by Bree Cariad
His finger covered on the mic and he raised an eyebrow. “It’s Konani Styles. I’ve told her it’s up to you, it’s your choice.”
Confusion settled in her chest as she took the phone from him. He quickly left the room, shutting the door behind him. “Hello?”
“DeLynn? It’s Konani Styles, Zachary’s mother. Is this a bad time?”
“Oh, no, Konani, I’m just getting in last minute studying, which is pretty silly. If I don’t know the stuff by now, one night isn’t going to make much difference.” Putting her book aside so she could concentrate, DeLynn asked, “So how was your Thanksgiving?”
“Wonderful, thank you for asking. And thank you for bringing all those wonderful people to help Zachary with his house. He can hardly wait to move in.”
“It was nothing.”
“Now, I should probably let you get back to studying, but the reason I called was to see if you’d like to come over to dinner tomorrow. We’re having a send-off party for Zachary for moving into his first home and we’d love to have you. You’re welcome to stay overnight and we can drive you back to Hyacinth the next morning as all three of us are making that trip: Zachary driving the moving van, his father driving his truck, and me driving our car so Ander and I can get home. Or if you’re too tired from finals, we can make it another time.”
“I’d love to come.” Being invited over to the Styles’s house again was a wonderful end to her term. DeLynn hoped this meant that Zachary had told his parents he had begun the courting tradition with her and that they approved.
“Lovely. Why don’t you bring an overnight bag and leave it in Zachary’s office at school? What time is your final?”
“Ten to eleven-thirty.”
“He’ll be at the school through the end of the day so why don’t I come pick you up at his office at one? If you’d like, you can help me prepare the lau-lau.”
After ending their conversation, DeLynn was too excited to study. Instead, she went through her clothes and pulled out two outfits, one more dressy than the other so that she would be prepared for how formal this party might be. After packing a small overnight bag with anything she’d need, she took the phone back downstairs. The only two people in the living room where her parents.
“She sounds like a lovely woman,” Liz said, watching her put the phone back on the cradle.
“Konani is really sweet,” DeLynn said. “I’m going to stay at their house tomorrow night and she’s going to teach me how to make one of those wonderful dishes she made when I was there before.”
“Good for you,” Barrett said, smiling. “Call us before you leave Saturday morning.”
“Will do. Thanks.”
DeLynn sent a thank you up above for her step-father. Before him, her mother would have fretted and worried about such an invitation and how it might affect her reputation. Having a husband to lean on was making Liz a lot less stressed.
Leaving her last final was a relief and DeLynn quickly made her way over to the bookstore to sell back her textbooks. While she didn’t get a lot back, there was more than enough to put aside for next term’s books which were less expensive than the ones she had this term. Just before noon, she took the stairs she had become very familiar with down to the basement of the admin building and walked through the doors to the chapel, instantly jumping to the side as she almost collided with Karen, who barreled toward the door. The woman’s eyes were red and her nose puffy. As she grabbed the door, she looked at DeLynn and shook her head. Then she left without another word.
“DeLynn.” Zachary’s quiet voice had her turn toward him. “How was your final?”
“Good. I think. Is Karen all right?”
Grimacing, he shook his head as he guided her into his office. A hot pizza sat on top of his desk, beckoning her. “She’s just had a bit of an upset and needed to talk about it. Are you ready for three weeks of no school?” he asked, changing the subject.
Knowing that in his position he couldn’t really talk about the stuff people told him, she nodded. “I am. Are you ready to move?”
Moaning, he nodded. “I’ve been packing like crazy and for the last three nights I’ve been living out of my suitcase. It will be wonderful to get everything unpacked.” Grabbing a couple paper plates he handed her one as he took two sodas from a mini-fridge he kept under his desk. “And I’m very excited to get to know my new town. What happens around Christmas? Do they have a lights-out ceremony for the unlightable tree?”
Giggling, she curled up in her chair as she took a bite of pizza. “Oh, exciting stuff. And the lights started working two nights later. It was in the paper.”
