Happily Ever Afters Guaranteed

by Lacy Williams

“Not directly? What does that mean?”

  She touched his hand and nodded toward another path they hadn’t tried yet. When she started to move away, Jesse tangled their fingers together and held on. And she let him.

  “Do you remember graduation night?”

  “Of course I do. It gave this nerd hope that I could date a pretty girl someday.”

  She half-laughed, half-snorted. “You weren’t a nerd.” Then, seriously, “You were the first man who ever made me feel like I was valuable. As a person.”

  He swallowed the knot of hope that suddenly formed in his throat. “Because I talked to you instead of making a move? I really wanted to kiss you that night.”

  She nodded. “You know what my reputation was like back in high school. The fastest girl around.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I never believed those rumors.”

  “You should have. Before I met Christ, I was… a mess.” She inhaled deeply. A tremor ran through her arm and down her hand. “When I left Peaceful, I was three months pregnant.”

  Jesse’s breath froze in his lungs.

  Olive pulled her hand away and turned to face him. The setting sun cast long shadows, and he couldn’t read her closed expression.

  “That’s part of why I left. I couldn’t stand it if your reputation suffered because of me. Everyone in town knew you, loved you. No one even cared when I left.”

  He had.

  “Mommy!” A high-pitched cry came from nearby, breaking the trance that seemed to surround them.

  A little girl walked into view seconds later. The missing child.

  PART FOUR

  Olive escaped Jesse’s presence after returning the missing little girl to her very relieved mommy. She made her way to the trick-or-treat booths she’d set up this morning to make sure the farmers, people from church, and her neighbors had enough candy.

  She greeted her friends and forced a smile she didn’t really feel. Her thoughts ran over and over Jesse’s reaction.

  She hadn’t seen the censure she’d been so sure of all these years. But his eyes had still darkened, something had changed in the way he looked at her when she’d admitted her reason for leaving Peaceful. And he didn’t even know she’d given the baby up for adoption.

  It hurt more than it should.

  She found Gran’s still on the porch and stood with her to watch the kids parade by in their costumes. Her eyes kept straying to Super-Josh and his daddy, and each time she caught herself watching them, she berated herself for wishful thinking.

  She wanted Jesse to love her. Wanted to be a part of his and Josh’s life.

  Jesse had wanted to be her friend in high school – and more, according to him – when her reputation had been questionable at best. Now that he knew the truth, was there any chance of a future together? She just didn’t know.

  When Olive couldn’t bear the ache in her chest anymore, she took a small gas lighter and snuck out behind the house where nearly five hundred jack-o-lanterns lined a path down to the small pond and the bonfire that would be lit at twilight. It was almost dark, she might as well start lighting. Sue Ann would be arriving to help her in a minute.

  Dark fell just as she lit the last of the jack-o-lanterns. The extra stadium-type lights they’d rigged up near the house went dark, and all that remained were the twinkling jack-o-lantern lights and the bonfire crackling behind her. Olive slipped behind the table laden with s’more-making supplies, intending to hide there until the evening was over.

  She watched people meander down the lit pathway in groups and clumps, parents often toting their smaller, exhausted kiddos. A pang of jealousy speared her. She wanted a family of her own.

  As much as Olive tried not to watch for Jesse and Josh, her eyes kept drifting through the new arrivals anyway. Maybe they’d already gone home.

  Then something caught her attention, a leaf crunching under his boot? a soft sound from the sleeping bundle he carried? It didn’t matter, because Jesse was there, Josh conked out and held protectively on his dad’s shoulder.

  “Come sit with me,” Jesse murmured.

  She started to shake her head but he nudged her elbow with his and nodded his head toward an empty pair of lawn chairs at the back of the crowd gathering around the fire.

  Heart thundering in her ears, she followed. She would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn’t at least see what he had to say. She perched gingerly on the edge of the chair next to Jesse, careful not to bump the booted legs he stretched out in front of him.

