by June Faver
“I do think so. Frank, you’re the guy who can do anything he sets out to do. You’ve proven that time after time.”
He spread his arms, and she leaned into his embrace. “Even if we don’t have a lot in common?”
In spite of herself, she let out a nervous giggle. “Yeah, my dad has a theory about that.”
“Your dad’s a great guy.”
“My dad? How do you know what kind of man my dad is?”
“I went by your father’s house looking for you.” He flashed a grin. “It gave us a chance to talk. He’s really nice.”
Reggie wondered at that. Was her father mellowing in his old age? “What did you talk about?”
“Things…you and me.”
“You didn’t!” she squeaked out.
He lifted her chin and gave her a slow, toe-curling kiss. “I asked him how he felt about marriage…yours and mine in particular.”
She sucked in a breath, making a whimpering sound. “Marriage?”
“Yeah. I figured your dad was a pretty old-fashioned kind of guy, so I officially asked for your hand in marriage.”
Reggie held her breath. For a moment there was no sound except that of her heart pumping in her ears.
“He was okay with it…especially when Shannon ran over to hug my neck and call me ‘Fwank.’” He released her and fumbled in his pocket, drawing out a small blue box. “Reggie Lee Stafford, I am crazy in love with you. Will you make me the happiest man on the planet by becoming my bride? Will you marry me?”
“I—uh… Oh, Frank, of course I’ll marry you.” She was grinning, but tears filled her eyes. She recognized the blue box as coming from Tiffany’s. “Oh, my goodness. I’ve never seen such a lovely ring.”
Frank stood and, taking her hand, slid the ring on her finger. He held her for a moment and then murmured, “I’m completely committed. This is a forever and ever thing. Are you in?”
Reggie swallowed hard and blinked through the tears. “I’m in.”
* * *
Violet was making herself at home. She already had Gayle trained to take her out in the fenced backyard and to praise her abundantly when she went to the back corner she now thought of as her private potty place.
Gayle had also bought her a lovely purple collar and affixed her shiny new tag. “Now you’re legal, Violet.”
Violet stared at her, her bright eyes peering out of the mop of white fur. When she fixed her gaze upon Gayle, this usually resulted in being picked up and cuddled. And when she was put down, Violet would roll over on her back, exposing her little pink stomach, begging for attention.
“Oh, I see. You need a good belly rub, don’t you?” Gayle obliged, and every time she paused, the dog’s paws flapped as though she was begging for more.
Gayle shook her head. “You are just a little love slut. Okay, more belly rubbing.” She realized it was going to be difficult to hand her over to Paul.
Reluctantly, she picked up her phone and punched in Paul’s number.
“Hello, beautiful. You made my day.” His voice wrapped around her like an embrace.
“That’s really sweet, Paul,” she said. “I was wondering if you had time to run by my house. I wanted to ask your opinion on something.”
Violet sat at her feet, her little puffy tail wagging hopefully.
“My lowly opinion? I would be happy to offer any assistance to the lovely lady… I can come right over.”
“That would be great. See you in a few.” Gayle hung up, grinning. She scruffled the patch of brown fur behind Violet’s left ear. “Who’s your daddy? Well, we’re about to find out.”
Violet stood on her hind feet and made the begging motion with her little paws together.
“Oh, you could own my heart.” Gayle picked the small ball of fluff up and took her into the kitchen, where she had located Violet’s food and water bowls as well as a cushy dog bed. “You stay in here until I introduce you to your possible daddy. Good girl.” She closed the door to the kitchen and made a circuit of the living room, picking up a few things as she made her rounds. She spritzed a floral scent in the air, and by the time Paul knocked on her door, she was company-ready.
“Hi, Paul. I’m glad you could come over.”
A wide grin spread across his face. “I’m glad you invited me.”
She noticed that he had just shaved and smelled almost edible…something warm and spicy. “Come right in and have a seat. Would you like some coffee or tea?”
“Uh, sure. Whatever is easier.” He took a seat on the sofa.
“I just made a pot of fresh coffee. I’ll be right back.” She made a twirl and went through the dining room and into the kitchen. She had prepared a tray for the occasion and just took a few moments to pour coffee into the cups. It looked nice.
Violet was curled up in her bed but kept watching her. “I’ll be back in a little while, Violet.” She picked up the tray and backed out of the room.
When she returned to the living room, she found Paul examining her books.
“You have quite a variety in your library.”
She placed the tray on the coffee table. “I’m a voracious reader. What can I say?”
Paul joined her at the sofa and took a seat beside her. “Another thing we have in common. I haunt the library weekly.”
Good man. “That’s nice. We have a good library. How do you like your coffee?” She gestured to the cream and sweeteners on the tray.
He helped himself to a little cream and picked up a spoon to stir his coffee.
“And I made these cookies. Hope you like chocolate chip.”
“Who doesn’t?” He reached for a cookie and took a bite, making an appreciative noise. “What a woman. She reads. She bakes. And she’s beautiful.”
Gayle blushed at the compliments. “Thanks, Paul. Nice of you to say those things.”
