Lucy McConnell's Snow Valley Box Set

by Lucy McConnell

  Tracie leaned back in her chair. “It can take anywhere from one to six months for a dress to sell. It’s not really steady income. Plus, I used the dress to do several tutorials on my blog.”

  From what Natalie knew of Tracie, she had a Cinderella life—the kind before the fairy godmother. Tracie lived with her dad, a suspected alcoholic, in a small white bungalow within walking distance of Dove’s. Feeling bad for embarrassing the girl, Natalie picked up the cell phone and really looked at the dress. “I didn’t know you had a blog.”

  Twisting a section of her hair and bouncing her leg, Tracie replied, “I started this one a year and a half ago.”

  “That’s great. You’re really talented, and you should share that with people. I would have never learned to sew if it wasn’t for Aunt Sophie.”

  When Tracie’s brown eyes lifted, they were full of concern. “Me neither. She sort of, well, took me under her wing. How’s she doing? I haven’t been to see her in a while.” Her eyes darted to the picture on the screen. Natalie could only imagine the hours a twelve-hundred-dollar dress took to piece together.

  “She was diagnosed with diabetes right after Christmas.”

  “That stinks.”

  “Yeah. In fact, I should probably call and check on her.” Natalie pushed herself up from the chair and went over to the courtesy phone in the corner.

  Tracie made her way to the door and paused. “Would you be interested in doing a guest post on my blog?”

  Natalie fumbled with the receiver, barely grabbing the coiled cord before the phone smacked to the ground. “Me? What would I ever post about?”

  “You could do one on that shirt. It’s really cute, and repurposed clothing designs are popular right now.”

  Flattered, Natalie waved her off. “No one wants to copy me.”

  “If you change your mind, let me know.”

  That’s not going to happen. “Will do.” Natalie smiled and Tracie gave a little wave goodbye. Can you imagine?! Natalie punched in her aunt’s number and huffed at the idea of a blog about sewing. When she graduated from Snow Valley High, all the girls knew how to sew. Patching clothes was a basic skill needed on the ranches and farms where knee holes appeared in pants on a regular basis, and shirt sleeves were torn on barbed wire. Under her aunt’s tutelage, Natalie went above and beyond the home economics basic class and advanced quickly. She’d even sewn her own wedding dress.

  Wonder how much that would go for on Etsy.

  Natalie blinked, surprised at herself for even considering selling her wedding dress. Every stitch, every pearl, every seam was filled with her hope for a future with Eli. No matter what happened to them or where they ended up, she couldn’t bring herself to hock those memories.

  “HELLO?” Aunt Sophie’s voice boomed through the phone.

  Natalie jerked the receiver away from her ear, shook her head, and then tried talking to her aunt. “Hello, Aunt Sophie, it’s Natalie.”

  “I figured as much when I saw Dove’s on the caller ID thingy.”

  Eighty-four years old and still sharp as a tack. “I called to see if you needed help checking your blood sugar levels today. I can stop by after work if you’d like.” She closed her eyes. Sometime today she’d have to find time to take Hailey to the mall. The gas money was an issue … she could eat ramen noodles for a week if needed.

  “You don’t need to babysit me, girlie. I’m doin’ just fine.”

  Relieved to have one less item on her task list, Natalie hoped it was true. “Okay, call me if you need anything. Ryan should stop by today for a while.”

  “Send them anytime.”

  Natalie suppressed her smile. The only way she’d gotten Aunt Sophie to accept having teenagers check on her was to convince her that she was doing Natalie a favor by keeping an eye on them while she worked. “You’re too good to us, Aunt Soph.”

  “You do for family. I gotta go, The Wheel is on. Thanks for calling.”

  “Bye.” Natalie replaced the receiver in the cradle. Aunt Sophie hated pricking her finger. The first time she’d done it by herself, under Natalie’s watchful eye, was the only time Natalie had heard the stalwart Christian woman swear. Putting off the task or checking less often than she should would be just like Aunt Sophie, so someone in the family regularly stopped in to help. Aunt Sophie lived a few blocks down from the high school, so Ryan and Hailey made a point of seeing her a couple times a week. Seriously, she had great kids.

