“Looks to me, like I have my answer.” Mr. Perfect paused beside them, and to Alan’s surprise flashed a sincere smile. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“I can’t say that I do,” he answered.
Mr. Perfect turned and froze. His gaze landed on the trunk. Eyes widening, his mouth fell open and then his head shot up to Alan and Cindy. Slowly, a sly grin replaced the stunned expression. “Aren’t you two the sly ones?” Without another word, Perfect turned toward the limousine parked up the street.
Looking at Harvey tossed in the trunk, his hands and feet tied, Cindy and Alan burst out laughing.
“Oh brother.” Cindy leaned into him. “Who knows what he must be thinking.”
Alan whispered against her temple, “That I love you, Hyacinth Nelson.”
Tipping her head up, her gaze lingered on his. “I like the sound of that too.”
Chapter Eighteen - Epilogue
Sunny blue skies shined down on the Point. The General wouldn’t have stood for anything else on a wedding day for his granddaughters. He was now batting two for two.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day.” Grams took her seat opposite her husband at the other end of the table.
“Any day is beautiful for a wedding.” Lucy set some serving utensils on the table and flashed a toothy grin at the two engaged women at the table, neither of which had announced their wedding plans.
At least Iris and the love of her life were spared Lucy’s attention. Unlike today’s massive summer wedding, Iris and Eric had opted for a very short engagement and tied the knot on the Point a couple of weeks ago with only a few close friends and family in attendance. The day had reminded Rose of a garden party. Small, fun, and terribly romantic.
When Iris and Eric had initially announced their plans, for the first time in her life Rose had seen her grandmother on the verge of apoplexy. Once the two had explained that making their family official wasn’t something they wanted to wait for in order to put a big shindig together, Grams had acquiesced and given her blessing to the small church wedding and sweet celebration that followed.
“All right.” The General raised his wine glass. “To my girls. Each and every one of you has brought nothing but joy to my life.”
“I don’t remember him saying that when he caught us skinny dipping back in high school,” Cindy mumbled to Alan at her side.
His hand drawing gentle circles across her palm, Rose wasn’t sure he’d even heard what she’d said. Ignoring that if the two sat any closer they’d be in each other’s laps, Rose leaned in and whispered to her cousin. “Shh. Old Eagle Eyes has bionic ears too.”
Without skipping a beat, the General held his smile, but managed to cast an I-heard-that glance in her direction. Their grandfather had insisted on a traditional family meal before this evening’s wedding. Despite all the preparations under way, and the enormous task of getting eight bridesmaids and one bride ready for a sunset wedding, it hadn’t occurred to anyone to protest. Somehow starting out Lily’s big day surrounded in good food and loving family made perfect sense.
“Cole,” the General shifted his attention to his very soon to be grandson-in-law, “I am proud to have you as my grandson. Welcome.”
Another thing that seemed perfectly right. There were no in-laws in this family. For the General and Grams, Cole was already a Hart.
“I’m still not sure how it could have been only yesterday that you wore out your Easy Bake Oven making pretend wedding cakes for your sisters, but,” Aunt Virginia blinked back a tear, “I am delighted that the rest of your life at Cole’s side will be everything you dreamed of. I love you, baby girl.”
Lily blinked, pinched her lips, swallowed, and mouthed, “I love you too.”
At that moment, Cole turned to his bride-to-be and stared down at her with such intensity that Rose wondered if two people had ever been more in love. Of course, that single and absurd thought flew by the wayside as soon as she caught a glimpse of her sisters. Heather and Violet. Both locked gazes with their fiancés, and as the old saying went, a picture was worth a thousand words. Rose was pretty sure if the room caught on fire, not one of the two couples would have noticed.
The clatter of dishes and plates handed about echoed in the room. Not terribly hungry and a tad on edge with all that still needed to be taken care of, Rose took a sip of wine and glanced at the cousins she loved like sisters. Cindy was the one with the glow of a brand spanking new ring on her finger. Who was Rose kidding? They all had it. If she was sure of nothing else, she was convinced her cousins were well on their way to a lifetime marriage like their parents and grandparents.
“Earth to Rose.” Poppy held a dish of Lucy’s potato salad in front of her.
“Sorry.” She grabbed the dish, dumped a small scoop on her plate and having gone full circle round the table, set it on one of the quilted squares. Bless her grandmother, but she’d been bound and determined to quilt the old fashioned way by hand. Except, halfway through her first project Grams decided her fingertips didn’t have enough blood to survive. They now had a hefty supply of quilted trivets.
“That’s an awfully serious expression.” Cindy let go of Alan’s hand and leaned forward. “Do we need to take care of something?” Like Heather, Cindy was one of the serious ones in the family. It shouldn’t have surprised her that her cousin was ready to get down to business.
“Nope, just contemplating the immortality of the crab.”
Her grandmother grinned at her. The girls had always loved that expression as children. It took Rose a good long time, too long, to realize that wasn’t at all what her grandmother often contemplated.