“Front page news?” he teased, making her laugh aloud.
“Four of the churches have Christmas pageants and most everyone goes to all of them. There’s the food drive, caroling which is a huge event on Christmas Eve, and,” she said, knowing her eyes were twinkling as she could hardly wait to see his reaction to this one, “There’s the Spank the Santa party.”
He began to cough as he had just swallowed and it took a couple minutes before he could breathe again. “Come again?” he said before taking a long drink of his soda.
“Spank the Santa. I don’t know who originally named it—it must be way back as even the elderly laugh about it. Anyway, it actually has nothing to do with its name,” she admitted, grinning. “But it’s a huge sweets night. Happens on winter solstice and it’s by invitation only. It’s the event of the season.”
Laughing loudly, he grinned at her. “You’re putting me on.”
“No, really! The McCauley’s host it. I’ve gone every year since I was nine. Everyone makes something to share and meets up at the McCauley’s barn which they heat just for the occasion and you sit on hay bales and munch on all sorts of high-calorie goodies. Every year they have a band play and some of the folks dance and Mr. McCauley reads about the history of Winter Solstice. It’s fun.”
“It sounds like it.” His smile changed and something about it set off butterflies in her stomach. As she looked into his brown eyes, a throat clearing made her jump. Zachary started to laugh. “Nice timing, Mum.”
“I’m good,” Konani agreed in amusement. “DeLynn, you’re looking lovely today. Are you ready to make some lau-lau?”
“Definitely.” DeLynn stood up and grabbed her overnight bag which she had stowed in his office that morning. “I guess I’ll see you tonight,” she said as she walked by him.
“Oh, yes, you will.”
The butterflies did loop-de-loops at his tone and she couldn’t stop grinning all the way to Konani’s car. The ride didn’t seem long as the roads were in much better condition than the last time she had ridden this way and before long she was in an apron and following directions on how to make one of Zach’s favorite dishes.
“It’s easier than I thought,” she admitted when the filled leaves went into a strange above-the-counter oven. “What is this?”
“Ander made it for me after we left New Zealand. In Hawaii and New Zealand, we cooked these underground. So this acts as both a steamer and a pressure cooker. It isn’t as good as home, but close enough. Maybe one day you can learn to make it on the islands.”
DeLynn couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her lips. “That’s a nice thought.” She helped Zachary’s mother make several other foods, some Hawaiian, some originating in New Zealand, before Konani sent her down the hall.
“Why don’t you get ready? The guests will start arriving in an hour.”
“I meant to ask,” DeLynn said as she headed in the direction of the guest room. “How formal is tonight? I brought two outfits depending.”
“I’ll be wearing a dress,” Konani explained. “But not everyone will. It’s still quite cold outside so I expect most people will come in jeans or slacks of some sort.”
DeLynn took her time getting ready, making sure her hair lay flat down her back and that her makeup was perfect before dressing in a deep emerald sweater dress. When she was done, she could hear v
oices from the living room so after slipping her toes into a pair of low heels, she left the guest room, coming to a complete stop as she got to the end of the hall and spotted who was actually there.
It wasn’t a room of strangers. Instead, sitting or standing in front of her were Zachary and his parents and hers along with David Corbelt who was a member of the Hyacinth town council. “What’s going on?” she asked in confusion.
David, who had been a friend of her father’s, gave her a wide smile. “Usually Alex gets to do this but as I had business in Longdale today, I was the lucky one.” He picked up a piece of paper and began to read and as the words left his lips, DeLynn grasped the wall to stay standing.
"Miss DeLynn Straynar, we the undersigned have given our permission for you to be courted by Mr. Zachary William Styles for the process of one year, starting on this date and ending no later than one year from today. As a courted female, you are never to be in the presence of another male without either Mr. Styles or Mr. Williams present or a female trusted by one of the aforementioned gentlemen. Your rights from Mr. Styles are as follows…"
She had a hard time listening to the words as her eyes met Zachary’s and the warmth within them brought tears to her eyes. He did care for her. Her, DeLynn Straynar, who had been passed on by so many Hyacinth men, was being courted by the most amazing man on the planet.
