All around town, people were dressed in costumes and it took nearly thirty minutes to walk the few blocks from the bed and breakfast, because Mrs. Wolff had to introduce her to everyone she met and invite them to lunch.
Soon, Honey was surrounded by mermaids, witches, fairies, cowgirls, space aliens, and the Raggedy Ann doll she met the night before, who introduced herself as Phoebe Spencer. She seemed to know everyone in town, and everyone was excited to see her.
They entered Dottie’s Diner and crowded in, filling all the available space inside. A group of older men dressed in pioneer costumes grunted and greeted them.
“This is the Sapphire Falls Romance Convention!” Phoebe announced to everyone in the diner. “You’re all welcome to stay.”
The older guys laughed and shook their heads.
“You young ones have too much of that going on here,” one of them said.
“Yep, a regular baby boom.” Another one eyed several of the pregnant women. “Must be the water here.”
“Or the fresh air.”
“I say it’s the Booze.”
Phoebe and the other women flirted with them, going over and having a few words before fanning out to take over the cluster of four Formica topped tables in the middle of the restaurant.
Honey wondered how anyone got any work done when everyone seemed to gab with everyone else—all the time. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t seen each other a few hours ago, or last night at the bonfire.
“Sit with us,” a peppy brunette wearing a tool belt and a hard hat said. “I’m Delaney Bennett and these are my sisters-in-law.”
She introduced Honey to a lush blonde who wore an air of confidence along with her queen bee costume, a gorgeous brunette who looked like she had come out of a fashion magazine, and a dreamy looking fairy with silver-blond hair and fern-green eyes.
“I see you’ve met the Bennett brides,” Phoebe said, repeating their names for Honey, who was horrible with names. Faces she remembered easily, but names always escaped her because she tended to tack her own nicknames to everyone she met. Handy Girl for Delaney, Queen Bee for Hailey, Project Runway for Lauren, and Pixie Fairy for Hope.
Honey grinned and waved, hoping she wouldn’t be quizzed, while Phoebe turned around and hugged another tall, beautiful blonde. “This is my sister-in-law, Kate, and she’s from the other SF, just like you.”
A tall, long-haired blonde wearing a candy cane outfit strode toward Honey. “Hey, San Francisco! What part are you from?”
“The Marina district.”
“Wow, expensive. Must be nice,” Kate said. “But then, your husband’s an investment banker.”
“Yeah, well, it’s a wonderful place to live.” Honey hated it when people pointed out how well off she was. She really was a down to earth girl, and Max hadn’t come from wealth either. But then, these last few years, he’d sold his soul to make the big bucks.
“We love romance novels here.” Phoebe took the chair next to Honey. “Anne says you write billionaire bad boy romances. Are they based on your husband and his associates?”
Honey glanced at her mother-in-law and shrugged. She was shy around large groups of people, especially when everyone stared at her.
“It’s okay, Honey,” Anne encouraged. “You can tell them my Max is a bad boy. I’ve whupped him enough growing up to know how mischievous he is.”
Honey was saved from commenting when the waitress appeared to take their orders.
The menu held usual diner fare: fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, and Caesar salad.
“Everyone up for fried chicken and salad?” Phoebe asked. “Dottie’s has the best fried chicken, and the Caesar salad isn’t bad, either.”
“Best fried green tomatoes, too,” said Kate. “But that’s only in the summer."
Everyone agreed to fried chicken and salad. Once the food arrived, Honey realized she was famished. The fried chicken was indeed the best she ever tasted, and while everyone was eating, she was able to quietly observe them.
Genuine affection radiated from the women around her. The four Bennett brides were each different from each other, but they got along swimmingly well.
There was an air of acceptance of differences and togetherness that made Honey ache to belong—either here or somewhere else.
In Sapphire Falls, everyone’s lives were intertwined whereas back in the city, everything was fragmented. People in one context did not bleed into another context and she had separate islands of friends and relatives—yoga friends, writing friends, family, kids’ playdate mothers, Max’s associates—but none of these people ever met any of the others.
