Hope Falls: Heart of Hope (Kindle Worlds)

by Lucy Score

  They stood, holding each other as Beau looked on.

  “I have so many questions about Hope,” Alli said, pulling back, her cheeks wet with tears.

  “I have a lot of questions about you,” Bristol said, giving the girl a watery smile.

  “Hey, maid of honor, are you ever getting your ass back in here—What the hell are you doing here?” Savannah in a satin robe and flawless make-up demanded when she spotted Beau in the hallway. “What’s going on?”

  Pastor Harrison’s door cracked open again. “Everything all right?” he asked the bride.

  “I’m not sure, pastor,” Savannah said. “But I’ll let you know if I need a couple of acolytes to escort this gentleman out of here.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Bristol said. “Vanna, this is Alli.” Bristol took Alli’s hand and led her over to Savannah.

  “Nice to meet you, Alli, but I already have the final headcount to the caterer, so you can only eat appetizers at the reception,” Savannah said dryly.

  “I asked Alli to be here today,” Bristol began. “She’s Beau’s sister.”

  “Swell. I hope you’re better mannered than your idiot brother,” Savannah said, turning back toward the room.

  Alli’s eyes widened as she shot a look at her brother.

  Bristol stopped Savannah with a hand on her sister’s arm. “She’s also Hope’s heart recipient.”

  A lesser woman would have collapsed, but not Savannah Quinn. Her sister shoved a finger in Bristol’s face. “If you ruin my make-up, and I have to sit still for another hour I’m going to kill you. Sorry, Pastor Harrison,” she said, throwing the apology over her shoulder.

  Her attention returned to Alli, and Bristol saw Savannah swallow hard. “You have Hope’s heart?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

  Alli nodded and tapped her chest.

  “I think I need a drink,” Savannah said, sinking down onto the bench that Bristol and Beau had vacated. Pastor Harrison ducked back into his office and returned carrying a bottle of scotch and a stack of paper cups.

  Bristol gave him a watery smile when he handed her a cup.

  “So you knew this whole time,” Savannah asked Beau. “You came to town knowing that we’d lost our sister?”

  He nodded, and Bristol was relieved when he didn’t try to explain himself.

  “We’ll deal with that later,” Savannah said in a tone that let them all know she was far from overlooking Beau’s omission. “But for now, Alli, I’m so honored that you came so that my other sister could be here on my wedding day.” Her voice cracked, and Pastor Harrison pressed a cup into her hand and poured.

  Bristol grabbed the box of tissues off the console below a stained glass window that was bathing the carpet in reds and golds. But Savannah shook her head. “No, I’m good. I’m not wrecking this perfection,” she said. “How tall are you, Alli?”

  “Five-foot-four,” she said.

  “She looks about the right size,” Savannah said to Bristol.

  Bristol slid an arm around her sister’s waist. “Yeah, she does.”

  “Alli, how would you feel about being a bridesmaid?” Savannah asked.

  “Are you sure? I know we’ve known each other for a very long thirty seconds, but I don’t want you to make any rash decisions on your big day.”

  “I’ve got hair and make-up ready and waiting and a hunter green dress that will look amazing with your coloring. In or out?” Savannah said in her no-nonsense tone. “Keep in mind that saying no will ruin my entire day.”

  “Well, in that case, count me in,” Alli decided.

  Savannah nodded briskly and then rolled her eyes. “Oh, what the hell?” She pulled Alli in for a hug, and Bristol hastily dug a tissue out of the box. “Get in here, Bristol,” Savannah demanded.

  Bristol let them drag her into the embrace, and she saw Beau over Alli’s shoulder, eyes misty, accept a cup from Pastor Harrison.

  “Girls, Vince just arrived—,” Mary’s announcement to her daughters was cut off when she took in the scene. “What’s going on?” She stood in her red floor length gown, her dark hair pulled back in an artful twist, leaving her face unframed. She looked ready for battle if that’s what was necessary to give her daughter a perfect day. But no one could prepare for this news.