  Glancing at the clock, Natalie groaned. She had five minutes to eat and get back to her register. As the shift manager, she needed to set a good example. Opening her lunch sack, she dug around for her peanut butter sandwich, but her fingers closed over something smooth and round instead. Natalie pulled her hand out of the bag and stared at the chocolate cream egg. I didn’t pack this.

  Eli?

  Had Eli bought this egg and put it in her lunch? He knew they were her favorite. Then why was he so ornery when he came by? Did he think he could treat her like a … a … not a doormat. She didn’t feel like he walked over her—more like, he looked through her. So, she’d become a window. If he was passionate or excited about anything, she could take his disinterest personally. However, she wasn’t the only person or part of life Eli couldn’t see lately. The kids, the little projects around the house that he normally took in hand, and life in general were all transparent. He hadn’t even signed up to play co-ed softball this spring, and he’d announced he wouldn’t be playing in the flag football game either.

  She unwrapped the candy and took a bite, enjoying the sweet cream center and the slow-melting chocolate.

  The egg left her perplexed. She didn’t know if the treat was an apology, a peace offering, or a parting gift. There was no way for her to know where Eli’s head was, because he didn’t talk to her.

  The egg did, however, prove one thing: Natalie was a sucker for Easter candy.

  Chapter 3

  Later that afternoon, Eli took the state road into Snow Valley at five under the speed limit. The sun blinding off the melting snow did nothing to soften the grumpiness he had burrowed himself into. What a waste of a day. He’d driven over an hour, had a third interview with the president of the company, and got a call on the way home informing him that he’d been one of their top three picks. In the end, they’d decided to go with someone else.

  He’d stared at the cheap, pay-per-use phone they’d picked up so potential employers could reach him at all times, wondering if Dave, his interviewer, really believed that telling him he came in third was some kind of consolation. Third place didn’t pay the bills. Third place was as bad as tenth or twentieth place. In no way did Eli feel cool or satisfied with third place. Third place sucked!

  The worst part of his day was yet to come. The worst was having to face Natalie. She’d look at him with guarded enthusiasm and hold her breath in that adorable way she had, and he’d have to deliver a blow once again. He pounded the steering wheel. Whoever said life was fair was a dirt bag.

  What really irked him, though, was God.

  Eli grew up going to church. Last he checked, he kept the commandments.

  Thou shalt not kill. Check.

  Thou shalt not worship false gods. Check

  Thou shalt not commit adultery. Check.

  Thou shalt not steal. Check.

  Check.

  Check.

  Check.

  He was a good guy. So why couldn’t one interview go his way? He wasn’t asking for a lot—a job to support his family would do fine. He wasn’t even asking for a ton of money, to win the lottery, or to have an inheritance drop in his lap. He wanted to buy milk without emptying his wallet, and to see Natalie’s smile without the stress. The small jobs he got here and there helped, and he was grateful for them; they just weren’t enough, which in turn made him feel like he wasn’t enough.

  As he pulled into town, he saw Natalie headed in the opposite direction, two curly-headed girls in the back seat of their old Ford Taurus.

  Ri
ght. Hailey.

  Eli rubbed his gut. He hated letting Hailey down. She’d planned this trip a week ago, and he’d blown it off without so much as an explanation to her. Secretly, he’d hoped to come home and announce his new position and see the joy and forgiveness on her face. Now, all she’d remember was that her mom was there and he wasn’t. He’d broken a promise to his little girl.

  Maybe he wasn’t such a good guy after all.

  Eli glanced left and saw Aunt Sophie’s mailbox overflowing with several days’ worth of junk mail. Eli flipped on his blinker and made the turn. Parking on the side of the road, he climbed out and emptied her mailbox into his arms.

  Aunt Sophie’s neighbor and Snow Valley legend, Buster Write, waved from across the street. He had on army-green pants, a red flannel shirt, and yellow suspenders sporting tape measure marks. Atop his head was a fur-lined duck hunting cap complete with flaps. Eli waved back, smiling at the man’s Elmer Fudd fashion. Natalie insisted Buster was a harmless guy, full of quirks, and she had no trouble letting the kids follow him around when they were younger. Eli found it best to be on good terms with a guy who owned a working WWII cannon, which he fired regularly. Still, Buster was one of Aunt Sophie’s good friends, and he shoveled her walk every winter.

