3 Never Tell Your Dreams

by Tonya Kappes

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  “She’s here!” Belle screamed, making all the guests turn and rush to Maggie’s side when she walked into the party.

  Maggie’s cheeks flushed when the girls grabbed her hand ogling her ring. She’d never worn a lot of jewelry and something this size was not what she pictured when she thought about engagement rings.

  “I told you it was big.” Belle held Maggie’s hand in the air, confirming the size of the rock. Maggie blushed. She was never one to brag, much less stand out.

  They all oohed and aahed over it. Maggie pulled her hand away and tucked it in her pocket.

  “Stop. It’s not that big,” she whispered to Belle.

  She tried to play modest, but it was hard to conceal a five-carat diamond. After all, what she really only wanted was an antique band with no diamonds, so when Grady gave it to her, she didn’t say anything, though her heart ached.

  “Maggie!” Wendy Owens waved Maggie over.

  Wendy was Maggie’s best friend and she looked exactly the same as she had in high school. Her hair was still the beautiful natural blonde which made her blue eyes pop.

  “I’m so happy for you. You look so good.” Wendy squealed.

  “Wendy, you never age.” Maggie said, and felt a little more at ease seeing a friendly face. Maggie had forgotten how wonderful some of her high school friends really were. Especially Wendy. Wendy never said a foul word about anyone and when Maggie did, Wendy gently reminded her that Maggie didn’t walk in their shoes.

  “You’re the one who looks great.” Maggie said.

  “That’s what love does to you.” Susie pushed her way through the crowd,and then brushed her wavy brown hair over her shoulders before she put the bride-to-be sash on Maggie.

  “Susie, thank you for coming.” Maggie could’ve done without Susie Benton there, but Belle insisted. “Who’s in love with whom around here?”

  “Wendy and…” Susie started to spill it, but Wendy tugged on Susie’s tuxedo vest. Her large brown eyes opened wide and warned Wendy.

  “This is Maggie’s day. Don’t you love what Belle has done with The Hair Pin.” Wendy took Maggie by the elbow and showed her around.

  Maggie was amazed. The old pleather styling chairs she had sat in as a young girl had been replaced with separate work stations with all the modern styling equipment she’s seen at her fancy New York salon. And the spa was a much needed service in Grandberry Falls.

  “Too bad it’s not ‘Girls Spa Out.’” Susie popped a couple pigs-in-a-blanket in her mouth and reached for another one.

  “Every month I offer a night out for all the girls. It’s a fun night of pedis, manis, and massage.” Belle winked and turned to go welcome more guests coming in the door.

  Grandberry Falls had really made it into the twenty-first century while keeping the historic charm it was known for. When Maggie left, she thought time would stand still here. She was pleasantly surprised.

  “I even enjoyed the night out.” Hazel shook her gladiator sandal in the air showing off her lime green polish. “New York City has nothing on Grandberry Falls.”

  Everyone snickered—everyone but Maggie. She got the feeling they thought she was snooty. Was it wrong to want a better life? Besides, there wasn’t a need for another lawyer in town.

  “We should plan one for the next time you are in town.” Jenna Greenlee, Maggie’s favorite and only aunt always knew the right thing to say. She gripped the side of Maggie’s arms and squeezed. “Even married women need a great evening out with friends.”

  “Yes, we will need to do that.” Maggie was glad Jenna had come. Jenna’s husband had been killed by a drunk driver a couple years back and it had taken a toll on her, leaving her a single mom, but surrounded by a community of love.

  “Too bad you aren’t staying around for the Jubilee.” Susie took a wedding bell plate and put a handful of chips on it.

  Belle put out folding chairs for the guests to sit on and the usual shower foods on the tables she had borrowed from the Moose’s Lodge. The long banquet table that ran along the wall was decorated with a wedding bell table cloth, and the gifts were sitting on top.

  Maggie sat down in the chair next to Susie, and crossed her legs. They weren’t always the best of friends, but they weren’t enemies. They did hang around the same circle of friends back in the day.

  “I noticed all the new banners hanging off the lanterns.” Maggie pointed outside to the street lights. Maggie smiled, and said, “We did have a lot of fun at the Jubilee when we were younger.”

