by Cindy Kirk
“What would be my responsibilities?” he heard himself ask when Katie Ruth paused to take a breath.
For a second there was silence at the other end of the line. Apparently Katie Ruth was as startled as Cade by his response.
She cleared her throat. “You’d have a troop of five to seven kids, most likely a combination of boys and girls.”
Boys, Cade could handle. He’d grown up with three brothers. In the Marines and while on Detroit PD, he’d worked primarily alongside men. Girls, little girls, were a different story. He had no idea what they liked or how to best handle them. But a mixture, especially at such a young age, might be manageable.
“You’ll meet biweekly, late afternoon or early evening. The children earn merit badges by demonstrating proficiencies in several predefined areas.” Katie Ruth sounded as if she were reading from a script. She took a breath and continued, “The children will be eager to earn the badges. We’ll also be getting them involved in various Save the Seedlings activities.”
Cade brushed aside the second part of Katie Ruth’s speech to focus on the first. “Can you give me an example of a predefined area?”
“Certainly.” Katie Ruth paused and Cade heard the rustle of papers. “One of the popular badges among this age group is the dog care merit badge.”
Dog care seemed relatively innocuous. “Sounds workable.”
“Great.” Relief threaded through Katie Ruth’s voice. “Your first meeting is next Wednesday evening. Five o’clock. Town hall, room 101.”
One thing still puzzled Cade. “Why are you just forming troops now? I’d thought that would have been done at the beginning of the school year.”
“Usually that’s the case,” Katie Ruth confirmed. “The children in your troop will be those who, for various reasons, didn’t join a troop at the beginning of the year. Once we have enough interest to form a new troop, we set about finding a leader.”
“Which would be me.”
“Yes, that would be you.” Katie Ruth’s voice warmed. “Actually we have three new troops being formed. I can’t thank you enough for stepping up, Cade. Just so you know, I’ll be at the first meeting next week to make sure you get off to a good start.”
After another minute of questions Cade clicked off, wondering just what he’d gotten himself into.
Chapter Six
“I’ll take it.” Marigold glanced around the small apartment where Ami had once lived and gave a decisive nod. “I only brought a couple of bags so getting settled should be a snap.”
Marigold punctuated the words with a snap of her fingers. She thought of everything she’d left behind in Chicago. Thankfully, her roommate had not only taken over the lease, she’d bought Marigold’s furniture.
“I hope you know I don’t want you to move.” Ami’s protest stopped just short of a whine. “I like having you just down the hall. Beck likes it, too.”
As if sensing the rising tension in the room, Prim skirted around her sisters, hands held up. “While you two hash this out, I’ll brew some tea.”
“I cleared the cupboards when I moved out,” Ami told her sister. “There isn’t any—”
“I snagged some from downstairs as well as a sack of scones.” Prim pointed to her immense purse, a stylish pink-and-black-striped bag. “While you sit and discuss the move, I’ll get the kettle going.”
The hurt in Ami’s eyes had Marigold’s heart twisting. She didn’t want to distress her sister, but neither did she want to impose on her and Beck’s generosity a second longer than necessary. These months before the baby was born were a special time for them as a couple, and she wouldn’t intrude.
Marigold took Ami’s hand and led her to a cushy sofa. “You and Beck have been so generous. But you both have lots on your plate right now, including getting ready for my niece or nephew.”
When Ami opened her mouth, Marigold rushed on, changing the subject so Ami couldn’t argue. “You know, if I was the one pregnant, I’d have opted to find out the sex of the baby. That way my sisters could start buying clothes for their new niece or nephew.”
Whatever protest Ami had been about to utter appeared to be forgotten as her sister laughed. “Fin told me the same thing at Christmas. Have you two been talking?”
Fin, the second eldest of the Bloom sisters, lived in Los Angeles and had very definite opinions about everything.
“I haven’t connected with Fin recently.” Marigold fingered the blue crocheted throw accentuated with yellow cabbage roses tossed over the back of the sofa.
