“Yep.” Daisy nodded. “We were all just kids then. I sure miss those days.”
“Me too.” Dolly sat the picture down and smiled. “We don’t see Darlene as much as we used to.” Her voice was low and laced with sadness.
“All that charity work really keeps her on the go. She don’t have much time for us anymore.” The corners of Daisy’s mouth turned down.
“Well, she’s a great-grandmother. I’m sure she spends all her free time with those little girls.” Dolly’s smile was sincere, but it didn’t cover the despair in her voice or hide the sorrow in her eyes.
“I suppose,” Daisy exhaled. “I do wish she’d come visit us. I’d love to see those babies.”
Both sisters frowned, and then there was silence. I looked at Aunt Sharon and then glanced at the sisters. This was not good. Their unhappiness made me want to cry. I couldn’t bear it. I had to think of something. I considered pulling out my phone and dialing Mrs. Darlene’s number, but then I thought of something even better. I picked up the rock and handed it to Dolly.
“Live, Love, Laugh.” I smiled at her. “I really like this motto.”
Dolly looked at the rock, then lifted her eyes and smiled back at me. “It’s Darlene’s favorite.”
“I think we ought to do exactly what it suggests. What do you say we arrange for another one of these get-togethers with all the Red Hat Ladies?”
Dolly’s face lit up. She looked over at her sister and grinned. “Let’s do it!”
I clapped my hands. “This will be great! Give me a list of names, and I’ll get to calling. We can have the party right here. There’s plenty of room, and I’ll think up some fun games. We can get the food catered. And some champagne. And maybe even some live entertainment.”
“Great idea!” Aunt Sharon chimed in. “Wait. When you say live entertainment… Are we talking male strippers? Or are we talking Elvis impersonators?”
I laughed out loud. “Definitely not strippers!”
“Good! Because I know a terrific Elvis impersonator. And I wouldn’t even begin to know where to find any male strippers!”
“You’re getting us male strippers?” Daisy’s face glowed.
“Heavens no!” Dolly scolded. “Do you want somebody to have a stroke?”
“A stroke? Humph! I bet we could give them male strippers a stroke.” Daisy snickered and waggled her eyebrows. “On the tallywhacker!”
“Oh, dear Lord.” Dolly shook her head. “Here come the vulgarities.”
“Hush it! Ain’t nobody spouting off vulgarities, so don’t get your panties in a wad. Besides, what’s vulgar about tallywhacker?”
“So, when should we plan it?” Aunt Sharon asked, trying to put out the fire.
“Oh, I don’t care,” Dolly said. “How about next month?”
“Works for me.” Daisy shrugged.
“Perfect! That will give Mrs. Darlene plenty of time to plan her trip,” I added.
Dolly couldn’t contain her joy. “It’ll be so much fun! Maybe she can come early and stay with us a few days. And maybe she could even bring Jasmine and the girls. I just can’t wait!”
Daisy raised her eyebrows. “I better double-up on my Geritol.”
We all laughed, then Dolly said, “Well, we better get back to work. Can we get y’all anything?”
“Actually,” Aunt Sharon said, “I was telling Rebecca earlier y’all make the best Bushwackers in the Panhandle. How do you suppose they’d taste without the alcohol?”
Dolly put her hand on Aunt Sharon’s shoulder and chuckled. “Probably like a milkshake, but I’ll mix one up and we’ll see.”
“You’re the best, Dolly.” Aunt Sharon squeezed her hand.
“Anything for you, dear. I’m just so excited I don’t even know what to do with myself!” Dolly turned and grabbed Daisy by the elbow. “Come on. Let’s go make some Bushwackers and start planning for our party.”
Daisy glanced over her shoulder toward the back of the shop. “Shh! Don’t talk too loud. We don’t want everybody in the world to know we’re having a party.”
“Who are you talking about, Mrs. Daisy?” I asked.
“Him,” she said, and hooked her thumb in the direction of the gray-haired man in the three-piece suit. “The Silver Fox. He comes here every day and has coffee and a cinnamon roll.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Aunt Sharon asked.
“What’s wrong with that? I’ll tell you what’s wrong with that. This here ain’t the only place that sells coffee, ya know. Or cinnamon rolls,” Daisy grumbled.