  “Are those the real Louboutins? Not like the ones you wore to the reunion?” Susie questioned with laughter in her eyes.

  Maggie spit in her napkin and rubbed the bottom of her shoes with it. “Yep. The real deal.” She held the napkin in the air to prove there wasn’t any red to be seen.

  Who would have thought, Beth Harrison, Susie’s best friend and absent from the shower, was the town’s fashion diva. When Maggie went to her five year class reunion, she wore fake Louboutin shoes she bought on the city streets, and the red bottoms wore off by the end of the night. Beth made sure she pointed it out to everyone. Embarrassed, Maggie never returned any of her high school friend’s calls again. Not even from Mitch.

  “Time to open gifts.” Belle yelled above the chatter. She handed Maggie the beautifully wrapped polka-dot present that Hazel had brought.

  “Don’t break the bow.” Aunt Jenna’s eyebrows raised in anticipation of becoming a Great Aunt and reminding Maggie about her family’s superstitious ways.

  Being careful of the bow, Maggie opened the gift and pulled out a book. She stared at it a moment before reluctantly holding it over her head and whispered, “A Single-Girl’s Guide To Cooking.”

  A gasp fell over the party.

  Everyone knew the first gift opened was the first gift used. Or at least that’s the superstition—now an omen.

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  “How could you?” Maggie stormed to the car in tears. She’d held them in long enough. Trying to eat a piece of cake that was shaped like a wedding bell, was damn near impossible with the curse of the first present looming in her throat, like a lump of clay.

  She had been embarrassed enough. Luckily, Belle had offered to bring the presents back to the farm since she had more room in her car.

  “Do you not cook in that big city?” Hazel asked, huffing and puffing on Maggie’s heels.

  “You know what I’m talking about.” Maggie could hardly see straight. Her blood was boiling. She had to keep her voice down because if she didn’t, in a couple hours their fight will be all over Grandberry Falls, and somehow it would turn out to be Maggie’s fault.

  She slammed the door and jabbed her keys into the ignition. She stopped and watched Hazel ease herself into the passenger seat.

  With pursed lips, Hazel placed her bag on the floor board next to her feet after she buckled her seat belt. Maggie sat in amazement as Hazel looked out the window unfazed at the stunt she pulled on Maggie today.

  “Remember your rule? The golden rule?” Maggie reminded Hazel of the words she beat into Maggie’s head. “Do unto others? Remember that one? Why, Granny, why?”

  “Maggie, dear, this has nothing to do with ‘the rule.’” Hazel said, leaning over to pat Maggie’s hand. “I want you to be happy. I’m afraid Grady isn’t the one to make that happen.”

  “You don’t know my life. You have no idea what’s in my heart. And Grady has a permanent residence there.” Maggie jerked her hand out from under Hazel’s.

  Tomorrow couldn’t come quick enough, Maggie thought. If it wasn’t so late, she’d drive back to New York City tonight.

  With the pedal to the medal, Maggie drove Hazel straight home.

  “Come on, I’ll fix us a glass of tea.” Hazel opened the car door once they got back to the farm.

  Tea. Maggie gripped the steering wheel.

  Hazel thought everything could be fixed with tea. Every scrap, bruise, heart break, tear, birthday was celebrated wi
th tea. The sweet treat wasn’t going to do it this time. She didn’t care if it was Da Hong Po, one of the most expensive teas served in New York City.

  “I think I’m going to get something a little stronger than tea.” Maggie muttered, and put the car in reverse knowing full well Hazel didn’t approve of drinking.

  Maggie didn’t care. She was an adult and she was going to prove she could make her own decisions.

  Chapter 5

  Superstition: Always take a drink after a toast.

  The Thirsty Turtle wasn’t Mitch’s first choice for dinner, but it was his only choice for a beer. And one of the Turtle’s greasy burgers sounded good. Besides, he didn’t have anywhere to go and it was only a hop, skip and a jump to his office in case he had one too many.

  He made sure Susie’s first task as assistant was to get him a couch for his office. He was known to take a nap or two while working. Granted, she bought the most expensive couch, The Mole Hole carried.

