If he’d learned anything over the past couple of years, it was that two things could kill their business—poor food and cheesy productions.
He, Grandma and Paige had worked long and hard to rectify both. Tonight would show them how successful their efforts were.
When the two sauntered off, Paige turned to Jed. “Your mom just sent me a text. Said she’s running a bit late but that they’re on their way.”
He grinned. “Now, there’s a change.”
“What’s that?”
“You and my mom texting.”
She shrugged. “She probably figured you’d be running around like a chicken with your head cut off, with your phone battery dead, forgotten on your desk or left somewhere random.”
“You both know me well.”
“Agreed.” With her hands planted on her hips, she glanced around. “So...how can I help?”
“Pray? With all the publicity you managed to wrangle up, this night is too important to mess up.”
“Relax. Everything’s going to be amazing. I have no doubt.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
He’d spend the rest of his life doing all he could to ensure she always looked at him with the same love and admiration her eyes held now.
* * *
Paige sat at a table near the front of the theater with her eyes trained on the entrance. She stood when Jed’s grandmother and mother entered, anxious to greet them. In part because she knew his mom would be nervous, wondering what everyone might be saying about her and her husband. As if the pain of it all weren’t enough, some were accusing her of being complicit, saying she had to have known about her husband’s illegal activities.
But others, like Mrs. Tappen’s quilting friends, surrounded and supported her.
In fact, that was how most of Sage Creek responded. True, there were those who enjoyed a juicy piece of gossip, finding entertainment in another’s pain. But most banded together to love on one of their own.
She hadn’t realized until now how much she’d missed that. Chicago’s fine restaurants, museums and shopping malls were great, but they couldn’t replace the bonds that united folks here.
That was the type of security, the sense of belonging, she hoped Ava would grow up experiencing.
She smoothed wrinkles from the front of her blouse, wove around occupied tables and strolled forward. “Mrs. Tappen. Mrs. Gilbertson.”
Jed’s grandmother pulled her into a tight hug. “So good to see you, dear.” With her eyes dancing, she held Paige by the arms and then released her.
Paige shifted to face Mrs. Gilbertson with her hand extended. “Ma’am. I’m so glad you could come.”
“Good to see you, Paige.” She looked around. Her gaze lingered on the stage with its general-store background, hitching rail bordering the right and covered wagon decorating the left. “This place truly looks spectacular.”
Mrs. Tappen beamed. “Agreed. That boy of yours has quite an imagination. And wait until you see the show. Paige here wrote up quite a doozy. Folks’re gonna have to use their noggin’ overtime to solve the mystery she’s come up with.”
“I have no doubt.” The admiration in her eyes warmed Paige.
“Matter of fact, let’s get a program,” Mrs. Tappen said. “After the show, maybe our star writer will sign them for us.” She winked, and Paige blushed.
It felt nice to be praised by Jed’s grandmother, especially in front of his mom.
While the two women traipsed off, Paige returned to her seat, anxious for the show to begin.
Jed rushed from place to place—into the kitchen, backstage, out to the lobby, back to his office—casting frequent nervous glances her way. He was adorable. She loved the take-charge energy he showed when tackling a problem, caring for his grandmother or mowing Mom’s yard, and now dealing with staff and last-minute production details.
Mrs. Tappen and Mrs. Gilbertson returned. His grandmother sat to Paige’s right, while his mom sat one chair beyond that. The women talked about past shows, the costumes, what happened behind the scenes. As the last of the patrons arrived, excited chatter, giggles and the clanking of glasses on wooden tabletops swirled through the paneled room.
Then the show began. Jed started things off, cracking some jokes and thanking everyone for being there. He looked more handsome than ever in his Stetson, leather vest, chaps and boots. He’d just begun to launch into the backstory of the local saloon owner, a woman with a questionable past, when two gunslingers tromped onstage.
“Keep your eye on the man with the mustache.” The taller of the two leaned toward his friend, motioning with his head toward a tall, bald-headed guy in the audience.
The other gunslinger nodded. “Feller looks shifty, all right. Pro’ly on Sheriff Brewster’s payroll.”
Laughter filled the room as the story unfolded, with all of its clues, puns and mishaps, Paige’s heart swelled. Everything was turning out better than she’d expected.
Was Jed pleased? She looked about, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
When the sheriff challenged the suspected murderer to a draw, and the saloon owner ran through the audience in search of a pencil and paper, Mrs. Tappen bent over with laughter. “Girl—” she patted Paige’s knee “—you found your thing.”
Paige smiled. “Thanks. I sure seem to have stumbled into something. Me, a scriptwriter—who knew?” Something she could see herself doing well into her golden years. This was much better than working for Ardell. As hard and frightening as it’d been to turn down the job offer, Paige knew she’d done the right thing.
“God knew all along.” Mrs. Tappen gave her leg another pat. “You didn’t stumble into nothing, sweet pea.”
She angled her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Jeremiah 29:11.”
Paige’s confusion must have shown on her face, because Mrs. Tappen said, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good.’ Mmm-hmm. ‘To give you hope and a future.’”
