Hometown Hope: A Small Town Romance Anthology

by Zoe York

  “Doctor Odell?” Bunny asked.

  “Cole, please, ma’am.” He smiled again and sipped his water.

  “Cole.” Bunny smiled. “I wanted to say I’m sorry about what Allie-Kate is doing. Her parents should be ashamed of themselves. They haven’t brought you a casserole or anything.”

  “Oh. Well. Thank you. It’s really not necessary. They didn’t do anything.”

  He was saved from further explanation by the arrival of the table’s food.

  Or so he thought.

  “I’ll make you a casserole.” Pearl patted his arm.

  “Hold on now.” Bunny frowned at Pearl. “I’d already planned one this afternoon.”

  “He’s my Pussy’s vet.”

  “Well I’ll make a pie,” Sissy announced.

  Cole dug into the chicken fried steak special plate. No one had ever made him a casserole or fought over feeding him. In fact, he was fairly certain he’d seen the opposite argument more often than this.

  What would his siblings say about this? Was their experience different? Were they leading happier lives now? Why had he waited so long to find them?

  “Cole and Scarlett make a much better looking couple,” Pearl said.

  Cole froze.

  A quiet voice in his head agreed, but that was silly. He barely knew her.

  “Scarlett Lively?” Bunny asked.

  Cole cleared his throat and wiped his mouth. He needed to say something before these busy bodies ran with the wrong assumption. “She was very nice and helped me settle some of the wedding details.”

  “She’s single,” Sissy said in a sing-song voice.

  “I am aware of that.” Cole smiled and his stomach tightened. He was very aware of the fact that she was single, and so was he. “I was supposed to get married in thirty-something days. I’m not looking to start something else right now.”

  It wouldn’t be fair to Scarlett. He wasn’t good for anyone. Hell, Allie had run off just to be rid of him.

  “You never know when something good will cross your path.” Bunny wagged her fork at him. “Stay open to opportunity, young man.”

  * * *

  * * *

  Scarlett dragged herself inside her house.

  Today’s wedding had gone so much better than yesterday’s. The bride glowed. The groom cried. There’d been so much love in the ceremony Scarlett had found herself reaching for a tissue.

  The only way it would have been better was if Garth wasn’t around. He was seriously a black rain cloud of despair lately. She could hardly stand being around him. He sucked all the joy and happiness out of her life by virtue of worrying to death about everything.

  She toed off her dress cowboy boots, leaving them by the door, and collapsed on her sofa.

  Tomorrow she was going to sleep in and then maybe see what to do about her destroyed garden. It was still early enough to replant a few things. But if she didn’t improve the fence what was the point?

  She pulled out her phone.

  One missed text from Ingrid.

  Scarlett nearly groaned. Kasima and Ingrid had descended on her house as soon as she’d gotten home last night to demand an account of her evening with Cole. A very ill thought out evening.

  Ingrid had made it clear she thought Scarlett should go for it even if it wasn’t going to last.

  Kasima had the more reasonable answer, framing Cole in terms of what Scarlett wanted for her future.

  None of them thought Cole was in the market for anything serious. Who would after what he’d been through?

  She tapped the message from Ingrid, and a picture opened up of an old, familiar Buick.

  * * *

  I saw someone got a loaner. :)

  * * *

  That was Sissy’s. What the heck was going on?

  * * *

  What does that mean??

  * * *

  Scarlett sent the message and pushed up off the sofa, considering heading straight up to bed without dinner.

  Ingrid’s text vibrated Scarlett’s phone before she’d taken a step.

  * * *

  Sissy loaned Cole her car since she can’t drive it anymore. I heard her son had to confiscate her keys again.

  * * *

  She frowned at the message then set the phone on the counter.

  Cole.

  He confused her. Not because of anything he’d done. Her feelings just left her conflicted.

  No one went through what Allie-Kate had done to him and came out smiling like he did without having a good heart. But, that also made her wonder, what the hell had happened between him and AK?

  She knew there was more to the story, but it wasn’t Scarlett’s business.

  Her stomach buzzed, and she had her phone clenched in her hand before she realized she’d picked it back up.

  There she was, doing it again. Getting her head wrapped up in a very unavailable guy.

  Scarlett wanted everything. The wedding, the white dress, vows to love forever, kids. They were her dream. All of her life decisions since getting out of the hospital supported that. She couldn’t go chasing a hot guy if he wasn’t going to offer her those things. And right now Cole was putting his life back together. She didn’t want to be a rebound. She wanted to be someone’s first pick. And that meant keeping her distance.

  A tap at her door made her turn.

  Benji slid inside.

  “Got one for me, too?” he asked as he sauntered across the room still wearing his slacks and button down.

  “Right here.” Scarlett took another glass down from the rack and poured him some.

  “I brought this for you.” Benji set a glossy brochure for the Rocky Mountain Wedding Planner’s Conference on the island.

  “This again?” She sighed and flipped it open.

  “I’m just passing it along. After today I’d have thought you’d be interested in this.” Benji picked up his glass and sniffed the wine.

  “I was just doing my job.”

