“Fine,” she said in a breathless voice. “Let’s try it.”
He was so shocked that he blurted out, “Really?” As soon as he said it, he wished he could take it back. So he hurried to add, “I mean, good. Very good. I’ll—I can make a reservation. Maybe the Saturday after the festival? There are some great restaurants in Asheville and—”
“No. Let’s start here. In Dove Pond. Let’s go to the Moonlight. We’ll order the meatloaf plate and—” She laughed softly and shrugged. “We’ll see what happens.”
He had the ridiculous urge to pump his fist in the air and give a war whoop, but he maintained his cool enough to say, “The Moonlight it is, then. I . . . I guess I should go.”
“You should. I came home early to go through the festival budget one last time. I didn’t want to get halfway done and have to pack everything up and race to get Daisy, so I brought my work home and picked her up a little early.”
“You’re busy. I’ll leave, then. But I’ll see you a week from Saturday. I mean, I’ll see you before then, too. I still need to stop by sometime and fix that shelf in the coat closet. But I’ll see you at the festival as well, but—” Oh God, shut up! Grinning sheepishly, he said, “You know all of that.”
Her cheeks a lovely pink, she nodded. “Of course. Later, Parker.”
“Later, Wheeler.” And with that, he turned and left, crossing the porch and heading inside. As he walked into the kitchen, the three older ladies looked at him, each measuring his expression.
“He did it,” Aunt Jo said approvingly.
“Did what?” Daisy licked peanut butter from her fingers.
“The thing,” Linda said smugly.
“What thing?”
“The one he should have done a month ago,” Linda replied, sliding another piece of apple onto Daisy’s plate.
“It’s about time,” Mama G announced.
Trav could see that Daisy was about to ask more questions, so he mumbled goodbye and hurried out of the kitchen. Then, grinning ear to ear, he went home.
CHAPTER 20
Sarah
From where they sat in wooden folding chairs on the empty grandstand, Sarah and Ava watched as Lenny Smith, Ricky Bob, and Tommy struck the festival tents and loaded them onto a flatbed truck. In the distance, they could hear music from the final event of the Apple Festival, a huge bonfire held at Dove Pond High School a few blocks over. Ed and Nate had wanted fireworks, but the budget wouldn’t allow for it, so they’d settled on a bonfire and a local band.
The chilly autumn air made Sarah snuggle deeper into her coat as she cupped her hands around the warm cup of cider Ava had brought her. As good as the cider was, Sarah’d never been so tired in her entire life. The Apple Festival had been a huge success—even bigger than she’d hoped. In fact, the only complaint she’d heard so far was that it had been too crowded.
Beside her, Ava stretched her legs out, looking every bit as tired as Sarah felt. “Geez, what a weekend.”
“I know. I feel like I’ve been beaten with a bat.”
“No wonder. You were everywhere. The library book sale was a huge success.”
Sarah smiled. “The books were so excited. Permanent homes for the lot of them.”
“The whole festival was great.” Ava looked at her sister over the rim of her cider cup. “You should be proud. You’ve accomplished a lot.”
“No, Grace accomplished a lot. I just helped.”
“I’d say you were equally responsible for the miracle that just happened.” Ava lowered her cup. “When we were growing up, you always thought you’d be the one to save the town. That’s not quite the way it’s happening.”
“Not quite.” Sarah shrugged, smiling. “I was a little jealous when I first realized Grace was going to be so important in saving Dove Pond. The old stories about how the Doves have always been there when good things happened—it seemed as if that was who I was supposed to be, you know. A sort of magic heroine. But it turns out it took two of us.” She looked at Ava. “Actually, it took eight of us. The committee will save this town, not just Grace or me.”
“You’re being generous.”
“I’m being honest.”
Ava sipped her cider. “Do you wonder if Charlotte Dove’s journal lied to you?”
“I don’t think it knew the specifics, but it didn’t want to admit that little fact. It’s a very proud, very cranky old book. I stopped by today to let it know how well things were going. I think it was happy, although it fell asleep in the middle of our conversation.”
