Hometown Series Box Set

by Kirsten Fullmer

  All through x-rays, Julia fussed about getting back to Smithville. Then, as they casted her broken ankle and bandaged her head, she fretted over missing Tara’s big day and causing her friend concern.

  Finally, they were headed back toward Smithville. Julia sat silently, wearing a ratty pair of sweat pants and a paint-splattered shirt Chad had found behind the seat of his truck. The pants wadded at her ankles and the shirtsleeves were rolled up multiple times, but the outfit was far better than the ruined one she’d been wearing. The nurses at the hospital had washed her up but her head was spinning, not only with pain and distresses over the wedding, but with worries over her truck, her lost purse and phone, even her pets at home.

  To ease the tension and attempt to comfort her, Chad put in a CD and pushed buttons, pausing to grin at Julia as the notes of the song Blackbird filled his truck.

  Julia unclenched her fists and relaxed into the seat as the familiar melody wafted over her battered body, the sweet words leading her thoughts to a more thankful place. She had survived the crash with only a sprained arm, a broken ankle, and a minor concussion. She could easily have been killed or hurt far worse, been unable to climb up to the road to be rescued, lying there for hours, in pain and fear until someone stumbled across her. Thankfulness finally established itself into a small corner of her heart and began to grow.

  Sure enough, like the song said, she’d had broken wings when she arrived in town, but she’d learned to fly, and not only fly, but soar to heights she’d not imagined. She was battered once again, but her wings were intact and she’d fly once more.

  Her eyes had been sunken but as the tune implied, she’d learned to see. She now experienced life through an altered filter, with new and strangely brilliant emotions coloring her view. She’d come through the darkest of dark nights and continued through life with her face to the sun. And now, in this moment, she realized she had been waiting. Waiting to understand how odd and unforeseen life could be, yet how vivid and hopeful and surprisingly superb each day truly was. In a dark and terrifying moment, when all seemed lost, not only had she been strong, but she’d drawn upon her love for Chad to give her that strength.

  Rolling her head on the headrest to face him, Julia realized he was gazing at her, his eyes darting back to the windshield, then to her again, as they wound up the driveway to the bed and breakfast.

  He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Are you sure you’re up for this? You’re still covered in blood and dried mud,” he asked, concern ringing in his tone.

  She offered a weak grin and extended her hand to him as they pulled up to the old house. “I really want to see Tara before they leave.”

  Chad looked dubious but parked the truck. Cars were still pulled up hither dither all around the yard, and Julia was relieved and hopeful that they’d arrived before the festivities were completely over.

  “Thanks for finding me,” she whispered, tears gathering in her bright dark eyes. “I knew you would be there for me.” She sniffed and blinked, wiping her other wrist across her nose. “And I love you, too.”

  Chad’s eyes softened and a slow, heart-melting smile warmed his face as he squeezed her fingers, the lines of concern around his eyes easing. Her words had been simple, but he knew that from Julia, they were nothing short of a miracle. Her concept of love and people in general had been devastated, and the simple phrase she’d uttered meant she had confidence in him and believed in him to be there for her, which spoke volumes about her belief in herself.

  “I’ll always be there for you,” he whispered back.

  Before he could say another word, people began spilling from the inn to pour across the yard toward them. Leading the pack was Tara, her wedding dress grasped in both hands and hiked to her knees, so she could run through the grass, tears streaming down her face.

  Quickly, Chad ran around the truck and opened Julia’s door to help her out, her feet touching the ground just as Tara reached her.

  Without a word, Tara grabbed Julia to her chest, crying and sobbing words of relief and concern.

  Shocked and worried about mussing Tara’s dress, Julia struggled in her friend’s grip.

  “Tara, honey I’m fine, you’ll ruin your dress,” Julia mumbled into the flounces of Tara’s veil. But Tara continued to rock back and forth, her grip tight on Julia as she sobbed.

  “Julia, oh Julia, I was so afraid I’d lost you. I was so scared.” Finally, Tara relaxed her grip enough to hold Julia at arm’s length, her eyes scanning the bandage on her forehead, her muddy hair, borrowed clothes, and casted foot. “Oh, my God, Julia, come in and sit down. Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t look okay.”