“They’re all true. Now what is it that you want my opinion about? I’m always happy to help.”
“Just enjoy the coffee,” she said. “We’ll get to that shortly. I was wondering when you first noticed me. When did you become aware of me as a person?”
He paused, the cookie halfway to his lips. “Aware of you?” He swallowed the bite in his mouth and set the cookie on the saucer under his coffee cup. “Are you serious? I’ve been aware of you forever.” He shrugged. “Well, maybe not forever.”
She gazed at him silently.
“Okay, it was when I first moved here. I had just gotten the teaching job, and I saw you at church. I wanted to get to know you, but I was too shy to just march right up and introduce myself… Did you notice me?”
“Hmm… Yes, I was told that you were the new history teacher at the middle school, and I think someone mentioned that you were single.” She sipped her coffee thoughtfully.
“Well, I was aware of you, but I couldn’t figure out how to meet you officially.”
Gayle took a deep breath, ready to plunge in. She set the coffee cup back on the tray and turned to face Paul. “So you made up this story about a lost dog?”
“Okay, I am so embarrassed about that. Sorry. I’m normally a truthful person, but I couldn’t figure out any other way to start a conversation with you.”
Gayle noted that his face and ears had turned a bright pink. “I figured it out but kept having doubts. You could have confessed, you know?” She softened her question with a smile.
“I was trying to get up my nerve to admit my rotten behavior…but I was just ashamed. Can you forgive me?”
He appeared to be so contrite, Gayle couldn’t help but smile. He had created this elaborate ruse because he liked her and was too shy to just move forward. She had to be flattered by his actions. “On one condition.”
“Anything. What do you want me to do?”
“Simple. Never lie to me again. Just hit me with the truth, no
matter what.”
“Yes, I can do that.” He was nodding.
“That’s all I ask. Just be truthful.” She finished off her coffee and set the empty cup back on the tray. “Are you finished with that?” She nodded toward his cup, and he drank the last of it, echoing her in placing it back on the tray.
She stood and reached for the tray, but Paul leaped to his feet and picked it up.
“I can take this for you.”
“Thanks. If you don’t mind bringing it to the kitchen for me.”
He followed her eagerly, bearing the tray.
Gayle held the door open for him and gestured to the countertop by the sink. “Just set it over there, please.”
When he had complied, he looked down at the small fur ball at his feet. “Hello. What’s this?”
Gayle felt like laughing but held herself together. “This is my dog. Isn’t she cute?”
Paul squatted down to pet her. “Cute doesn’t half cover it. She’s adorable. What’s her name?”
Gayle leaned back against the counter. “Violet. Her name is Violet.”
Paul rocked back in surprise and fell on his rear. “What?”
“I went looking for your dog…and I found her.”
He sat on the floor looking up at her. “How can that be? I don’t have a dog.”
“I know. But now I do. You can pet her anytime you want.”
Paul broke out in laughter, and Gayle joined in.
Violet’s little head swiveled back and forth between her new mother and her mom’s friend.
Chapter 16
Three months later…
“Daddy, are you crying?” Reggie had apparently surprised him when she entered the living room soundlessly on her bare feet.
Sure enough, Henry Stafford jerked upright in his recliner and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “No, of course not.” He gave her a stern look as he lifted his newspaper higher to cover his face.
A swell of emotion washed over her. Reggie had to blink back her own tears. She completely understood how he was feeling. She surveyed the cozy living room, took in her parents’ portrait and the other memorabilia arranged on the mantel by her mother’s loving hands. Her dad did not adjust to change easily.
She sucked in a deep breath and pasted a bright smile on her face. “Tomorrow’s the big day. You’ll finally get rid of us and have some peace and quiet around here.”
The newspaper rattled, but Henry was silent.
“I know it was a big shock to your system when Shannon and I had to move in with you.” She shrugged. “I mean, you must have rolled your eyes every time Shannon started wailing or you stumbled over one of her toys.”
“No, I didn’t.” His voice was raspy. “I was glad to have you two here. I wanted to kill Kenny Landers for breaking his word to you.” He glanced up at her, his expression grim. “For breaking your heart, but I never begrudged you a place to live.” He cleared his throat and folded the newspaper, placing it on the table beside his recliner. “I’m your father. I have always loved you, and I always will.”
“I knew that.” She leaned down to place a kiss on his leathery cheek. “I love you too.”
He snorted. “I knew that.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you taking us in. I was pretty much broken.”
“Damned Landers. He may be in jail, but I still want to kill him.”
“No need. Frank did a pretty good job of, uh…making an impression on Kenny.” A giggle bubbled up from her chest as she remembered Kenny’s expression when Frank was throwing him all over the Gazette parking lot.
Henry raised his brows. “He did? Good man. I always liked that Frank.”
“Well, you should, because I’m going to marry him tomorrow. He promised me forever.”
“He’d better live up to that.”
“I have complete confidence in Frank. It’s me I’m worried about.” Reggie raked her fingers through her hair. “I’m so scared. What if I’m not capable of being the wife of a wealthy international businessman? I’m just a small-town girl. What if I let him down?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re Reggie Lee Stafford. Smartest girl in the world.” He did an elaborate eye roll. “You’re editor of the Rambling Gazette. You’re redecorating the Grady house.” He gave a dry chuckle. “You and that assistant of yours…”
“Gayle?”