  “Stylish, Mitch.” Susie had to convince him to keep the plaid patterned high-back sofa from the new interior decorator, Liz Day.

  “I won’t be able to fit on it.” He got a great laugh out of her when he had lain on it and his knees dangled over the arm. He kept it anyway. And curling up on it sounded pretty good right about now.

  “Welcome!” Tommy yelled over Free Falling playing on the box; one of the Thirsty Turtles favorite jukebox songs. Or at least it seemed to be playing every time Mitch came in.

  Mitch nodded his head and took his place on one of the twenty stools bellied up to the bar.

  “Wow, you look like hell.” Tommy slammed the freezer door shut after he grabbed a frosty mug. He filled it up with the draft on tap and pulled it away in the nick-of-time. The foam grazed the rim. “You need one of these.”

  Mitch glanced up at one of the three televisions all hung on the wall, while taking a drink. He wiped the remaining froth from his lip with the palm of his hand.

  “You have no idea.” His expression grew still and serious.

  Mitch wasn’t about to tell Tommy about seeing Maggie first thing this morning. He wasn’t in the mood to hear any snide remarks about “Miss goody two-shoes.”

  He took a gulp of the beer. He wanted to forget all these crazy superstitions Hazel Greenlee told him when he was a child. Unfortunately they were ingrained in his soul, just like Grandberry Falls was. Hazel was relying on her “gut” to win the eminent domain case.

  Running into Maggie first thing this morning didn’t help matters. He thought he’d get to work early and not see a soul, especially her. He promised himself he’d stay far away from The Hair Pin or Hazel Greenlee’s farm this weekend— to keep his distance from Maggie.

  He took his finger and traced the wet ring on the bar top from the bottom of the mug.

  “Yep.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “This is exactly what I needed.”

  The cold beer felt good on his lips and great going down. He could definitely see how people could drown their sorrows with booze, because his were slowly melting away.

  “Well looky here.” Tommy Elswick’s eyes were dark and cold. “I didn’t realize we were going to be graced with high-society tonight.”

  Mitch looked over. He rubbed his eyes, because he was sure he had too much beer when he noticed Maggie Greenlee making her way toward him. She gave him a smile that sent pulses through him.

  “Now be nice and get her a beer.” Mitch shot Tommy a twisted smile.

  Mitch knew how much Tommy disliked Maggie. The last time Maggie came into The Thirsty Turtle, she had had one drink too many and let Tommy know how much a hick town Grandberry Falls was with her hoity toity fiancé backing her up. And ever since, Tommy was all too happy to discuss his dislike for her, her big city life, and the preppy asshole.

  “I’m not sure,” Tommy said slamming down the stout of ale, “but the last time I checked, this was not New York City.”

  Mitch rolled his head around to loosen up the tension that found its way back into his shoulders. Instead, his upper body became more tense the closer she got.

  Maggie dragged out the stool, causing it to make a loud screech along the bar floor. She glared at Tommy. Mitch knew that look and what was coming. Luckily, he’d never been the recipient of her anger before.

  “The last time I checked, you were paid to keep serving me beer.” Her purse made a thud when she threw it down on the bar top.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Tommy flung his shaggy moped blonde hair to the side. His eyes flashed with outrage.

  What the hell was she doing here? Mitch figured she would breeze into town, go to her party, and quietly leave like every other time. Not show up at his favorite watering hole causing havoc.

  Maggie reached for the glass. He watched her tender hand pull it back. Disgust settled in his stomach when the sparkler on her finger lit up like a flashlight once the tin ceiling got a hold of it. He looked away.

  “What is it with people in this town?” Her voice was cold and exact. “Something is going on with Granny. And it’s more than just me getting married.”

  Mitch had a hard time looking at her. He’d never had a good poker face and had never lied to her. He didn’t plan on it now.

  Maggie touched his arm. “I said, what’s wrong with the people in this town.”

  Mitch slid his beer along the bar and took a drink before he answered her, giving him time to think up a good comeback.

  “Maybe it’s not us.” He sat the glass down and looked over at her.