“You have told her you lost your job.” Though said as a statement, there was a question in Ami’s voice.
“Not yet.” Seeing the look of disapproval in her sister’s gaze, Marigold rushed to assure her. “Telling her is definitely in the plans.”
“You haven’t told Fin?” Shock laced Prim’s voice as she returned with a tea tray holding cups and saucers in an art deco floral pattern. She placed the tray, which also held a plate of scones and linen napkins, on the large trunk that doubled as a coffee table. “Why not?”
Ignoring the question, Marigold lifted a scone from the pretty plate. “These look yummy. Lemon blueberry?”
Ami nodded. “My most popular flavor.”
“I’ve always loved this china pattern.” Marigold studied the set that had once belonged to their great-grandmother. “If I were you, I’d have taken these with me when I moved to the big house.”
Ami’s gaze met hers. “The set is yours for the asking.”
“Prim might—” Marigold began.
Prim sat in a nearby chair. “I don’t need them. I already have the set from when Rory and I were married.”
There had been a time after the accident that had taken her first husband’s life that Prim hadn’t been able to speak of him without tearing up. While Marigold knew her sister would never forget Rory, Prim had found her zest for life again. Max had brought the light back into her eyes.
“Fin doesn’t want the dishes.” Ami tossed the comment on the table, obviously thinking that would be Marigold’s next rebuttal. “They aren’t her style.”
Marigold traced the outline of the brightly colored raised flower on the side of the cup with her finger. She wondered how could anyone not love these dishes, not only for their beauty but for the history. Then again, Fin had always gravitated toward the modern.
“It’s settled. You’ll take them with you,” Ami decreed.
Marigold thought of the high risk of breakage when transporting something so fragile any sort of distance. She shook her head. “They’re better off right where they are.”
“The dishes are yours. Whenever you decide to claim them is up to you.” Ami spoke with the authority that went hand in glove with being the eldest sister.
“Now that we’ve exhausted the scintillating china discussion”—Prim’s gaze pinned Marigold—“I want to know why you haven’t told Fin you lost your job and are back in Good Hope.”
Marigold was considering how to redirect the conversation when Prim shot her a warning glance. “Waste of time.”
Prim’s comment garnered the attention of both sisters.
“What would be a waste of time?” With nervous fingers, Marigold broke off a small piece of scone.
“You’re speaking with the mother of twins.” An amused smile lifted Prim’s lips. “I know when someone is trying to avoid answering a direct question.”
“Is that what Callum and Connor do?” Marigold bit into the scone, found it tasted as good as it looked. “Are my nephews experts at shifting your focus?”
“Why haven’t you called Fin?” Prim was like a bull terrier with a bone. But there was concern in her hazel eyes. “She hates being left out of the loop.”
Marigold thought of her brash, charismatic older sister, a person who’d likely never had an uncertain moment in her life. A woman everyone agreed led a charmed existence. While she loved Fin to death, Marigold didn’t want to be drawn into a discussion of her future plans. Not ye
t.
“Fin will pressure me to move to Los Angeles.” Marigold let the words hang in the air for several heartbeats. “I’m not against living in California. The fact that she is there makes the option incredibly tempting.”
“But—” Prim prompted.
Marigold leaned back, took a breath, let it out slowly. “I’m not sure LA is where I’m meant to be.”
She paused, expecting her sisters to weigh in. Instead, they sipped their tea.
“Even before I completed my cosmetology courses, I had a job.” Marigold recalled the envy in her classmates’ eyes. “Being able to work with such a genius was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There was no thought, no decision to be made.”
She gazed unseeing at the fireplace’s cold hearth.
“The Steffan Oliver Salon.” Marigold spoke the name with great reverence. “I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
“Then, having him fire you over nothing . . .” Ami’s voice trailed off.
“It was brutal.” Marigold saw no reason to sugarcoat. Those blasted tears wanted to come, but she blinked them back. “The positive out of all this is I’ve been given the opportunity to step back and figure out where I’m really meant to be. While I’m deciding, I’ll work, so my skills don’t get rusty. The money I earn will help with relocation expenses.”
