Love is Lovelier

by Donna Simonetta

  “If there’s ever a time for girlish squealing, it’s when you give me another sister! And I really love her too! I couldn’t ask for a better second sister.”

  Magda’s blue eyes grew round as she squealed again, “A sister! I’ve got a sister!”

  “Two actually, and a brother,” Heather said with an affectionate grin.

  “I get the man I love and his big, wonderful family! I’m just on cloud nine.” Maggie practically floated over to Jeff, who pulled her to sit on his lap.

  “You and me both, Maggie darlin’,” he said as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

  Heather flapped her hands. “I don’t get it! If you’re engaged, why haven’t you told everyone? And where’s your ring?”

  Maggie leaned back to pull open the nightstand drawer, from which she pulled out a little blue box. “Here it is, wanna see?”

  “Hell yeah! I want to see it! I want to see it on your finger! Why aren’t you wearing it?”

  “Today’s your day, Heather, we didn’t want to steal your thunder,” Jeff said.

  Heather looked up from Maggie’s left hand, where she’d been admiring the lovely diamond solitaire set in platinum. “Screw that noise! We’ve got everyone gathered in one place. Let’s go downstairs and tell them all your good news!”

  ****

  Mick wasn’t sure how it happened, but at some point in the afternoon, Heather’s graduation party had turned into Jeff and Magda’s engagement party. Lunch had turned into supper, and supper had turned into dancing. He was currently leading Heather’s sister Deidre around the tiny dance floor in the ballroom.

  Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shined as she smiled up at him. “Thanks for dancing with an old married lady, Mick. Hank is the best husband and father in the world, but I cannot get him to dance to save my soul.”

  Mick looked over at Deidre’s husband and smiled. Hank sat at a table that had been pushed aside to create a makeshift dance floor in the dining room. He held a beer bottle loosely in his fingers, and his long legs were stretched out in front of him. Hank always reminded Mick of an old West gunslinger, and he wasn’t surprised to learn the stoic horseman wasn’t a big fan of dancing.

  “Happy to oblige.” Mick smiled down at Deidre, who wasn’t as tall as her sister Heather.

  “You’re a nice man,” Deidre observed. “I hope you can be patient and stick with Heather. I know she can be like a skittish colt with men, but she’s a great girl, and well worth the effort.”

  “I agree. Heather deserves the best there is; I’m just not sure that’s me.”

  Deidre swatted his upper arm. “Oh pshaw! Anyone with two eyes can see y’all are meant for one another, Heather just needs to realize you’re going to stick, and you need to realize you deserve happiness.”

  Much struck by her words, Mick’s feet had stopped moving.

  “Why did you stop dancing? Did what I just said come as some sort of surprise to you?” Light dawned in her eyes. “Oh my stars, you’re just as clueless as my sister, aren’t you?”

  ****

  Mick leaned on the railing in the shadows of the back porch, and watched as the party continued into the night in the backyard. It was a fun party, but Mick needed a little time alone to process his conversation with Deidre. Could happiness with Heather be as simple to achieve as her sister had made it seem?

  The slam of the screen door told him his alone time was about to end. He glanced to his right, expecting to see Jeff or Jason approach, but raised an eyebrow when he saw it was none other than his rival for Heather’s affection.

  “Chase. What do you want?”

  “I was looking for Heather.”

  Mick ground his teeth together. Of course the son of a bitch was looking for Heather.

  “I’ve got to get going if I have any hope of making my gig on time, so I wanted to say goodbye to the guest of honor.”

  Mick jerked his head to one of the tables set up in the yard, for the dinner Mrs. Wilson and the ladies of Rivers Bend had hurriedly prepared from luncheon leftovers, when it became clear the party wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.

  “There she is, holding Cisco and Bethanne’s baby, so they have a chance to hit the dance floor.”

  “Is that your mom and sister with her?”

  “Yup.” Mick hoped if he kept his responses brief Chase would be on his way all the faster.

  “Nice folks, but your dad…” Chase shook his head. “He’s a tough old bird. You’re nothing like him.”

  “Maybe not on the surface, but I’m just like the old man.”