  The three concrete steps leading up to Aunt Sophie’s front door weren’t hard for him to manage. He glared at them anyway, because for an eighty-four-year-old woman they might as well be Everest. He and Ryan would build her a new set if Aunt Sophie could afford the supplies. Looking up at the beautiful blue Montana sky, Eli decided to hold off. With it being the end of February, there might be a snowstorm or two left in the forecast.

  “Aunt Sophie, I’ve brought your mail,” called Eli as the door banged shut behind him. There was no need to knock at Aunt Sophie’s house. She rarely heard the door, and when she did, she’d yell “It’s open!”

  “I’m in the kitchen,” came her tired reply.

  He wiped his boots on the braided and faded rug before tromping through the small farmhouse to the kitchen in the back, his steps echoed on the wooden floor.

  Aunt Sophie had once been tall, the top of her head at Eli’s eye level. Time and hard work had shrunk her down to where she tucked under his chin when he hugged her hello. Which he did now. Even though Eli wasn’t a Snow Valley native, the place felt like home, and Aunt Sophie was a big part of that. She loved him like she had raised him, and Eli often wished she had. “You’re looking good today.”

  She pinned him with a stare. “I look old and I feel old, but that’s not going to change. At least, I hope not. The alternative isn’t pleasant.”

  “I don’t suppose it is. Where do you want your mail?”

  “Throw that junk in the garbage. Anything important I can look up on the computer.”

  Eli glanced through the pile. “Here, Tillie Cooper sent you a card.”

  “Darned fool. I should be the one sending her a card. You heard about her knee?”

  Eli nodded. “Total replacement.”

  She ripped open the envelope and pulled out the note.

  Eli set the stack of papers on the counter. He couldn’t bring himself to throw the mail away. If Aunt Sophie wanted to, that was her business.

  Setting the card on the table, Aunt Sophie asked, “How’s my girl?”

  “Natalie’s fine. She’s on her way to the mall with Hailey and a friend.”

  She offered a kind smile. “That’s good. Women need to spend time with women. You boys are great, but sometimes we need a break.”

  Scratching the back of his neck, Eli mused, “Seems like she’s taking a lot of breaks lately.” Natalie was hardly home. He knew his desire was archaic— to enjoy walking through the front door and into a woman’s welcoming arms set him back a hundred and fifty years. However, there was something about Natalie’s smile, her soft skin, and the first kiss each evening that gave him strength. Having his wife work was an adjustment, like the first time he wore shorts each year. He felt exposed and the cool air on his skin wasn’t always comfortable. He’d taken pride in being the sole provider for his family, and seeing Natalie’s smile at the end of every day made whatever crap he had to deal with on the job completely worth it.

  “She works too much.”

  Feeling defensive, Eli replied, “I don’t recall taking breaks all that often when I worked full time.”

  Aunt Sophie placed a hand on his arm. Her skin felt like tissue paper, soft and easily torn. Yet the woman wasn’t fragile in spirit. “That’s because she was at home managing the house and kids; it’s a full-time job. What she did allowed you to focus.”

  Eli thought back to the first few days he’d been home after he was laid off. He was shocked at how many times he had to wipe off the kitchen counter during the course of the day to stay ahead of the crumbs. And no matter how many times he walked past the calendar, he couldn’t keep up on the kids’ schedules the way Natalie did. No wonder she forgot her lunch once in a while. She had a lot of balls in the air, and to her credit, she rarely dropped one.

  Unlike him. He dropped them all the time. Like today. He’d dropped two: he didn’t get a job, and he’d let Hailey down. Dark feelings crawled inside his head and set up camp.

  Aunt Sophie reached up and knocked him on the forehead.

  “Ow! What was that for?” Eli rubbed the sore spot.