“Well no time for lollygagging.” Lucy now carried a large platter of pulled pork. “The photographer is on his way and the rental place people are here setting up chairs.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The General saluted and most of the people around the table laughed. Today wouldn’t be the first time Lucy had been the one truly giving the orders.
“About time.” Rose pushed to her feet. “I just need a minute to give them a few instructions.”
“That’s not your job today.” Lily gestured for Rose to sit. “If I can let someone else do the baking, you can let someone else do the designating.”
“Easier said than done.” She sat.
“Tell me about it,” Zinnia mumbled. This was only the second or third time she’d been to the lake in months. Rose was going to have to pull her aside later and find out what exactly was going on.
“Don’t you worry.” The General leaned left and scratched Lady’s head. “You’ll get your chance with the fishing auction. Then you can run things any way you want.”
“I still don’t understand how you talked me into that. I know art, not fish.”
Cindy chuckled beside her. “Shh or you might be spending the rest of this weekend learning about fish.”
Her cousin had a point. That was one thing she’d avoided growing up and was more than happy to continue to do so.
By the time lunch was over, the family descended on the kitchen like an army of ants. Next stop was the adjoining bedrooms that had been separated for the bridal party.
“I forgot my mascara.” Cindy fished through a makeup bag.
Poppy shot her arm out at her sister. “Use mine.”
“Thanks.”
“Will you be careful.” Iris smacked at her sister Violet holding the curling iron. “That thing is hot.”
“It’s supposed to be,” Violet shot back.
Zinnia hefted the straps of the lavender dress over her shoulders. “I need someone to zip me up.”
“I will.” Callie brushed the wrinkles away from her own dress and turned to her cousin.
It had only taken a few hours of primping and laughing to get everyone ready. Since it was impossible to pick a favorite among the eight granddaughters, there was no maid of honor for this event. Each engaged or married member of the bridal party was to meet their significant other at the bottom of the
stairs and proceed to the Point. Cole’s firemen buddies were partnered up with the single bridesmaids.
“You look stunning.” Rose helped Lily straighten the edges of the veil.
“Thank you.”
“I hear music,” Cindy announced. “Places everyone.”
Rose fell in behind Cindy and slowly they made their way to the end of the hall.
At the bottom of the stairs, the men were lined up, looking much more relaxed than Rose felt. Maybe they were just better at hiding their excitement than she was. Only a few steps behind her cousin, she couldn’t help but see how Alan’s eyes lit when Cindy came off the bottom step.
“You are amazing,” Alan whispered, extending his arm.
The three single words spoken with such tenderness, coupled with the fire in his gaze, gave Rose goose bumps. Some day.
Extending his arm as Alan had for her cousin, Payton Taylor smiled at her sans the look of adoration in his eyes. “Ready?”
“Yes,” she smiled at him. “I think I am.”
***
So glad you could join Cindy and Alan on their adventure in HART LAND. Turn the page for an excerpt from ROSE or get your copy now here.
If you enjoyed reading Hyacinth, please consider taking a moment to leave even a few words for review. Reviews are a blessing to authors and readers alike. Leave a review here!
***
From Lily’s Recipe Box
APFEL KUCHEN (German Apple Cake)
What you’ll need:
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt (Only for unsalted butter)
3 teaspoons baking powder
¾ cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
8 tablespoons butter – softened (see note below)
2/3 cup whole milk
1 egg
4-5 large granny smith apples: peeled, cored and sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions:
Combine un-sifted flour, baking powder, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, and mix until blended.
Cut in 6 tablespoons softened butter (not melted).
Mix until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
Combine egg and milk in separate bowl. Stir.
Pour egg mixture into flour mixture until blended. It will be very sticky.
Spread into greased 8x12x2 inch pan.
Arrange apples in rows overlapping slightly and press into dough.
Spread 2 tablespoons melted butter evenly over apples.
Mix ¾ cup sugar with cinnamon until totally blended. Pour over apples.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
Lily’s Note: If you use unsalted butter then add ½ teaspoon of salt.
If you use salted butter do not add salt
Chapter Excerpt - Rose
“Watch your step.” The voice attached to the tool-clad man in a yellow hard hat carried loudly across the small workspace. The man hadn’t even bothered to look up, but staring at Rose Preston’s feet, he shook his head. Only a construction worker could view a two-inch wedge heel with the same disdain as that of a five-inch stiletto.
“Thanks,” she responded calmly. What she actually wanted to say was I’ll match my careful steps in heels to your steel-toed stomps any day. Walking through a construction site had nothing on running through the woods at night in flip flops with only the moon to guide her path. For a fraction of a minute she allowed herself the luxury of letting her mind drift back to the youthful days of lakeside summers. The next moment, she glanced at her wrist and sighed. If all went well she’d be on her way to Hart Land in little more than an hour.
Not truly a vacation, but even working at the lake was a joy. The distasteful image of a string of fresh-caught fish flashed in her mind. At least she hoped so. Tablet in hand and satisfied with the small exhibit’s progress, she proceeded directly to the conference room.
