Best Laid Wedding Plans

by Lynnette Austin

  “It’s good. Way past time.” He nodded toward the far wall where Wes’s picture leaned. “I took that down while they plastered and painted. There’s another behind it that needs to be hung when they’ve finished.”

  Tears welled in Jenni Beth’s eyes. Her graduation picture peeked from behind her brother’s.

  Her father cleared his throat, a muscle in his jaw working. “We haven’t done right by you, honey, and I apologize for that.” His eyes misted. “Cole made a comment last week about us not valuing the child we still have.” He reached for his wife’s hand, then hers. “We do, baby.”

  “But we need to tell you more often,” her mother said quietly, a tear trailing down her cheek. “And we will. Starting right now.”

  Charlotte, wiping away tears of her own, ambled over to the table, coffeepot in hand. “Now that that’s done, let’s have some breakfast so I can get cleaned up before the horde of good-lookin’ construction workers hits the front door.”

  They all laughed, and the tension dissipated.

  The four of them ate, talked, and drank coffee. There’d be more storms, more dark days, but Jenni Beth understood they’d turned a corner. Taken some big steps. And Cole Bryson had played an important part in that.

  “Your dad’s helping in the bathroom upstairs today. Charlie promised to teach him how to lay tile.”

  Jenni Beth stared at her father, who wore a sheepish grin.

  “I can’t wait to get started. Your mom watches a lot of HGTV, and I’ve always admired men and women who can get in there and get it done. Today”—he pointed at himself—“that’s going to be me.”

  Jenni Beth high-fived him.

  She turned to her mother. “You watch HGTV?”

  “I do.”

  “When she isn’t reading.” Her father stirred more sugar into his coffee.

  “Why shouldn’t I read? All you do is play those stupid computer games, day and night.” Her mom shot her husband an accusatory look, then turned to Jenni Beth. “He’s up half the night sometimes.”

  “I can’t sleep,” her dad groused.

  “Jeez, if I’d have known that,” Jenni Beth said, “we could’ve been keeping each other company at three in the morning. I’ve been sitting on the back porch alone.”

  “You’re not sleeping either?” Her mother laid a hand over hers.

  Jenni Beth shook her head. “Too much going on. I can’t shut it down.”

  “How about if we go into town this morning, sweetheart?” her mom asked her. “Beck’s team can get along without you for a few hours. Besides, your dad will be here in your stead.”

  About to say no, Jenni Beth stopped. It would be good for her dad to feel important, to be needed, and she and her mother could use some time alone, some fun time.

  They were making an effort. She needed to foster that.

  “I’d love to, Mama.”

  Her mother waved her coffee mug toward Jenni Beth. “You’ll need to wear something other than those shorts and that ratty top, though.” She quirked a brow and grinned. “After all, you are a Beaumont.”

  They all laughed, and it felt so good. It had been a long, long time since this kitchen had heard the sound. Charlotte stood at the sink, a grin as big as the moon on her face, tears in her eyes. The wound was, at long last, starting to mend.

  She took the last drink of her coffee before racing to the attic to change. Her mother, as usual, looked ready for anything. Again, Jenni Beth wondered how she’d fallen so far from the family tree. Casual suited her just fine. Her mom? Dresses and pearls.

  Well, today she’d make her mama proud. A quick shower, some makeup, and her new sundress, her last Savannah purchase.

  By the time she stepped out of the shower, she heard cars and trucks out front, the buzz of a saw, the raised voices of the workers.

  Another day had begun.

  On the drive into town, her mother chatted up a storm. A heavy weight had been lifted from her. During a break in the conversation, Jenni Beth’s mind wandered back to Cole. What was he doing today? What would he do tonight?

  And with that, her mind skidded to a halt. Oh my gosh! Was he involved with someone in Savannah? He was bound to have a girlfriend, wasn’t he? Anybody who looked like him… Why hadn’t she thought of that? But would he have kissed her the way he had if that was the case?

  She almost laughed. Of course he would. He was Cole Bryson. Love ’em and leave ’em.