“Good chicken?” Kate asked while nibbling on a small drumstick.
“Yes, this is the best,” Honey said, licking her fingers.
“I heard you don’t eat sugar,” Kate said. “Have you stopped by Adrianne’s booth and tried her chocolate nougats?”
“My family’s been all over her booth.” Honey stabbed some of her lettuce. “I just started kicking my sugar habit a few days ago. My sister bet me.”
“That’s cruel,” Kate said. “You have no idea what we do with candy here in Sapphire Falls.”
Phoebe wiggled her eyebrows. “Hint, it has something to do with licking and flicking.”
“Or slipping and sliding.”
“Dipping and diving.”
The women giggled as they each tried to top the others.
“You just have to use your imagination,” Kate continued. “Champagne belly shots work, too.”
“Or chilling with ice cream and brownie bits.” Hailey gave her a frosted, knowing look.
“In the Bennett family, it’s German chocolate frosting,” Phoebe said. “Just look at the four of them and you’ll never look at German chocolate cake the same way again.”
“Sugar cream pie in our family,” Anne chimed in. “Did Max ever bake one for you before you swore off sugar?”
“He has long ago,” Honey admitted. “But now, we’re both trying to eat healthier.”
She figured Max’s new physique had to be the result of cutting empty calories and working out.
“Guess he’s definitely not a cobbler man,” Delaney said. “Can you believe I had no clue a cobbler around these parts was not a shoemaker?”
Everyone around the table laughed.
“And she’s married to the town connoisseur of cobbler,” Lauren said. “Peach cobbler, apple cobbler …”
“Don’t forget, I make a wicked cherry cobbler,” Delaney cut her off. “I may wear a tool belt, but I can wield a mixer as well as the rest of you.”
Conversation around these parts seemed to revolve around food and a lot of it sweets. Romance and love also revolved around cakes, cookies, cobblers, candy, and pie.
Sure enough, the waitress came around and asked if anyone wanted dessert, and there was no hesitation. By now, the old guys in the corner had joined the group, and everyone ordered an assortment of chocolate eyeballs, black spider cupcakes, blood filled donuts, and ghostly cream puffs.
Honey ordered green tea and had to accept black coffee for a substitute. She certainly wasn’t fitting in with Max’s hometown ladies. But then again, she’d always been an oddball and didn’t fit in anywhere. Maybe that was why she was a writer. She could invent parallel lives for herself and her readers and live vicariously through them.
Just when she thought she was insulting everyone by not sampling the various sugary monster body parts, Hope, one of the Bennett brides, rubbed her tense shoulder and whispered, “I don’t eat sugar either, and you have to go to the bakery if you want green tea. I can see you’ve had a rough night, so if you’re interested in a calming infusion of herbal tea with lavender, stop by my place.”
All she needed was one friend, or one person who understood. Honey relaxed and smiled at the gentle sprite with the gossamer fairy wings. “I’d love that.”
“Good,” Hope said. “My house is on the tour, whenever you and Max are
ready for it. My husband and I would love to have you two over for dinner sometime, but be forewarned, I’m a vegetarian.”
Wow. How had this woman known she’d been feeling left out?
“I’ve been known to eat sprouts and tofu, too,” Honey said, lowering her voice. “And this sugar thing is not just a phase. It’s actually an addictive poison.”
The other woman gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Yeah, well, they think I’m a bit loony around here, but they like me just fine, sugar-free or not.”
Talk turned to the possibility of vampires and werewolves invading the town.
“Have you been to the fortune teller?” Kate asked Honey. “They say she’s a real gypsy come from Transylvania.”
“Gypsies don’t come from Transylvania,” Know-It-All Lauren said. “It’s vampires I heard that are loose around town.”
“Troy Caine said you were bitten by a big vampire,” Queen Bee Hailey said, giving Honey a wink.