  “And the wedding planner’s. You’re good at this stuff, Scarlett. There’s no reason you shouldn’t add it to your portfolio.”

  Scarlett focused on the brochure rather than Benji. He always did see through her words to the heart of it all.

  The classes would be good, and she could learn a lot about the business. But it seemed like a lot of money and time to take off for something she could probably learn on-line.

  “I’ll think about it,” she said finally.

  “Garth talk to you today?” he asked.

  “What do you think?”

  “He cares.”

  “I know that, but he has a crappy way of showing it.”

  Benji reached over and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side. He kissed the top of her head and she leaned into him. They were cousins, but they’d been raised as siblings for most of their lives. Benji was one of her best friends.

  “Want to talk about this new vet?” he asked.

  “Cole? What’s there to talk about?” She picked up her glass and sipped.

  “I’ve heard from five different people you two went out last night. He’s a train wreck which means you’re interested.”

  “He is not. Don’t be mean. We were both hungry. I didn’t want to come home and have Garth chew me out. It was nothing.”

  “Scarlett.” Benji tipped his head forward and stared at her.

  “What?”

  “I know you.”

  She leaned against the opposite counter and nursed her wine.

  Benji did know her.

  “How many times have I bought you tissues and ice cream because some guy didn’t deserve you?”

  “I don’t know. Are you keeping tally?”

  “I should have. I think you’ve gone through more men than I have women.”

  “Oh, please. There is no contest.”

  “I’m only a little serious.” He held up his fingers barely a hair’s breath apart. “Back to Cole. What’s up between you two? Talk to me.”<
br />
  “Yeah, well, it’s nothing because I’m not going to let it be anything. I can be attracted to someone and not act on it. Besides, I don’t want to be a rebound.” She tipped her chin up, liking the way the words tasted.

  “There’s nothing wrong with a rebound. You haven’t dated—”

  “Because I haven’t wanted to.”

  “I know.” He held up his hands. “All I’m saying is, if you both know it’s going to be a short fling maybe there’s less of a chance you’d get hurt? You’re going to have to ease back in at some point. Might as well be with someone who knows the score. You like him?”

  “He’s a nice guy.”

  “Scarlett…”

  “Okay.” She rolled her eyes. Benji knew her too well. “We have this crazy chemistry. He knows it’s there. So do I. But…I want more. I want more than a feeling. I want to be with someone who wants me.”

  “Because you are awesome.” He saluted her with his glass.

  “Thanks.” She chuckled. “It’s just—every relationship I’ve had began because I thought I had a once in a lifetime connection with someone that wound up being another mistake. I’m tired of mistakes. I want to find one person. I don’t want to waste time dating or being a rebound. I want a family.”

  “And you deserve all of that, but you can’t force it to happen. What’s the one thing half the really happy couples say? Come on, I know you know this answer.” Benji wagged his finger at her.

  “That they found love when they weren’t looking for it.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Exactly. Which is why it’s okay to have fun. Don’t rule out fun.” He drained his glass then set it on the counter. “Want to go to the Stockyards with me?” he asked.

  “And your friends? No thank you.” She shook her head. “I guess I’ll see you Tuesday?”

  “Nah, I’ll be back sometime tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek then headed out onto the porch.

  Scarlett locked her door after him, more to deter Garth from visiting than anything else. She turned the lights off and retreated to her bedroom where she could watch something that fit her mushy, romantic mood.

  Cole was a great guy, but he wasn’t going to be her great guy. She needed to remember that.

  * * *

  * * *

  Cole scrawled his signature on one last piece of paper.

  That might be it.

  He scrubbed a hand over his face and glanced at the clock on the wall.

  The clinic had closed half an hour ago. He had about an hour before he needed to be at Times Remembered Antiques. Bunny and the other grannies had convinced him to help pitch in for some kind of homecoming preparation. He’d been to a few school dances over the years, but the sense of anticipation surrounding the event wasn’t normal by his standards. Whatever was coming, he was certain he wasn’t ready for it.

  Two voices drifted down the hall.

  Cole cocked his head to the side.

  Were the techs still there?

  They didn’t have any patients overnight so there was no reason for the techs to still be there after the clinic was closed.

  He hung his white coat on the back of his chair, gathered his things then headed for the back of the clinic. Two of the techs had their heads together over a box. A box that was making some very pitiful noises.

  “Someone send you something nice?” he asked.

  Luna Jones whirled around, a tiny bundle of fur clutched to her chest, and stared at him with wide eyes.

  “Oh, hey, dude.” Cole planted his hands on his knees and bent to examine the kitten.

  Its eyes were open, and its little legs were waving around.

  Not newborns.

  He breathed a sigh of relief. If he had to guess the kitten, and its siblings, were at least two or three weeks old. A lot of work, but not as intensive as a litter of newborns.

  “I thought you were gone,” Luna blurted.

  “No, I had paperwork. May I?” He held out his hand for the kitten.

  Luna continued to stare at him as though he were a danger to the ball of fluff.

  “Dr. Green discourages us from doing charity work in the clinic,” Mrs. Billy explained. She was an older, seasoned tech Cole had come to rely on.