  Chase chuckled. “Nah. You’re about as much like him, as I’m like my father, and I used to think Gypsies left me on my parents’ doorstep, that’s how different he and I are.”

  Mick smiled in spite of his dislike of Chase. He had a similar fantasy when he was a kid, convinced he couldn’t possibly be his father’s biological child.

  “Your father is a hard man, brusque, rude, and judgmental. No offense.”

  “None taken. He’s all of those things.”

  “And I don’t see any of those traits in you. I kinda wish I did, so I could warn Heather off of you and clear the way for me, but in all good conscience I can’t do it. You seem like a good guy, and Heather wouldn’t be as into you as she is if you were a douche.”

  “She might just not see it in me yet. And I’m not sure she is all that into me.”

  Chase scowled. “She is. It pains me to say so, but she never looked at me the way she looks at you.”

  “How’s that?”

  “All soft and gooey, like she might finally be getting ready to let down some of those walls she’s put up to protect herself.” He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms across his chest. “And if she does open up to you and you hurt her, you’re going to answer to me.”

  One side of Mick’s mouth turned up, “If I hurt her, I think you’ll have to get in line behind her brothers.”

  ****

  “If it isn’t my three favorite ladies all together, what a pretty sight.”

  Mick’s voice warmed Heather like a sip of good bourbon. She smiled and bounced baby Cisco on her knee.

  “Oh you sweet talker!” His mom flapped her hands at him dismissively, but pleasure shone in her eyes.

  Heather was so happy to see Mick reconnecting with most of his family.

  He held out his arms. “Why don’t you give the little guy to me and give your arms a rest?”

  Heather handed over the happy, burbling baby. “Thanks, Mick, for a tiny person, he was starting to feel like he weighed a ton.”

  Mick made a funny face at the baby boy and was rewarded with a gummy smile. He smiled back as he eased into a seat at their round table.

  “I don’t know I’ve ever seen such a happy baby before. It gives a girl ideas,” his sister said.

  “I’d like to be a grandma someday, Susan, but you and Martin should enjoy a little time alone first. Y’all need to get used to each other before you introduce a little one to the mix.”

  “Plus, there’s no guarantee you’ll get a happy little guy like Cisco here.” Mick smiled at his mom. “Remember how fussy Susie was when she was this age?”

  “I was?”

  Their mother nodded. “Colic. You couldn’t help it, but it did make you fuss. And Mick was a happy baby, but he had his days and nights mixed up, so I’d just catch forty winks when I could. Children bring a lot of joy into your life, but they’re not always easy.”

  “Sam was such a good baby; I think she spoiled me for any potential future children.” Heather smiled as her mind went back to those happy times with her niece. She adored the time she spent with her sweet baby niece, and never understood Sam’s mother’s lack of interest in her daughter.

  “You were good with her, a real natural,” Mick said.

  “You helped a lot. Your big brother experience certainly came in handy.”

  Susan stood and winked. “All this talk about enjoying our time together as a couple
has me wanting to dance with my husband. I’m going to find Martin.”

  “Have fun,” Mrs. Evans said as Susan walked away. “It’s nice Martin will dance with her; I could never get your father onto the dance floor.”

  “I think Susie’s wedding was the first time I ever saw him dance,” Mick observed with a frown.

  After a brief silence, Heather said, “Where are y’all staying tonight? I have a tiny apartment, so I don’t really have room to put anyone up, but I can try to squeeze someone in on the sofa.”

  “Thank you, dear, it’s so sweet of you to offer, but your brother Jeff offered us rooms here at the Retreat. He hadn’t taken any groups for this weekend on account of your party, so there’s plenty of room at the Inn. You have such a kind, welcoming family, Heather.”

  “I like them,” Heather replied with a cheeky grin.

  Mrs. Evans peered into the kitchen window, lit up like a yellow square against the night. “Looks like your mom and Mrs. Wilson are hard at work in there. I think I’ll go on in and see if I can help.”

  She stood up and beamed at Mick, Heather, and the baby. “The two of you sitting together with that darling child, now that’s what I call a pretty picture.”

