Love in a Small Town

by Betty Jo Schuler

  "I gave you back your life as it was. Sam? They're playing our song."

  He drew her into his arms to dance the traditional last song of the evening, Goodnight, Sweetheart. "You changed my life and my house and stole my heart." He touched the two tiny hearts nestled against her tanned skin. "That's it, interlocked with yours, where it should be. That's what the necklace means, you and me together forever. I love you, Lily Madison, and I want you to marry me."

  Lily's eyes brimmed with tears. Two parts of her three-part wish made on that necklace had come true. He held her away to look directly at her. "I want us to spend the rest of our days brightening one another's lives. Will you, marry me, please?"

  Lily looked straight into his ocean blue eyes and smiled. "On one condition. That we'll brighten our home, wherever it is, with blue-eyed, dark-haired babies."

  "And red-haired, emerald-eyed ones. Hell, I don't care if they have citrus hair and eyes. I just want us to have kids together. Do you love me, Lily?"

  "More than you'll ever know, Sam Champion."

  "Then your answer to my proposal is…?"

  "Yes. Absolutely." She felt flushed and lightheaded and her heart was racing. Sam gave her a far greater rush than champagne and he loved her.

  "What did you mean, wherever our home is?"

  "I love Browning, Sam, and I love the Champion home, but I'd pass the torch and move anywhere to be with you."

  He looked awe-stricken, eyes moist. "I don't know what I'm going to do to support my wife and little Champions, but I'll find a way. I want to raise the population of Browning and make the mayor proud."

  Lily felt as if her heart would burst. "You turned down the position?"

  "I did but not for the right reasons. I didn't know until I thought I'd lost you how much I love and need you."

  "Goodnight, Sweetheart." Her head on Sam's shoulder, his arms reassuringly tight around her, she watched Carla and Jack slip out the door before the dance ended.

  "You are the light in my life, Lily."

  This twentieth high school class reunion could mean a new start for two couples, and perhaps the makeup or breakup of others. She raised her lips for a kiss that was oh-so-sweet.

  "Have I told you that you're the most beautiful woman in the room? In the world? That I love you?"

  Lily's heart sang and danced even though the music ended. She'd longed to hear those words and would never tire of them. "I love you. Remember what you told me your mother said? That everyone comes back to Browning once? I think what she meant is that everyone comes home once, and home is where you find your heart."

  "I came back three times and know for sure the saying is true." Sam's marvelous blue eyes sparkled. "It took me a while to realize I'd found my heart here, with you, and for the first time, a house that felt like home."

  "I'll bet your mother's smiling down from heaven, happy you've decided to stay." Lily smiled smugly. She'd told him his mother wanted him to live in her childhood home and knew in her heart it was true.

  Sam kissed Lily again and a warm glow lit the room.

  * * *

  A flurry of conversation broke out as the dance ended and a number of couples started talking about going out for a bite to eat. Most, saying they weren't teenagers anymore, didn't want to drive all the way to The Twilight. Nick was in the hallway talking on the pay phone, probably making plans of his own. Robbins was nowhere around. Lily and Sam, leaving the hubbub behind, strolled outside, hand-in-hand.

  The night was warm and the scent of her gardenias sweet. She didn't want to leave her convertible in the parking lot. "I love my car," she said, arms folded. "I protect what's mine."

  "So do I, and I didn't like that guy holding you." His voice husky, Sam drew their clasped hands to his chest, pulling her close.

  Lily didn't tell him Nick might be gay and could be talking on the phone to Robbins who must have left early. "Nick means nothing to me. You mean everything."

  "I love you." Sam kissed her again and his lips had never been sweeter. He loved her. She could never hear those words too often.

  "Lily. Sam." Carla came up to them, Jack a few steps behind. "Nick called Jodie just now and made arrangements for all of us to gather at The Chrome Grill for a late breakfast tomorrow. Jack and I are going. Will you join us?"

  They looked at one another. Sam shook his head. Lily turned to Carla to refuse.

  "Please," she begged.

  She looked at Sam again. "We have plenty of time now."

  He hugged her close to his side. "Why not?" He smiled at Carla. "If you still want us, after you learn we're not selling our house—to anyone."

  Carla hugged him, Lily, Jack, and Lily again. "That's wonderful news."

  Sam locked his van. "We'll take the banana-mobile and come back for this tomorrow."

  Lily got in on the passenger's side. She wanted to feel the breeze in her hair and wanted to relax.

  "Why did you do it, Lily? Take away everything?" Sam asked quietly, on the drive home.

