Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas

by Annalisa Daughety

  “How will you get home?” he asked.

  She’d driven her car to his house yesterday so they could ride to the hotel together. “I’ll manage. I managed fine before you came along.” Stupid Mimi the matchmaker. If not for her, none of this would’ve happened. Violet would’ve probably met some nice guy online and they’d be in the hotel right now enjoying their rubbery chicken.

  Jackson walked away without another word.

  Violet sat for another moment on the bench. In just a few short minutes, her life had spiraled out of control. There had to be some lesson in it though, right? Some takeaway to make it worth the pain.

  Because right now, not only did she have to face a humiliating room full of people, she also felt empty. She’d gotten used to having Jackson by her side. She’d started to have real feelings for him. Feelings she hadn’t been sure she’d ever have about anyone.

  And just like that—it all blew up.

  Chapter 32

  Jackson Stratford: I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. (Text message sent December 15, 9:02 a.m.)

  Violet pulled the covers over her head to block out the sunshine. She wanted today to be dark and dreary to match her mood. But no. Of course Amber’s wedding day had to be bright and beautiful.

  Last night had been the worst ever. Aunt Darlene had given her a ride to her car, and she’d decided to go home. She didn’t care if she missed her sister’s wedding. Amber had tried to claim that she was only looking out for Violet, that she felt like she needed to be warned that Jackson and Whitney had gone out after dinner. But Violet knew her sister too well.

  Whitney had apparently felt bad for her part in things and had apologized to Violet. She’d confided that Amber had sent her to see if Jackson was on the up-and-up.

  As far as Violet was concerned, they all deserved each other. Once again she’d been the one made to look foolish, the one to be pitied.

  So today would be business as normal. No wedding for her, sister or not. She’d go in to the bake shop this afternoon and throw herself into baking the best cupcakes she could.

  The phone buzzed. She glanced at the caller ID. “Hey, Reagan.”

  “Do I need to come over? Because I will. I can call someone to keep the kids.”

  Violet smiled in spite of the situation. “That’s okay. I’m fine. Or at least I will be.” She let out a huge sigh. “I’m still having a hard time processing everything that happened.”

  “I don’t blame you.” Reagan didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Have you heard from him?” she asked finally.

  “He’s texted and called. I haven’t responded to either. What could he possibly say to make this better?” Violet had tried to imagine one thing that could change things. But there was nothing.

  “Hang in there. It’s nearly Christmas. A time for joy, no matter what is going wrong in your personal life.”

  Or a time for pain. Violet knew how much Jackson was dreading Christmas without his dad. Now it looked like they’d both be alone on Christmas. “Do you want to get together sometime next week?” They didn’t exchange big gifts, but usually got each other a little something.

  “That sounds good. Let me know when and where. I could stand to do a little kid-free shopping.” Reagan chuckled. “Chin up, Violet. God will take care of you.”

  Violet hung up the phone and finally peeled herself out of bed. It was time to get on with her life. She padded into the living room to let Arnie out.

  He lay still on his bed and didn’t move when she walked by.

  She knelt next to him. “Arnie?” She shook him gently.

  Nothing.

  She shook him a little harder. “Arnie, please wake up.”

  He opened his eyes slowly.

  “Thank goodness.” She put her head close to him.

  The dog’s breathing was very shallow.

  Violet stood up and clapped her hands, hoping he’d get up and follow her outside.

  He started to raise his head, but it appeared to be too much effort, so he rested it back on the pillow.

  Violet grabbed her phone and dialed the number to the nearest vet. She quickly explained the situation.

  “I think you should probably bring him in, ma’am. Because you know he’s been in renal failure, it’s likely that it’s gotten worse. We’ll need to check his kidney function.”

  Violet had no idea how she could possibly get him to the car by herself. He’d be sixty pounds of dead weight. But she’d have to try. And there was no one she could call. Her entire family was at Amber’s wedding, and she sure wasn’t calling Jackson for help.

