by Tanya Agler
He kept his composure and loaded his arms. It took them a couple of trips to transfer it all. Once the final container was on the picnic table, he wiped off imaginary dirt from his hands. “How about we take the tarp off the float and figure out what absolutely has to be done so it’ll look decent on Monday? Then we’ll divide the work and conquer.”
She laughed and organized containers. “You have no idea, do you?”
“About how many signed up? Are we talking one person? Two?”
“Try fifteen in the first shift alone.”
She strode over to one side of the tarp and waited until he stood in place on the other.
“It’s been my experience people will often tell you something to get you off their backs. This is a three-day weekend, family time.”
“Party time, community time. They’ll come.” She smiled.
Together, they removed the tarp, and he clenched his fists by his sides. Little, if any, progress had been made since the last time he’d been here. “Natalie.” He waited until she met his gaze. “The parade is Monday. This float...”
Words, his stock in trade, his lifeblood, escaped him as he stared at the float. If his calculations were right, only a third of the work had been completed. “Did you amend the tiered structure for the frame? The way you planned it, we’ll have to keep it covered as it won’t fit in the shed. Did you decide to go for something a little less?”
“A little less what? A little less wonderful?” She ran her hand over the wood. “Nope. We’re on schedule. Trust me.”
“There’s no way the design we created will come together.”
How was she so good at leveling looks like that? He had to contact his former basic training instructor and ask for tips.
She approached from his side of the truck and patted his arm. “It will. The primary colors on the boxes with the school’s mascot will pop, and the rainbow of stars will let the kids know to always aim high. Sometimes it’s hard to believe anything beautiful will emerge out of something this messy. I see it all the time, though. I had a student with dyslexia. Everyone said it would be years before he’d read anything. Each afternoon, we sat down with his favorite comic book and by the end of the school year, he was reading.” She wiped away moisture from her eyes. “You get the general idea. Sometimes you have to dream big and then back it up with action.”
“But surely, you’ve also seen the worst. The kids who come in without lunches. The kids who lose someone and are grieving.”
They both knew he referred to Danny.
“Even then, I try to make a positive difference. If I see something amiss, I have a duty to report that. The safety of each child comes first. Our school also has a wonderful counselor, who helps, but sometimes a hug or finding a way to make a day a little brighter? That’s how I make sure each child knows someone cares. That’s why I want them to reach for the stars, hence the theme.”
A beeping horn drew his attention to the parking lot. A newer model bright green smart car with pink flower magnets dotting the passenger door swerved into a parking spot. Hyacinth emerged and waved. Then she reached into the car and pulled out a small structure like none he’d ever seen before.
She rushed over to them. “What a glorious day! You couldn’t ask for better weather for a group project. Isn’t this a gorgeous birdhouse?”
Aidan stared at the birdhouse, wondering how many North Carolina license plates had been sacrificed for this. “I don’t remember that as part of the design.”
“It’s not for the float. It’s for you when you return to your base. A little reminder of home.” Hyacinth handed it to him.
His mouth gaped open. Of all the surprises in Hollydale, this one might take the cake, or pie, as the case might be. Hyacinth’s expression changed to hurt, and he clamped his mouth and tried a smile. “This is too generous. I won’t be able to look at it without thinking of you.”
Beaming, she fiddled with the end of her scarf. “I knew you’d love it.” She turned to Natalie. “I brought my CD player and a nice collection of soothing, relaxing music. I’ll be right back.”
“Hyacinth, thanks.” Now it was Natalie’s time on the hot seat. “I’d hate for anything to happen to your CD player. You know how it is at a party. People accidentally spill their drinks, and then I’d be responsible for buying you a new one. I have a cheap Bluetooth speaker that connects to my phone. It’s easily replaced.”
“Major M.?” Hyacinth jostled his arm.
“What?”
She waggled her finger at him. “You haven’t taken me up on my offer on babysitting Danny.” She reached into her purse and pulled out another sheaf of long rectangular paper strips stapled at one end. “I’ll need your address for the cookie-of-the-month club.”