  Her mother had her face tipped to the sun, eyes closed behind her Jackie O sunglasses. Wouldn’t Mrs. Bryson have mentioned something about it to her mom during their every-other-week game night?

  Then again, maybe her mother had quit attending Wednesday night ladies’ poker.

  “Does Cole have a, um, girlfriend in Savannah?”

  Her mom swiveled toward her. “I honestly don’t know.” The smile disappeared, and her mouth trembled.

  She’d screwed up. Taken that sliver of tranquillity from her mom. Her stomach plummeted to her toes. What had she said? “What’s wrong?”

  Her mother shook her head. “How awful is that? I don’t even know what’s happening in Wes’s best friend’s life anymore. I’ve lost him, too.”

  “Mama.” Jenni Beth reached for her mother’s hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. It doesn’t matter.”

  Her mother’s expression turned to one of affront. “It most certainly does! And it seems to matter a great deal to you. Anything I should know?”

  “No. Absolutely not.” She quickly swung the conversation around to the paint colors under consideration for the bridal suite.

  They made a fast stop at Elliot’s Lumberyard to pick up a couple samples. From there, they decided to stop by Quilty Pleasures. Her mother wanted a new pattern.

  They parked and, walking arm in arm, were halfway to the pharmacy when the door swung open. Emma Bryson stepped out, and Jenni Beth stood back while her mom and Cole’s mom hugged.

  “Jenni Beth asked this morning if Cole had a girlfriend tucked away in Savannah.”

  She gasped. When had her mother developed such loose lips? Emma sent Jenni Beth an all-too-knowing smile. “None that we know of. His dad and I keep hoping he’ll find some cute little gal right here in Misty Bottoms, settle down, and make us some grandbabies.”

  Mortified, Jenni Beth wanted to drop into that proverbial sidewalk crack—and stay there. She couldn’t stop the blush that heated her face. Emma laughed. “Cole’s been tellin’ us about your dream, honey.”

  And that did it. That he’d used that word when talking to his parents turned her to mush. Her dream. Darn it all, why did Cole make it so hard to hold a grudge?

  “I’d love to see what y’all are doin’.”

  “Come on over,” Sue Ellen said. “I’ll give you a tour, show you how hard Beck and his crew, along with my daughter and your son, have been working.”

  After another couple minutes, they said their good-byes, and Jenni Beth and her mom moved on to the yarn store.

  “Mom, why did you ask her that?”

  Her mother stopped. “Why ever not? You wanted to know. Emma’s been my friend forever, so why shouldn’t I ask her?”

  Jenni Beth said nothing, simply shook her head and kept walking.

  While her mother and Darlene, dressed today in chrome-yellow and black, bent their heads over a pattern book, Jenni Beth poked around the other merchandise. Moonshine and Mint Julep, both wearing knitted bumblebee sweaters, trailed behind her.

  “What’s this?” Jenni Beth asked, picking up a small pouch.

  “It’s a crocheted dream pocket. See the opening on the side? You write your dream or your wish on a piece of paper, slip it in there, and sleep on it.”

  “Clever.” Sue Ellen picked up another of the small pockets. “These would make great little gifts.”

  “I
agree.” Jenni Beth contemplated the small squares. “For the bride and her attendants. Can you get them in other colors, Darlene?”

  “Absolutely. Ms. Hattie makes them and brings them in on consignment.”

  “Ms. Hattie? See, Mama?” she said excitedly. “Local talent. So once I know a bride’s colors, she could match them, Darlene?”

  “She sure could, and Ms. Hattie can certainly use the money. She’s barely getting by. Her house.” Darlene shook her head. “It’s in such disrepair.”

  “I haven’t seen her since I’ve been back.”

  “She doesn’t go out as much as she used to.”

  Jenni Beth nodded. Time to pay her a visit, then, and check on her. She picked out several in different colors. “I’ll start with these and use them as bridal gifts. I’ll display some in my office for sale. Brides will like the idea of a homemade dream pocket. It’s romantic.”

  “By the way,” Darlene said, “I’ve thought about what you said before. About trying to hang on a little while longer. This is what you were talking about, isn’t it? This big dream of yours.”