A future. With Jed? Lord, is that why You brought me back here? To heal me and to heal us?
All of this time, she’d been trying to plan her own way, her own life—running from the man she most loved. Meanwhile God had been working things out on her behalf, to give her back what she’d nearly lost forever.
Thank You, Lord. From now on, I’ll leave the planning to You.
While half the cast fought, wrestled and hollered with one another upstage left, Jed sauntered out. “Now comes the time you’ve all been waiting, working and thinking-on for.” His eyes danced when they landed on Paige, and for a moment he faltered. Reminding her of how tentative he was on the night of their first date.
“Hopefully you’ve been keeping track of clues, watching suspects... By a show of hands—don’t shout it out, now—how many of you think you know who the killer is?”
People glanced about. Some shot their hands up.
“All righty, then. Go ahead and write down who. Also, why you think he or she or they did it—that’s cowboy talk for motive. And why this is the best show you’ve seen this side of the Rio Grande.”
Someone from the back whooped at that one, and applause sounded.
“But first I want to thank a special lady for helping to make all this happen. Without her hard work, all we’d have is a purty building and some great steaks.”
Oh, no. Paige sank in her seat, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. Surely he didn’t mean—
“Scriptwriter Paige Cordell is as talented as they come. Funny, clever, knows how to spin a tale, and I’m betting with all her red herrings—that’s writer talk for false clues...” He shot her a wink. “She made most of you guess wrong in regard to who the killer is. Help me thank her good and proper.”
The applause increased as everyone jumped to their feet.
Tears stung Pai
ge’s eyes as they met Jed’s. “Thanks,” she mouthed.
She knew now, with more certainty than she’d ever felt previously, she belonged here, in Sage Creek, with her friends, her church family, her mom and Mrs. Tappen...
And Jed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jed walked the Sage Creek Herald’s reporter to the door and shook his hand. “Thank you for coming.”
Keith Gray secured the lens cap on his camera. “It was a great show. Look for the story in tomorrow’s paper. Who knows, might even make the front cover.”
“That’d be awesome.” He held the door open for him, tipped his hat and then slipped back inside to where Paige waited.
His beautiful princess was watching him with those adoring eyes that always melted his insides.
He crossed the lobby to meet her and took her hands in his. “What do you say we celebrate a night well-done?”
She angled her head. “What do you have in mind?”
“Come on.” He guided her back into the theater, now dim, and to a central table that had been cleared and cleaned. He pulled out a chair for her. “I’ll be right back.”
He dashed into the kitchen and to the dessert he’d asked his chef to prepare—a signature dish that merged all her favorite flavors—a mousse tower with chocolate wafers, mint garnish, drizzled in salted caramel.
And hidden within the decadent cream—his grandmother’s engagement ring.
He tucked a small book of matches in his pocket, grabbed a long-stemmed candle in a silver holder with one hand, the dessert and two spoons to share it in the other, and headed back to his love.
She offered the most radiant smile. “What’s this?”
“Something sweet for you.” He set it in front of her, placed the candle in the center of the table and lit it. “But first...” He pulled out his phone and clicked on his radio app. “May I have this dance?”
She gave a soft laugh. “I’d be honored.” She stood, and placing her hand in his, allowed him to lead her to an open area between tables. As they danced, she rested her head against his chest, and her vanilla-cinnamon perfume tickled his nose.
She peered up at him with those big blue eyes. “We’ve come a long way.”
“Oh, Paige, we’re just getting started.” As one song transitioned to another, he led her back to their table and their dessert.
She took a bite and closed her eyes. “This is amazing.” She looked at him again. “You’re something else—you know that, Jed Gilbertson?”
“I’ll be whatever you want me to be. Whatever I can do to see your face light up, to see that beautiful smile of yours.” He glanced at the plate, still filled with three quarters of a mousse. Why had he placed the ring in the dessert? It was taking too long to get to it.
Time to speed things along.
He sliced through the whipped cream with his spoon, pulled out the ring, wiped it clean as best as he could with a napkin and then dropped to one knee beside her. “The execution might leave a little to be desired.” He gave a sheepish smile. “But...”
She gasped. “Is that...?”
“Grandma’s ring?” He nodded. “She’s been holding on to it. For you.” Seemed she knew Paige was the one for him long before either of them did. “I’m not sure exactly when I fell in love with you. One day you were the curly-haired girl who lived next to my grandma and loved to make mud pies and catch frogs. The next you were the girl who occupied my dreams.”
He tucked a curl behind her ear and then brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “My heart broke the day you left, and I thought I’d lost you. But then you came back. To me. And my world felt right again.”
“Oh, Jed.” A tear slid down her cheek, and he thumbed it away.
“I can’t live without you, Paige. I love you more than life itself, and I plan to spend the rest of my days proving just how much, if you’ll let me. Will you marry me, Paige?”
He held his breath as her eyes searched his. But then she squealed, “Yes. A thousand times yes.”
