How Sweet It Is

by Wendy Vella

  “I’ll stay with you,” Annabelle said, “so don’t you worry.”

  “I’m sorry,” Willow said again.

  “It’s my job, and you’re a friend. “Now, just let me contact Ethan then I’ll be back to get you settled.”

  When Annabelle came back, Macy was with her.

  “Oh, Willow.” Macy hurried to her side and took her hand. “I was so scared when I heard about your accident.” Willow found herself gripping the slender fingers tight. “I told the doctors you could come home with me, and they agreed. So if you want, you can stay with me for a few days.”

  “Could I? Would you mind?”

  “No. I’d enjoy the company.” Macy squeezed her fingers.

  She wanted that, to be with this soft, gentle woman who had become her friend when she wasn’t looking.

  “Then, thank you. Yes, I’d like to go home with you and Billy.” Tomorrow she’d think about what she’d done, the car she had wrecked and how she would now get back to New York. For now, her head hurt, and she just wanted to rest.

  “Buster has offered too, Willow, if you’d rather go there—”

  “No,” Willow said, cutting Macy off. “I don’t want to go anywhere with Buster.”

  She knew Annabelle and Macy were exchanging looks, but she didn’t care. Buster was just feeling sorry for her because she was hurt, and maybe a bit of that sympathy was guilt. She didn’t want any of that from him; in fact, she didn’t want to see him again. Looking at him made her heart hurt and reminded her of what a fool she’d been.

  She knew she was being pathetic and felt weak and vulnerable. But tomorrow she wouldn’t, and tomorrow she would start again with her life. Changes needed to be made; being here had told her that. She’d think about them and the pain in her heart, but right now she wanted to close her eyes and stop the throbbing in her skull.

  “Okay, so let’s get you home, then,” Macy said, helping Willow sit up.

  Annabelle gave her some pills and said she’d told Macy what needed to be done to check on Willow during the night, and then they were in the waiting room. Newman was still there, and Ethan had arrived too, but much to Willow’s relief there was no sign of Buster.

  “If you need anything at all,” Annabelle said, “you just get Macy to call, okay?”

  “Sure. And thanks, Newman, for helping get me out of the car.”

  “No problem,” he said. “Rescuing pretty women is my specialty.”

  She found a smile, but no laughter.

  “Same goes for Annabelle and me,” Ethan said, squeezing her hand.

  She stopped and looked at the Texan. “If you’re flying to Brook in the next few days, I’d be grateful for a ride.”

  His eyes looked wary. “I’ll let you know, but the weather’s not looking too good.”

  She nodded, and then Macy helped her to the car. They were soon driving to her house. Once they’d arrived, she let Macy take her to the room she was to sleep in and help her into bed.

  “I’m going to be waking you every few hours, okay? So no getting angry.”

  “Okay, and thanks, Macy, for doing this.”

  Macy kissed her forehead. “It’s what friends do.”

  The words made Willow swallow a few times to battle the tears.

  “You want me to call your folks?”

  “I’ll do it tomorrow, when I feel a bit better.” She didn’t want them to know what had happened. She wanted to sleep, and then tomorrow she’d start over again. She was good at that. This time, however, she’d be making a few adjustments.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  For two days, Willow was exhausted. Her body ached, but her head was the worst; it continually throbbed. She stayed in her room and slept, waking only to eat, drink or be seen by Jake or Annabelle. She knew others came because she heard their voices, but she was too tired to see them.

  On the third day, she woke feeling better. Her skull no longer felt as if a party of beavers had taken up residence inside it. Her body was still stiff and her muscles were sore, but other than that she wasn’t in bad shape.

  She found her suitcase and got out clean clothes, then headed for the shower.

  Macy was sitting on her bed when she came out. “You look better.”

  “I feel it,” Willow said, then moved to start repacking her suitcase. “So much better that I think I’ll head back to New York tomorrow. If Ethan can’t take me, then I’ll rent a car from here.”