“What?” He sounded like a schoolboy rather than a major, repeating himself like a parrot.
“It’s something special I do for my grandnieces and grandnephews who are in the military. I think you rate that kind of privilege, if I do say so myself. My email address is on the front of that. Email me your address as well as any allergies or special requests.” She patted his arm again. “There’s nothing like a package in the mail to make you feel special.”
Before he fashioned a response, a flood of cars arrived in the parking lot. More people waved and greeted each other while pulling out coolers and casserole dishes.
His mouth gaped open.
Again. Hyacinth went to the pavilion while Natalie went to welcome people before bringing him a bottle of water. “Here. I figured you’d need this before you assign tasks in a minute.” She grinned and reached into her satchel, handing him a clipboard. “I bet your improvisational skills are also impressive.”
“This is your show, though. Won’t it mean more if the instructions come from you?”
“Since you’ve been here from the beginning, it’s our show. I’ll start, and then you elaborate.”
In no time at all, everyone knew their jobs. The sounds of hammering and sawing filled the air, while others added to the tissue paper and chicken wire for the sides. From atop the platform, where he was assembling the riser where the students would stand, he searched for Natalie. Over the past hour, he’d seen her glancing his way, and now he returned the favor.
Knowing someone with her ability to bring people together like this made his world feel a little happier, a little more secure.
“Major Murphy!” Belinda’s no-nonsense voice made him blink until she came into focus on the other side of the truck.
Her gray sweatpants and sweatshirt were the complete opposite to Hyacinth’s multicolored polka-dot dress. Belinda thrust a knitted scarf in the air.
He was afraid to ask for he already knew the present was for him. Politeness still demanded a response, and he laid down his tools and jumped off the float. “Belinda, what a surprise.”
Not really, considering neither could bear to let the other one get the upper hand. The birdhouse caught his eye, and he considered how to play this. He wouldn’t choose favorites, same as Danny didn’t play favorites with him and Natalie.
“It matches your blanket. Wear it in good health.” She stormed back toward the pavilion before he could end this escalation of gifts.
He had to put a stop to this, one way or another.
But how?
* * *
HIP-HOP MUSIC FILLED the air, drowning out the laughter from the splash fountains. Nearby, Lucie and her husband, Caleb, took turns at the grill, along with his cousin, Jonathan Maxwell. The smell of those hamburgers was too tempting to resist any longer. Grabbing a paper plate, Natalie headed toward the food line, where her sister-in-law, Georgie, tapped her fingers against the wooden table.
“Serious decision?” Natalie breezed over and fanned herself with her empty plate.
“If you call deciding between a cheeseburger and a hot dog serious, this has
the makings of a doozy.” Georgie shrugged and chose the burger option. “Tell Aidan I’m giving the Thunderbird the total works tomorrow. Detailing with my favorite chenille washing mitt, using the best professional car wash soap and washing the wheels last to ensure no grime or brake fluid of any kind. Nothing but the best.”
“For Aidan or your Thunderbird?” Natalie couldn’t help but interject a teasing tone.
Her sister-in-law was a bit on the serious side, a good balance to her laid-back brother.
“Your Aidan as well as my classic convertible.”
Natalie stopped her hand halfway to her mother’s contribution of potato salad. “Huh? My Aidan?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Georgie moved down the line, plucking a handful of chips and a scoop of pasta salad. “Rachel’s upset she won’t get to play matchmaker again as the two of you are doing fine on your own.”
Even her niece Rachel had noticed sparks between her and Aidan? Natalie gulped and was about to refute Georgie’s claim when loud voices came from the other side of the picnic pavilion.
“A scarf is useful and utilitarian! Why on earth would a bachelor soldier need a birdhouse? It’s not like he can carry it through the airport without everyone and their cousins looking at him.” Belinda’s raised voice sent shivers down Natalie’s spine.
