by Amy Harmon
“It wasn’t?”
He shook his head. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
That started another chorus of “Ohhh.”
Happiness filled Breezy as Noah leaned over and touched his lips to hers for the sweetest kiss she’d ever had.
Chapter Fifteen
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. —Song by Johnny Nash
Thursday, July 4
“How long does this parade last, anyway?”
Breezy glanced over at Noah and smiled. “We’re almost to the end now. Just one more block to go. Why? Aren’t you enjoying being dressed up as a storm cloud?” She laughed. “It was your idea to do a float all about the weather.”
He kept a smile on his face for the people lined up along the parade route.” What’s not to love about barely being able to move?”
The crowd was sparser here toward the end.
A little boy called out. “Look, it’s a cloud. With candy!”
Noah’s smile widened and he lobbed a handful of wrapped taffy pieces into the crowd. The little boy scrambled after it. “Okay, maybe I’m enjoying it just a little. But only because you look even sillier.”
She looked down at her parade costume for the KWAC float. She was dressed in a bright yellow raincoat and held a yellow umbrella. “I look like the Morton salt girl.”
“Only much prettier.” His eyes softened.
“Hey, cut out the mush,” Chad said as he worked his way toward them in his lightning bolt costume. “This is hard enough to do without watching you guys being all lovey-dovey.”
The parade ended and, after the float was driven back to the starting point, Noah clambered down and reached up to help Breezy down. He set her on her feet and she leaned up and kissed him. “Thanks for doing this. It meant a lot to me.”
“And for some ridiculous, inexplicable reason, that seems to matter to me.”
She laughed. “You are a closet romantic, Noah Drake.”
“She used to call you Drake the Snake, you know,” Chad called out.
He smiled. “I’m sure she did.”
“That was about the time you were stealing my dream career away.” She looked at him. “You had a pet name for me, too, if I remember correctly.”
He nodded. “Then I learned that I love Pollyanna.”
He kissed her.
Laughter and then clapping around them had them pulling back.
Noah kept his arm around her as they turned to face the crowd. They were circled by her friends.
Lindsey and Ethan held hands. Not married yet, but still engaged and talking dates.
Dani held a pink cotton candy, and she and Stephanie each grabbed a piece and popped it into their mouths.
Dani said, “Come on, we have a picnic planned before the talent show and the fireworks. You don’t get to kiss all afternoon.”
Breezy smiled at Noah.
He shook his head. “That is a darn shame.”
She whispered, “Maybe later.”
He twirled her around and leaned her back as if they were dancing. “Maybe right now.” And he kissed her again.
When he let her up for air, she waved her hand in front of her face. “Wow.”
“You kiss pretty good.” He grinned. “For Pollyanna.”
“You kiss pretty good. For a general manager.”
“And you kiss pretty well. For a meteorologist.”
She laughed. “For a boy.”
He nodded. “For a girl.”
And then there was no talking for a long time, until her laughing friends pulled them apart.
~ THE Happily Ever After ENDing ~
Author’s Note
In case anyone thinks two flat tires at one time is ridiculous, you’re right—but it did actually happen to me when I was a teenage driver. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, it was also the first time I ever deliberately sluffed church—and my cousin and I had to walk into church to find her father to come help us. I go to church now, and I’ve never had two flat tires at once again. Coincidence? Hmmm.
Stephanie Winkleheimer’s personal record was four rejections from agents in one day? Before I landed my New York agent, my personal record was twelve rejections in one day. Glad those days are behind me.
I didn’t find KWAC as an actual station, but if it is, I hope it’s as cool as mine.
I realize meteorologists work much longer hours than I had Breezy working, and she probably wouldn’t have been able to go to the Chick Flick nights as often as I show, so I ask forgiveness for having played with her schedule. She’s so darn cute I just gave her a break, as it were.
Other Works by Heather Horrocks
Regally Blonde
Old Money
No Sudden Moves
Baby Mine
Snowed Inn
Inn the Doghouse
Murder is Misunderstood
Bah Humbug! (A Christmas Street Romantic Comedy Novella)
Kissing Santa (A Christmas Street Romantic Comedy Novella)
About Heather Horrocks
Raised by her shop-til-you-drop mother and pay-for-the-purchases oilman father, Heather Horrocks lived overseas for her first seventeen years, attending schools in Colombia, Venezuela, London, Kuwait, and Iran.
She has always wanted to be a writer and is thrilled that readers are now waiting for her next books. (She’s also writing faster now, knowing people are waiting.)
Pride and Precipitation is the 165-page novella leading into the Chick Flick Clique romantic comedy series of full-length novels. It is followed by Regally Blonde, My Spare Lady and While You Were Stranded.