  “The rental company already had one here. They’ll get you to drive it back, then you can fill out all the forms they need regarding the accident,” Macy said. “Cubby spoke to them, and one of his deputies dropped the car off yesterday.”

  Willow sat on the bed. “All of you are so nice,” was all she could find to say. The prospect of tackling the car rental people had been hanging over her head.

  “Jake said you couldn’t drive yet, Willow.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “No, seriously. Apparently you shouldn’t drive for a while after a head knock like the one you took.”

  “Okay, so maybe I’ll leave the day after tomorrow.”

  “Ask Jake first, okay?”

  “Sure,” Willow said, thinking that nothing was going to stop her from leaving, not even the handsome Dr. McBride. “And thanks again, Macy, for everything you’ve done for me. You’re a wonderful person, and I’m glad I got to know you.”

  “You’re pretty special yourself, Ms. Harper.” Macy gave her a hug.

  “No, I’m not, but I’m going to try harder to be a better person from now on.”

  Willow had lain in this room for two days working out her life between sleeps, and had come to the conclusion that she had to stop shutting herself off from people. Things had to change; coming to Lake Howling had made her realize that.

  She would have to sell her apartment because Buster wasn’t going to sign the contract. She was going to leave him a copy anyway, just because she felt she needed to. Maybe she’d move out of New York and find a job somewhere else, somewhere quieter, away from the hustle and bustle. She was now sure she no longer wanted to be a partner in Howe Realty. That dream was gone, and in its place was something simpler. Happiness, friends and maybe even a relationship, although she didn’t want to contemplate that now, not with her feelings still so raw over Buster.

  “I need to start living, Macy. Getting on with my life. When I decide where I’m going to settle, I plan to go out and meet people and start interacting like a normal person.”

  “Does Buster have a place in that future?”

  Willow shook her head, pleased that it didn’t hurt. Her heart was another matter entirely. That would be painful for months, if not years to come. “He thinks I’m like Jessica,” she said honestly. “Things did happen between us, but he has hang-ups like I do. A long-distance relationship would be difficult for rational people, so for us it would never work. Not that Buster wants one.”

  “Do you want it to work?”

  “It couldn’t work, so it doesn’t matter whether I want it to or not.”

  “He’s one of the best men I know. Kind, gentle, intelligent. He’s a wonderful man, and I’d hoped that in you he would—”

  “No,” Willow interrupted her friend. “I don’t want to be with a man who sees another person when he looks at me. I don’t trust easily, and neither does he. Continually having to check myself in case I do something that reminds him of his ex would just make me angry. “

  “Will you tell me what happened?”

  “Let’s just say he doesn’t want anything more to do with me. There was a misunderstanding, and it can’t be fixed.”

  Macy looked ready to argue.

  “Please, Macy, leave it alone now.”

  “Okay, but I like you, and I like him and I think you’d be great together,” Macy said in a rush. “But I won’t say another word.”

  “Thanks.” Willow squeezed her hand.

  “Will you come with me to help set up the school display fo
r the carnival? You can sit, and if you feel up to it draw signs for things. But I think it would be good for you to get outside for a few hours, especially if you’re thinking of leaving soon.”

  Willow wondered if Buster would be there, but didn’t ask. She would like to see the people she’d come to think of as friends one more time, she decided, and this would be her last chance. Tomorrow she’d leave, and just before she did she’d drop the offer off for Buster to look at. He’d be too busy to talk, which would suit her perfectly, so she could just hand it over and leave. She was strong enough to do that, surely.

  “The sitter is coming to watch Billy, so get dressed up warm. Jake will be here soon to pick us up.”

  She was ready and waiting with Macy when the knock came at the door, so Macy said goodbye to Billy and the sitter and Willow went to answer it.

  “Hey, Jake,” she said as she opened the door.

  “Hey, yourself,” he said, stepping into the hallway. “How are you feeling now?”

  “Much better, thanks. I’m coming down to help.”