  “Mom, this is Alli, Beau’s sister,” Bristol began. “She… they…” She wasn’t sure how to say it without inciting a flood of emotions.

  “Oh for God’s sake,” Savannah said. “Sorry, pastor. Mom, Alli has Hope’s heart. She’s here so Hope could be here with all of us today.”

  Mary’s face crumpled like a sheet of tissue paper as the news sunk in. “My Hope?”

  Bristol grabbed a fistful of tissues for her mother and arrived at her side as Pastor Harrison poured another scotch.

  Mary looked from scotch to tissues and back again before knocking back the scotch first. Tears were already flowing down her cheeks.

  “Mom! Stop crying this instant,” Savannah demanded.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie,” Mary wailed. “This is the most generous gift.”

  Alli started crying and walked into Mary’s arms. Savannah held up her empty cup to Pastor Harrison who, happy to help, refilled it.

  Somewhere in the middle of her mother hugging both Alli and Beau and sobbing about how happy she was, the hallway got more crowded.

  “What’s wrong? What happened?” Bob, looking dapper in his rented tuxedo, rushed to his wife’s side with Vince, Nolan, and Violet hot on his heels.

  “Shit! I’m not supposed to see you!” Vince yelped at Savannah and clapped a hand over his eyes.

  “Babe, it’s so far beyond that at this point,” Savannah told him.

  “Beau!” Violet in her pretty purple dress shouted and threw herself into his arms. Beau picked her up and squeezed her tight.

  “Hey, short stack. I missed you!”

  Bristol felt dizzy with the energy of the moment… and the scotch.

  The explanation was given again and Bristol felt her heart squeeze in her chest when Big Bob Quinn looked down at Alli, tears in his dark eyes, and asked her how her recovery was going. The tissue box was empty as was the bottle of scotch, and they’d managed to put a hurting on the vodka Pastor Harrison had magically produced before Savannah took control of the situation again.

  “You two,” she said pointing at Alli and Bristol. “Get inside for hair and makeup. Mom, can you track down a sewing kit? Alli’s going to be a bridesmaid, and I want to make sure Hope’s dress fits her.”

  Mary started to sniffle again but nodded.

  “Dad, can you please spread the word to the rest of the family so we don’t have a sob fest during the ceremony?”

  “Anything my girl wants,” he said, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.

  “Vince, I’ll see your handsome face in thirty minutes.”

  Vince leaned in and planted an NC-17 kiss on his soon-to-be wife and Beau covered Violet’s eyes as she groaned at the grossness.

  They began to disperse, each tasked with a job. Bristol took Violet from Beau and led Alli into what Savannah had affectionately dubbed the war room. But her sister stayed behind in the hallway. “I need a word with you, Beau.”

  ––—

  Beau watched his sister and the woman he loved disappear behind a closed door before turning to face Savannah. Even without her dress, she still looked like a bride or, perhaps, considering her displeased expression, a queen.

  “You look beautiful,” Beau began.

  But she was shaking her head and crossing her arms. “Save it, Romeo. Do you love my sister?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

  “Then you’ve got a lot of making up to do, and she’s not going to make it easy for you.”

  “Understood.” He deserved that. He’d made mistake after mistake, but he was here to change the pattern.

  “As Bristol’s sister, I am one-hundred percent on her side. However, if you’re here to make her happy, to tre
at her well, and to be part of our family, I’ll support you.”

  “That means a lot to me, Savannah.”

  “Just don’t fuck up like this again. Not cool, Beau.”

  “I’m going to make it up to her. I promise.”

  “You can start at the reception.”

  “On it,” he nodded.

  He watched her disappear into the room and slid down on the bench, his long legs stretching out into the now empty hallway. Bristol hadn’t slapped him or tried to knock his teeth out. That was a good sign. He’d hurt her deeply, and it wasn’t going to be easy to repair that wound. But he was willing to do whatever it took. She was his family now, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  By the time Savannah marched down the aisle to her groom, the entire church and most of Hope Falls knew about Alli and Hope’s heart. Weddings were usually emotional occasions, but when Savannah got to the end of the aisle, she’d pulled her parents, Bristol, Vince, and Alli into a group hug. There wasn’t a dry eye in the entire church as every single person in the sanctuary rose to applaud.