She has also authored the funny Who-Dun-Him Inn and Bad Mothers Club mystery series, and the inspirational Women Who Knew the Mortal Messiah series.
She loves anyone who can make her laugh, which explains why she adores her witty husband Mark, Anne George mysteries and Diane Darcy romances, funny friends, and Bill Cosby. She loves movies (especially romantic comedies), music, books, sharing what she’s learned about life and writing, and cooking for friends and family, especially her children/stepchildren and their families. She resides in Utah with her husband and little dog Gus, who continues to make false claims on his blog that he is the actual author of her books.
She loves to hear from her readers at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.
Acknowledgments
A huge thanks to Jim Kosek (Meteorologist Extraordinaire at ABC4), who is the most-watched meteorologist on YouTube, gaining in popularity in the Salt Lake market, and warm and generous in person. The information you provided me for Breezy’s job was invaluable. Thank you so much for being so willing to let me come to the studio and for sharing your knowledge with me. Well, a tiny fraction of it, anyway, which was really all I needed to flavor my story.
My favorite moment at ABC4? There are so many, but I think my most incredulous moment was seeing the copy of The Idiot’s Guide to Extreme Weather on the shelf in the Weather Cave. And to learn that it wasn’t a gag gift, but actually came in handy when talking with groups of people who ask questions about obscure weather facts.
A big thank you to all the other ABC4 News people who also shared their expertise with me. Thanks, Leesa Dillon (Assistant News Director) and Rob Tompkins (Executive Producer) for the personal visit and the videos. The producers who let me crash their morning meeting. It was awesome to see the Anchors/Reporters—Brent Hunsaker, Don Hudson, and Kim Fischer—in action, live, in the studio. (And Don, I am truly sorry I wasn’t able to work that female vampire killer into this story. Perhaps she’ll find her way into my upcoming paranormal series.)
Thanks to my cousin, Sonnet Hullinger, who graciously lent me her name. I not only stole her personal name, but also her business name: Fresh Photography By Sonnet. (Check it out; she does beautiful work: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresh-Photography-by-Sonnet/136023220183)
Thanks to my long-time writing buddy, Diane Darcy, author of She’s Just Right, She Owns the Knight, Serendipity, and lots
of other great books, for the awesome and invaluable help in figuring out who Noah and Breezy are and what they would do when tossed together. That writing retreat to Harrisburg was awesome.
Thanks to my other awesome writer friends and readers. Bruce Simpson (author of a really cool YA wand series), Kathleen Damp Wright (author of the popular S.A.V.E Squad series), my Wednesday group members (talented authors Abraham Allan, Dawniece van Duren, and Rangi Moleni) who helped me further refine my pages, and all those who read the completed book in full and suggested I wasn’t done quite yet (Marie Barnhurst, Nikki Fellows, Molly Ford, and Jeanne Kluse). Thanks to Anissa Wall for the professional edit that put the finishing touch on my book. You all make me look better and I appreciate it!
And last, Dad, thanks for sharing the story of when you went in as the new VP of the oil company overseas and earned the nickname of the Firing Squad. You and Noah are two good guys who have a lot in common.
My Own Mr. Darcy
by Karey White
For Mom,
Who raised eleven children,
Baked homemade bread,
Sewed most of our clothes,
Made cheese,
and still managed to find time
to read to us before bed.
You loved Darcy and Elizabeth
Long before I did.
Thank you for giving them to me.
Chapter One
The theater was nearly empty. It might have been because of the late hour but I suspected it was because this movie was going to be a snoozefest.
“Darn, they got the best seats,” Mom said, tilting her head toward a row of silver-haired women.
“Mom, there are plenty of seats,” I said.
“I know, I know. I just wanted to be right in the center.” Mom started up the dimly lit stairs. We lagged a few steps behind her.
“What have we gotten ourselves into?” I whispered to Janessa.
She gave me a stern, best-friend glare and an elbow jab. “Your mom’s excited. Don’t spoil it for her.” I rolled my eyes.
Janessa and I were the only teenagers in the room. Everyone else was even older than Mom. The five silver-haired women were talking loudly and giggling. They probably didn’t get out much. One of the women held a handbag the size of carryon luggage in her lap and another had a scarf with a jeweled pin that sparkled even in the near darkness.
There wasn’t a man in sight. No wonder Dad had refused to come.
“How about here?” Mom said, indicating seats two rows in front of the senior citizen contingency. I looked at Janessa and she shrugged her shoulders. We followed Mom into the row and I planted myself with a sigh into the plush seat. At least the theater was nice—new enough that my seat still had spring and my feet didn’t stick to the floor.