  Maybe there was one person. She dialed the bake shop.

  “Central Avenue Cupcakes, this is Shadow.”

  “It’s Violet. Arnie is really sick. I need some help getting him to the vet. Are you busy today?”

  “We’re almost sold out. Nana has the sign all ready to go.”

  “Are there any customers?”

  “No. One just left.”

  “Can you or your nana come help me get Arnie to the vet while the other one closes down?” She heard Shadow explaining the situation to Mrs. Kemp in the background.

  “I’ll borrow Nana’s car and come help you. She’ll close up and then go next door to Aunt Teak’s. Granddaddy is manning the shop for her today.”

  “Great. See you in a minute.”

  Violet threw on some clothes and twisted her hair into a bun. It would have to do. She went back to Arnie. He didn’t look good. “Hang in there, boy. Please.” Her tears fell on his fur. She knew she should probably keep calm so she wouldn’t upset him, but it was not going to be easy. She stroked his neck and rubbed his tummy. “Arnie, you’ve been the best dog a girl could ever have. Sometimes I’ve felt like you were my only friend.” She wiped her tears, but more fell in their place.

  There was a knock at the door. Violet opened it and ushered Shadow inside. “Let’s try and slide him on his bed to the door, then we’ll lift him into the car.”

  Shadow nodded.

  They worked together to slowly slide him to the door then hoisted him to the car.

  “I can drive if you want to sit in the back with him,” Shadow offered.

  Violet handed her the keys. “Thanks.” She cradled Arnie’s head in her lap and continued to stroke his fur. Please Lord, be with Arnie. I know he’s lived a long life, but I’m not ready to let him go just yet.

  Jackson sat in his Range Rover outside Jeff and Lauren’s house. After the disastrous weekend, he needed to talk his problems over with someone else.

  Lauren opened the door, concern written all over her face. “You look terrible.”

  “I haven’t slept in a couple of days. Is Jeff here?”

  She jerked her chin toward the kitchen. “Come get a cup of coffee. He’s putting the boys in bed, but he’ll be down in a minute.”

  Jackson sat numbly at the kitchen table.

  “Here you go.” She’d known him long enough to know how he liked his coffee.

  He nodded. “Thanks.” He wrapped his hands around the warm cup and thought about Violet.

  “Hey, man.” Jeff walked into the room. “Everything okay?” He glanced at his wife but she shrugged.

  “It’s over,” Jackson said. “Violet and I. We’re done.”

  Lauren furrowed her brow and sat down across from him.

  Jeff leaned against a bar stool and crossed his arms. “What happened?”

  “It isn’t a nice story.” Jackson hung his head. What would they think of him once he explained?

  Lauren shook her head. “Breakups never are. Now tell us what happened.”

  Jackson told them everything, from the matchmaker to the contract to the eventual blowup. They both sat still, wearing nearly identical shocked expressions. Lauren spoke first.

  “A contract?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t get it.”

  “Violet and I were both looking for something specific—to get everyone off our cases an
d have a crutch at those events.” He shrugged. “It made perfect sense at the time.”

  “So you’re trying to tell me that it was all fake? What we saw at the Razorback game that day was just an act?” Jeff asked.

  Jackson nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  “Uh-uh. I don’t buy it.” Lauren shook her head. “You can’t fake chemistry like that, and you two had it. I don’t care if you went into it thinking it was a sham—what we saw was real.”

  “Yeah, well…it was real on my part. Not hers.” He shook his head. “I heard her plain as day telling her friend that I was a mess that she wasn’t going to get involved with. That it was all an act.”

  “Maybe she was saying that, but there’s no way she meant it.” Lauren was adamant. “I’m telling you what I saw, and it went both ways. It was not an act.”

  “I can’t help what you think you saw.” Jackson rubbed the stubble on his jaw. He hadn’t shaved in a couple of days, hadn’t even gone in to work today.