“…Mr. Styles may take Miss Straynar out for specifically arranged times to dinner or to an event. These must be by the light of day. Third, Stage Three: Mr. Styles must assume less passive control and begin to take on the mantel he will assume completely upon matrimony. This will include giving specific commands he will expect her to follow and discipline applied if not followed up to, but not including, corporal punishment. Fourth, Stage Four: all the above except with the addition of formal, over the clothing corporal punishment, if the situation requires. Five, Stage Five: by now…”
The words of the courting document ebbed and flowed through her mind, but she knew the basics and could read the fine points later. All she cared about right now was the man standing across the room from her, the man who she hadn’t realized until this very moment held her heart. Tears dripped down her cheeks.
“…These last four stages depend on if a marriage proposal has been proffered and accepted. If so, the engagement will take part during this time with the marriage to take place at the end of the courting ritual. If it has not been proffered, all former stages will be adhered to until the end of the courting. If this agreement is entered into willingly, then we the undersigned give our seal of approval." Placing the paper down on the coffee table, David placed a pen next to it. “DeLynn, if you would like to enter this courting, please sign next to the X."
She didn’t need to think about it, walking over and quickly signing her name to the form.
“Congratulations,” David said, winking as he picked up the form. As she stood up, Zachary walked to her side and it felt like magic was in the air as her palms tingled when he took her hands within his.
“You’ve made me very happy,” he murmured, lowering his head until his lips touched hers. As he released her hands to wrap his arms around her waist, she slid them up his chest and around his neck, holding onto him as he deepened the kiss. When he pulled back, he was breathing as roughly as she was. “My DeLynn.”
Beaming up at him, she nodded.
“My baby!” Liz said, standing up and holding out her arms. Zach released her and she rushed over to her mother and hugged her. “Oh, honey, I’m so excited for you.”
“Me too. How long have you known?”
DeLynn looked from Liz to Barrett who hugged her once her mother released her.
“I’ve known since the council meeting after his dinner,” Barrett said in amusement, “and it was vastly difficult not to tell anyone. Deeka already knew when Curtis went to ask to court her. Keeping this information from you was not easy. I don’t look forward to doing the same with Cherise or Charity.”
“I just found out tonight,” her mother said, with a shake of her head. “I couldn’t understand why we had to come to Longdale. He finally had to tell me because I wasn’t budging. Barrett’s exact words were ‘Don’t you want to see your daughter courted?’”
Grinning, DeLynn turned to find Konani with her arms out. “Oh, I’m so glad you’ve accepted,” Konani said, hugging her tightly. “Zachary explained to us about Hyacinth courting and to be honest, it’s in some ways close to what part of my family did back in Hawaii.” Her husband enfolded DeLynn in a warm hug before releasing her. He wasn’t a man who said much, but he had the same warmth in his smile as his son did.
David left and once again, she was back in Zachary’s arms and as far as she was concerned, she never wanted to leave.
“As I have the right to do so,” Barrett said, “I think the two of you can start at stage two. You’ve known one another for the entire term and I trust my gut which tells me Zachary’s a good man.” He turned his head toward the man next to her and raised an eyebrow. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t. Believe me, I would never harm this wonderful lady.”
“Will you two stay for dinner?” Konani asked.
Barrett looked at Liz for a moment and nodded. “We’d love to.”
Almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth, the doorbell rang. For the next three hours, DeLynn was introduced to more people than she would ever remember: friends of Zachary’s parents, his friends from both high school and college, and finally, his mentor Dr. Stren. “Garrett,” Zach said warmly as an older gentleman walked in, leaning heavily on a cane.