“Oh, that was Max in the petting zoo,” Honey said. “Was Troy the big wolf who attacked me at the bonfire?”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Hailey popped a chocolate eyeball into her mouth. “As Director of Business Development and Tourism, I’ve invited several paranormal reenactment groups to this year’s festival to liven things up. You never know if the undead walk among us.”
Honey gulped, hating the creepy chills that ran down her spine. “Will we see any at the zombie paintball game?”
“Oh, yeah.” Her eyes glimmered with undisguised glee. “Some of the ghouls can look very realistic. Professional makeup, period costumes, even special effects.”
“I heard there’s a group of them at the Come Again having a drink mixing contest,” Fashion Lauren said. “Travis reports some pretty mean cocktails. Grinning Goblin, Spider Bite, and something about a Vampire’s Kiss. He wasn’t sure if they were talking about cocktails or vampire mating habits.”
“I’m not worried,” Honey said with false bravado. “If Max can dress like a vampire or a werewolf, I’m sure the other guys in town are also planning something to freak us out.”
“That’s probably why they’re so glad we’re at this literary event,” Hope said. “I bet they’re coming up with something to scare us with at the paintball tournament.”
“Hey, let’s plan a counter attack strategy,” Delaney said. “I’ve an idea.”
Honey sipped her black coffee to keep herself from the sugary, caramel, and chocolate scents wafting in the diner. She silently catalogued each person’s characteristics, mannerisms, and the tone and pattern of their speech.
“You enjoying this?” Anne flashed Honey a smile.
“Yeah, they’re really cool. I’m so glad Max set this up for me to get to know everyone. It’s amazing how they all dropped what they were doing to come meet me.”
“This town really is amazing,” Anne said. “They say love is always in the air, the water, and even the dirt. I’m so proud of Max for thinking of a second honeymoon here. He’s been working so hard the last few years, and I’m sure this vacation was well overdue.”
“Max is a very sweet and thoughtful man, thanks to you.” Honey patted her mother-in-law’s arm. Looking around the table and town, she could appreciate how decent and wholesome everyone was, and those qualities were definitely attributable to the mothers of Sapphire Falls.
“He’s lucky to have you, Honey.” Anne smiled sweetly and sat back, looking pleased as punch.
Chapter Ten
Honey trudged over the field at Tucker Bennett’s place to the paintball course. Whoever had designed it had taken some effort, placing bridges and tunnels as well as obstacles made of hay bales, crates, and stacks of pallets.
“Ever done this before?” Phoebe, the bubbly redhead who was the town’s unofficial ambassador, jogged her elbow.
“I’ve done laser tag before, but that was indoors,” Honey replied. “It’s probably the same principle.”
“It’s worse. You can get hit more than once.” Phoebe hooked a look over her shoulders. “Look at those guys over there loading their paintballs. They think they’re going to plaster us.”
“Boo!” Max pinched both sides of Honey’s waist, sneaking up on her.
She jumped and spilled several paintballs onto the dirt.
“Hey, get onto your side of the field.” Phoebe pointed to where the men of Sapphire Falls were whooping and lifting their rifles in the air.
“Make sure you wear all the protective gear,” Max said, ignoring Phoebe. “I wouldn’t want my beautiful Honey bruised up.”
“Bruised?”
“The paintballs can sting, but it’s not a big deal,” Phoebe said. “We farm girls get bruises all the time from one thing or another.”
“Rough sex against the barn door could do that,” Kate snickered from beside her.
“Ever try bouncing across the field in the seat of a tractor?” Another woman giggled. “With a hard tool between your legs?”
Honey felt her cheeks heating at the thought of Max with his newly muscular body slamming her against a barn door, or taking her on a truck bed.
“I promise you, we’ll do it all, but first, I’m going to blast you with paint.” Max plastered a leisurely, luscious kiss on her lips.
“Hey, no kissing the enemy.” One of the Bennett men tapped Max’s shoulder. “You see some of the guys over there? They’re strangers in town, and I’ve a feeling they’re up to no good. I heard talk about a war between vampires and evil fairies.”