“Yeah, that’n. You two are making the upper floors of the Gazette building into new housing for Rambling. You’re making things happen.”
She smiled. “Well, I’m trying.”
“You just be you. You can handle anything Frank Bell and the big wide world has to throw at you.”
“Thanks. I needed a pep talk.”
He heaved a huge sigh, his shoulders lifting and falling with the effort. “I just wish your mother could have lived to see you so happy.” This time a tear rolled down his cheek and he made no effort to hide it. “I found this earlier. It was your mother’s.” He fumbled in the pocket of his bathrobe. “Aren’t you supposed to have something old?”
Reggie’s throat clogged with emotion as she gazed at the lacy bit he held out to her. “What…what’s that, Dad?”
“This, young lady, is a hankie. It’s something well-brought-up women used to carry. In fact, it’s the very hankie your grandmother gave to your mother to carry during our wedding. I believe she said it had belonged to her mother.” He tucked it in her hand and closed her fingers around it. “So, you see the importance of this little bit of lace. I think you will pass it along to Shannon someday.”
“Oh, Daddy.” Reggie’s airway closed up, and her eyes filled with tears. She collapsed into the arms he held out to her. For a few minutes she silently sobbed against his shoulder while he gently rocked her as he had when she was a child.
“That’s my girl. Don’t worry about a thing.” He patted her back rhythmically. “If this Frank doesn’t treat you right, I’ll kill him.”
* * *
Evan straightened Frank’s tie. “Man up, Bro. You look scared.”
Frank released the breath he’d been holding. “Not scared. Just nervous. I don’t want to screw this up.”
Evan slapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll do fine.”
The knot in Frank’s stomach twisted and tied another loop. “You got the ring, right?”
Evan grinned. “Sure do. You’re not getting out of this one.”
“I sure hope not.” He straightened his spine. “I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life.”
Evan stepped to the door and peeked out into the hall. “Looks like most everyone has gone into the chapel. We’re supposed to get ourselves up to the front of the church before the bridal party starts down the aisle.” He turned back to Frank. “C’mon, bud. Let’s get it in gear.” He motioned for Frank to follow and stepped out into the hallway.
Like a robot, Frank trailed after him, his insides still quaking.
The organist played some sort of light music that he recalled having heard somewhere in his past but couldn’t place. They stood outside the doorway, and he glimpsed what seemed to be the entire town seated inside the church. He had expected to see the designated “bride’s side” of the church packed with locals, but he was pleasantly surprised to find both sides equally full. Probably overflow from the bride’s side.
He raked his fingers through his hair, but Evan slapped at his hand.
“Don’t mess with your pretty ’do,” he said. “C’mon, we’ll go down the far aisle to the altar as soon as the Rev makes it up there. In the meantime, we can just chill out back in this corner.”
Frank nodded and heaved out a sigh. “Nice music.”
“‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.’”
Frank swiveled to stare at him. “What are you talking about, Ev?”
&nb
sp; “That’s the name of the song she’s playing…Bach.”
Frank leaned back against the wall. “How did you know that?”
“Orchestra. I played cello in the high school orchestra.”
“Really? I thought you were into football and all other sports.”
Evan shrugged. “I was, but I was also really into music.”
Frank reflected on how little he knew about the man who had been his best friend in high school. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“No reason for you to know. I was a little closemouthed about my musical interests.” He shrugged. “Guess I thought orchestra was a little nerdy and I was a cool guy.”
“Yeah. Listen, Ev… I really appreciate you standing up with me.”
“What are friends for?” Evan nudged him when the pastor entered from the back and took his place at the altar. “That’s our cue.” He gestured for Frank to precede him.
Frank swallowed hard and made his way up the side aisle toward the altar, where he would promise Reggie Lee his fidelity for life. That part didn’t scare him. He was petrified, but not of Reggie. He was scared he would mess it up.
He stepped up onto the riser, and Pastor Wilson reached to shake his hand, then Evan’s.
“Man, just chill. You’re Frank Bell. Mr. Cool. You got this.”
Frank nodded. Yeah, I’m Frank Bell. Mr. Cool unless it comes to Reggie Lee Stafford.
There was movement at the back of the church. Several young women wearing fluffy pink dresses gathered in the open doorway.
His chest tightened when he saw Shannon, wearing a paler pink dress with a wide rose-colored satin ribbon tied around her waist. She looked adorable with a circlet of pink flowers atop her blonde ringlets. The woman who held her hand gave her a small white basket and whispered in her ear.
Frank could hear his heart pulsing in his ears. He hoped he didn’t embarrass himself or, even worse, Reggie. He tried to breathe normally, but he wasn’t sure what normal was anymore.
The first bridesmaid gave Shannon a little nudge, and she started walking toward the altar, occasionally throwing a fistful of petals on the carpet. When she spied Frank, she tossed the basket aside and ran toward him.