Of all the places for Belinda and Hyacinth to finally have it out, why here? Why now?
Natalie placed her still-empty plate on the table and rushed over, meeting Aidan, who came from the direction of the float.
“My birdhouse is beautiful.” Defensiveness laced Hyacinth’s words. She pointed at her gift for added emphasis. “It’ll remind him of his home. There’s little more beautiful in this world than home. A colorful home full of spirit and liveliness can brighten anyone’s life.”
Hyacinth raised her chin, and Natalie stepped in the middle.
She handled kindergartners, and these two were acting even younger than her students. “Ladies. Let your pies do the talking.”
Belinda pursed her lips into a straight line. “Tell her that. Coupon books, birdhouses, cake. Humph.”
Hyacinth shrugged. “If some of us manage to combine simple ingredients into an edible work of art, so be it. Pies are art in their special unique way and can put a smile on anyone’s face.” She arched her eyebrow and sent a scathing look Belinda’s way. “Besides, I know I’m not the only one who bestowed a cake upon our grand marshal.”
This time, Aidan folded his arms. “I can’t return the cakes as those have already been consumed, but tomorrow I’ll be returning the other bribes.”
“Bribes!” Both women spoke at once, horror reflected in each of their voices and faces.
Natalie turned to Aidan as Hyacinth stumbled toward them. Her plate flew through the air and landed on Belinda. Potato salad, baked beans and mustard dotted Belinda’s sweatpants.
Fire shot out of Belinda’s eyes. “You did that on purpose, Hyacinth Hennessy.”
Without another word, Belinda tipped her plate onto Hyacinth.
“Food fight,” yelled someone in the crowd.
Natalie scrambled onto the wooden bench seat and placed her index finger and thumb in her mouth, emitting a loud, shrill whistle. All eyes turned her way, and she stopped the music. “There will be no food fight.”
Aidan scrambled up next to her and glared at the two women covered in food. “If you two continue this, I’ll disqualify you both from the pie contest.”
Belinda stiffened her spine, her regal manner showing through as much as it could with baked beans dripping off her sweatpants. “You don’t have that kind of authority.”
“As judge of this contest and grand marshal, I do.”
The gasp of the crowd heralded silence. Mayor Wes pushed his way to the front of the pavilion. “I agree with Aidan. Enough is enough. You two will apologize to each other and Natalie, or you’ll be disqualified.”
“Well, I never,” Belinda started but then looked around and hung her head. “I’m sorry, Hyacinth and Natalie.”
Hyacinth’s cheeks reddened. “Oh, sweet Natalie, I’m most grievously sorry for our behavior. It was disgraceful and not befitting to the tradition of the Fourth of July pie contest.” She reached up and helped Natalie down before turning to Belinda and extending her hand. “Please accept my most humble apology.”
“Why does everything have to be so flowery?” Belinda grumbled before shaking Hyacinth’s hand.
“Because life is all the sweeter when we strive for that extra flavor. You, as a fellow baker extraordinaire, should understand that.” Hyacinth continued to shake until Aidan stepped in.
“Maybe you two ought to call it a day.”
Hyacinth and Belinda broke away and sized each other up before going to their respective cars. Everyone seemed stunned, the mood much more somber than minutes before.
Aidan’s mouth brushed her ear. “How do you want to proceed? I can make an announcement if you’d prefer any bad news to come from me.”
Thankful for his offer, she shook her head. “My party, my disaster.”
No sooner had she finished her speech than most of her friends collected themselves and went back to work. Within an hour, though, the pavilion had cleared out, except for a faithful few.
Caleb came toward her. “Normally it takes Fred and Ethel at a wedding to make everything this quiet. I didn’t start on the big ‘Happy Fourth from Hollydale Elementary’ sign for the front yet, but I have plenty of time. One of Lucie’s coworkers is watching Mattie and Ethan at the splash area, so I’ll stay and knock that out.”