  "You left, saying to sell the house. Robbins, Nick's partner, said it would be perfect without the color and bright touches. I took them away so you could decide the future of the house for yourself. I had this dream of someone raising a happy family there, preferably you and I."

  Sam took her hand and squeezed it. "Let's make that dream a goal."

  "I thought about painting the walls red and purple to discourage them. But I thought if you wanted to return to Arizona, the college, and Elizabeth, I should let you go."

  "I don't want to go anywhere without you." He told her about Elizabeth and Rybolt. "I respected him, and now I pity them both."

  "She played a dirty trick on you."

  "It turned out for the best. I'm sorry I was so slow making a decision. I knew I loved you, but I hated to toss out my only plan and maybe have to take a job as street cleaner."

  "I think the mayor can find you a better job."

  He chuckled. "Dogcatcher?"

  The night was dark. A cloud hid the moon now and obscured the stars. Lily could barely see Sam, but she knew every feature of his precious face.

  "Did you know Sparks is on the Administrative Board at Country Care?" Sam asked.

  "I know who all the members are."

  "Then you know he's the one who made a motion they invest their reserve funds to 'grow' them?"

  "Invest? In what?" Lily moved her face closer to Sam's, so she could read the expression on his face."

  "Home Care Health Supplies, owned by Lena Sparks."

  "Earl's wife? She's a licensed practical nurse, but I never heard of such a business. I can't imagine they'd have the money to start one. Ohmigosh. He didn't?"

  "When he couldn't convince the board members to invest, he borrowed several thousand dollars for seed money to set it up. Most of it is still in First National Bank in Richdale in her name. He's building a room on the back of his house, so they might plan to operate out of there. He's written checks for a couple of thousand for building supplies but apparently hasn't gotten any further."

  "How did you learn all this?"

  "By checking every exacting figure and boring detail."

  She chuckled. "You could have been successful as a detective or in construction, judging by the skills you've shown recently."

  "I don't think I'm cut out for most of my early choices, but I've been thinking… Dreaming, actually." He told her he'd visited Country Care and how much he'd loved Mark and Luke. "If you raise enough money for the Community Building, I'd love to direct it and the preschool. I'm hoping their mother enrolls those two, and there are lots more kids just like them."

  "Sam." Lily pressed her cheek to his, knowing hers was wet. She was so touched and happy. "That's a wonderful idea, and if you wanted, you could run for town treasurer."

  "I'm not sure I can handle as many jobs as you, but your dream catcher worked for me, and now I have a plan and goal," he said, chuckling as he pulled her car into his driveway.

  "Listen." Li
ly cocked an ear. "Did you hear a rumble? It sounded like thunder."

  Sam sniffed the air. "The breeze has that certain feel, and smell, of the kind that brings rain. I'm surprised I remember."

  Lily looked up at the sky and--splat. A big drop of water hit her forehead. "It is rain!" she cried. "At last."

  A drop hit Sam in the eye and he chuckled. "Either that, or a big pigeon."

  "You!" She gave him a playful smack. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her nearer, glad for the timing of the shower.

  "It's definitely rain." She smiled as he kissed her wet nose.

  "Definitely," he said. "Rain."

  Looking into her eyes, he moved his mouth toward hers.

  "My car," she cried, pressing her hand against his chest. "We have to do something."

  "We could bail the water out later."

  She jumped out and he followed, chuckling. Together, they put the convertible top down and scurried up the steps onto the porch. Rain streamed down Lily's cheeks and he brushed it away. Her hair and new dress were wet, but her smile was bright. "We'll raise a happy family in this house, I promise."

  "Let's get one of those wooden signs and hang it on the front porch. Home of The Champions." She laughed giddily.

  "Corny," Sam said.

  "Wheat-ies," she countered.

  He threw back his head and roared. "I think the cereal slogan is Breakfast of Champions."

  "I love to hear you laugh."

  "Okay to the sign, if it's dark wood."

  "Agreed."

  Thunder rolled and a flash of lightning split the sky. Rain poured down all around and Sam kissed Lily until she pulled him inside his house.

  "Welcome home, Sam." She fitted herself into his arms again. A perfect fit, she thought happily.

  Epilogue

  Breakfast at Jodie's Chrome Grill was both wonderful and strange. The lunch counter crowd was missing because it wasn't a workday, but they'd have some settling up to do on Monday if they wanted to make good on any of their bets.

  Mr. Tuttle was eating the Sunday Buffet but wasn't telling jokes; his arthritis had kicked up from the rain. He and Teeny Williams and Miss Rosalind China were sitting in a booth, together. All the tables were pushed into a line down the center of the restaurant with a sign that said, "Reserved for Browning High's Twentieth Class Reunion."