Ava snorted. “It’s a pain in the ass, that book.”
“Yup. But our town is going to be okay, and that’s all that matters. Plus, I got a really good friend out of it. Grace is special.”
“You think she’ll stay?”
“Yes. I don’t think she’s admitted it yet, but she’s beginning to suspect it.”
Ava chuckled. “Well, she sure knows how to run a festival.”
Erma Tingle came up, carrying a tote bag. “There you are! I should have known you’d be here.”
“My tote!” Sarah reached for it. “Where did you find it?”
Erma handed it over. “You left it in the First Baptist tent when you went to fetch some change for them.”
“I didn’t even realize it was missing.” Sarah peered inside the tote at the three books waiting on her. A low murmur greeted her. “I haven’t forgotten,” she told them.
“Are they mad?” Ava asked.
“Not yet.” Sarah put the tote back at her feet and noticed that Erma was rubbing her lower back. “You should come up here and join us. Take a load off.”
“Thank you, but I’ve got to get home. Did you see Zoe with her handsome Italian?”
“Yeah, who was that?” Ava asked.
“He owns a restaurant in Charlotte, but he’s talking about opening one here.”
Ava looked at Sarah. “Now you know why she needed that phrase book.”
“And why she was so ticked off about it. She doesn’t want to believe.” Sarah shrugged. “Some people never do.”
“Their loss,” Erma said with a sniff. She looked around, and her expression softened. “It was a great festival, wasn’t it? I’ve never seen a crowd like that. I sold out of everything and now I have enough cash to make it through the slow season without blinking.”
“Me too,” Ava said. “Zoe said she has four businesses lined up for meetings to find out more about the town, three she feels certain will come through. And Kat said she got over fifteen inquiries into town properties.”
“I heard one of them signed on the spot,” Erma said.
Ava finished her cider. “That was me.”
Surprised, Sarah looked at her sister. “You? No way! Not the teahouse idea?”
“Tearoom,” Ava corrected. “I thought about what you all said at the meeting, about investing in our own town. So I’m going to open a tearoom. Kat got me a great deal on the empty florist’s shop just down from the Moonlight. I close on it in the morning.”
“Close?” Sarah looked at her sister. “You’re buying the building?”
“I am. I’m going to use the first floor for my tearoom and then make apartments out of the top floor. There’s already one up there, but it needs updating. We think there’s room for another if we move some walls.”
“You can build all the apartments you want,” Sarah said. “But you’re not moving out of our house.”
“Lord, no.” Ava grinned. “Who’d do my laundry?”
Sarah sniffed. “I’m glad I’m appreciated.”
“I like the idea of a tearoom,” Erma said. “It’ll be charming and quaint. That fits our town.”
Ava smiled serenely. “I’ll serve my specialty teas and I found a distributor in Asheville for gourmet coffee. I’ll also sell teapots and strainers and— Oh, all sorts of things.”
“No food?” Erma asked.
“Scones, tarts, and pastries. Nothing bigger than that. I’ll buy those from local p
eople. Aunt Jo said she’d make me an assortment of scones every week. I think she’ll be happy to make some extra money. Mark Robinson offered to make fruit tarts. The rest I’ll get from the Moonlight Café.”
Sarah blinked. “Jules supports your tearoom? Won’t you two be competing for business?”
“Jules offered to furnish fresh pies and cakes every week, and at a great rate too, if I promise not to serve full meals.”
“Ah. That’s a bargain, then.”
Ava grinned. “I had no intention of competing, but she doesn’t know that. We both win this way. I even told her I’d hand out flyers with the Moonlight’s special of the week. She was happy about that.”
Sarah nodded approvingly. “You’ve always been a good businesswoman.”
“And you’ve always been a good town champion.” Ava’s gaze was warm.
“Amen!” Erma said.
“Thanks. That means a lot.” Sarah started to sip her cider, but she caught sight of something that made her instantly forget the warm cup in her hand. “Ohhh, look at that.”
Erma and Ava turned to see what had caught her attention.