  He frowned at her words. “No lifting yet, and don’t get tired. A concussion is something that will come back and hit you hard if you don’t respect it.”

  She lifted her hands. “I promise I won’t do anything I shouldn’t.” She didn’t add that she was leaving tomorrow. She was pretty sure he’d hate that idea.

  It was cold when they stepped outside, and she and Macy hurried to Jake’s pickup. Mickey Tucker was in there waiting for them.

  “I’m staying with Jake and Branna because my gran’s gone to visit my sister,” he said when they’d climbed in beside him.

  “That’s got to be fun for you,” Willow said.

  “I get to go to the carnival now, and that’s important because I’m selling the fudge Buster made, and other stuff people have donated. It’s for my trip.”

  “I heard about that,” Willow said. Children were uncomplicated, and she’d always enjoyed talking to them. They were usually open and honest, with no hidden agendas. “Grand Canyon, right?”

  “And other places.” Mikey shot Jake and Macy a look. “Can I whisper something to you, Willow?”

  Jake kept his eyes on the road as they turned toward Lake Howling.

  “Sure, but here’s the thing, Mikey. Whispering is always hard on the other person who can’t hear. It excludes them, if you know what I mean. So how about you and I have a talk when we get out of the car, and then Jake and Macy won’t know or feel left out?”

  Willow intercepted Jake’s smile.

  “Okay,” the boy said. “That sounds good.”

  Jake drove slowly because of the ice, and she listened as the others talked about the carnival.

  “Wow, that looks awesome!”

  Mikey was right—the town of Lake Howling did look awesome and magical, with fairy lights everywhere. She saw that big white tents had been erected and felt a pang that she wouldn’t be around to mingle with the crowds and look at the things on display. Maybe one day she’d come back to Lake Howling. That was a lie, of course, but she held on to the dream and even managed to have a smile on her face when she got out of the car.

  Annabelle greeted them, and immediately put her to work. Willow was to sit and write signs, and Mikey was to help her and set up the table with Macy.

  “The thing is,” Mikey said when Macy had left them alone to fetch something. “I don’t have a lot of money, but I’ve saved up ten dollars. So I was wondering if that would be enough for you to draw me a picture of Jake and Branna, so I can give it to them for Christmas.”

  These people constantly tugged at her emotions. Mikey was willing to use all his pocket money for a gift for Jake and Branna, and Willow desperately wanted to do what he asked of her. “I’ll do what I can, Mikey, and if I don’t get it done before I leave, then I’ll mail it to you.”

  “But Christmas is in two weeks.”

  “Okay, so I’ll get it done before I leave,” Willow relented as his shoulders drooped. She wasn’t usually so easy to manipulate, but even if she had to stay up late tonight, she’d get something done for him.

  “Really?” He threw his arms around her waist and hugged her hard, and Willow felt an overwhelming need to hug him back, so she did.

  “Now go get another box to unpack from Annabelle.” She watched him sprint away before turning back to the sign she was writing.

  A moment later, Ethan showed up carrying a large box. “So these are the books signed from Declan and Branna, aka Rosanna Howlling.”

  “Put them there.” Willow patted the table, and Ethan lowered the box.

  “You doing okay, Willow?” he asked.

  “Fine, thanks, Ethan.”

  “You just holler if you need anything, then.”

  “Will do.”

  He loped away in his long, easy stride, which made her think he’d look really good on a horse. She watched him pick up a broom, then sword-fight his way to Buster, who slapped it aside and snarled something that made the Texan laugh.

  “Hey, Willow.” Annabelle sat in the seat beside hers.

  “Hey, Annabelle.”

  “How are you feeling? Not overdoing things, I hope?”

  Willow waved the words aside with a flick of her wrist. “So this tent is for food and the school booth, Mikey said.”

  Annabelle nodded. “There’s one for entertainment and the band and things like that, and the other two are for people to display and sell things. The book club put the school’s booths in here because they thought they’d sell more stuff, and since they have all the power in this town, they can do whatever the hell they want.”