  Jeff paced the length of the dining room. “Do you think there’s a chance you misunderstood?”

  Jackson laughed. “At this point, it wouldn’t even matter. She says I betrayed her by going off with Whitney.”

  “She’s kind of got a point. What were you thinking?” Lauren asked.

  “I’ve never been in love. Until now. I just…when I heard her saying those things, it made me feel horrible. And I just wasn’t thinking when I went to that restaurant with Whitney. I was just going to go with her to that restaurant because I didn’t want to go home right then with my thoughts.”

  “And what happened?”

  “As soon as we got to the restaurant she started asking me questions about my relationship with Violet. How we met, when we met, where our first date was—stuff like that. She kept on and kept on, and finally I just snapped and told her to back off—that being there with her was a mistake.” He shook his head. “Then she snapped that picture of us, and the rest is history. Nothing happened at all.” He sighed.

  “Violet’s sister sounds like a pretty terrible human being,” Jeff said. “Any chance she’s behind it?”

  “In hindsight, absolutely. She was positively gleeful standing at that podium outing her sister. But I didn’t really know how much animosity she had until I saw that.”

  “And now Violet feels humiliated,” Lauren remarked.

  Jackson sighed. “The problem is that it isn’t the first time she’s been humiliated because of me.” He explained their relationship in college. “Y’all know that I went through a rough time back then. I was horrible to a lot of people.”

  Lauren groaned. “Just when I think it can’t get any worse.”

  “What can I do? How can I fix things?”

  “I’m not sure that you can,” Jeff said. “Sorry man. That’s a tough position to be in.”

  Jackson couldn’t accept that. There had to be something he could do.

  He just had to figure out what.

  Chapter 33

  Shadow Simmons: ARNIE IS REALLY SICK. HE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT. JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW. (Text message sent December 19, 2:42 p.m.)

  Jackson Stratford: THANKS FOR TELLING ME. HOPE YOU’RE DOING WELL. (Text message sent December 19, 2:45 p.m.)

  Jackson pulled into Violet’s driveway. This might not get him anywhere, but he had to at least give it a shot. He’d waited until the bakeshop was closed and she had plenty of time to get home before he showed up.

  He hurried up the path and knocked on the door before he lost his nerve.

  The living room curtains parted slightly, and then the porch light came on.

  Jackson held his breath. The porch light was a good sign, right? It meant she was going to open the door. With each passing second, his heart pounded faster.

  Finally the unmistakable sound of the dead bolt being unlocked reached his ears. He breathed a sigh of relief.

  Violet opened the door, her face an unreadable mask. “Yes?”

  “Can I come in? Please?”

  She pressed her lips together. “Just for a moment. It’s been a long day, and I need to get to bed.” Her red hair was twisted into a messy bun, and her face was scrubbed free of makeup, clear indications she was in the process of getting ready for bed.

  Jackson walked inside and sat down on the couch. His eyes fell on Arnie’s empty dog bed. “Is he…?”

  Violet sighed and sat down in the recliner. “He’s hanging in there. The vet thinks he’ll make it this time. His kidneys are just failing.” She shrugged. “The diet I have him on is helping to prolong things, but the end is inevitable. I’m bringing him home tomorrow.” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

  “I’m sorry.” He remembered how he’d poked fun at her cooking special food for the dog. She’d been doing it to keep him healthy, not because she was an overzealous owner. He should’ve been more sensitive to that. “But I’m glad you’ll get to bring him home.”

  She nodded. “I’m planning to have a special day for him next week. The shop will be closed for the week of Christmas, so we’re going to do some of his favorite things. Go for a ride in the car, go for a walk at the park, and then I’ll fix him a special meal.” She smiled a tiny smile. “Maybe steak and then ice cream. He likes that.” A tear dripped down her face. “I think that will be a nice memory to have.”