Grace stood with Trav beside the fountain. They were just talking, but her hand rested on his arm and he was bent close as if afraid he might miss something she said.
Sarah sighed with satisfaction. “They make a cute couple, don’t they?”
“Crazy cute,” Ava agreed.
“You think it’s serious?” Erma asked.
“Oh, it’s serious all right. Not only did he cut his hair, but last week, he asked me to go through his closet and pull out everything that needed to go.” Sarah chuckled. “We went shopping afterward because there were only about four pairs of blue jeans, a stack of T-shirts, and some flannel shirts left.”
“You think he did that for her?” Ava looked a little envious.
“And for himself, too. He’s finally letting go of the past. He’s having a yard sale next week. He cleaned all his dad’s stuff out and decided to update the bathrooms and kitchen.”
“Wow,” Ava said. “He seemed so lost for such a long time.”
“He did. But now he’s been found. By Grace.”
Erma looked impressed. “He’s a good boy, Trav is. I hope he knows he’s got himself quite a catch with our Grace.”
Ava’s gaze narrowed and she sat up straighter in her chair. “The flowers!”
Erma frowned. “Which ones?”
“The ones around the fountain behind Grace and Trav. Last week, for the festival, Lenny and I planted blue asters all through there. But now they’re crimson.”
Erma’s eyes widened. “Crimson like love.”
Sarah grinned. “Apparently the Dove family good luck approves of this union.”
“This day just keeps getting better and better.” Erma watched as Grace and Trav slowly walked away from the fountain, the asters along the pathway changing behind them. “God bless the Dove Family Good Luck. I love a happy ending.”
“Me too,” Ava said.
Erma nodded her approval. “Well, children, as fun as it’s been, I’d best get home. But before I go, I had a thought that I wanted to share with you two.”
“What’s that?” Sarah asked.
“We’ve had a deadbeat mayor for too long.”
Sarah made a face. “He was annoying this weekend. He was everywhere, taking credit for the whole festival.”
“Yeah, but he had no idea what was going on.” Ava rolled her eyes. “Per usual.”
“Which is why we need a new mayor,” Erma said. “A better one. One with a head for business.”
Sarah eyed the older woman. “I’d vote for you.”
“Not me! Grace.”
Sarah had lifted her cup for a sip, but at this, she lowered it. “Grace? For mayor?”
Erma nodded. “I want to run her campaign. You know, when Grace first took over the committee, I had my doubts about her. But now I’m sold.”
“Sign me up as a campaign volunteer,” Sarah said.
Ava raised her hand. “Me too.”
Erma smirked. “It’s perfect, isn’t it? But first, I need to convince our candidate to run. Once we get going, I’ll give you both a call.”
“I hope you can convince her to do it,” Sarah said. “If I can be of any help, you know where to find me.”
“I will. Tell those books of yours to give it some thought, too.”
“I’ll try, but you know how they are.”
“Didn’t you already give Grace a book?” Ava asked.
“I did. It was Little Women.”
“Do you know why it wanted to visit her?”
“Nope, but she finally brought it back last week. Whatever it was meant to do, it must have done it.”
Erma shook her head. “I’ll never understand how all of that works, but I’m glad it does.” She tugged her coat a little closer. “Whew. It’s getting cold. I think I’ll stop by the bonfire and then head home.”
“You going to stay for the band?” Ava asked.
“Probably not. I’m tired, plus I have money to count. Good night, you two.” Erma waved and left, walking far more spritely than her age would suggest.
Sarah and Ava were quiet for a moment. Finally, Ava said in a thoughtful tone, “Grace as mayor makes sense.”
Sarah couldn’t agree more. “She’d make more money than being a town clerk.”
“A lot more money. And then there’s Trav.” Ava sighed happily. “I hope I get to be a bridesmaid. I’ll be mad if I’m not.”
Sarah had to laugh. “I’ll put in a word for you when the time comes.”
“You do that.” Ava stood. “I guess I’ll head home. I have to get up bright and early to meet Zoe and Kat at the bank.”
“Go on. Just leave the porch light on for me.”