Dolly cleared her throat and leaned in towards us. “I’ll tell you girls something. He ain’t coming for the coffee or the cinnamon rolls, and she knows it. That there’s Dr. Steve. He’s a retired brain surgeon. And he’s sweet on Daisy. Comes here every morning, trying to get her to have dinner with him, and she keeps telling him no.”
Daisy huffed. “Cause I wish he’d just leave me the hell alone.”
“Aww.” I grinned. “Mrs. Daisy. That’s so sweet. You should totally go to dinner with him.”
“Humph! I ain’t totally going nowhere with him, young lady.”
“Oh, Daisy. Why not? He looks like a nice man to me.”
“Well, then you go out with him, Sharon. How ‘bout that?”
“I don’t expect Uncle Max would like that too much, Mrs. Daisy,” I chuckled.
Aunt Sharon sat back and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “What’s the big deal about going to dinner with him, Daisy? He’s a retired brain surgeon, for cryin’ out loud.”
“He smiles too much,” she griped.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, sis. Live, love, laugh! Quit being such a fuddy-duddy and go out with the man.”
Daisy shot her a mean look. “Humph! Live, love, laugh, your ass! You go out with him, Dolly! I’m going to make the Bushwackers!”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jackson
Saturday, June 3, 2000 ~ Make It Official
“I didn’t get any fish today.”
Andrew laughed on the other end of the phone. “You get seasick again?”
“Real funny, asshole. No, I didn’t get seasick. I didn’t even take the boat out.”
The laughing stopped and Andrew’s tone changed. “Why not? Something wrong?”
“I just had some personal issues come up last night that I needed to take care of today,” I explained. “I’m real sorry, man. I know you were counting on me to bring a load in.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Andrew paused. “So, are you excited about going to the reunion tonight?” He sounded almost giddy.
I cleared my throat. “Yeah. About that…”
“Jackson!” Giddy went to hysterical in zero-point-two seconds. “You’re not backing out—”
“Chill out.” I interrupted, so he wouldn’t blow a gasket. “I’m not backing out. I think we should meet you guys there. Rebecca’s coming over so we can talk about some things before tonight.”
Andrew was quiet for a moment. “Y’all gonna talk for five hours?”
“We gotta lot to talk about.”
“Like what?” Andrew sounded nervous. “Something up?”
“Nothing’s up. We just need to talk. So how does that sound, us meeting you and Katie there?”
He blew out a breath. “I’m good with it if the girls are good with it.”
“Great. The thing starts at eight, right? You wanna meet in the parking lot around eight-thirty?”
“And be late?” Andrew’s gasket was getting close to blowing again.
I chuckled. “Fashionably late. Don’t none of us really wanna go to this thing anyway. Why prolong the misery?”
“I see your point. Eight-thirty it is.”
“Great.”
“Oh, and Jackson?”
“Yeah?”
“Dress is semi-formal. Do you need me to bring you something?” Andrew teased.
“I need you to kiss my ass!” I snickered and hung up the phone.
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Rebecca pulled up right on time. I could see her smiling through the car window.
I was sitting on the front porch rocking Savannah, who’d just woken from her nap. “Hey, baby, look who’s come to see you,” I whispered.
Savannah popped her head up and grinned.
“Hey, you!” I called out, as she shut the car door. She was carrying two large shopping bags and a huge purse.
“Hey, yourself!” She smiled, walking up to the porch.
Savannah wrestled to get down from my lap and ran to her, meeting her at the top of the steps, her little hands raised in the air. Rebecca looked at me and grinned, then sat her bags down on the porch and reached out to pick Savannah up.
“There’s my girl!” she said with a cheerful voice. “Looks like somebody’s had a good nap.” She hugged Savannah tight and kissed her on the cheek. “I brought you something. Wanna see?”
Savannah giggled and nodded.
“Let’s go sit by your daddy. I got him something too!” Rebecca’s smile was wide with enthusiasm. She looked at me and wiggled her eyebrows. Then, with Savannah on her left hip, she reached down and picked up her bags and headed toward me. My heart skipped a beat. Erotic thoughts instantly filled my mind. Oh my God. The things I wanted to do to her. Jesus, help me. I cleared my throat and smiled, hoping my face didn’t give away what I was thinking.