  Mick rolled his eyes as his mother walked away. “My ma has a lot of really good traits, subtlety is not one of them. Sorry about that.”

  Heather stretched out her legs and took a sip of her purple, namesake cocktail. “It’s okay. Maybe it’s just the Heathers talking here, but I think the sight of you dandling a baby on your knee is a pretty picture too. Women are such suckers for a big, strong man who’s good with children.”

  Mick’s sexy grin made her shiver in spite of the warm night. “Why Ms. Braden, you’re gonna make me blush. Are you saying you’re a sucker for my big, strong self?”

  “You wish!” She snorted.

  “Yeah. I do.”

  Whoa! She’d thought Mick was just playing around, but his response was dead serious. She bit her bottom lip, and decided to go out on a limb. “Maybe I am. Just a little bit.”

  Mick peered at her intently in the dim light of the candle on the table. “How many of those purple drinks have you had?”

  “Enough to make me admit I’m a little bit of a sucker for you, but not so many I don’t know what I’m saying.”

  “That’s what I was hoping.” Mick’s teeth showed white in the dark. “When this shindig is over, may I take the guest of honor home?”

  Heather leaned back in the white resin chair, and stretched her legs out until they almost reached Mick. She took a deep breath and searched his face, for what she wasn’t sure. A reassurance it would be the right thing to do? A guarantee he wouldn’t vanish from her life? She didn’t see the answers to either of those questions in his handsome face, but what she did see there was desire for her, and tenderness for his friend’s baby, whom he held safe in his strong arms. And maybe that was enough for now.

  “Sure,” she said so softly she feared he wouldn’t hear her.

  His smile widened as he bounced baby Cisco on his knee. “Really? Good.” His smile turned devilish, “Do you think the party will be over soon? Like really soon?”

  She laughed and slouched down in her seat, to give her legs the extra room they needed to reach him and kicked him in the shin. “No. And I am the guest of honor, so we’re here to the bitter end.”

  The screen door squeaked open, and the light from the kitchen silhouetted Jeff and Magda.

  “Here she is!” Maggie said with a bright smile.

  The couple clomped down the stairs and sat at the table with them. Magda reached her hand to the candle in the center of the table, and twisted it in the light to admire the sparkle of her engagement ring.

  Jeff scooted his chair a little closer to hers so he could rest his arm on the back of it.

  “Pretty rock,” Mick said with a warm smile. “Best wishes, not that you need them. If ever a couple was made for each other, it’s you crazy kids.”

  Jeff grinned. “Thanks, Mick. I’m a lucky man. Want me to take my godson for a bit?”

  “Nah, I’ve got him.”

  The baby burbled happily as Mick bounced him. “We’ve got a good rhythm going here, and he’s happy and quiet.”

  “Bethanne and Cisco are saying their goodbyes now. It’s past his bedtime, so they’ll be out to get him soon,” Maggie said.

  “Speaking of home, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about, Mick,” said Jeff.

  “Yeah?” Mick eyed his friend a little warily.

  “Maggie’s going to be moving up to the big house now that we’re engaged, and we were thinking you might want to move into her cottage when she moves out. The cabin’s got to be getting a little claustrophobic.”

  Relief relaxed the line of Mick’s jaw. “I thought you were about to kick me out.”

  “Hell no! Why would I do that?”

  Heather cocked her head as she looked at Mick. His cranky father had done a serious number on him. Mick really believed one of his oldest friends would toss him out on his ear without warning.

  “I don’t know,” Mick said.

  “So do you want the cottage?” Jeff asked.

  “Sure, if you’re positive about it. The cabin is great, you can’t beat the view of the river, but we’re losing potential revenue with me keeping paying guests out of it. Plus, I miss having a real kitchen. It’s hard to cook an actual meal in the kitchenette.”

  “You can cook?” Magda raised her eyebrows.

  “You don’t have to look quite so surprised. I’m 33 years old, and I don’t want to eat takeout every night. It was either learn how to cook or survive on cold cereal and bologna sandwiches.” Mick shrugged. “I learned how to cook.”

  “You’ll love the kitchen at the cottage then,” Magda said eagerly. “Bethanne and Cisco renovated it before they moved in. It’s got all top-of-the-line appliances, and a laundry room.”