“Which is why Carly’s Cut and Curl is so perfect.” Prim’s lips lifted. “You won’t have to pay to rent a chair at a salon.”
Trust the accountant in her sister to think of the financial bottom line. Which was the only reason Marigold had accepted Beck’s offer. Though she knew working in a space with dull, cracked flooring and ugly wallpaper would make her feel even more like a failure, a gal had to be practical. Free space in a prominent location on Main Street had been impossible to resist.
It would also be an impetus, she told herself, a force that would drive her to secure an appropriate new position as soon as possible.
Marigold turned to Ami. “I appreciate you and Beck letting me use the space.”
“We’d be happy to do a rent-to-own.” Ami’s hopeful smile tore at Marigold’s heart.
“I’m not staying.” Her tone was firm, absolute.
Ami lifted a brow. “I thought you planned to step back and consider all possibilities before making any decision.”
Marigold rolled her eyes.
“Okay, enough of that for now. You also mentioned wanting to keep busy.” Ami paused and her brow furrowed. “Or maybe you didn’t say that exactly, but I know you’re easily bored. Anyway, Prim and I need a favor.”
“Whatever I can do.” Marigold relaxed against the back of the sofa, relieved to have the focus off her uncertain future. “I’m happy to help.”
“Perfect.” Ami flashed a bright smile. “I’ll put you down.”
“Ah, just exactly what have I agreed to do?” Marigold wondered if she should have asked before agreeing. Yet she couldn’t imagine saying no to her sisters, no matter what the request. Not after how kind and supportive they’d both been to her.
“You know that Ami and I are both members of the Cherries.” Prim took a sip of tea, giving the comment time to steep.
Marigold felt the first stirrings of unease. She knew all about the Women’s Events League, commonly referred to as the Cherries. Everyone in Good Hope was familiar with the group responsible for planning all the holiday events for the community.
“You guys did an outstanding job with the Christmas festivities. Nothing compares to celebrating a holiday in Good Hope.”
“Next up is Valentine’s Day.” Prim’s lips lifted in a little smile. “This will be my first one with Max.”
“Beck says he’s going all out.” Ami brushed a strand of hair back from her face. “I’m not sure what that means.”
“Whatever Beck has planned is bound to be epic,” Prim told her older sister. “Your husband never does anything halfway.”
“Neither does Max,” Ami teased. “You know he’s going to wow you with something special.”
Marigold fought a pang of envy as she brought the cup to her lips and took a sip of Earl Grey. “Do you know I’ve never had a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day?”
A startled look crossed Prim’s face before she laughed. “Not buying it.”
“It’s sad but true.” Marigold offered a melodramatic sniff, then raised her hand and pretended to brush away a tear.
“Daniel Smithson. Chicago Board of Trade.” Prim tossed out the name like she was announcing his pick in the NFL draft. She pointed a finger at Marigold. “Last Valentine’s Day.”
“I believe you’re mistaken, Prim.” Ami broke off a piece of scone. “Jason was her valentine last year.”
“Well, then, Daniel was her valentine two years ago,” Prim insisted.
“Sorry to say, you’re both wrong.” Marigold realized she’d been so caught up with all the workplace drama that she hadn’t thought of either of her former boyfriends in months. “Jason and I began dating after Valentine’s Day and broke up before another one had rolled around. It was the same for Daniel.”
Marigold remembered with a pang how bright and shiny the hope had been at the beginning of each relationship and how much that hope had tarnished by the time they called it quits and moved on.
Ami’s expression remained doubtful.
“I’m still not sure what happened between you and Jason.” Prim’s teeth caught her upper lip for a second. “I know you weren’t eager to start over in New Orleans.”
Marigold thought back. Had she really left off a critical detail when she’d told her sisters the story? “It wasn’t just the move, although that was definitely a factor. Jason saw his career as being more important than mine.”