“I always do.” Ava smiled and started for the stairs.
“Wait! I almost forgot.” Sarah reached for her tote. “I have something for you.”
Ava groaned. “Oh no. Not a book.”
“Of course it’s a book.” Sarah pulled it out and handed it to Ava.
A confused look crossed Ava’s face. “How to Create Your Own Water Feature and Other Landscaping Gems. Good lord, Sarah, I don’t need this. No one has ever asked for a water feature and I sure as heck don’t intend on doing one.”
“Hey, I don’t tell the books anything. They tell me. And that one said you should read it.”
Ava muttered sourly under her breath, “Fine. I’ll read it.”
“Good, because there’s one more.”
“Nooooo!”
Sarah reached into her bag, pulled out another book, and handed it to Ava. The last book in Sarah’s tote bag settled deeper into the folds.
Ava looked at the book Sarah had just given her and her expression darkened. “No.” Ava held the book back toward Sarah. “I don’t want this one.”
“No one would,” Sarah agreed, feeling a little guilty. “I wish I knew why it thinks you need it, but it says you do, so—” She put her hand on the book and pushed it back toward Ava. “That’s all I know.”
Ava’s gaze dropped back to the book. After a long moment, she put it on top of the other book and tucked them both under her arm, her smile long gone. “I’d better get home.”
“I’ll see you there.” She watched as Ava headed down the steps, pausing to toss her empty cider cup into the trash before she walked across the almost empty park and climbed into her truck.
“That was quite a day, wasn’t it?”
Sarah turned to find Grace standing at the steps leading up to the grandstand. “Hail, Queen of the Festival!”
Grace laughed, her brown eyes sparkling as she climbed the steps. “It took all of us. It was a lot of work, but worth it.”
“So everyone seems to think.”
Grace smiled and took the chair Ava had just left. “I’ll tell you something else.”
“Does it have to do with you and Trav? If so, I’m all ears.”
&n
bsp; Grace flushed, but her smile didn’t waiver. “No. He just went to the bonfire. Linda is there with Mama G and Daisy.”
“I saw Mama G earlier. She was in a wheelchair.”
“Linda thought it would keep her from getting tired. I told Trav to let them know I’d catch up with them in a bit.”
“I hear you can tell a lot about a man by how reliably he delivers messages.”
Grace laughed. “I didn’t know that, but I’ll quiz my loved ones when I see them next.” She leaned back in her seat. “Speaking of which, where’s Blake?”
“He’s at the bonfire, I’d think.” Sarah knew exactly where he was, but she refused to admit it.
Grace didn’t appear the least bit fooled. “You should talk to that man, put him out of his misery.”
“I’ll talk to him when the time comes.”
“You’re impossible, you know that? Fortunately, what I wanted to say to you has nothing to do with Blake or Trav or anyone else. It has to do with the festival budget.”
“Uh-oh.”
“No.” Grace beamed. “Zoe brought me the final figures after she’d checked in with the vendors as they were closing. Sarah, we’re under budget, not over.”
“Under? As big as our festival was?”
“It’s under because it was as big as it was. We made enough to cover the price quoted for the tents, and the more tents we had, the cheaper they were, so . . . we’re under. Once we add in our cuts from the vendors, we’ll have made a good profit.”
“Wow. Erma’s right about you.”
Grace’s eyebrows rose. “How so?”
Sarah grinned. “You’ll see soon enough.”
“That’s cryptic.”
“So is this.” Sarah reached into her tote bag for the last book. She handed it to Grace. “I think you need this.”
She looked at the book. It was a small book, but thick. In large blue letters the cover read The Knitters’ Guide to Perfection. “I don’t knit.”
“The book says you need it.”
“ ‘The book says,’ ” Grace muttered, shaking her head. “You’re a strange woman, Sarah Dove.”
“There are stranger.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Grace traced her finger over the knitting needle featured on the book’s cover and said in a musing tone, “Mama G must have knitted me a hundred pairs of mittens over my lifetime.” She smiled softly. “Which was a good thing, because I kept losing them.”
The Book Charmer Page 34