Nickolai's Noel

by Alicia Hunter Pace

  “Is nice, yes.” She ran her finger over the stone. It was as big as a postage stamp. “But, Nickolai … ”

  “I know. It was expensive. But see?” He removed the ring from the box. “They told me all about it. Is platinum and the diamond is blue and very high quality. Rare, like my Noel. I chose well?” He was nearly as proud of himself as he’d been when the Sound won the championship.

  “Oh, yes. You chose very well. I’m just so surprised.”

  “That I wouldn’t think it was foolish to buy a ring such as this? You can’t put a price on things that nurture the spirit.” He slipped the ring on her finger.

  “I love it. But you nourish my spirit. I don’t need a ring like this—or any ring for that matter.”

  “No, lyubimaya moya. You misunderstand. It nourishes my spirit for you to have such a ring.” He smiled. “Besides, I thought it would be useful for you to have a diamond big enough for me to skate on.”

  And she laughed as he closed in for a kiss. The kiss had to be brief because it was almost time for the party. And that was okay because there would be plenty of time for kisses tonight, tomorrow, and all the tomorrows of their lives.

  For now, they stood arm in arm and watched their guests come down the hill.

  Jackson Beauford whispered in Emory’s ear and then offered his arm to Noel’s grandmother. Deborah Verden chatted with Emory as they followed, and Noel hoped her mother wasn’t preaching on the evils of altering a historic property.

  Nickolai’s favorite Cracker Barrel waitress, Dede, had come and brought her grandson, who looked awed at the sight of Gabe Beauford and Nickolai’s teammates. Constance had immediately bonded with Julie, Gwen and Dirk’s little girl. They started down the hill hand in hand but stopped abruptly, dropped to the ground, and rolled the rest of the way. Paige looked horrified and started to run after them, but Webb caught her arm, shook his head, and, finally, they laughed together.

  And there were so many more. Along with Neyland, Abby, Christian, and Sammy, it seemed almost everyone from Beauford had come—Noel’s customers, the shop owners, schoolchildren, and the retired men Nickolai had gotten in the habit of having coffee with at The Café Down On The Corner.

  “Doesn’t it give you a good feeling that everyone came to celebrate with you today?” Noel smiled at her fiancé.

  “Da.” Nickolai said. “Yes. It feels like home.”

  About the Author

  Alicia Hunter Pace is the psuedonym for the writing team, Jean Hovey and Stephanie Jones. They live in North Alabama and share a love of old houses, football, and writing stories with a happily ever after.

  Find Alicia Hunter Pace at:

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  More from This Author

  (From Forgiving Jackson by Alicia Hunter Pace)

  Summer might float into Seattle, Boston, and Denver on fairy wings kissing the air with promises of happy sunshine and picnics—but in Beauford, Tennessee, it was a different story. It roared in, riding a flame-wheeled chariot, cracking its whip and laughing at heat stroke, ruined crops, and sweat-soaked bras.

  Emory Lowell had tried to tell that to the bride, her mother, and eight bridesmaids when they visited Beauford Bend Plantation last winter on their trek through the South looking for a plantation wedding venue. But apparently her warning hadn’t sunk in.

  “Kaylee cannot possibly get married outside in this heat!” The mother of the bride waved her hand in the direction of the white marble wedding gazebo where the rows of white chairs were already set up. Emory was pretty sure she saw sweat fly off the woman’s face.

  You ain’t seen nothing yet. It’s only ten o’clock. By I Do time at four, it’ll be a hundred degrees.

  But Emory didn’t say that, of course. She wasn’t even rattled. She had expected it, was prepared for it like she was always prepared for everything.

  “Mrs. Wagman—”

  “Florence. Please. We aren’t as formal as you Southerners. Every time I hear Mrs. Wagman I look around for my mother-in-law.” She took a long swig from her water bottle. “Though come to think of it, she’s the only one here I would subject to this heat.”