  “Book club?” Willow couldn’t stop her eyes from moving to where Buster was standing beside Ethan. They were unpacking tables and chairs for his temporary café. Her heart thumped as she looked at the hand he ran through his hair. That hand had done wicked things to her, had made her feel like she’d never felt before.

  “The book club runs this town,” Annabelle said as she fanned out the books, making them look much better than the pile Ethan had dumped them in. “The mayor likes to think he does, but everyone knows different.”

  “I thought book clubs were for…well, books?”

  “The club has been in existence for years, and the women who are in it are some of the strongest and most influential in Howling.”

  Willow watched as Annabelle did something with a few packets of fudge and black and white tissue paper that ended up looking amazing. “You’re good.”

  “Ethan said I should have been an interior designer instead of a nurse.”

  “He could be on to something,” Willow said. “Not that you’re not a good nurse.”

  “I’m a kick-ass nurse.” Annabelle followed up her words with a smile.

  “But only because you have a kick-ass doctor to work with.” Jake arrived and dumped three more boxes at Willow’s feet. But instead of leaving, he stayed to help.

  “I was just telling Willow about the book club,” Annabelle said.

  “See that group there?” Jake pointed to his right and Willow followed with her eyes. Women were standing around several tables, talking, moving and setting things up just like they were at the school booth. Declan O’Donnell was also there, standing with a woman Willow had seen at Careers Day.

  “That’s the book club, and a scarier group you’ve never met,” Jake said. “My wife’s one of them, and I’m not sure of the details because she’s sworn to secrecy, but I’m certain they have some rituals that would make my hair stand on end.”

  “Like a coven?” Willow laughed. “They can’t be that bad if D.J. O’Donnell is there. He seems like a nice man.”

  “He’d only there because he’s sweet on Ellen Todd.”

  “Jake, did you just say ‘sweet on’?” Annabelle said.

  “If I said ‘has the hots for,’ Branna would kill me.”

  “So, they’re like this powerful group of do-gooding woman, or interfering, whatever the case may be?” Wi
llow asked.

  “Exactly.” Jake waved a book at her. “They have this contract that’s about fifty pages long that each person has to sign. When a person first becomes a member, they have to take a sealed envelope with the woman’s name they nominate to succeed them inside. It’s all very cloak and dagger.”

  “I have a really bad feeling Mrs. Heath has my name in that envelope,” Annabelle said, looking at the women. “It’s my hope she lives till she’s 120 at least.”

  “And is that woman with the angry expression and short red hair in it?”

  “Millicent Lawrence, aka Militant.” Annabelle shuddered. “She hates everyone, but especially Buster.”

  “Why Buster?”

  “Because he stepped in one day when Militant’s son was beating up Newman, who didn’t start growing till after he left school,” Jake said. “He gave Henry Lawrence a black eye, and she’s never forgiven him.”

  “And now she’s always trying to stir up trouble for him,” Annabelle said. “Twice now she’s called the inspectors into The Hoot. We always tell him to confront her or we will, but Buster’s to nice and just lets it go. He says she’s one of the towns elders, and that we have to respect her.

  Willow looked at the woman and decided she didn’t like her very much.

  “Shit, here comes HRH!” Jake said. Willow watched as Annabelle got out of her seat and moved to stand beside him. They both then dropped their heads and started stacking things randomly on the table.

  “Who is HRH?” Willow whispered, highly entertained.

  “Henrietta Roberts Haigh. She used to be on the high school committee. Once she made me clean the halls with my hairbrush because I’d pulled it out in class.”

  “She made me scrape gum from underneath every desk in my class,” Jake added softly.

  “Jake. Annabelle.”

  Willow looked at the woman who had barked out the names. Big and brash, she was an intimidating woman.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Roberts Haigh,” Jake said.

  Willow wanted to laugh at the sight of these two beautiful, intelligent people brought to their knees by this woman. They were nervous, both fidgeting with things on the table as they answered the woman’s questions.