“Hi,” I said in a soft voice.
She sat in the rocker next to me and put her bags on the porch between us. “Hi,” she said, grinning and adjusting Savannah on her lap. “So, what have you two been up to today?”
“Oh, you know… Eating cereal and jelly toast and watching SpongeBob SquarePants and Disney princess movies. What else does one do on Saturdays?” I rolled my eyes and grinned.
“Sounds like fun to me!” Rebecca touched her forehead to Savannah’s. “Somebody told me your favorite Disney princess was Ariel. How would you like to dress up like her and have your very own Flounder?” Rebecca pulled a mermaid costume and a stuffed flounder from one of the bags.
Savannah squealed in delight and hugged the stuffed fish.
“Wanna put this on?” Rebecca held the costume in the air, and Savannah nodded eagerly. “Okay, here, let daddy hold Flounder, and I’ll help you.”
Savannah handed me the fish and jumped down from Rebecca’s lap. The excitement in her eyes and the sound of her laughter made my heart swell with joy. Rebecca helped her pull the mermaid dress over her clothes and then reached into the bag for the red wig, wand, and tiara.
Savannah’s eyes lit up. “Daddy, look!” she squealed, bouncing on her tiptoes.
“I see it, baby! You’re gonna look just like Ariel.”
She giggled and reached for the wand as Rebecca straightened her wig and placed the tiara on her head.
“Here ya go, sweetheart.” I gave her back the stuffed fish.
“I’m a mermaid! And he’s my Flounder!” She giggled as she twirled around, dancing with her fish. “Daddy, can I watch mermaid?”
I knew that was coming. I winked at Rebecca and took Savannah’s hand. “Sure, baby. Let’s go inside and I’ll put the movie on. Be right back,” I said over my shoulder.
I started her movie and got Savannah situated on the couch with her woobie, a sippy cup, and Flounder. Cuddled up and content, she was just about the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. Speaking of sweet, I returned to Rebecca on the front porch. “You’re amazing. You know that?”
She grinned. “Because I got her a present?”
“No. Because you are so thoughtful and kind. You know Ariel’s her favorite. And now she feels like a princess.”
“I’m glad. She’s so precious.”
I scooted my rocker closer to her and sat down. “I love how you are with her. She’s really taken to you quickly.”
“I’ve taken to her rather quickly too.” Her eyes twinkled. “She’s very special, Jackson.”
I took her by the hand. “And so are you.”
She batted her eyes. “Are you trying to flirt with me?”
I grinned and narrowed my eyes. “How am I doing?”
“Fantastic.” She giggled. “And because you’re doing so well, I have something for you too.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She reached in the shopping bag and lifted out a Ralph Lauren dress shirt and matching tie. “This is for tonight.” Her voice was smoky, alluring.
I smiled and raised my eyebrows in surprise. “You want me to wear… purple?”
Her laugh thrilled me. “Not purple, velvet nights and phantom. And, yes. I want us to match.”
I twisted my mouth. “Well, I do like the names. Just not crazy about… purple.”
Ignoring my comment, she lifted another small wad of purple material out of the bag.
“What’s that? A wrap for my head?”
She giggled. “No, silly. It’s my dress.”
As she held it up, it unfolded. And, bam! It. Was. Stunning. A shade darker than my shirt, but lighter than my tie, and made of something shiny that apparently stretched. Dear God. This dress would surely hug every curve of her sexy body. The front of the dress had two very distinct arches for her voluptuous breasts and plunged deep where her cleavage would be. And it was strapless. And very short. Oh, heaven help me. I could not wait to see her in it.
I let out a whistle. “Wow! Now that’s a dress!” I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “Did I mention how much I love purple?”
“See how nice this matches?” She held her dress against my shirt and tie. “Won’t we look great together?”
“You’ll look incredible. I’ll look like an eggplant,” I muttered.
“Whatever.” She laughed. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? I’m sure the ladies fall all over you everywhere you go.”
“Uh, that would be a no.” I watched her as she folded the dress and returned it to the bag. “And besides, it wouldn’t matter if they did. There’s only one woman for me.”
She looked at me through slits in her eyes. “Is that right?” Her smile was hypnotic.