“I’d forgotten that part.” Prim’s strawberry-blonde brows pulled together. “Still, I can’t imagine if you love someone, not doing whatever is necessary to find common ground.”
“The point is we didn’t love each other.” Marigold lifted the cup of tea to her lips but didn’t drink. “Not enough to try to make it work.”
“Let’s not waste time on the past.” Ami’s green eyes were steady when they met Marigold’s. “This is going to be your year.”
Puzzled, Marigold tilted her head. “My year for what?”
Ami smiled broadly. “For having a valentine, of course.”
“Cade will be your valentine.” Prim punctuated the pronouncement with a decisive nod that sent her strawberry-blonde curls bouncing. “He’ll buy you flowers and candy and—”
“—take you to the Valentine’s dance,” Ami finished her sister’s sentence with a note of triumph. “You two will have a glorious time.”
Just hearing Cade and valentine in the same sentence made Marigold smile. “Glorious, huh?”
“Don’t be such a cynic.” Ami wagged her finger playfully. “Hearts and flowers and love will soon fill the air in Good Hope.”
“The Bayshore Hotel is going all out with the decorations for the big event. I’m not sure of all the details, but I know we’ll dance under a glittery net of colored balloons to big band love songs.” Prim’s hazel eyes turned soft. “It will be so romantic.”
Marigold wasn’t in Good Hope for romance. This was but a temporary stop on her road to the top. Suddenly restless, she set down her cup and stood. She strode to the window and glanced out over the snow-covered trees before turning and resting her back against the sill. “What’s the favor?”
“Hearts and Cherries Fashion Show.” Ami spoke around a bite of scone, appearing to have expected the change of subject.
Prim gestured expansively. “The event will be bigger and better than ever this year.”
Marigold cocked her head. “What’s involved?”
“Hearts and Cherries is an effort to showcase creativity and highlight the diverse selection of retail products available in Good Hope.” Ami sounded as if she was reciting from a travel brochure.
“The promo materials we’ve developed emphasize it
’s a time when local businesses come together for a week of fun, fashionable events,” Prim added, smiling, “including the extremely popular fashion show.”
The fact that it sounded similar to the Chicago fashion event she’d lost out on intrigued Marigold. “Where do I fit into the picture?”
Ami grinned. “Why, by doing the models’ hair, of course.”
“Marigold. This is a pleasant surprise.”
The masculine voice behind her had Marigold whirling and her heart slamming against her ribs. If she hadn’t been lost in her thoughts as she strolled down Main Street, she’d have realized before she got so excited that the timbre was all wrong.
It wasn’t Cade smiling back at her, but Travis.
“Hey, Deputy Forbes.” Marigold shot him a teasing look. “Out keeping the streets safe for the citizens of Good Hope?”
“Something like that.” Travis fell into step beside her.
The brown uniform pants and shirt favored him more than the tux he’d worn on New Year’s Eve. Still, he didn’t make Marigold’s heart beat the slightest bit faster.
His hair was only a shade darker than the pants, and his eyes were a vivid blue. A scattering of freckles gave him a boyish look. The guy-next-door type had always been Prim’s thing, not hers. Marigold liked her men a little more edgy.
“I’m surprised you’re still in town.” When she stopped in front of the general store, Travis held the door open for her, then followed her inside. “I thought for sure you’d be back in Chicago by now.”
Like a spirit rising unbidden from the mist, Eliza appeared around a display of power bars. “I was thinking the very same thing.”
Though Eliza’s voice had a pleasant enough lilt and her lips curved in a semblance of what could pass for a smile, those gray eyes remained cool.
“I like the vest.” Marigold waved a casual hand toward Eliza’s silver-and-black faux fur vest worn over a dove-gray sweater. Charcoal pants completed the image of a stylish woman who knew how to emphasize her assets.
With an almost imperceptible nod, Eliza accepted the compliment. “Why are you back in Good Hope, Marigold?”