  Tara moved to Julia’s side, still gripping her good arm, and Chad moved to her other side, his arm around her waist, allowing her to put her bandaged arm around his shoulder for support. Becky hurried to help Tara lift her wedding dress, and they stepped around the truck.

  Julia paused, faltering in shock, at what appeared to be the entire town parting, to allow them to pass, hands reaching out to pat and grasp at her as people uttered concern, their voices mingling into a jumble of warmth and kindness.

  “Everybody get back and give the girl some room,” Becky demanded, waving her arm for them to move.

  Winnie’s wrinkled smiling face appeared, then Fergus’ and Bobby’s. Gloria stepped up to grip Julia’s hand briefly, the girl’s brilliant green eyes bright with emotion, then she ducked back into the crowd. Bobby’s mother waved from the porch, tears on her overwrought red cheeks. Marge shooed children from the steps to give the group room to pass, and Steve and Mac scuffled briefly over who would open the front door.

  When Julia was inside, the crowd pressed closer as Becky and Tara blocked the injured girl with their bodies and babbled instructions, pointing all directions. The coffee table was cleared, a pillow was plopped on it, and Chad instructed Julia to sit in the overstuffed chair and prop up her foot.

  Julia was silent with shock as a glass of water was pressed into her hand. Pillows were fluffed behind her back by unseen hands as the voices of her friends filled the room with questions about what had happened.

  Tara grabbed up bunches of her dress and shoed people away from Julia’s chair. Kneeling by the coffee table, the bride took Julia’s hand. “Are you comfortable? What can I get you?”

  Blushing, Julia could only nod, overcome by the attention and kindness pressed upon her. Grasping for words, she gazed into the faces all staring at her, the members of the crowd still muttering and their expressions bright with worry and relief.

  “Shouldn’t you be leaving for your honeymoon?” she finally asked Tara, her voice thick with emotion.

  Justin laughed and shouldered past Chad to stand handsome in his tux at Tara’s side. “Don’t you think we should get married first?” the groom asked, his eyes twinkling.

  Julia’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? Aren’t you— the wedding?”

  Tara laughed and squeezed Julia’s cold fingers. “Honey, I couldn’t get married without my best friend.”

  The room spun as Julia grappled with her friend’s words. “You mean—you didn’t have the wedding?”

  Tara stood and put her arm around Justin, her eyes bright. “Julia,” she said, “Everyone was out looking for you. Besides, we wanted to wait for you.” She looked up to Justin. “Didn’t we, babe?”

  Justin nodded, his expression serious. “We couldn’t get married when everyone was out looking for you. Hell, as soon as Chad heard you were missing, he took off at a dead run.”

  Tara’s brow furrowed. “Of course, if you’re not up to it, we can postpone.”

  Realization dawned on Julia. Life had not danced cheerfully past as she lay alone in pain and fear. Not this time. These people, her friends and neighbors, had put everything on hold to search for her, find her, and care for her.

  The crowd faded as tears filled her eyes and the glass of water nearly slipped from her shaking fingers, before Chad dropped by her side an
d caught it, handing it off to Becky. Muttering voices rose around her in concern.

  Julia’s heart burst with a sweetness she had never imagined. So, this was what it felt like to be secure. It didn’t mean power or money – it meant love, both given and returned. Never had she imagined that her chest could hold so much happiness. With her breath coming in gasps and tears spilling down her cheeks, Julia’s hands shook as Chad took them in his.

  At Julia’s first gasp, Becky spread her arms wide. “Everybody, back up!” she bellowed.

  Chad flinched and Julia giggled, her emotions now too all-consuming to be contained. She hiccupped with an uncontrollable mixture of delight and surprise, looking for all the world as if she couldn’t breathe.

  “Julia?” Chad worried. “Do you want to have them reschedule the wedding, honey? Are you hurting?” He stood in preparation to get her out of the room.

  Julia raised her good hand, a smile lighting her face through her wracking hiccups. Finally managing to choke out that she was okay, she sniffed and accepted Winnie’s delicate hanky, which had been shoved into her hand. “No, no, please, I want—” She blew her nose and tried again. The crowded room pressed closer, waiting silently for her to continue. “Let’s have a wedding!” she finally sputtered happily.