“Zachary,” he responded, returning the hug her boyfriend gave him and surprising DeLynn at his deep rumbling brogue. “So, finally settling somewhere. Hyacinth’s a good choice. And who’s this lovely lady?” he asked, turning bright blue eyes on DeLynn. She flushed at the compliment making his eyes twinkle.
“Garrett, this is DeLynn Straynar, my girlfriend. DeLynn, this is Dr. Garrett Stren, my mentor and predecessor at LCC.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Stren,” she said warmly, shaking the man’s hand. “Zachary speaks highly of you.”
His smile widened into a grin. “Ah, Zach, you’ve got a good one here. Call me, Garrett, lass. Have you seen Zach’s new house?”
“She’s from Hyacinth,” Zachary stated in amusement.
“Ah! You’re courting, are ya? Good man. I always said you had just the right temperament for Hyacinth and vice versa.” He raised his head and breathed in. “Don’t tell me your mum made lau-lau.”
“She did,” Zachary said with a chuckle. “I think there is even some left, though I can’t guarantee it.”
“If you didn’t save me some, I may disown you,” the older man teased before heading toward the kitchen.
“He’s cute,” DeLynn said, watching him go. “Where’s he from?”
“Scotland. The man’s a bevy of information. I had no idea he was back in town. After he retired, he and his wife Tess moved back to their homeland. If they’re here for long, I’ll invite them over for dinner. What do you think?” he asked, smiling down at her. “Throwing a little dinner party?”
Grinning back at him, she nodded. “Love to.”
Chapter 7
Her siblings attacked when Zachary brought her home the next day.
First they stopped off at his new house and then after his parents went inside, he took her over in his truck. And the moment he parked in front of the house, the front door opened and all four of her siblings ran out, congratulating and hugging the both of them. Zachary seemed a bit bemused, but happy all the same.
“Mom made cinnamon rolls this morning, come and have some,” Blaine said, after congratulating the two of them.
“I need to get back before my parents start unloading everything.”
Blaine and Evan looked at one another and then back at Zachary. “We’ll help! Give us a second to grab our coats.”
Zachary walked insi
de with DeLynn and put her overnight bag down as she divested herself of her coat.
“Good morning,” Liz said, walking into the living room.
“Good morning,” Zachary responded with a smile. “Sorry I can’t stay. My parents are at the house and I’m afraid if I’m gone too long, they’ll start unloading the truck and there are a lot of heavy things in there.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can get you some help,” DeLynn’s mother began only to stop when boots pounded on the stairs as Blaine and Evan ran down, wearing their winter coats. “And I’m guessing they’ve already volunteered,” she said, a pleased expression on her face. “Why don’t you take some rolls over? Unpacking is hard work.” Five minutes later, she brought out a box of warm rolls and while Blaine and Evan grabbed them and headed out to his truck, Zachary turned and hugged DeLynn close.
“See you later?” he murmured against her ear.
“Definitely. I’ll bring lunch by.”
“Lovely.” He kissed her softly before pulling back. “See you soon.” As he left, she sighed in total contentment.
“All right. Go unpack and then come talk to me,” her mother said, beaming. “Oh, and you might want to call Chrissa and Deeka and let them know.”
“Good idea.” DeLynn took her overnight bag upstairs and quickly unpacked before grabbing her phone, dialing Deeka first.
“School’s out!” Deeka called into the phone as she answered, making DeLynn laugh. “How were your finals?”
“Brutal but over thankfully. Yours?”
“We have finals like every week. It’s a bit different. Had petit fours this week. I didn’t totally bungle them. So did you want to get together for coffee?”
“We definitely need to do that, but not today. No, I called with news.”
“Oooh, tell me.” The excitement in Deeka’s voice made DeLynn grin.
“Zachary and I are officially courting.”
“Yes! Oh! After seeing the two of you together at the tree-lighting, I hoped. He seems like a very nice man.”
“He is. Oh, Deeka, I’m so happy. And lucky. Barrett says we’re starting in stage two.”