  “A special day to celebrate the good years you’ve had together. I think that’s perfect.” Jackson smiled. “I might not have an inside dog, but when I was a boy, we had a golden retriever. I loved that dog, and in the summertime he was my constant companion. He died my freshman year of college, and going home after that was never the same.”

  She nodded. “I’m glad to know you aren’t completely heartless.”

  “Not completely.”

  Violet stood up. “Would you like something to drink? I think I’d like some hot chocolate.”

  Jackson followed her into the kitchen. Her formal, polite demeanor was what she’d use if he were a stranger. That stung. But at least she wasn’t yelling. “That sounds good.” He sat down at the counter and watched as she pulled out a container of cocoa. “You’re making the real stuff—not from a mix?”

  She looked up and nodded. “Cocoa, milk, and sugar on the stovetop. That’s how my grandma always makes it, and it just tastes so much better than water and a mix.”

  “Old school.” He grinned. “That’s what I’ve come to expect from you.” He thought he saw a hint of a smile but wasn’t sure.

  She worked deftly, not bothering to measure. Her practiced ease in the kitchen always amazed him.

  “So why are you here?” she asked after minutes of silence. “And who told you about Arnie?” She poured cocoa in two red mugs and handed one to him.

  “Shadow sent me a text. I’m glad she did.” He took a sip. “This is delicious. Perfect for a December night. I can’t believe it’s nearly the first day of winter.”

  Violet nodded. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m here to apologize. You have to know that nothing happened with me and Whitney. It was dumb of me to go to that restaurant with her in the first place, but you have to understand that I was really upset. I overheard you talking to Reagan and telling her all that stuff about how you’d never fall for a guy like me.”

  She watched him for a moment. “You gave my sister the perfect ammunition to humiliate me in front of a crowd. How in the world did warning bells not go off in your head? You saw how ugly Amber was to me about you in the first place.”

  “She’s jealous of you.”

  Violet snorted. “No. She’s not jealous. She’s vindictive. Always has been. I love her because she is my sister, but I don’t like her. That’s water under the bridge though. The issue here is that you and I had a contract. We were supposed to be on each other’s team for the duration. And you going off with Whitney like that completely violates it.”

  The contract? That’s what she was mad about? “Wait. You’re upset with me for bre
aking the contract? Not because I was with Whitney?” he asked.

  She narrowed her eyes. “You shouldn’t have been with anyone. Especially not the same night you debuted as my boyfriend in front of my family. That’s just totally inappropriate and inexcusable.”

  He’d been hoping part of her anger was because he was spending time with someone else. But it looked like that wasn’t the case. “I don’t think you understand why I went with Whitney.”

  “Do you want to explain it?”

  His heart pounded. He’d never done this before. Thirty-five years and what seemed like a million dates and he’d never given his heart to anyone. Until now. “Violet, I love you.”

  Her green eyes widened. “What?”

  He regained his composure and lifted his chin. “I love you. This thing between us might have started out as fake and all because of a contract, but it isn’t fake to me any longer.”

  She leaned against the counter. “Is this some kind of joke? Are you just trying to make me feel secure so I’ll continue our game and go with you to your banquet?”

  “This has nothing to do with my speech. Nothing to do with a game. Everything to do with you. I’ve never met anyone like you. I love the way you walk and the way you talk and the exasperating way you never let me get away with anything.” He smiled. “Your hair and your vintage clothes and your obsession with old pennies.” He shrugged. “The whole package. I love you.”

  “Stop saying that,” she whispered. “Just stop.”

  He took a step toward her. “But why? It feels good to finally say it. I’ve been thinking it for a long time. You must have known after the first kiss. I’ve never felt anything so powerful.” He grinned. “And I’m kind of old, so that should mean something.”

  She didn’t smile at his joke. “If you loved me, you never would’ve gone off with Whitney. No matter what. Even if you were hurt or mad or whatever. You would’ve stayed and talked to me. Or something. Not end up out with your ex-girlfriend who happens to be my sister’s maid of honor.”