  “Yes. Well. Florence. The heat is intense. And I won’t lie. It will be worse this afternoon. But we have plenty of time. We can proceed with the inclement weather plan and move the ceremony into the ballroom. It won’t be a problem. My staff has done this a hundred times.”

  “But then Kaylee wouldn’t be getting married outside! She has always dreamed of getting married outside just like Scarlett O’Hara!”

  Had Scarlett gotten married outside? Emory couldn’t remember. Not that it mattered. Apparently Kaylee thought she had.

  “Mrs. Wagman. Florence. Have y’all”—she hesitated—“have y’all spent much time in the South during the summer?”

  “We have spent no time in the South, in the summer or otherwise—last January being the exception, when we were looking for a wedding site. Kaylee was so set on a plantation wedding. And I have to say, Emory, though Beauford Bend is by far the most beautiful venue we considered, I wish we had chosen the one in Louisiana. It’s on the water so it has to be cooler there. Why did this heat wave have to happen now, of all times?” She fanned herself with her hand.

  Tact. Don’t say I told you so. “Actually, this isn’t a heat wave. This is pretty standard. And Louisiana would be hotter and twice as humid.”

  Florence’s eyes widened. “You mean you people live like this all the time? It was cold when we were here before.”

  Emory nodded sympathetically. “We have seasons—even snow. But summer means business. Now, why don’t you let me have this whole thing moved inside? It will be lovely.”

  “Kaylee will be devastated!”

  No doubt. This wouldn’t be the first devastated bride Emory had dealt with—and she knew how to deal.

  “I have an idea,” Emory said like it was a new thought. “It’ll be much cooler tonight. Why don’t we go ahead with the wedding and dinner in the house but have dancing out here after the cake is served?” Florence Wagman looked interested. “The band can set up in the gazebo. I’ll have the portable dance floor and bar set up. We have large fans that can be brought out. They would be far too noisy, not to mention ineffectual, for an afternoon ceremony, but with the music, they would hardly be noticed. I could have the flowers from the ceremony brought out during dinner. We can turn on the little white lights in the trees.”

  “I don’t know. Kaylee had pictured an outdoor ceremony with dancing in the ballroom … ”

  “And we can certainly go ahead with that.”

  Sweat ran down Florence’s neck. She pursed her lips.

  “You know what? Kaylee might as well learn right now that she can’t have everything. I, for one, am not sitting out in his heat. Go ahead with that plan!” She turned to walk away.

  Emory reached for the button on her headset but Florence Wagman stopped and looked back over her shoulder. “Any chance Jack Beauford is here?”

  “No.” That was the only word she had. The mention of Jackson tended to shut her down.

  “Any chance he might be coming home? I heard he canceled his tour after his drummer and guitar player were killed in that fire. He lives at the plantation when he’s not on the road, right? A song from him at the reception would go a long way in making Kaylee happy.”

  No kidding. Who wouldn’t want a song from a Grammy-winning, heart-stopping gorgeous superstar?

  “I am afraid that’s not possible,” Emory said. “This is his childhood home and he lives here when he has to be in Nashville, but he isn’t expected.”

  And she hoped that was true; she hoped with all her heart that Jackson wasn’t coming here. S
he’d been holding her breath ever since she’d gotten the email ten days ago informing her that he was coming home and to cancel all remaining events, pay herself a year’s salary, and vacate the property. Except for security, she was to give all the staff six months’ severance pay and let them go. Security was to be left alone.

  She had done none of it, nor did she have any plans to. She had gotten away with ignoring his last directive—the one he’d given her eight months ago—and there was no reason to think she wouldn’t get away with this, too.

  That last directive had come right after Amelia’s funeral. Emory’s gut turned with grief every time she thought of losing Amelia, and she supposed it always would. Emory had met Jackson’s great-aunt as a teen when her new stepmother had sent her on whirlwind of self-improvement camps that included a trip to Beauford Bend to attend Amelia’s annual charm school: A Fortnight of Refinement and Training for Young Ladies.