  “You weren’t listening. I said, you’re so worried about the can’ts and don’t haves that you are missing what’s right in front of you. Cherish this time with your family. Believe me when I say you don’t get it back.”

  Giving Aunt Sophie a one-armed hug, Eli didn’t reply. How could he cherish this time when he failed his family on a daily basis? If he had something, anything, worth celebrating, he would. As it was, he was in survival mode, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep that together.

  Chapter 4

  The last place Natalie wanted to be was the mall. Yet, here she was, wandering the tiled walkway with nothing to do for forty-five minutes while Hailey and Chloe tried on dresses. She could have hung out with the girls, but she got the feeling she’d cramp their style as they giggled at the shaggy-haired teen working the pretzel counter.

  Ducking into the charged atmosphere of the game store, Natalie realized she’d forgotten the name of the game Ryan had mentioned. She’d hoped—budget willing—to place the package in his Easter basket. They had an older game console, and maybe Ryan could invite a few friends over to hang out like he used to, before he got so caught up in student council responsibilities.

  Scanning the packed shelves, she realized that without the exact name of the game, she was out of luck. Seeing Google up on one screen, she hurried over and searched several of her best guesses. Nothing seemed right, and the only thing worse than walking out empty-handed was walking out with the wrong game, because “wrong” meant a disappointed son on Easter morning and a return trip.

  She was just about to walk away when curiosity struck and she decided to check up on Tracie’s dress listing on Etsy. The page loaded and soon the dress was there in all its tulle-and-satin beauty. Tracie had outdone herself. The bodice was pleated, and the skirt absolutely floated. No evidence of a sale appeared, so Natalie read through the lengthy list of comments, her interest growing.

  Great dress! Wish I had a place to wear it!

  Would you consider making one in orange for my daughter’s prom?

  Love the skirt! It’s so full. Can you provide a link for the place you bought the fabric?

  They went on and on like that. Natalie scrolled to the top and found a link to Tracie’s blog. The header wasn’t anything special, probably something provided by WordPress.com. Down the side of the screen there were several buttons representing the different blogging associations she belonged to. There was also one for Bucks for Bunnies, the annual Easter fundraiser sponsored by Snow Valley High School. That was nice of her.

  Two boys waddled in, their waistbands slung under their back ends. The on
e nudged the other and they shrugged their way to the other side of the store, probably scared of the mom vibe Natalie put out with her worn-out purse and the old lady shoes she wore to work. Hey, standing all day was hard without the orthotics, and she hadn’t had time to change before picking up the girls. Feeling out of place and out of time, Natalie hiked her purse up on her shoulder and left.

  She caught a glimpse of Hailey’s bright blue coat headed into JCPenny’s, so she quickened her step. The sooner she collected her charges, the sooner they could be on the road home. The girls disappeared inside the store, and Natalie lost sight of them for a few minutes. When she found them again, they were already flipping through the racks and didn’t see her approach.

  “Oh my gosh! You totally have to try it on,” gushed Chloe as Hailey pressed the vintage-inspired wrap dress to her shoulders. She squealed and bounced into the changing rooms, where both girls vanished behind the same door.

  Their enthusiasm was refreshing, and so Natalie decided to wait until Chloe had a chance to try on the dress before making them leave. Picking up the price tag on an identical dress in a different size, she swallowed—loudly. Out of our price range. “Excuse me?” she asked the girl hanging miniskirts. “Is there a sale coming up?”

  The petite blonde pushed her glasses up. “We’re having a sale the weekend before Easter, but that dress won’t be included.”

  Giggling interrupted Natalie’s disappointment, and her eyes found Hailey in time to see her twirl in front of a full-length mirror. Pastel-pink fabric flung out as if made to follow Hailey’s command. With a sigh, Natalie noted that the dress fit perfectly and complemented her daughter’s olive complexion while not overwhelming her light tresses.

  Affording the dress was possible, with a little belt tightening. If she cut back on her driving, made bread instead of paying three dollars a loaf, and put off that trip to have her hair colored— again— it could work out. Hailey hadn’t complained once about tight funds or missing out on activities. She deserved to have a nice dress for her solo.