“Yes, ma’am. It is.”
“And who might this woman be?” she asked, placing the shirt and tie back in the bag.
I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “You,” I whispered. “It’s always been you.”
I rose from my chair and dropped down to my knees in front of her. Leaning into her, I rested my head against her stomach. Being close to her soothed my pain and settled my soul. There was so much I wanted to say to her, I didn’t know where to begin.
“All these years we’ve been apart, I’ve wanted you. Ached for you. For so long. I don’t want us to ever be apart again. I don’t want to lose you.” I lifted my head to look into her eyes. “It would absolutely kill me.”
She worked her fingers through my hair. Her smile was as gentle as her touch, her eyes, filled with understanding. “I don’t want to lose you, either.”
“You have my heart and all the love in it, now and forever. And I want to spend the rest of my life proving it to you every single day.”
Her smile widened. “And you’re gonna start by wearing purple to the reunion tonight, right?”
“I’m gonna start by taking you somewhere.” I stood and took her by the hands, pulling her to face me. “I have something for you too.”
She gave a curious grin. “What is it?”
“Give me just one minute.”
I grabbed the shopping bags and scurried inside. Tossing them on the couch, I reached for Savannah, then gathered her woobie, sippy cup, and fish.
“Come on, baby, we’re going for a little ride.”
“But my movie…”
“Daddy will start your movie over when we get back. We won’t be gone long. Here, hold Flounder. We’re taking Rebecca somewhere special. Then we’ll stop for ice cream on the way home. How does that sound?”
“Ice cream!” she squealed.
I turned off the TV and locked the door behind me. Leading Rebecca by the han
d, we headed to the garage.
“So, where are you taking me?” Rebecca smiled.
“It’s a surprise.” I grinned and handed her a handkerchief. “Tie this around your eyes.”
“Seriously?” She sounded uncertain.
“You can’t see where we’re going, or it will spoil the surprise.”
“Okay. But I literally hate blindfolds. So hurry. I’m claustrophobic.”
“Claustrophobic, huh? Okay, I’ll hurry. You just keep your eyes closed.”
I stopped the truck and shut off the engine. “I’m coming around to get you.”
“This has taken a good minute,” she said, unbuckling her seat belt. “I’m about ready to toss this blindfold.”
After I took Savannah out of her car seat, I helped Rebecca out of the truck. “Here, hold my hand. We have a short walk.”
“Okay.” She held me by the arm with her other hand. “Don’t let me fall.”
“I’d never let anything happen to you.” I squeezed her hand and carefully led her while I carried Savannah on my hip. After about sixty steps, I stopped and let Savannah down. “You can take off the blindfold now.”
She untied the handkerchief, and her mouth fell open. As if she’d seen an old friend, her eyes brightened, and her smile grew. “Our spot,” she whispered. “This was our tree.” She looked up at the old oak, touching it with her fingertips.
I stood back, watching her. “Yes, it was.”
Then she squealed, “Jackson!” Her fingers found the markings on the weathered tree trunk that I’d carved over a decade ago. “They’re still here.” She tilted her head and sighed. “Our initials, they aren’t even faded.”
“True love never fades, babe,” I said softly. “Our love is forever.”
Her tear-filled eyes met mine. “Jackson?”
I gazed at her beautiful face. “This is the last place we were together before my life turned upside down. I remember brushing my lips against yours and thinking my heart would beat out of my chest. I wanted to tell you I loved you that day under this tree, but I was too scared. Worried I wasn’t good enough for you, afraid you didn’t feel the same way about me. And then I got in the accident.” I pressed my lips together to keep them from trembling. “After that, I knew I’d never be the kind of man you deserved. A man who could give you a good life, provide for you, protect you, love you. I was broken.” I felt my eyes begin to burn, so I sniffed to avoid tears. “But I’m not that broken man anymore. You have helped make me whole again. You’ve made me realize life is too precious to waste even a moment.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and took another breath. “Last night was so special to me. I wanted you with every fiber in me. But more than that, I wanted it to be right. I wanted you to trust me completely. I wanted you to have absolutely no doubt about my intentions… about me, about us. That day I carved our initials in this tree, I knew I loved you, Rebecca. More than anything. I will always love you.”
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