boy even though he was not that much younger than she was.
“He couldn’t take his eyes off you all day. Every time one of the courtables dropped by to bring him something, the first thing he’d do was look around to see if you were in sight. When you weren’t, he looked relieved. Besides,” he added, pushing the toe of one of his boots into the carpet, “I asked him.”
She had just reached for her purse and spun around at his words. “You asked him?” she said in horror.
Frowning, he nodded and stood up straight, lifting his head defiantly. “I’m your brother. I’m not going to let someone else hurt you so I asked him what his intentions were.”
DeLynn wanted to rail at him for doing that, but instead she found herself asking, “What did he say?”
Looking like he was pretty sure she wasn’t mad at him anymore, he grinned cheekily, appearing all of fourteen again. “He asked me how courting dinners worked and then wondered why nobody had snatched you up yet.” As she stared at him unable to speak, he added, “I told him it was because you were waiting for the right guy, not just any guy. But I also told him not to wait too long because you were quite a catch.” Without another word, he turned and left.
“Blaine!” she called, running after him.
The entire family stood at the bottom of the stairs so she couldn’t bug her brother. His grin said he knew it, too. Taking her mother’s huge SUV, they all piled in and headed for the park. As cold as it was when they got out, her main thought was to get her brother aside and find out anything else he might have said, but he disappeared as soon as they got to the park, no doubt running off to find his friends. That was fine. She’d catch up with him sooner or later. If nothing else, she could wake him up in the middle of the night and make him tell her.
The walkways at the park had been shoveled and graveled and since the snow was well over a foot deep off the path, it was very crowded and she had to move from side-to-side to get around people. Spotting Deeka and Curtis was a surprise. “Hey!” she called, trotting over to them. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“We won’t be staying for long,” Curtis agreed. “It’s freezing out here. But Deeka wanted to see the tree lighting.” Both of them had mugs in their hands and Deeka was sitting on his lap, looking utterly content.
“Hot chocolate?” DeLynn guessed.
“Mmm,” Deeka agreed, nodding her head toward a nearby booth. “Marilyn added peppermint to it this year. It’s really good.”
After getting herself a large cup of hot cocoa, DeLynn rejoined her friend. “Enjoying having a few days off school?” she asked, sipping her drink and jogging from foot to foot to try to stay warm.
“Definitely. I’m loving what I’m learning but I’ll be glad when school’s out in June,” Deeka admitted. “Especially as we’re going to be leaving for a while.”
Startled, DeLynn stared at her. “Leaving?”
“I need to do some research for a new book,” Curtis explained. “So, Deeka and I will be living in Italy for a few months.”
“Such a hard life,” DeLynn teased, feeling a little jealous.
Deeka grinned. “I know. Curtis has already found us a place near Salsomaggiore Terme and we’ll fly out a week after school’s out. Then I get to learn Italian cooking while he’s doing his research.”
“And when I’m not doing research, I plan on showing Deeka the highlights of northern Italy, which I find one of the most romantic areas in the world.” The two of them looked at one another and DeLynn felt a little gnawing at her gut. She wanted the kind of love they shared. Would she ever find it and be able to keep it once she did?
“Well, look who’s here,” Deeka remarked and following her gaze, DeLynn stood up straight as she spotted who her friend was looking at. “Zachary Styles,” she explained to her husband who raised an eyebrow. “He’s the chaplain at school and DeLynn’s friend.”
Zachary stood talking with several people, two of them being religious leaders in town, but there were also two eighteen-year-old girls standing next to them. DeLynn was embarrassed at the desire she felt to walk over and hip check both of them. As if feeling their gaze, he turned and as his eyes alighted on her, they lit up. He spoke quickly to the people in his vicinity and then made his way over to them.
“You weren’t kidding about it being crowded,” he said with a warm smile. He was dressed in a long woolen coat, but still had his arms crossed tightly over his chest with his hands tucked under his arms to keep warm.
“Hot cocoa,” Deeka said, lifting up her cup. “It’s a life saver.”
As Zachary turned toward her, DeLynn made introductions. “Deeka, Curtis, this is Zachary Styles, Hyacinth’s newest resident and the chaplain at our school. Zach, this is Deeka, one of my best friends and Barrett’s daughter, and her husband Curtis Brenten.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Zach said, shaking their hands in turn. “Barrett says you’re going to LCC,” he commented as he looked at Deeka. “If you ever need anything, please drop in. I’m there for every student.”
“Thanks. So, how are you liking Hyacinth so far?”
“The people are wonderful,” he said, turning his face to smile at DeLynn before turning back to Curtis and Deeka. “I came here this weekend to work on my new home and today DeLynn and a huge amount of boys came over to help. I’m much further than expected plus it was a pleasure to meet so many Hyacinth residents.”
A boom filled the air and both DeLynn and Deeka started to giggle as the sounds of the high school band started up. “I see they haven’t gotten any better since we were there,” Deeka snickered.
“I think Hyacinth Academy is proud of its really bad band,” DeLynn said and they both laughed. Curtis and Zachary soon joined them as whatever song the band was playing just seemed to get worse.
“Is that I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas?” Curtis finally asked, cocking his head to the side.
“How can you tell?” Deeka asked, looking at him.
“I can’t. It kind of sounds like a funeral dirge.”
As the band ended whatever song it was playing, the crowd went silent as they all looked at the large tree in the middle of the park. Zachary and Curtis followed the girl’s gazes and waited. And waited.
“What’s supposed to be happening?” Zachary asked in a whisper.
Giggling, DeLynn shook her head. “It’s the same thing every year. They should call it the tree un-lighting ceremony.”
“Yeah,” Deeka added. “They have this big event every year after they’ve strung like a
million lights on the old monster and every year the lights don’t work.”
Snorting a laugh, Zachary looked between the two of them. “Seriously?”
“Oh, they get them to work sooner or later,” DeLynn assured him. “It usually turns out to be a missed connection somewhere. But I also think it’s just tradition. Come and see the lights not turn on.”
Both Curtis and Zachary burst into laughter.
“So we’re freezing to watch nothing,” Curtis finally said, his body shaking with laughter.
“Basically,” DeLynn agreed, grinning. “See what you would have missed out on if you hadn’t come?”
“Not to mention the good hot cocoa,” Deeka added, drinking the last of hers.
“Well, if that’s it, I’m reaching freezing point, little dove,” Curtis said, kissing Deeka on top of her head. “Let’s go home and get really warm.” Something about the tone of his voice told DeLynn he meant more than he was saying and as Deeka’s face lit up and she leapt off his lap, DeLynn was sure of it.
“We should get together at the Lava Lamp over break,” Deeka said as she took Curtis’s cup and put them both in the recycle.
“Sounds good to me. I’ll call once finals are over.”
“Nice to meet you, Zachary,” Curtis said, shaking his hand. “I’m relatively new myself, but Hyacinth is a great town. And as Deeka and DeLynn are practically sisters, I’m sure we’ll see a lot of each other. Have fun watching the non-lighting.”
DeLynn flushed as his assumption that she and Zach were somehow connected became clear but didn’t say anything as he wheeled away, maneuvering his way through the crowd with Deeka at his side.
“So, how long does it take till they light things up?” Zach asked, not seeming to react to Curtis’s statement. Did he not understand what Curtis was implying? Or did he just ignore it because it wasn’t something he was interested in?
“They’ll be lit by tomorrow.”
Snorting another laugh, he shook his head. “I think I’m going to get a cocoa. I’m freezing. Would you like another?”