  “I know how he feels,” Jesse whispered, jerking his chin toward Josh. “I’m pooped.”

  “You should’ve gone home.”

  “Can’t. Not done with our talk.”

  She didn’t want to have this conversation here, out in public. A blush heated her cheeks. Then again, they were talking so quietly to keep from waking Josh that probably no one else could hear. She hoped so anyway.

  “Josh wants a mom,” Jesse said. “And I think he’s picked you.”

  It was so not what she expected him to say that her mouth fell open.

  “He talks about you all the time,” Jesse went on.

  “That doesn’t mean he wants me to be his mommy!” Olive hissed.

  “No, I know—we just… read a lot of books about mommies. He chooses them, not me.”

  “Jesse…” Olive couldn’t help the tears that sprang to her eyes. He was talking about one of her most cherished dreams… “I can’t—”

  “Just hear me out.” He shifted Josh in his arms, freeing up one hand that quickly slid over and grasped Olive’s. “I think it’s clear that we both have…” there was that cough again, “feelings for each other.”

  She smiled a soggy smile. “Are you trying to say you love me?”

  Jesse cleared his throat. “Yeah. I’m not that great at talking about mushy stuff. Do you love me back?”

  She nodded, shaking all over now. He loved her. “But, Jesse, my past—”

  He squeezed her hand. “Honey, we’ve all got ugly stuff in our past. You can tell me all about it, and I’ll listen. But when you accepted Jesus, He made you clean and new again. That’s all that matters to me.”

  His words were too good to be true. A soft sob escaped Olive’s lips and, embarrassed, she tried to get her hand back from Jesse so she could cover up her face.

  He didn’t let her. Instead, he pulled her out of her chair and against his chest, where at least she could hide her face.

  Josh squirmed and his sleepy voice said, “Daddy? You and Miss Olive are squishing me. Why’s she crying?”

  Jesse’s voice was a rumble under her cheek. “I’m pretty sure it’s cause she’s happy. Olive?”

  She nodded, chin rubbing against the material of Jesse’s jacket.

  “What’s going on? Why’s she happy?”

  She laughed through her tears, pushing back from Jesse’s hold and ruffling Josh’s hair. Jesse caught and held her eyes, his own joy shining bright enough for her to see clearly.

  “Son, I think she’s happy because she’s going to be your mommy.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  She kissed both of them for good measure.

  THE END

  GREEN PEAS SNEEZE

  By LACY WILLIAMS

  DAY 0, AFTERNOON.

  ATTEMPT 1.

  The door opened before Sarah Fortini was ready.

  “Hey!” Brand Turner’s smile always made her knees weak and today was no exception. His blue eyes crinkled at the corners, just so, and his brown hair was stylishly disheveled.

  She resisted reaching for the doorframe, praying her wobbly legs would support her.

  “Thank goodness you’re here. C’mon in.”

  “Um—”

  He disappeared and she had no choice but to follow him inside the gorgeous two-story brick home. She knew the houses in this upscale Austin, Texas neighborhood were expensive, but she wasn’t expecting the ornate furniture or shiny wood floors. It w
as enough to make her lose her nerve. She’d come to ask Brand to marry her, and she was praying he’d say yes.

  “Sorry,” he called over his shoulder as he led the way into a well-appointed living room. “I just found out the office wants me to come in for a couple hours. Jerry—” Brand caught a shrieking boy as he jumped from the back of the couch.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Brand ordered with his finger pointed at Josh, age three, who knelt on the opposite sofa. Sarah knew the little boy from Bible class. He didn’t jump off furniture in Bible class.

  The baby jabbered nonsense and rammed its round walker-thingie into a side table, apparently wanting in on the action.

  “You’re Sarah, right? From Josh’s class?”

  At least he remembered her name. Did he also remember the hour-long conversation they’d shared at the last singles retreat? It had changed Sarah’s life. Made her realize what was really important in her life. And that she didn’t currently have it.