  Her lips were exactly what he always craved and he could remember how they felt against his skin.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have come here for this.” Maggie grabbed her purse and attempted to get up, but stumbled into Mitch’s arms.

  His instinct was to wrap his arms around her, but he pushed Maggie back and helped steady her. Why the hell did she have to smell so good? He closed his eyes and inhaled for one more whiff.

  “Damn.” Maggie leaned up against the bar and started to cry. “Nothing is going right.”

  Oh, no. Mitch rubbed his hand down his face. This was exactly the way their intimate moment had started. He glanced around the bar. Only a few people had trickled in, taking seats at some of the tables. Everyone was always curious about the mayor’s business and having a girl cry on his shoulders might make The Grandberry Chronicles.

  “Mitchell, don’t you care?” Maggie pleaded, tears slowly found their way down her cheek.

  “What?” Mitch cast his eyes downward. He couldn’t look at her. He didn’t trust himself.

  The volume going up on the middle television caught his attention. He looked up and Tommy had the remote pointed toward it.

  “My customers can’t hear over the ruckus going on over there.” Tommy used the remote as a pointer between the two.

  Mitch changed his gaze to Maggie to find her staring at him. How could she think he didn’t care? All his life his days began and ended with Maggie Greenlee on the brain. And today was no different—whether it was welcomed or not.

  Every time Maggie came to visit, he dropped everything in his life just to be pushed away by her with one excuse after another.

  “You aren’t saying anything to help me.” She put her purse back on the bar and slid gracefully on to the stool. “You’ve changed.”

  “No, Maggie.” He looked deep into her eyes.

  The sparkle wasn’t dulled by her sadness. He knew she wasn’t upset about him or their relationship. She was upset about how Hazel was treating her.

  “You’ve changed.” He noticed sadness wash over her features.

  She jerked to her feet, and the stool flung back and smacked the hardwood floor. As if a firecracker went off, everyone in the bar turned to see what all the commotion was about.

  Mitch slammed the empty mug down just in time for Tommy to replace it. He’d finally done it. He hurt her.

  “Whoa, buddy. You might need to slow down,” Tommy said with Mitch in mid-gulp. “We don’t want
the town mayor to become the town drunk.”

  Mitch knew how much he drank, he wasn’t going to forget Maggie, but it would dull the pain. Maggie’s stare made him uncomfortable. He had to stand his ground. After all, his life was finally on the right track.

  “What?” A faint thread of hysteria was in her voice. “I’ve changed?”

  Her mouth was wide open, and her mascara had smeared down her face. Mitch had never talked to her that way, and he did feel some satisfaction taking up for Grandberry Falls—his town.

  “I’ve changed? What do you call all this?” Her hands moved up and down the outline of his body. She dug her acrylic fingernail deep into his chest. “You? Mayor? My Granny doesn’t try to hide the fact she doesn’t want me to get married. And there seems to be some big secret that everyone is hiding from me.”

  Mitch winced. He didn’t remember those nails being used as a weapon. He did remember how they felt along his back.

  “It’s your imagination, Maggie. No one is keeping anything from you.” He bowed his head and murmured, “Hazel will come around.”

  Damn it! He could’ve kicked himself in the butt. It wasn’t his place to reassure her or keep from hurting her. It was Grady’s job. Why wasn’t he here to defend her?

  With the beer between his hands and his elbows rested on the bar, using the mirror along the bar wall, Mitch watched Maggie walk behind him. He turned to see exactly where she had gone.

  “She went in the bathroom.” Tommy sat another beer in front of Mitch. “After all these years, you’re still in love with her.”

  “What are you talking about?” Mitch used his fingernail to carve in the frost on the mug. “I promised Hazel I wouldn’t say a word. Besides, it’s not my place.”

  “Your face says it all, my friend.” There was an edge of cynicism in Tommy’s voice. “Don’t blame your feelings on the eminent domain case.”

  Tommy couldn’t be further from the truth. Love was a strong word and how could he love anyone who acted the way Maggie Greenlee was acting?.

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  There was something this town was hiding and she was going to get to the bottom of it. Maybe not this weekend, but definitely before the wedding.