Halfway down the main hall, Sarah, the best right-hand-man a woman could ask for, clutched a color-coded binder to her chest and fell into step beside her. “Jim texted that he’s caught in the back up from a six car pile up on I-93. I told him not to worry, we got this.”
Without breaking pace, Rose cast a sideways glance in Sarah’s direction. She’d feel much better about that comment if she wasn’t about to spend the next two weeks dealing with… fisherman.
Sarah reached the double doors first and shoved them open, stepping aside for Rose to pass and take a seat at the massive table already buried in stacks of files and photos. “Did you get the condition report?”
“I did. Looks good.” She nodded, studying the photos spread out on the table and running the new layout in her mind. They had a lot of work to do and she’d only had one cup of coffee this morning. Stretching her neck from left to right, she spotted the brewing pot of caffeine and headed over. “All the works look to be here.”
“Yes. I did a walk through yesterday and confirmed.” Sarah ruffled through papers in the binder, slid one out, and placed it on the table. Yes, they both used technology and electronics, but like Rose, Sarah was a tactile person and if heaven forbid the cyber world ever crashed, she and Sarah would still have everything they needed at their fingertips.
Feeling reassured at that silly idea, Rose turned back and set a mug down in front of Sarah, then holding the paper in one hand returned to the coffee station. “This may be the first time customs hasn’t found at least one thing to give me indigestion.” Turning back, she set the sugar in front of her assistant curator.
“Thanks.” Sarah tore the packet open and poured it into her mug. By the time she’d stirred it in, Rose had set the creamer beside her as well.
Next they went over all the photo captions for the exhibit publications. “It will be up to you to follow up with the printers. I’ll have some access to internet—”
“I’ll stay on top of it.” Sarah took a sip of her coffee.
The woman kept pace with Rose and was the only reason the thought of leaving for two weeks before a new, albeit small, exhibit didn’t give her apoplexy. From there, they pored over public inquires, moved on to copyrights for the music, then scents for a visceral experience only to have the idea nixed for multiple reasons.
When the phone pinged from the conservator at the loan museum, Sarah took the call and once again the ease with which she handled the conversation gave Rose one less thing to toil over.
A brief interruption ensued over exhibit supports with the designer and by the time lunch rolled around, they’d discussed marketing materials, the media preview, and personally checked the exhibit storage area. Her stomach growled and she knew another cup of java was not what her body needed.
The landline rang and Sarah was first to reach the phone.
“Good morning, sir.” Her face brightened. “Yes, sir. Good to hear your voice too.”
Rose didn’t have to hear anything more to know who was on the other end of the line. Wondering why her grandfather hadn’t called her cell, she glanced down at her phone and saw two missed calls. She’d placed it on silent no vibrate in order to get through this morning’s agenda quickly. The exhibit designer was marching in her direction carrying two different sized white panels. Sucking in a deep sigh, she mouthed to Sarah ‘tell him I’ll call back when I’m on the road’ and turned to deal with how major an impact would shifting from four foot to six foot display boards affect the original design. Suddenly any amount of time with fish and fisherman was looking really good to her.
***
Straightening, Logan Buchanan stretched his shoulders and rolled his head left then right. It had been ages since he’d ridden a fence line with the crew and even longer since he’d done repairs. Rising before the sun and saddling a horse had been the easy part of this day. Once upon a time, he’d spent more time on horseback than at the keyboard. For as long as he could remember, working beside his dad was as routine for him and his siblings as Saturday morning cartoons for the rest of the world.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a snack.” For Ca
l, snack was cowboy code for could eat a cow.
“Thinking the same.” It had been hours since the big breakfast Maggie had made for everyone, and his stomach was beginning to protest.
“Didn’t think we’d get that much work done.” Cal slipped his gloves off and tucked them into his back pocket. He might be one of the youngest hands on the ranch, but he had the diplomacy of someone older and wiser. He could have just come out and said he’d expected working with a desk jockey like Logan to slow them down.
Logan chuckled. “I guess it’s like riding a bike. Some things you don’t forget.”
“Guess so.” The kid checked his phone, slid it into his other pocket and then reached into his saddle bag for a bottle of water, his gaze scanning the distance for signs of lunch.
Logan didn’t blame him. They’d put in a hard morning’s work and he might easily snack on a side of beef himself.
“How you holding up?”
So much for youthful diplomacy. After all, he wasn’t that old. Except for a little stiffness in muscles that hadn’t been used since the last time he’d chipped in to work the cattle or the fences, it felt good to get away from the office and away from his computer. Not that he didn’t love all things electronic, but Texas fresh air and working the land was in his blood as much as the telecom corridor. If he had to choose between the two, it would be like asking which leg would he cut off.
The two ranch hands who had worked the fence line on the other side of the north pasture rode up in a four-wheeler. He wasn’t sure who was younger, the two hands or his favorite boots. No wonder Cal was treating him like an old man.
Hyacinth Page 15