  A cheer of approval rippled through the room as everyone issued orders, and people moved away to resume their seats and positions for the wedding. The sound of Bobby’s mother’s voice boomed over the hubbub. “What did she say? What did the girl say?”

  Julia giggled again, her tears drying on her cheeks as Chad knelt back by her side. “Are you sure? You don’t have to go through with this you know.”

  “I wouldn’t miss this for—for anything,” Julia stuttered, a catch in her voice and a smile bright in her eyes.

  Much commotion ensued as the wedding got back on track. Women trooped to the kitchen to pull the giant lace and flower-trimmed cake from the fridge, and Tara was whisked away to her bedroom to freshen up. The men retreated to the safety of the deck to shuffle the chairs into order, and Julia was taken to the shower room where Becky helped her clean up.

  “You’ll look as pretty as a picture once we have you all dolled up,” she assured Julia.

  Regarding her reflection in the mirror, Julia was dubious. “Were the flowers ruined in the storm?”

  Becky shook her head and helped Julia drop stiffly into a folding chair. “No honey, the storm didn’t come through here, we didn’t get a drop of rain.”

  Flinching as Becky began to comb through her ratted and matted curls, Julia was astonished. “Not a drop?”

  “Nope,” Becky replied, her brow wrinkled in concentration as she used a wet cloth to remove dried blood from the hair at Julia’s scalp.

  A knock sounded on the door and it opened a crack with Marge’s head popping around. “Are these the flowers you wanted?” she asked Becky.

  “Perfect.” Becky nodded, motioning to put them on the counter with her elbow. “Thanks!”

  Marge smiled and patted Julia on the shoulder, then quietly retreated.

  Working carefully and quickly, Becky wove and pinned the remaining vines with tiny white flowers around Julia’s head and through her hair. The large bandage still stood out like a patch of snow on Julia’s tan forehead, but her face glowed with anticipation, completing the picture of a bruised but contented woman.

  Moments of awkward finagling crept past as Becky helped Julia slip into her high-waisted, form-fitting gown. “Want a few squirts of perfume?” Becky asked as Julia stood to turn and twist in front of the mirror.

  “You are a miracle worker!” Julia gushed as Becky sprayed a dab of warm musky scent in front of her, and Julia leaned into it with a smile. “I’m ready!”

  As Julia limped down the hall toward the kitchen on crutches that had magically appeared, her sore arm awkward and painful, happiness and anticipation radiated around her like beams off the sun.

  Tara stood in front of Chad, straightening his bow tie. The best man’s tux jacket and shirt were damp in several places from spot cleaning and both turned as Becky said, “Ta-da!” her arm extended as if to introduce Julia. Chad turned and a smile lit his handsome, clean-shaven face.

  “You look beautiful!” both Julia and Tara gasped at the same time, then giggled and shrugged, hugging each other around the crutches. “Are you ready to do this?” Julia asked in a whisper.

  Tara beamed. “Very ready,” she whispered back. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

  “Me too,” Julia confirmed.

  Winnie brushed at the skirt of Tara’s dress one more time, then reached up to place her wrinkled hands on Tara’s cheeks. “I’m so happy for you, dear,” she murmured against Tara’s face as she planted a light kiss, careful not to leave a lipstick mark.

  Tara smiled and swept Winnie into a hug. “I love you, Winnie,” she whispered into the old woman’s ear, then steadied the shocked old lady back on her feet. Winnie tugged her hanky from under her watchband and dabbed at her watery eyes as she teetered out the door and toward the front of the deck to her seat.

  Tara smoothed her palms down the bodice of her dress and grinned. “Let’s do this!”

  With a nod and a smile for luck, Becky handed her a bouquet of pale pink roses, then bustled to the door and motioned for the music to start.

  Julia could see Justin over the heads of the guests, standing next to the pastor down by the pool, his eyes bright in the evening shadows that fell across the gathering. Patterns of dancing sunlight played through the twisted branch arbor over his head and the pink and white roses and draped pearls covering the arbor swayed lightly in the breeze. Justin rocked on his heels and smiled across the deck toward the open French doors.

