Crime and Periodicals: Green Valley Library Book #2

by Romance, Smartypants

  “I will dance with you forever,” she declared.

  “I’m gonna marry you.” I gazed into her smiling eyes then yanked her into my arms.

  There was no music—we didn’t need it. We danced together in the pasture with the moon high in the sky and the soft glow of the lantern lights to illuminate us. I thought back to the night of the Harvest Moon, the night of our botched first date. I remembered her, my Sabrina. Beautiful and sweet, tempting me from the grass with her outstretched arms and newfound siren’s smile. The innocence in her eyes belied the depth of her heart. I knew back then I could fall in love with her and I was right. I loved her. I would love her until the day I died—even after. In this life and into whatever came next.

  We spent the rest of the night in the truck's bed wrapped up in blankets, wrapped up in each other—whispering about our future and making love under the stars. Each time I sank inside of her it felt like coming home. Sabrina was my life, my heart—she was everything I’d ever wanted and never expected to find.

  Epilogue

  Sabrina

  Spring

  “You are about to become Mrs. Sabrina Logan-Monroe,” I said to myself in the mirror.

  I pushed my hair over my shoulders to fall down my back and adjusted my simple tulle veil. Mel had wanted me to wear a tiara, but…no. I was not the tiara type, and I was okay with that. I would garner enough—too much—attention just by walking down the aisle. I didn’t need a big sparkly ‘look at me’ announcement sitting on top of my head. I finished applying my lipstick—MAC Dance with Me—and put it back in the tray. This lipstick would stay put no matter how much kissing I did tonight.

  “Aunt Sabrina, you look like an angel.” Ruby smiled and dabbed at her eyes as she approached me.

  I turned from the mirror to hug her. Mak had ended up choosing my dress. It was white tulle with an off the shoulder ruched bodice and softly flowing skirt that fell to my feet. It was airy, ethereal, and apparently, angelic. “Thank you, Ruby.”

  “I bet Wyatt will start crying when he sees you. He seems like that type of guy. Crying grooms are hot. I told the videographer to make sure to get a good shot of it, don’t worry.”

  I laughed. “Thanks. And look at you, Ruby. You’re gorgeous.” Ruby was my maid of honor. Ruby, Willa, and Mak were in matching pink satin dresses. Mel was in lavender tulle. Her basket was full of pink rose petals and she was ready to rock. I could hear her in the next room asking Willa if it was time to start the wedding.

  “It’s time to get down there.” Willa popped her head in the door and announced. “Are you ready?”

  Ruby and I headed to the door.

  “Riri! It’s time, it’s time!” Mel shrieked when she saw me. “I’ve been practicing throwing the petals and picking them back up. I’m going to be so good at this!”

  I smiled at her. “You’ll be a perfect flower girl, Mel.”

  Mak came up behind her and discreetly slipped a handful of the petals back inside the basket dangling from her hand. Mak looked up at me with a bemused smile.

  I grinned back and held my hands out to them. “I’m going to marry your father today but I’m extra lucky because I’m not just getting him. I’m getting his girls, too. My girls.”

  They took my hands, and I knelt to gather them in my arms. “I love you both.”

  “I love you too, Riri,” Mak whispered.

  “And I love you both, the most.” Mel threw her arms around us.

  “Weston’s outside with the truck,” Ruby said.

  “This is really going to happen,” Mak said with tears in her eyes.

  “Oh, honey.” I pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “It’s happening. And it’s forever. You never have to worry.”

  “Come on, Mak. Daddy is waiting for us,” Mel said and held out her hand.

  Mak took a deep breath and followed her sister.

  “I’m happy for you, Sabrina.” Willa took my hand.

  Ruby took the other, and we headed downstairs.

  “Ready to go, Sabrina?” Weston called from the cab of the truck.