  Bristol hoped that Pastor Harrison was wearing a mic because otherwise the audio for the wedding video would be nothing but sniffles and nose blowing from the crowd.

  The ceremony was blissfully short-lived and went off flawlessly. She felt the weight of Beau’s gaze on her, never wavering. But she avoided looking at him except for the occasional glance every thirty or so seconds. Her parents had coaxed him into the front row with them and Violet where he sat and watched her like a hunter patiently waiting for his prey.

  When Vince bent the laughing Savannah over backwards to lay a first kiss on her, the crowd cheered. Bristol glanced over her shoulder at Alli who was grinning wide, and in that moment, she felt Hope’s presence in a soaring lift of spirit.

  ––—

  By the time the wedding party finished up with pictures, the reception was well underway thanks to a generous open bar.

  Amanda and Justin Barnes had pulled out all the stops to turn Mountain Ridge’s ballroom into a winter wonderland. A twelve-foot tree decked in lights stood guard over the ever-growing pile of wedding gifts beneath it. The rafters of the ballroom were strung with hundreds of white lights, and each table had an ivory tablecloth with its very own Christmas tree centerpiece. Accents of silver and gold clung to anything that would stand still. On the wall beyond the dance floor sat long tables laden with appetizers and swagged in gold tulle. The wall of glass that opened onto the large stone patio provided the perfect view of the light snow that had just begun to fall.

  It was the perfect night to cap the perfect day for her sister. Savannah and Vince danced and laughed and accepted the well wishes of most of Hope Falls.

  Bristol did her best to avoid Beau, but fate—and her dear sister—conspired against her. Somehow Savannah had managed to add Beau and Alli to the family table. Beau claimed the seat next to her while Alli sat between him and Mary who was beside herself with joy.

  Lissa snuck up behind Bristol. “If he pulls anything, you tell me, and I’ll threaten him with my butter knife,” she whispered in Bristol’s ear.

  “I’ll let you know.”

  An entree magically appeared in front of her, replacing the salad she hadn’t touched, but she didn’t do more than rearrange it on her plate. Her mind and heart were so full. Her body was painfully aware of Beau’s presence, the nudge of his knee under the table, the texture of his suit jacket against her bare arm when he reached for the butter. She could feel the heat pump off his body and hated that she wanted to lean into that heat.

  While her body paid exclusive attention to Beau’s physical presence, she watched Alli intently, looking for signs of Hope. She was a pretty girl with her short crop of reddish hair. She sported a teeny stud that winked in her nose under the reception lights. Bristol wondered how protective big brother Beau felt about that. Alli chattered happily with Bristol’s parents with a barely restrained energy that was refreshing. The girl had a new lease on life, and Bristol felt like she wasn’t going to waste it. Hope would approve.

  Just about every single reception attendee stopped by their table to introduce themselves to Alli and welcome her to Hope Falls. In Bristol’s opinion, they were entirely too friendly toward Beau. Beau was still the enemy and should be treated as such. She excused herself abruptly from the table and got up.

  Bristol ducked behind the massive tree and was heading for the side door, intent to grab a few seconds of alone time. But when the tingle raced up her spine, she knew she’d just allowed herself to be cornered by Beau.

  “Bristol,” he said, his large palms sliding down her bare arms.

  The DJ announced a slow song for “all the Christmas lovers out there.”

  “Dance with me,” Beau said, his voice low and heated when Dean Martin launched into Let it Snow.

  “Give me one good reason why I should.”

  “So I can apologize again… and explain.”

  She should know better, Bristol thought as she let him pull her into his arms. Her whole body was on high alert as he wrapped her arms around his neck and settled his hands at her waist. When she tried to step back, create some space to breathe, Beau tightened his hold and pulled her closer.

  “So talk,” she said, pretending that she wasn’t melting in his arms, fighting off the memories of his body over her, under her, inside her. Her breath froze in her lungs when her core clenched reflexively.