  She’d met Jackson that summer too. At the dance on the last night of charm school, he’d given her a moonlight kiss in the rose arbor—but that didn’t make her special. She wasn’t the only freshly kissed fifteen-year-old who’d left Beauford Bend with a crush on Jackson Beauford—though she might be the only one who had let that crush morph into fandom. Not that Jackson remembered any of that and not that it mattered.

  What did matter was Emory had loved that time at Beauford Bend as much as she had dreaded coming. Unlike tennis, ballet, French culture, and cheerleader camps, she loved the dancing and embroidery lessons, the formal dining, the learning to pour tea. She loved how Amelia always said, “Honey, there’s no excuse for not knowing how to do something just because you might never use it.” But more than any of that, Emory loved how Amelia had given her refuge when she had no refuge at home anymore with a stepmother who liked to pretend she didn’t exist.

  She’d spent the next five summers at Beauford Bend as a volunteer. Those summers with Amelia had made her strong. Though she had kept in touch with Amelia, Emory had not been to Beauford Bend in four years—until two years ago when she wasn’t strong anymore. She had needed refuge again and Amelia had given her a home and put her to work in her business Around the Bend: Elegant Events. It had been ideal—until, at eighty-two, Amelia suddenly died of a stroke.

  After the funeral, Jackson and his brothers had agreed to close down Amelia’s events business. Jackson had instructed Emory to fulfill the obligations but not to book any more—and that included the charm school. And she had intended to do that. In fact, she had turned away several bookings. But then the call came from the woman who just wanted a small party for her daughter’s sixteenth birthday. It would be so easy and Jackson would never know it hadn’t been booked before—if he even bothered to ask. And then there was the embroidery guild that had been coming to Beauford Bend for a weeklong retreat for twenty years. Surely that couldn’t be considered a new booking. Besides, it had been three months since Amelia’s death and Emory hadn’t heard a single word from a single Beauford. Gabe was in San Antonio playing pro football. Rafe was riding bulls. Beau was an Army Ranger so it was anyone’s guess where he was. And of course, Lord of the Manor Jackson had an album to promote.

  So things had rocked on. Emory continued to book events and she accepted applications for the summer charm school.

  It seemed they had forgotten all about her, Around the Bend, and the orders to shut it down. The business paid for itself and turned a small profit. More importantly, the town needed Around the Bend. Not only did Emory hire townspeople to work events, there were businesses like the caterer, limo service, and florist that existed because of Around the Bend.

  And then, there was the other reason she couldn’t close the business. If Around the Bend folded, she’d have to leave Beauford Bend, the only place she could feel safe.

  She’d begun to think things could go on as they were forever.

  And that might have been true if not for the fire at a Jack Beauford concert in Los Angeles two weeks ago that killed two of his band members, three of his road crew, and his manager, as well as over thirty concertgoers. A few days later the email had arrived from Jackson, the email she had ignored. Now he might be coming home.

  Of course, he might not. He might be off lording himself over somebody else.

  “Can we see his room?” Florence Wagman brought Emory back to the present.

  “What? Whose room?”

  “Jack Beauford! If you would let us see his room, it would distract Kaylee. She loves him.”

  “No.” Emory tried to sound regretful. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t point out that the Beauford brothers didn’t have rooms in the plantation house; they had suites, or apartments, more like.

  “I read somewhere he has a whole room for his guitars. Could we see that?”

  “I’m afraid not. The family wing is strictly off-limits. It’s their home. I just work here.” Technically, that might be true, but Emory’s heart rebelled at the very thought. Those Beauford brothers seldom returned to the ancestral home where they grew up, while it was her very heart and soul. “But I’ll have a basket with Champagne, chocolates, and some of Jackson’s CDs sent over to the bridal suite at Firefly Hall.” Emory reached for her phone to send herself a reminder when a shriek stopped her short.

  “Mama!” It was the bride herself running like she was loaded for bear, robe flying, wet hair falling out of a towel wrap.