  “Yes. But everything was so tentative—”

  “I understand. I’ve decided to give things here a little more time. Who knows? Once Misty Bottoms becomes a famous wedding destination, my business, heck, the whole town, might boom.”

  Jenni Beth’s heart swelled with hope. “From your lips to God’s ears, Darlene.”

  “I love weddings.” Darlene’s huge hoop earrings swayed as she clapped her hands and sighed deeply. “They’re so romantic and so happy.”

  “Yes, they are.” She had just finished paying for her dream pockets when Darlene’s door opened. “Daddy?”

  “Todd? I thought you were tiling,” her mother said.

  “I am. But we needed some more spacers, so Charlie sent me into town to pick them up. I wondered if maybe my best girl wanted to ride back with me.”

  Her mother looked at Jenni Beth, almost as if asking permission.

  “Go,” Jenni Beth said. Her dad radiated happiness. He felt busy. Necessary.

  Relief filled her. Yes, the project was a godsend for them all.

  “I’ve got a couple more stops to make,” she added. “After that I’ll be home to give the guys a hand.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Totally. Now go. Both of you.” She handed her mother the bag of dream pillows. “Take these, will you? That’ll save me having to tote them around.”

  After they left, she and Darlene talked a bit about her parents and the renovations at Magnolia House.

  “I didn’t want to say too much until I knew for sure it was going to work.” She sighed. “Truth be told, I’m still not positive, but…” She shrugged.

  “I think it’s wonderful, honey. And you’re right. It will be very good for this tired town. It might prove to be the jump start Misty Bottoms needs to fire its engines.”

  She left Darlene’s feeling free as a bird. Since her mom had gone home with her dad and they didn’t expect her back at the house yet, she decided to stop at the Dairy Queen for a quick treat. It was that kind of day, meant for playing hooky, for leaving work an hour early.

  Normally, she considered the fast-food place off-limits, worried about the calories. But with the way she’d been working this past week, she deserved a Blizzard. The biggest one they sold.

  When young Carrie Sue Peterson handed her the decadent chocolate indulgence, Jenni Beth reverently carried it to a shady picnic table. One bite and she nearly swooned.

  Two teens sat at a nearby table, totally wrapped up in each other. She didn’t recognize them and wondered who their mamas and daddies were. She’d been away long enough to have lost track.

  They held hands and, from the sound of it, were wallowing in teen angst. The boy was apparently having trouble with a friend and his girlfriend had decided to act as intermediary.

  “So Keith told me you never want to do anything.”

  “That’s not true, Sara. Keith is the one who never shows up when he says he will, never does what he’s supposed to. I don’t know if I can trust him anymore.”

  “Pinky-promise you’ll try,” Sara said.

  Jenni Beth toyed with her ice cream. Was that her problem? Did she really have trust issues like Cole said?

  After the boy promised, Sara moved on to her own problem. “Melissa’s driving me nuts. She tries to dominate everything. She chooses what we’re doing, where we’ll do it, and when. And worse, she flirts with everybody else’s boyfriends.”

  Oh, I so don’t want to be fifteen again, Jenni Beth thought.

  “My mom was talking about moving last night.” Sara drew doodles in the condensation on her Coke glass. “She thinks she might lose her job. There’s not enough traffic in and out of the hotel. And if she loses it, there’s nowhere else in town for her to work.”

  And right there was reason enough to push on with her project for Magnolia House. Jenni Beth prayed her plans would help Sara and her mother. Would bring guests to the hotel.

  The teens’ grip tightened.

  Her heart broke for them. She remembered that feeling, that almost desperate urgency to touch, to be touched. The pain of young love. Hadn’t she felt it for Cole? Hated Kimmie, who not only won Cole but lorded it over her? Where was Kimmie now? She’d have to ask her mother, then pray she didn’t get on the phone and call Kimmie’s mom. Sue Ellen Beaumont deserved a good butt-chewing for this morning’s stunt with Emma Bryson.