  “I was drafted by the Blackhawks out of high school,” Beau began. “And in some ways, they felt like the first family I ever had. For two years, I trained, and I traveled. I partied a lot. Hockey was my entire life. And then my parents announced they were leaving the country to dig wells in Africa. Alli was only nine when she came to live with me, and that changed everything.”

  “Must have cramped your style,” Bristol said, thinking of all those pictures of Beau and all those women.

  “I grew up fast. I stopped fooling around, stopped partying. I never brought a girl home with me. The ones I was photographed with? They were all my teammates’ sisters or cousins. I never dated any of them. I didn’t want Alli to grow up thinking that’s what women were valued for. To be honest, having her around made the whole team grow up. They had been my family, and that made them hers too. She was everyone’s little sister, and none of us wanted to set a bad example for her.”

  Bristol could just imagine little Alli growing up around beefy hockey players. It made her smile, a little.

  “But I couldn’t protect her from everything,” Beau continued. “In school, when kids found out who she was, who I was, they’d ask her for things. Tickets, autographs, jerseys. And the same thing happened to me on occasion. There was a girl who worked for a sports management company. We dated off and on for a few months until I found out she was just trying to get me to sign with the agency. Others just wanted money or the attention you get when you’re associated with a professional athlete.”

  They swayed slowly to the music that neither was listening to.

  “When she got sick, I retired. I couldn’t be there for her like I needed to be and be on the road for the season. I didn’t want to put Alli through the public spectacle of the ‘poor NHL player and his dying sister.’ And as much as those guys had my back on the ice, it’s hard to be family when I wasn’t part of the team anymore. So it’s been just the two of us since last year.”

  Bristol didn’t want to admit that she could empathize with him. She felt more comfortable with mad.

  “So you came out here and lied to my face to make sure I wasn’t trying to scam you out of money,” she summarized, hunting for the anger again.

  “I came here to make sure your family was safe for Alli to meet. You gave us the greatest gift on earth, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to rush into an introduction when I know nothing about your family. What if you’d wanted something from her or me? How could either of us say no with what you did for us?”


  “I just wanted her here today, Beau! I wasn’t looking for a payout or media attention.”

  “I know that,” he said, swaying to the music. “Alli and I wouldn’t be here if that were the case. You and the Quinns were exactly the kind of people I’d hoped you’d be. Alli’s missed out on that. A brother who was on the road half the year, parents who had no interest in her life. I wanted to give her normal.”

  “You did the best you could,” Bristol said grudgingly.

  “When she got sick, I thought it would be the catalyst that would bring our parents home. That now they wouldn’t be able to ignore her.” He shook his head sadly. “They never came home. They just told me to handle it and keep them apprised. There were funds to raise and forests to save and humanitarian missions to plan. They couldn’t be bothered to put that aside and come home for their daughter even when she was on her death bed.”

  “I’m sorry, Beau. That’s not what family should be like.”

  “I know what it should be like. After I spent time with you and Violet, when I had Thanksgiving with the rest of your family, that’s when I knew what I wanted. I want a loud, sloppy, supportive, crazy family for me and for Alli. I want her to have you and the rest of the Quinns. I know this is a lot to take in in one day, but Alli and I are moving here. I’m staying, and I’m going to get a second chance with you. I want us to be a family together. You, me, Violet, and Alli.”

  Bristol stumbled and stepped on his foot. “Are you insane?”

  “I think so,” he said with a soft laugh. “I haven’t thought about anything but you since I saw you at the rink that first moment. I looked at you, and I thought ‘That’s what my future looks like.’”

  “Jesus, Beau!”

  “I don’t expect you to forgive me right here and right now. I know you’ll make me work for it, and I love that about you. But please, Bristol, promise me you’ll give me the opportunity to make it up to you.”

  “You lied to me, you slept with me, and then you just abandoned me.”

  He shook his head. “After we spent that night together, after I saw your family and how much they were still hurting over Hope, I knew I had to go home and talk to Alli. It took no convincing on my part to get her out here, and she already told me at the church she’s staying.”