  “Kaylee, what is it?” Florence said.

  “I left the bridesmaids’ gifts at home! The silver compacts!”

  “Oh.” Florence’s tone dared to carry an is that all tone, which made Kaylee frown even more. “You can give those to them when you get back from your honeymoon.”

  “No, Mama! I was going to give them out when they come to help me dress, during ‘something borrowed, something blue’ time. I have a little speech planned for each one.”

  Florence reached to smooth her daughter’s hair. “It’ll be fine. We’ll plan a nice little lunch when you get back. You can give your gifts and make your speeches then.”

  “Mama, no! I need to do it today. I have to!”

  Florence looked resigned. “All right. There’s no time to go all the way to Nashville. I’ll drive into that little town and see if I can find something.”

  Emory did not point out that Nashville was only forty minutes away. She had a better idea. “I might be able to help. We have a very talented silversmith and jewelry designer in Beauford. She does incredible work. I know if I call her, she could bring some pieces out.”

  The town of Beauford had grown up around Beauford Bend and another plantation, Firefly Hall, which was now a bed and breakfast. Over the years, Beauford had evolved into a boutique town comprised of artisans and master craftsmen that brought in droves of people seeking handmade one-of-a-kind goods. Still, they were all dependent on each other for their livelihood. Neyland Mackenzie had recently opened her own jewelry shop and would be glad for the business.

  Florence frowned. “We spent a fortune on those compacts already. And we need eight gifts. I was hoping for something like Things Remembered.”

  “Mama! That would be awful! They came all this way, gave me a party, and bought their dresses.”

  Emory smiled and laid a hand on Kaylee’s arm. “Neyland does some very high-end designs but she also makes some lovely little silver bracelets and earrings in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars.”

  Kaylee jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “That sounds perfect! And I could give them the compacts for Christmas!”

  “And she would bring them out?” Florence asked.

  “I’m sure of it.”

  “And we’d want them wrapped.”

  Emory reached for her phone and scrolled to Neyland’s number. As the mother and daughter walked away, Emory heard Kaylee say, “Why is it so hot out here?”

  • • •

  “Is this yours?”

  Jackson Beauford looked at the backpack the woman held out toward him like it was an alien
six-legged cat before gratefully accepting it. He would have boarded the plane without it. It had been a long time since he’d had to keep up with his luggage, a long time since he’d flown a commercial flight. Big stars didn’t fly commercial, keep up with their own belongings, charge their own phones, or buy their own toothpaste. When had he become so helpless?

  Helpless. Hadn’t he always been? When had he ever been able to do one damn thing when it made a difference?

  Careful to avoid his bandaged right arm, he threw his backpack over his shoulder and made his way down the jetway—alone. He had bought out the whole first class section. He settled into the window seat in the last row and pulled his cap down over his eyes.

  “Can I get anything for you, Mr. Beauford?” the airline attendant asked quietly. This wasn’t her first rodeo. She’d seen celebrities before, probably plenty of them.

  “I’m hungry. Can I have breakfast?” When had he eaten last? Yesterday, probably.

  “I’m sorry, sir. I cannot serve you a full meal until we’re in the air.”

  Right. Rules. Not something he usually dealt with. If Ginger had been here, she would have gotten that meal for him or—more likely—made sure he’d eaten before boarding. But his longtime assistant wasn’t here; she was in Aruba convalescing. He had taken her there himself. She’d wanted, begged in fact, to return to Beauford Bend with him. But all he wanted was solitude and at the end of this flight he was finally going to have it. Emory Lowell would’ve had plenty of time to shut things down and clear out by now.

  “I can get you a snack—something you won’t need a tray table for,” the flight attendant offered. “A muffin? A piece of fruit?”

  “That’s okay. I’ll wait.” That reporter from Twang Magazine should be boarding soon anyway. It would be more polite to wait for her. And he knew polite. Aunt Amelia had made damned sure of that.

  “If you’re sure. The other passengers are about to start boarding.”