  “Well, this can be our secret, okay?” Cole winked at Luna. “Are you related to a Liam?”

  “That’s my brother.” Luna handed the kitten to him. The resemblance was striking between the siblings from the sun-bleached blond hair and bright blue eyes

  “We are feisty, aren’t we?” He held the kitten up, examining its eyes and ears. He didn’t see fleas, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. “How big is the litter?”

  “Please don’t tell Dr. Green,” Luna whispered.

  “You know, Dr. Green and I don’t have long chats.” Cole rolled the kitten over to rub its plump belly. “We are a good eater, aren’t we? Defecating on their own?”

  “Yes.” Luna’s voice still wavered. “Four survived.”

  “Four? Wow, that’s great. Looks like you’re doing a terrific job with them.” He kissed the kitten’s furry head then handed it back to Luna. It wasn’t unusual to lose half a litter when it came to bottle feeding them. Luna was getting a gold star in his book no matter what. “Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with?”

  “I told you.” Mrs. Billy elbowed Luna. “She’s only lost one, and that one had a defect.”

  “Told her what?” Cole braced his hand on the counter and glanced between the women.

  “You aren’t a cranky son of a goat like old man Green.” Mrs. Billy nodded in the general direction of Dr. Green’s office.

  “Our secret.” He winked again at Luna. Her cheeks were finally getting some color back in them. “Well, I’ve got to get downtown to help with some kind of homecoming thing. You two have this covered? Need me?”

  “No, sir.” Mrs. Billy grinned. “I like you.”

  “I like you, too.”

  Cole felt as though a barrier between him and the techs had just come down. They’d been polite, helpful and eager to lend a hand and knowledge since Saturday. But they hadn’t shared anything personal. Maybe now they would?

  “Have a good night, Dr. Odell.” Luna waved a kitten paw at him as he backed through the rear exit of the clinic.

  He was making progress. The people liked him. It was all so strange and new to him. He just about didn’t care if Allie showed back up in his life or even decided to live next door. He’d thought living in a small town would be claustrophobic and boring, full of judgmental people who only wished the worst for him.

  The trip home was a quarter of the time it took him on his bike. He was grateful that Sissy had loaned him her car seeing as she couldn’t drive any longer. He dumped his things, changed clothes and scarfed down a plate full of casserole before opting to ride his bike the short distance to the antique store.

  Cole still didn’t entirely understand what it was he’d been conscripted to helping with, but he was game for anything. He walked through the doors of Times Remembered right on time.

  Large, wooden pieces of furniture flanked the entrance. A counter made from old, glass display cases showing off more valuable items and jewelry sat just inside. Old country and western music pumped through the speakers. He followed his ears, listening for the voices, all the way back to the corner of the enormous shop. A little area was roped off and a dozen or so mismatched dining tables were arranged around the space, each one covered with flowers, ribbons and glitter.

  What had he gotten himself roped into?

  “Dr. Odell, right on time.” Bunny had a plastic bag full of white, silk flowers over one arm. “Come over here and I’ll get you set up with a glue gun.”

  “Okay.” He walked across the room to a corner table. Streamers, bits of feathers, a bowl of mini-cowbells and lots of glitter littered the table. “What is it we’re doing?”

  “Making mums, of course.” She thrust the bag into his hand. “Everyone should have a mum.
”

  He was afraid to ask what a mum was and why it was so important.

  “Are there instructions somewhere?” he asked.

  “I have a stack of order forms. All you have to do is pick the pieces and put it together.” She waved her hand.

  “Oh. Okay.” Maybe it would make more sense once he saw the forms? “Is there an example I can look at?”

  “Sissy has some old ones over there.” Bunny pointed at a table.

  Did she mean the centerpieces?

  “I’ll go have a look.”

  He strode through the tables to where the old mums lay. Even once he’d reached the table, he wasn’t sure what he was looking at.

  Two of the examples had white, silk mum flowers at what he assumed now was the top of the thing. Blue and gold ribbon made some sort of frilly frame the flower sat in. Glued to the flower was a mean looking gold cowboy medallion. Long streamers came off one side. Glitter words spelled out the name Jessica. Another streamer had Ransom High on it. A third read Go Vaqueros!

  “Holy crap,” he muttered under his breath.

  He was supposed to help make this? How?

  He could suture up an ornery animal so they barely had an incision, but this? This was a whole other kind of skill set.

  “Come on, Doctor. Time to get to work.” Bunny shooed him back to the corner table.

  She’d set him up with a glue gun and some order forms.

  He sat down and studied the first one, sweat beading his brow.

  The first order form had everything checked. Some items in double or triplicate.

  Well, he’d never know what he could do if he didn’t at least try.

  Cole assembled what he assumed were the pieces. After poking at the examples for a few minutes he determined that the streamers needed to go on first so that’s where he started.

  Half an hour later he had exactly three lengths of ribbon on the cardboard mum backing, four Band-Aids and several blisters.

  This wasn’t going to work. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing and some poor kid was going to have to wear this mess.