“Evil fairies?” Honey shuddered as she watched Max walk off with the swaggering farm boy. “I thought all fairies were good.”
“There’s always a dark side,” Phoebe said. “Some say the fortune teller in the square is involved. Did you see her red wagon parked under a sinister looking oak tree? It seems really old.”
“Didn’t Hailey say they were some sort of spooky reenactors?” Honey felt a chill pass over her head.
“Hailey definitely knows something she isn’t telling us,” Phoebe said in a low warning voice, so unlike her usual bubbly demeanor. “All I’m saying is be prepared to shoot elsewhere than those big boys over there with the big ‘Z’ targets.”
“Okay, then I better fill my hopper with paintballs.” Honey poured in the rest of the bag, careful not to drop another ball.
All the talk about real vampires, zombies, and other creepy supernatural creatures had Honey’s hair crawling as she pulled the paintball helmet and face shield combo over her head.
The game was between zombies, wearing white T-shirts with a blood red “Z” and zombie slayers, who were distinguished by yellow T-shirts with a slash through the letter “Z.”
She was on the slayer team, and the game was a Predator-Prey type where the slayers would hunt down the zombies.
“Is it my imagination, or are all the zombies guys?” she shouted through the breathing slots in her mask combo.
“I’m sure that’s how Delaney set it up,” Kate said. “She designed the course, and I’m sure she knows every trap door and secret tunnel.”
“I heard there’s one leading to the barn,” Phoebe said. “A barn with a hayloft, if you know what I mean.”
Sheesh, all these women thought about was getting some nookie. But then, Honey was overdue for a little fun, too.
A big man jumped onto a truck bed and gave instructions. The zombies would spread out into the field and hide, taking up positions in the bunkers, out behind the trees, or in secret tunnels.
The zombies got five minutes to scatter and then once the foghorn blew, it was time for the slayers to track down the zombies.
Delaney gathered the ladies into a circle to strategize, but Honey had the sudden urge to go to the bathroom. She excused herself and ran back into the farmhouse. Five minutes was enough time, she hoped.
She passed through the kitchen and marveled at all of the woodwork. Everything looked nice and homey, unlike the sterile lines of her modernistic furniture. Images of her, Max, Sara and Mattie gat
hered in the old farmhouse kitchen eating breakfast crossed her mind. She loved the placement of the kitchen window and the view out to the scenic riverside. It would be also be a nice place to sit and write.
Honey shook off her unrealistic vision and went quickly to the powder room.
The foghorn sounded right as she ran out to join her team.
“Let’s get them,” Delaney shouted, leading the charge. “Remember, they’re hiding out there and they can shoot us.”
“Then they have the advantage, since we don’t know where they are,” Honey said, feeling exposed and out of her element.
“True, but once they shoot, they give themselves away,” Kate raised her gun into shooting position. “Charge!”
Each of the slayers seemed to know exactly where they were going, and most likely who they wanted to shoot. Honey jogged alongside Phoebe as they skirted the fence and crept behind a pile of hay.
A sharp whiz passed near Honey’s ear, and the fence post behind her was splattered with red paint.
“Run!” Phoebe shouted. “Zig zag so they can’t hit you.”
Honey ran the opposite direction of Phoebe, but more shots zinged by her. She saw Phoebe make it safely to a pallet wall right before a barrage of paint plastered it.
She was breathing hard, not used to trampling through fields of straw and mud, and everyone was shooting at her. The zings were getting closer, and she was alone out in the field. She had to get to the trees by the river and hide.
Pop! A paintball hit her square in the back, and it felt like someone had punched her. It really stung. Was she out?
She turned to put her hands up and surrender, but a strange looking man whose face was covered with bandages under his paintball mask shuffled toward her in the typical zombie walk.
Honey aimed and pulled the trigger. Over and over.
Blood red paint exploded all over the eerie man’s white shirt, but he still came after her, dragging one leg and with his head tilted to the side.
Sapphire Falls: Going Haywire (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 6