Epilogue
Butterflies fluttered in Paige’s stomach as she waited in the choir room for her wedding music to start. How many times in high school had she imagined this day—the moment when Jed pledged to love her for the rest of her life? After all that had happened, between her and Jed, with her divorce, she struggled to believe this day had actually arrived. In less than an hour, she’d leave Trinity Faith Church as Mrs. Jed Gilbertson.
The door creaked open, and Mom entered with Ava in her arms. “Look who’s awake.” Wearing a white dress with lace trim and a wide pink bow, and with soft curls framing her face, she resembled a cupid.
“Isn’t she the sweetest?” Mrs. Tappen held out her arms, and Mom handed Ava over.
“Much thanks to our resident seamstress.” Mom smiled at her longtime friend.
Paige’s wedding dress, worn first by Mrs. Tappen, then adapted and worn by Jed’s mom, was perfect. They’d removed the sleeves, altered the waist and added some delicate beading, while retaining its simple elegance. What made Paige feel most cherished, however, was the generations of love and strength the gown had come to represent.
Mom took Paige’s hands in hers. “You look absolutely radiant.”
“Agreed.” Mrs. Tappen stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Paige’s waist and squeezed. “That grandson of mine is a lucky man.”
The organ music started, and her sister Anneliese rushed in with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. “You ready?” She glanced about, picked up Ava’s flower basket and held it out to her. But Ava seemed more interested in fiddling with her shoelaces.
“Guess this is it.” Paige fanned her face.
“Smile!” Mira snapped four photos in rapid succession and then grabbed her bouquet. “See you on the other side.” Then she and the rest of the party began their march, soon leaving Paige and her uncle standing side by side.
“You ready, kiddo?”
“Beyond ready,” she said. “Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world. We’re up.” He led her out the door, through the foyer and into the sanctuary filled with friends Paige had known since as long as she could remember. White tulle and the most beautiful peach carnations decorated the pews, and silk petals dotted the carpet before her.
Halfway down the aisle, Ava appeared to have grown bored of her flower-girl duties, had deposited an overturned basket near the second row and now sat on Mrs. Tappen’s lap.
Paige laughed, then lifted her gaze to meet Jed’s. Dressed in a perfectly tailored tuxedo and his signature boots and Stetson, he watched her with a love and an adoration that stole her breath.
* * *
Jed felt almost heady watching his beautiful bride gliding toward him. Soon she was standing before him, peering up at him with her blue eyes, which were full of trust, and he was determined to spend the rest of his life proving himself worthy.
Never would she want for anything. He’d make sure of that.
Pastor Roger read from 1 Corinthians, and then Paige read a poem she’d written, which spoke of how love had basically smacked her in the head and taken her captive. Half of the patrons seemed to give a collective sigh.
He winked at her and then pulled his vows from his pocket. “What I’ve got to say isn’t quite so eloquent, but every word comes from right here.” He patted his chest.
He took her hands in his. “I’m not sure when it happened. But one day I was tugging your braids and chasing after you with earthworms. The next I never could catch my breath when you were around. You filled my thoughts, my dreams. Made me want to be a better man.
“My world ended the day you left Texas,” he continued. “And it turned bright again when you came back. I started dreaming of you and me, sipping coffee on the porch together, of countless nights sitting before a roaring fire, with you in my arms.”
“Oh, Jed!” Paige thumbed tears from beneath her eyes.
“But mostly—” he took her hands in his once again “—I plan on spending every moment the good Lord allows enjoying the treasure He’s given me in you. Because I for sure know I don’t deserve you.”
He accepted the ring from his groomsman. Then, with his gaze locked on Paige’s, he slipped the wedding ring onto her finger. “With this ring, Paige Cordell, I claim you as mine, now and forever. To hold, to cherish, to protect and to provide for, all the days of my life.”
Then it was Paige’s turn. “With this ring, I bind myself to you, Jed Gilbertson. I’ll honor, respect, encourage and support you. And I’ll spend every day of the rest of my life building a future with the best man a woman could hope for.”
“Well, then,” the pastor said, “by the powers vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jed, my friend, you may now kiss your beautiful bride.”
Jed grinned, pulled Paige close and planted a kiss on her lips, knowing this moment was but the first of many as Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson.
* * *
If you enjoyed Hometown Healing,
look for Jennifer Slattery’s earlier book
Restoring Her Faith
Available now from Love Inspired!
Find more great reads at
www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from Shelter from the Storm by Patricia Davids.
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Note to the Reader
Paige’s mother suffers from Somatization Disorder, a mental illness in which the individual experiences physical symptoms caused by mental factors. She expresses physical symptoms that appear to have no medical origin. You may be more familiar with the term hypochondria, which is a psychosomatic illness. It is a debilitating and pervasive fear in which the person believes they have a serious and undiagnosed illness. I’ve seen how devastating this illness can be in the lives of loved ones, so I understand Paige and her mother. One might think the easiest solution would be to convince the individual that she isn’t indeed sick, but as with other mental illnesses, somatization disorder is complicated and difficult to treat. But perhaps the best thing we can do for our friends and loved ones with this condition is to show compassion, as Paige is trying to do. We don’t have to fully understand someone in order to love them.
Hometown Healing Page 18