  “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He was? Sarah’s insides fired up.

  Brand waved her into the room right off the living area, a kitchen – messy – and all three boys followed them.

  “All the other candidates have been old or scary,” Brand went on.

  “Yeah, scary,” echoed Jerry with a five-year-old’s wisdom.

  “Piercings,” Brand mouthed, motioning a circle over his own face.

  “What?” She had no idea what he was talking about. Candidates?

  “Can you stay with the boys for an hour or so? That way I can take care of this meeting. If you make it through, the job’s yours.”

  “Um, job?”

  “They pay’s good – it has to be for these hooligans—” Brand nudged the baby’s carrier-ma-jig over the threshold into the kitchen while using the reflection in the toaster to loop the tie he picked up off the counter around his neck. She hadn’t noticed before that he wore slacks and a dress shirt. “But we can discuss all that when I get back.”

  He picked up a briefcase from the top of the fridge. “Jerry! Keys?”

  Sarah jumped at Brand’s unexpected exclamation.

  The oldest boy pointed to the counter. Brand snatched up a keyring tucked behind a cereal bowl with spoon still in it.

  He was leaving? He was leaving!

  “Will you—” Marry me?

  “Thanks,” Brand called over his shoulder, blowing a kiss in her general direction.

  Sarah was left starting at three boys, all looking back at her.

  She had no idea what to do with them.

  DAY 0

  EVENING.

  A neighbor had come earlier to see what all the screaming was about, but left when she saw Jerry chasing his brothers through the living room.

  Sarah was surprised no one had called the cops yet.

  And that she still had some hearing left after three hours of nonstop shouting.

  The screaming changed tone with Brand came in the garage door.

  Cheeks flushed from embarrassment that she hadn’t been able to control the situation, Sarah yelled out to him over the ruckus, “How do you get them to stop?”

  Brand shrugged and let out a roar, forming his hands into claws and giving chase, losing his jacket and tie as he went.

  Well.

  At least the noise had moved out of her general vicinity.

  He poked his head back in the doorway. “Will you stay for dinner?”

  When the boys were finally in bed a couple of hours later, Sarah stood at the sink, absently drying the last of the dishes. She put it carefully – silently – on the counter. Yes, the quiet was nice.

  “You didn’t have to wash up.”

  Brand’s voice startled her and she whirled, the dish towel snapping in her hands. She put one hand over her now-racing heart and glared at Brand, who leaned against the far counter, hair disheveled.

  “It’s no big deal,” she replied when she was sure her voice wouldn’t squeak.

  “Trust me, it is. I’ve been meaning to get the dishwasher fixed, but I haven’t had time.”

  She nodded. In her few hours at the home, it was clear there were several things that hadn’t been changed since his late wife’s death. An outdated calendar on the fridge. Magazines on the coffee table, stained and water-wrinkled.

  It made her wonder if he was still mourning his wife, and that’s why the things had been left undone. It wasn’t a good feeling.

  Maybe she shouldn’t ask him…

  “You didn’t come here today to be my kids’ nanny, did you?”

  Her eyes flew to his face. He looked exhausted. Funny how she hadn’t noticed the lines bracketing his mouth, though she’d watched him all through dinner. Or maybe he’d been smiling so much the lines had blended right in.

  “No, I came—” The words stuck in her throat. She cleared it. “I didn’t realize you were going back to work.”

  He exhaled, fanned a hand through the hair at his nape. “Have to. Only half time, though. The insurance money is just about gone.”

  The coffee machine beeped and Brand looked at it like he’d never seen it before.

  Sarah pulled out a mug – she’d located them when putting all the dishes away – and filled it with the aromatic brew. “Though you might need it.” When she’d seen the pile of paperwork he’d set aside with his briefcase. How could he work and take care of the three boys and the household chores all on his own?

  He accepted it with a grateful sniff. “I will. Thank you.”