  “I’m ready.” And I was ready—even though I had let my father plan the guest list. I didn’t even look at it; it was better that way. I’d come far, but crowds still weren’t my thing. But Green Valley was my home and my home was full of good folks. And if my wedding was filled to the brim with good folks then I couldn’t see a thing wrong with it. I’d just have to wait and see what was waiting for me down at the pasture. One look, then I’d pretend they weren’t there—I was good at that.

  We piled into the back of Wyatt’s truck and Weston drove us around the garage and down the gravel path to the place where everything began.

  My father was waiting at the edge. I smiled at him, then looked beyond where he stood to see the simple wooden arch set against the beautiful backdrop of the rolling Tennessee mountains and the shimmering spring sunshine.

  I also saw chair after chair after chair of people turning to look as the music started. My father must have invited the whole dang town.

  I watched as Ruby, Willa, and the girls followed Weston down the aisle. Mel brought up the rear, flinging rose petals left and right. She was perfect. She turned to wave at me. I blew her a kiss.

  Weston took a seat. And all my girls took their places at the side of the arch.

  Wyatt and his brothers waited on the other side, with Harry, my son, on the end. I waved to him and he hollered, “Riri! You’re getting married!”

  I let out a giggle and caught the kiss he blew to me and stuck it to my cheek.

  My father took my hand. “I’m proud of you, sweet pea. Not for getting married—anyone can do that. I’m proud of you for taking charge of your life. You’ve opened your heart—”

  “And let people in?” I interrupted with a smile.

  “No—well, yes—but no. You’ve let the love you kept locked up in your heart out, and it is beautiful to see.”

  I turned and hugged my dad. “Thank you,” I whispered. I took a deep breath and smiled at him. My eyes tingled but I refused to let the tears fall.

  I had spent ten minutes winging my eyeliner this morning and no matter how sweet my father was, I was not going to cry before he walked me down the aisle.

  The music started—Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” I figured keeping with tradition would make for less of a spectacle.

  As I got closer and closer, I saw Wyatt scrub his hand under his eyes to wipe away his tears. I beamed at him and laughed softly when I saw all three of his brothers reach their hands out to pass him a handkerchief.

  As I walked down the aisle and looked at the smiling faces, I remembered what my father had said just moments before.

  My heart was overflowing. I had so much love to give. The fear that had held it back for so long was gone.

  I couldn’t wait to see what the future would bring.

  About the Author

  Nora Everly is a life long reader, writer, and happily ever after junkie. She is a wife and stay-at-home mom to two tiny humans and one fat cat. She lives in Oregon with her family and her overactive imagination.

  * * *

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  Find Smartypants Romance online:

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  Read on for:

  1. Sneak peek of Prose Before Bros, Book #3 in the Green Valley Library series by Cathy Yardley

  Sneak Peek: Prose Before Bros, Book #3 in the Green V
alley Library Series

  By Cathy Yardley

  Thuy Nguyen had never seen so many casseroles in her life.

  She’d seen plenty of food before, of course. She’d gone to too many large gatherings and block parties and Lunar New Year’s to avoid seeing stacks of food presented for the delectation of the masses, but she’d never seen quite so many of the quintessential American food.

  Squares, rectangles, circles of plastic storage ware covered every inch of the large oak dining room table. There were things she recognized, specifically salads: green, potato, macaroni. She guessed the pinkish stuff with cherries and marshmallows was ambrosia, since she’d remembered Maddy making that at the apartment. But the more food the throng of people brought in, the less recognizable it became. There was what looked like something with green beans, smothered in… gravy? With… almonds, maybe? Or mushrooms? Or — gah — both?

  And then there was a dish that was just sort of smushy and… well, gray. Honest to God, gray. Like a vat full of spackle. She had to look away, gaining fortitude from the dark chocolate cake a nice woman named Jennifer Winston had dropped by, along with sincere condolences. Jennifer had mentioned that Mr. Blount had helped her when her roses developed a pernicious blight. Jennifer’s husband, Cletus, said that the man “was a wizard with manure” as well.