“Thanks.”
Aidan approached with a plate of food, and Natalie couldn’t look at him. Not after her big plans were derailed in a split second. That was the problem with plans. Sometimes they went horribly wrong and she had to clean up the aftermath.
Georgie completed the circle of four and stared at the truck. “Monday morning before the parade I’ll come and give everything a once-over. I’ll make sure those tires are properly inflated for the adjustment in the hauling weight for Carl, since he’s driving you in the truck and I’m taking the grand marshal here. I’m not trusting anyone else to drive the Thunderbird in the parade.”
Aidan pushed the plate in Natalie’s direction. “You haven’t eaten. You seem fond of potato salad.”
She glanced at four different types on one side of the plate with a chicken leg, a hot dog with relish and mustard and a taquito on the other. Aidan covered all her possible taste preferences with this selection. It was more food than she could ever eat in a day. The fact that he’d noticed she hadn’t found time for a meal yet struck her to her core, as much as the thought behind his food choices.
Natalie smiled, a real smile this time. She had the best friends, ones who had her interests at heart.
They’d taken Danny in, too.
Her heart swelling, she glanced at the float. A couple of weeks ago, her mother was right. She had taken on more than she could chew, but now she’d corral every resource, rely on every volunteer and make this happen.
* * *
AIDAN APPROACHED MAYOR WES, who stood on the edge of the play area, talking to a young couple. The man pushed a stroller back and forth while the woman sat perched on the edge of the rock-climbing wall, keeping an alert gaze on the young girl of not more than four on the swings.
Mayor Wes waved him over. “Aidan, come meet my son and daughter-in-law, Leo and Zoey.” With fondness, he pointed to the stroller, keeping his voice low and steady. “And my little namesake and first grandson is asleep in there. That’s my granddaughter Halley on the swings.”
After the introductions, Aidan shifted his weight, a polite way of trying to get the mayor alone for a few minutes to discuss Hollydale. Natalie must be rubbing off on him if he considered tactfulness in his approach.
The mayor patted Aid
an on the back. “This great guy’s keeping me on my toes. We’ve accomplished more with him at City Hall in the past week than in the past three months, but let’s keep that our little secret so we don’t all look bad! Nancy and I’ll be over tonight, kids. I have a feeling Aidan wants a minute of my time.” He turned toward the swings. “Bye, Halley. See you later.”
Within minutes, they strolled along the outer perimeter of the park, the trail almost deserted with the heat of the day bearing down on them. Aidan shed his windbreaker, tying it around his waist.
The amiable silence lasted a couple of minutes before Aidan got to the point. “Something’s got to be done about Hyacinth and Belinda.”
Mayor Wes pointed to the flowering bushes blooming nearby. “This part of North Carolina’s famous for our rhododendrons. My wife, Nancy, is especially fond of the purple ones, so a couple of years ago she and the other ladies in her garden club planted them along the path.”
“Nice.” Did anyone in Hollydale respond to a direct statement?
“Take that spiky white flower growing over there. Do you know its name?” Mayor Wes waited until Aidan shook his head.
Even with all his training in local flora and fauna, he was unfamiliar with this one.
“I’m not making this up, but it’s turkeybeard. I’m especially fond of them. Not normally a flower one would plant near rhododendrons. They look a little like weeds, but Nancy knows they’re one of my favorites. She accommodated me and blended the two in an artistic way. Fast forward a couple of years, and this trail is more calming than I envisioned after signing off on the artistic renderings.”
The mayor guided them toward a cast-iron bench and fanned himself with his hand. Without a hammer in hand, Aidan itched to get back to something, anything. Sitting around watching flowers grow wasn’t his passion.
“Sir, with all due respect, do I have your permission to disqualify them? That would send them a strong message about their conduct.”
“Permission denied, Major.” His firmness, so unlike his usual geniality, caught Aidan off guard. “Permission, however, to sit back and enjoy the flowers, granted.”