  As the group gathered, chattering and laughing, Lily nudged Sam and tipped her head ever-so-slightly toward the booth where Teeny, Miss China, and Al Tuttle were all ears and eyes.

  "Town grapevine?" Sam whispered, and Lily nodded, smiling.

  Carla and Jack sat across from them, touching hands occasionally. Carla had dark circles under her eyes, and Lily wondered if she'd had a happy or troubled night.

  Most of their former classmates ate and joked heartily. A few who'd gotten together to party afterward looked worse for the wear. Jodie hovered over the tables, even though she had two waitresses helping, until Nick pulled up a chair and urged her to join them. He slung his arm across the back of Jodie's chair and she glowed, as she always did when a new man came around. Another fall and another heartbreak? Or would Nick stay around past the weekend, even though he wasn't getting Sam's house? Did Nick like western music and home baked goods?

  Sam and Lily traded smiles every few minutes. They couldn't hold hands and eat, but they were totally tuned into one another's presence.

  "Hear, hear," Carla said, over second cups of coffee. "Lily Madison has something to announce."

  How did Carla know? She surely couldn't tell by looking at them. Lily turned scarlet. Jodie's eyes burned brightly with excitement. Murmurs rippled through the crowd around the table, and Miss China rapped her table knife. Mr. Tuttle and Teeny trained their gazes on her. Lily rose, trembling, to her feet and looked down at Sam. He looked as curious as the others. "I…I…"

  "She wants to introduce the man she'd asked to speak last night," Carla prompted.

  "Oh. Yes." Lily introduced Sam and asked if he'd give the brief essence of his talk.

  He looked taken aback at first but glowed with fervor as he spoke briefly about organ donation—its simplicity and far-reaching effects. She led the applause, although it didn't need leading. His message was uplifting and poignant.

  "Now, she has another announcement," Carla said.

  Shades of déjà vu. What does she expect now?

  Jodie, coming up behind Lily, shoved something into her hands. She could tell by the feel it was the huge gold-foil-covered, cardboard key to the city. Carla must have hidden it behind the lunch counter.

  Lily had to fight back laughter. She kept thinking they wanted her to tell the whole town she and Sam were in love and going to be married. Gaining control, she presented the key "to the city…er…town…of Browning…to Sam Champion. For kindness and compassion, and to welcome him back to Browning, where he plans to make his home."

  Carla and Jodie led the applause, and everyone joined in, although Lily wasn't sure some of them knew what they were applauding, except the grapevine crowd who kept close tabs on everything.

  Sam, leaning close so he could be heard above the applause, whispered in Lily's ear, "What about the numbers on the billboard?"

  She looked up into his eyes. "Oliver added you this morning. Number 3654."

  "Good, because I'm here to stay, and I can't wait to start increasing the population even more."

  The End

  Love runs the gamut of emotions, and in Betty Jo Schuler’s romance novels, laughter is always one of them. “Love should be fun,” she says. Her newest release, IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, from Books We Love Publishing, is a romantic comedy. Lori Hayes never takes a risk but when someone enters her in a Dream Date contest and she meets Chance Dawson, sparks fly. Two opposites who want different prizes and a case of double identity will keep you chuckling.

  The author of seventeen published books for various ages, some of her other adult titles are Gracie’s Holiday Hero, Love in a Small Town (a finalist for Best Novel in Best Books of Indiana 2007), Male Wanted, and Finding Mr. Romantic. Of the latter, Schuler says, “I had great fun creating Nick Dennis, a mystery author who's trying to write a romance novel, in Finding Mr. Romantic, and it received 4 stars out of a possible 4 1/2 from Romantic Times Book Club Magazine. The reviewer said, "With banter reminiscent of the best romantic comedies and two great lead characters, Schuler delivers a sensational read.´

  A former schoolteacher, this author is an online instructor for Writer’s Digest University. An Indiana native, she loves living in Florida where she gazes out at palm trees, tropical flowers, and sunshine while fulfilling her lifelong love of working with words. She has a BS in Education from Miami University of Ohio and an MA from Ball State University of Indiana. She’s married with four grown children who have families of their own. In her spare time, this writer enjoys yoga, water aerobics, reading on her Kindle, and fun activities with friends, especially her best friend…Paul, her husband of thirty-five years. Schuler invites you to visit her website at http://bettyjowrites.com/

  Other Books with Books We Love Publishing

  How Not to Date a Hollywood Star

  No Rain, No Rainbows

  Impossible Dreams

  Male Wanted

  Finding Freedom

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