  This place is so weird.

  The funeral service had been that morning. She’d stood by her best friend Madison “Maddy” Blount’s side as they’d buried Maddy’s father. There was now a small reception for those who wanted to pay their respects to the family of Edward Blount.

  Thuy wasn’t quite sure if the same number of people would’ve shown up if they just wanted to pay their respects, or because they were curious about Maddy’s situation. Maddy hadn’t been back to Tennessee since she’d left to go to college, which is how Thuy had met her — they’d been roomies in the dorms, and best friends ever since. Now, people saw that Maddy had returned seven months pregnant, with a woman in tow and no man in sight. Thuy had never lived in a small town, much less one in Tennessee, but she got the feeling it was the sort of thing that got tongues wagging. She could feel the curious stares crawling over her skin as she refilled the iced tea pitcher and made sure that Maddy wasn’t on her feet too much.

  She’d been to funerals before, obviously. With her family’s history, funerals came a little too often, although the crowd was noticeably different. It was the town element that was really throwing her for a loop.

  “So, you’re a friend of Madison’s, are you?” a woman’s voice asked behind her.

  Thuy turned to see an older woman looking at her critically. She vaguely remembered this one — Mrs. Simmons, maybe? — because she’d been making less-than-veiled comments about Maddy’s pregnancy after the service. Thuy felt her protective instincts kick in, but knew this wasn’t the time for a scene. It wasn’t going to help Maddy at all to have her call this woman a nosy bitch in her living room.

  Thuy pasted on her “can I help you?” smile, the one she’d perfected at the library. “Maddy’s my best friend. We roomed together at Cal.”

  “Cal…?”

  “University of California. Berkeley,” Thuy supplied, since Mrs. Simmons still looked confused.

  The woman curled her lip a bit. “Going off to that hippie school,” she muttered.

  “And how did you know Maddy’s father?” Thuy asked, trying to change the subject from Maddy’s supposed “hippie” ways.

  The woman waved her hand. “Oh, everybody knew Edward Blount. How he managed to keep the farm going was a miracle, all by himself, with both of his kids going off and doing whatever they wanted…”

  Thuy gripped her temper, feeling her smile sharpen on her face.

  “… but the man had God’s own green thumb, and he managed to grow anything, as well as keep those cattle,” Mrs. Simmons continued. Her expression turned shrewd. “I suppose Maddy’ll sell the place now? No need for forty acres, especially in her condition.” Mrs. Simmons made a little gesture in front of her stomach, like she was rubbing a bowling ball.

  “I have no idea,” Thuy answered, keeping her voice even.

  “Really?” Mrs. Simmons paused, then said, “Well, if Maddy’s husband comes, maybe they could make a go of the farm, I suppose.”

  It was bait, the cheapest kind. This woman wanted confirmation or denial about Maddy’s marital status. Maddy had warned her: small towns turn gossip into blood sport. Just smile and nod.

  Fortunately, handling aggressive library patrons was something Thuy had some practice in. She could take some passive-aggressive nosiness. She smiled at Mrs. Simmons’ comment, nodding silently.

  Mrs. Simmons’ expression turned irritated. “I said, if Maddy’s husband… or boyfriend…?”

  “Oh! We are out of iced tea,” Thuy said, ignoring the implied question entirely. “Thank you for coming and being so supportive.” With that, she deliberately turned her back on the woman, who gasped at the rudeness of the brush-off — but couldn’t really reply, because of the complimentary statement at the end.

  Thuy retreated to the kitchen where Maddy was leaning against a counter, dressed in black, rubbing her back. At seven months along, her stomach was prominent. “How’re you holding up?” Thuy asked in a low voice, as she pulled more iced tea from the fridge, mixing in the sugar syrup solution. She then mixed up another batch of lemonade iced tea. She didn’t want Maddy to worry about anything food related, not today. And she certainly didn’t want Maddy to try lifting anything.