  A fortyish man pulled up to the curb and waved at the teens. The boy nearly spilled his soda in his hurry to stand. “Hello, Mr. Mahoney.”

  The guy dipped his head to look out the passenger window. “Hello, Trey.”

  Sara and her boyfriend exchanged a hasty, awkward hug. Both stepped back, and Sara opened the car door.

  “Why are you driving Kelsey’s car?”

  “Because I can,” he answered. “Your sister’s grounded. She got home late last night.”

  As they drove away, Jenni Beth watched Sara’s friend. His gaze stayed focused on the disappearing car, and he sighed when it rounded the corner. Ah, yes. Young love. Her own heartstrings tugged. Just a little. When Cole had left, he’d taken a piece of her heart.

  And he would again. Despite anything and everything he said, she needed to keep that in mind. If she had a trust issue, he’d caused it.

  Jenni Beth scraped her paper cup to capture the last drop of ice cream before she tossed it into the waste can. Time to head home.

  On the way to her car, she nearly bumped into Ms. Effie, who’d been the town librarian since time began.

  “Hey, Ms. Effie. I planned on visiting the library tomorrow.”

  “Oh?”

  “Do you have any books on restoring old houses?”

  “You stop by, and I’ll have something for you. In fact, I have a brand-new book you might like. Came in last week, and I haven’t shelved it yet.”

  “Oh, thank you.”

  “So, young lady, tell me about these big plans of yours.”

  Jenni Beth did, knowing full well every person in town would hear every shared detail by the end of the day.

  Ten minutes later, she excused herself. Time to get the kitchen appliances ordered. She’d considered going the route Cole had suggested, all too aware of the huge bite new ones would take out of her budget, but if she was going to do this, she wanted new. And she wanted to keep her business local.

  An air-conditioned blast hit her as she walked into the only store in town that carried what she needed. Moose Jansen, former Misty High defensive lineman and big as a Humvee, gave her a welcoming pat on the back, hard enough that, had she not been planted firmly, it would have sent her sprawling on the well-worn indoor/outdoor carpeting.

  “How ya doin’, Jenni Beth?”

  “I’m great, Moose.” S
he laughed. “Heard you and Denise have two beautiful baby boys.”

  “We sure do.” He dug a wallet out of his back pocket and flipped it open to a Sears special. “Aren’t they the cutest things you ever did see?”

  “They are.” She said it honestly. Both boys had their mother’s faces with the exception of the chin, and that, squared off and solid, was pure Moose. Sturdy little legs and powerful bodies were dressed in the red and white Misty Bottoms High School colors. “You and Denise must be ecstatic.”

  “We are. Bet your mama and daddy are glad to have you back home, huh?”

  She nodded. “I suppose you’ve heard what we’re doing at Magnolia House.”

  He grinned. “Heck yeah. It’s the talk of the town.”

  She just bet it was. “I thought I’d stop by to see what you have in the way of kitchen appliances. We need some new ones.”

  “Okay, but—” He swiped a size fourteen shoe over the carpet and stared down at it. “It’s only right you know that Richard came by to see us.”

  “Richard Thorndike?” Her palms grew sweaty. This had bad written all over it.

  Moose wet his lips and looked for all the world like he was readying for a humdinger of a dress-down from the coach. “Thing is, he suggested we get half or so of every order up front, money being tight and all. But it don’t seem right to do that without tellin’ you why.”

  Jenni Beth felt sick. The Blizzard she’d just devoured didn’t want to stay down. “I don’t understand.”

  “Actually, Richard said we should get all our money before we ordered anything for you.” The big hulk shifted uneasily from foot to foot. “I’m really sorry, Jenni Beth.”

  Fury ripped through her. The chickenhearted backstabber! Work had been held up a couple times, and, unless she ordered through Beck, they’d never seemed to have enough materials. She’d chalked it up to circumstances. Now, though, it took on a different tenor.

  Richard knew she had the money. He’d lent it to her, for heaven’s sake.

  Well, she’d show him!

  Rage boiled through her blood, but she coolly walked around the store. “I want this”—she pointed at a range and cooktop—“and two of these and one of these.”