  As the first notes of Till There was You filled the air, the flower girl pranced across the deck in her pink lace frock, tossing rose petals, followed closely by the solemn little ring bearer wearing dark trousers and striped suspenders over a crisp white shirt, his eyes riveted to the pillow carrying the rings tied in white and gold ribbon. Lanterns twinkled merrily throughout the wedding party, their tiny fires bobbing and dancing in dimming light as the children shuffled down the aisle.

  Julia nodded once more to Tara, then shuffled through the door next to Chad. Feeling cumbersome, she managed a few lurching steps down the aisle before Chad stepped in front of her, took the crutches, handed them to a nearby wedding guest and swept her up into her arms.

  A rumble of laughter passed through the crowd and Bobby jumped to his feet, hooting in approval.

  Contentment glowed in Chad’s eyes as Julia’s arm wound around his neck, and laughter burst from her to float across the deck. He knew he had beaten the odds this time and found himself the most amazing girl on the planet, and he planned to keep her close and enjoy every day they were given.

  As he carried Julia down the aisle, both their faces overflowing with joy, her gold antique-lace dress swished in the breeze against his black tux. Chad laughed, then kissed her cheek. “Let’s you and me do this soon, what do you say?” he whispered in her ear.

  The sky burst into hues of pink and purple as she nodded, too overcome with happiness to speak.

  “Did the best man just carry that girl down the aisle?” Bobby’s mother inquired loudly over the music. A mumble of amusement spread through the crowd, and Chad carefully lowered Julia onto the folding chair that had been hastily brought to the front.

  As Chad stepped up next to Justin, the best man nudged the groom with his shoulder and tossed him a grin.

  The music changed to the wedding march, and all heads turned to gaze back up the aisle. Several wires had been strung over the deck and delicate strips of trailing tulle had been draped over them to form an elegant path for the bride.

  Tara came through the French doors. Her white gossamer gown had a hand-embroidered, form-fitting bodice that laced up the front. The skirt was draped in handkerchief flounces of ruffles and just brushed the deck as she moved. The bride floated d
own the aisle, her face covered with a delicate, frothy veil. The dress, bustled in the back, finished with a flounce of ruffles trailing behind her like a princess. She reached the altar and the music faded as Justin reached for her hand.

  The couple stood gazing into each other’s eyes, barely hearing the pastor’s words. Finally, it was time to repeat their vows and their voices blended into the violet sunset, wafting on the warm summer breeze, across the pool and into the deep green, Pennsylvania forest.

  As Justin lifted Tara’s veil to kiss his bride, a cheer erupted from friends and family in the crowd, and Winnie dabbed at her tears with her hankie. His hands behind his back, Chad rocked on his heels and winked at Julia.

  Music rang out and waving happily, Tara and Justin headed back up the aisle, across the deck toward the house.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Three weeks later, Julia trudged up onto the porch of Winnie’s house, her foot encased in a black Velcro walking cast and her arms full. For a moment, she juggled the items she’d tucked under one arm, and then finally rang the bell with her elbow. As she waited, she glanced back to the driveway and her light-blue, 1957 Chevy truck, a grin crossing her face at the painted logo of the flower shop on the passenger door.

  Winnie answered the door and a wide smile spread across her wrinkled face. “Oh my, Julia, come in!”

  Julia grinned and wobbled carefully through the door, twisting and turning to fit her load between the jambs.

  “What all have you got there?” Winnie asked, wringing her hand in her apron, her eyes bright with excitement.

  Laughing, Julia dropped a large fluffy pillow and a bag of kitten chow onto the couch. “Like you don’t know,” she teased.

  Winnie stepped up to Julia’s side and put out her hands. “Come here, sweetheart, I’ve been waiting for you,” the old woman cooed.

  Julia paused, not yet willing to give up the little yellow kitten she grasped carefully in the crook of her arm. She raised the tiger-striped kitten to her cheek, brushing the soft yellow fur down her face, past the scar on her forehead, now only a faded red line. The kitty mewed and grabbed onto her shirt with its sharp little claws, as if to never let go, and Julia’s heart twisted in her chest.