  “I’m hanging in there,” Maddy replied in a low voice. “I’d had a chance to make my peace with Dad, at least, over the past few years. Or as close to it as we were going to get.”

  She noticed Maddy kept staring at the door. “You’re waiting for your brother, aren’t you?”

  Maddy nodded sadly. “I don’t think he’s coming.”

  “Why don’t you describe him? So I know what to look for.”

  Maddy shrugged. “I’ve barely seen him since I was… what, twelve,” she said. “He’s big. Tall, I mean, and muscular. Or at least, he used to be. Maybe he got fat by now. It’s been sixteen years.”

  “Maybe he just doesn’t want to get caught in the crush,” Thuy muttered, her eyes flicking to the doorway and the crowd of people beyond.

  Maddy laughed. “Yeah, there are a lot of people. Dad would’ve been surprised at the turnout.

  He was well known, but he wasn’t exactly popular.”

  No, from what she’d gathered, Edward Blount Sr. was an asshole, to the world in general and to his kids in particular. A hell of a farmer or rancher or whatever, but an asshole.

  “This morning at church, I had a woman ask me flat out where the father of my baby was,” Maddy said in a whisper, making a face.

  Thuy grimaced. “What’d you say?”

  “That it wasn’t her business.” Maddy shrugged. “Hey, I figured, if she was going to be rude, then I could be rude, right? But she kept on going. Said that there was no way that I could take care of a baby all by myself.”

  Thuy stared. “Does she not realize how many single moms there are in the United States? What, does she live under a rock?”

  “I told her that I wasn’t alone. I had you.” Maddy started giggling. “So, don’t be surprised if people start making comments about us being lesbians.”

  Thuy grinned. “If I swung that way, I’d be all over you,” she admitted. “And I don’t care what these people think. It’s not like we’re going to be here that long anyway.”

  Maddy looked uncomfortable. “Still have the will reading,” she said. “Dad set up some lawyer as the executor. I guess I’ll see Teddy then if nothing else.” She frowned. “If Dad left him anything in the will. He did basically disown Teddy. And ever since Teddy joined that gang, he wrote us off, too.”

  Thuy felt pain for Maddy. She of all people could understand how complicated feelings for family could be. She gave Maddy a hug, stroking her hair. “It’ll be all ri
ght,” she crooned, wishing fiercely that she could make everything all right for her friend.

  Of course, that was the exact moment that Mrs. Nosy Simmons came in. She goggled at the sight of them hugging.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” she said, her eyes wide.

  Thuy fought the urge to laugh, instead cuddling Maddy closer. “Yes?”

  She felt Maddy’s body shaking with suppressed chuckles.

  “Oh. Uh…” The woman turned on her heel and retreated quickly.

  “By the time that gets to her hairdresser, she’s going to say we were full-on making out by the sink,” Thuy observed, letting Maddy go.

  “In front of God and everybody,” Maddy agreed with a giggle.

  Thuy glanced at her phone. It was eight-thirty, and it was going to take time to Tetris all the food into the fridge and freezer. Besides, Maddy needed her rest. “Let me know if you want me to clear the house,” Thuy said.

  “I’ll take you up on that,” Maddy said, grimacing a little and rubbing her back again. “Let’s give it another hour, and then you can go all ‘closing time’ on people and kick them out. Nobody does it better than a librarian.”

  Thuy chuckled and knuckle-bumped Maddy, then went out to refill the pitchers of drinks. She loved Maddy like the sister she never had, and she owed Maddy more than she could ever repay. She could put up with a bunch of small-minded small-town people for a week or two if it meant making things easier for her bestie.

  If only she could track down Maddy’s brother, she thought with a grimace, and went back to work cleaning.

  ** End Sneak Peek **

  Prose Before Bros is book #3 in the Green Valley Library Series and is available now!