  Mick nodded his approval. “No more lugging my laundry to the Suds and Go on Main Street? Sounds like a plan to me. On one condition, you let me pay you a fair rent for the place.”

  Jeff absently massaged Magda’s shoulder as he said, “I wasn’t planning on charging you rent.”

  Mick frowned and shook his head. “Paying rent’s a deal breaker for me. I’m no sponge. I’ve been feeling bad enough about staying in the cabin; there’s no way I’m moving into the cottage and not paying you for it.”

  “Fine,” Jeff conceded. “You can pay rent. Let me talk it over with Cisco, and we’ll settle on an amount next week.”

  Magda’s sunny smile brought the dimples out in her cheeks, “It’s settled then. It looks like Rivers Bend is getting under your skin, just like it did mine! I started out in Cabin 5 with no intention of living here permanently, moved to the cottage, and now I’m putting down roots and staying for good.”

  She was staying because Maggie was marrying a Braden. Was she implying Mick was going to follow in her footsteps about that too? And was Mick bouncing Baby Cisco a little more vigorously with nervous energy at the thought? Heather certainly felt the early signs of another panic attack at the idea. Her throat tightened and her heart pounded. Marriage? Give her a break, she’d been barely able to commit to going home with Mick tonight, let alone every night for as long as he stuck here in Rivers Bend. His deep rumble of a voice intruded on her thoughts.

  “If you’re moving up to the big house, are you two going to have a short engagement and get hitched soon?”

  “I’d like to get married as soon as we can, but Maggie here wants a wedding with all the trimmings, so it might take a while to pull it all together.”

  Mick lowered his voice, and Heather noticed the baby’s eyes drooping as he fought a losing battle with sleep. “I wouldn’t have thought a big wedding would be your thing, Maggie.”

  She shrugged. “Not big. I don’t care if it’s just us and our close friends and family, but I want the big, white dress, and loads of flowers. And I want to get married i
n that sweet little church where Cisco’s christening was held. But mostly, I want everyone we love in one room, to share the moment with us.”

  Jeff squeezed her shoulder, and Maggie peeked up at him through her crazy corkscrew curls. “Being part of a big happy family is new to me, and I want the wedding to go with it. How about you, Heather, when you get married don’t you want the whole nine yards?”

  Heather shook her head so vehemently her bangs flopped into her eyes. She brushed them aside as she said, “I can’t imagine getting married, but if I did, I think I would want to elope. Maybe to Vegas, and we could go to one of those tacky wedding chapels and have an Elvis impersonator perform the ceremony.”

  “Way to embrace the sanctity of marriage, Heath.” Jeff snorted.

  Mick’s gaze burned into her, as he stared at her over the sleeping baby’s downy head. “No, I see Heather’s point. It would be just the two of you, committing to your life together.”

  “Just you and Fat Elvis,” Jeff said with skepticism.

  Maggie wrinkled her cute little nose. “It always is Fat Elvis they impersonate. I wonder why? I would rather see young hot Elvis.”

  Jeff laughed, “But there are helluva lot more guys who look like Fat Elvis, than like young, hot Elvis.”

  Magda squinted at Mick. “With a little tweaking of your hair, you could pull off Hot Elvis, Mick.”

  Jeff started to guffaw, but quickly smothered his laugh, as it caused the baby to stir, and threatened to wake him. “Hey, we just got Mick here, and he’s bringing in a lot of new business. Don’t tempt him away with thoughts of a glitzy career as a Hot Elvis impersonator.”

  Heather leaned forward to peer at him. “I don’t see Hot Elvis.”

  “Thanks.” Mick grinned. “Way to build up a guy’s ego, Heather, tell him he’s more Fat Elvis than Hot Elvis.”

  “I didn’t mean that! I’m just not sure I see Elvis at all.”

  “Squint,” Maggie suggested.

  Jeff fought another burst of loud laughter and wheezed, “Stop, Maggie, I’m trying not to wake the baby, but you’re killing me here…if you squint, Mick will be hot, I swear. Priceless!”