  He took a long drink, leaned his hips against the counter behind him. This close, she could reach out and touch him if she wanted. And she wanted. She just wasn’t sure how he’d react.

  He stared off into space, expression pensive. “I haven’t had a cup of coffee this good since before Gina died.”

  The heaviness in his voice was her undoing. Her hand was on his arm, a simple touch on his forearm and she felt it all the way to her bones. His eyes met hers; she let her hand slip off his sleeve.

  “I’m sorry.” Was she apologizing for his loss or the touch? The emotions rioting through her made it impossible to tell.

  He shifted his feet, rand his hand over his face. “Thanks. But you didn’t come here to listen to me whine. Why did you come here?”

  Again, the words just wouldn’t come out. “Maybe I could help with the boys until you find someone else. You said there weren’t any good candidates today, but you can keep looking, right? And my job is pretty flexible.” It was. That’s one of the main reasons she ran her own company, an IT support business.

  His shoulders lifted. “Really? You’d help us out?”

  “Yeah.” And so much more, if he would let her.

  “Well, great. Can you come tomorrow?”

  “Sure. There’s only one problem. I don’t know anything about kids.”

  DAY 1, MORNING.

  ATTEMPT 2.

  “You really weren’t kidding, were you?”

  She’d dreamed about the last few moments with Brand all night, including the rich-as-chocolate chuckle he’d gifted her with before ushering her out the door, so it seemed natural to Sarah that their conversation flowed right from where they’d left off.

  As natural as it could while she held a gurgling baby with green goop smeared all over his face.

  “No, I wasn’t kidding.” But she couldn’t keep from responding to Brand’s smile. She laughed.

  “Can I ask how you ended up helping in Josh’s Bible school class?” Brand slapped a sandwich into a baggie and tossed it into the briefcase located, once again, on top of the fridge.

  “It’s the only place they can’t reach,” he explained when he caught her open-mouthed look.

  “A friend – Gale – roped me into it. All I do is give the kids Cheerios and keep them from taking each other’s toys. Gale does the real work.”

  “Well, the sharing thing is a good strategy to start with. I wrote down a couple other things, in case you were serious last night
. Good thing, too.”

  She smiled, knowing it was wan. “Are you sure you trust me with your kids?”

  “Yup.” He pressed a half-piece of notebook paper into her hand.

  Sarah glanced at it. Not much of an instruction manual. She was used to hefty tomes with specific instructions. At least on most software programs there was a HELP function she could use for troubleshooting. Or she could Google it.

  Did Google find instructions for dealing with kids?

  Brand was heading for the door at an alarming rate and she wasn’t sure she trusted herself with the boys.

  “Wait—Brand—”

  “Sorry to rush off, but I have an early conference call…”

  The door shut and Sarah looked at the goo-covered baby on her hip. He sniffled.

  “Well, here we are. It’s Jamie, right?”

  He let out a wail.

  “I know just what you mean, kiddo.”

  DAY 2

  AFTERNOON.

  Jerry hated her. Josh copied his older brother in everything, so she spent the day dealing with two recalcitrant boys. Luckily the baby seemed to love everyone, even those who had no idea how to wrangle little kids into a semblance of order.

  The boys didn’t like the lunch she’d made – grilled cheese and soup.

  Naps were for babies and they wouldn’t take one, even though Josh was clearly cranky. She was exhausted. Why weren’t they?

  By the time Brand pulled in the driveway, she knew there was a major hurdle to overcome before they could get married. His boys needed to be won over.

  “How did it go?” Brand whispered after sneaking into the kitchen; the boys were still in the living room. His quicksilver grin made it all seem worth it. She didn’t want to mention her despair.

  “Jer and Josh and I didn’t—hit it off so well.” Understatement.

  His brows came together in puzzlement. “But they loved you last night.”

  “Yeah, well, last night I didn’t try to make them take a nap.”