Mom linked her arm through mine. “Lizzie, you could at least pretend to be having fun. I’m letting you go to a late movie on a school night. Do you think you could muster up a teeny tiny smile?”
I gave my mom a cheesy, fake smile. She shook her head and laughed and I caved and smiled a real smile. “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to come,” Mom said. “You know you were named after the main character.”
“I thought I was named after Dad’s aunt,” I said.
Mom waved me off. “Her, too. I wanted to name you Elizabeth after Elizabeth Bennet because she’s strong and smart and confident. All the things I wanted you to become. Dad thought it was silly to name you after a character in a book, especially since our last name is Barrett. I finally got him to agree by reminding him he could tell everyone you were named after his aunt.”
“Just because I’m named after her doesn’t mean this movie won’t be boring.”
Janessa elbowed me again. “Come on, Lizzie. This is better than homework. Or being in bed. Thanks for convincing my mom to let me come, Mrs. Barrett.”
“I’m glad you could join us,” Mom said.
“You’ll have to tell us how closely it follows the book,” I said.
Mom looked at me with suspicion. “Just remember, you girls are seeing this movie in addition to reading the book. Not instead of reading it.”
“Of course, we’ll read it,” Janessa said.
The truth was I had no intention of reading the book. I’d started it three times since Mr. Malloy gave us the reading list and I just didn’t get it. The words made no sense and by the third page, I was lost. I was depending on this movie and the Internet to give me all the information I’d need to ace this unit.
“I’m serious. Lizzie? You girls promise me you’re going to read the book or we’ll leave right now. I won’t help you cheat.” I stared at a woman with an unusually large smile on the screen. I guess her oversized white teeth were supposed to entice us to visit Dr. Stonesmith’s office for free teeth whitening. “Are you going to read the book, Lizzie?” The screen changed to a lawyer with perfect helmet-hair who could defend my rights if I was hurt in an auto accident. “Lizzie?”
“You know I always end up reading the books, Mom. I’m a good student. That’s why I’m in Honors English.”
“We’ll read it together, Mrs. Barrett,” Janessa said.
Satisfied, Mom settled back into her seat. “You’re going to love it. I’ve read it every few years since I was your age. And I’ve seen the 6-hour mini-series at least three times,” Mom said. “This is going to be fun.”
I enjoy a good romance and Mom assured me this was, but I preferred romances that took place in the twenty-first century. I’d seen a couple of movies made in the eighties and nineties that I liked, but only a couple. Mr. Malloy had told us Pride and Prejudice was a classic romance from the early nineteenth century.
That was two-hundred years ago!
Jane Austen may have been a talented writer, but what did anyone from two-hundred years ago know about romance? And Mom. Sitting here in her mom-jeans and a pale blue polo shirt, Mom didn’t exactly inspire romantic confidence. She couldn’t even convince Dad to come with her. If this was a romance for the ages, it shouldn’t have been difficult to persuade the love of her life to sit beside her in a dark theater for an hour and a half.
When Dad had refused for the tenth time, Mom turned to me. Lucky for her, Pride and Prejudice was next on our reading list or it would have taken a hefty bribe to get me here, whether I was named after this Elizabeth or not. Thank goodness for Janessa. At least sitting through the movie would give us something we could laugh about later.
The lights dimmed and the previews began. I nestled down in my seat and propped my feet up in front of me.
I have a theory about previews. I think you can tell a lot about a movie by the previews they show before it and if my theory held up, we were in trouble. The first trailer was for a movie about a Scottish cyclist with bi-polar disorder. Fun! The star was cute but the movie looked dismal. The second starred Russell Crowe as a greedy businessman who learns the meaning of life when he travels to Europe to sell a vineyard. Ugh. Riveting stuff.
The movie opened with some pretty scenes of the English countryside and a piano song so gentle and lilting, it could have put me to sleep. Elizabeth walked across the meadow reading. I’d seen Keira Knightley in Bend it Like Beckham and she looked even prettier here. There was a houseful of girls and a silly mother. There was a father that liked to tease the mother. And woo hoo! The new guy was single and rich and he was going to be at the dance.
Soon a crowd of poorly dressed country folk was dancing to some lively music. It was crowded and noisy and I could imagine the room probably smelled bad.
And then something happened—both on the screen and inside me. I took my feet off the seat in front of me and leaned forward. The new guy and his friend had just walked into the dance. Mr. Bingley was smiley and charming and cute in a goofy way, but I hardly noticed him. His friend was Mr. Darcy.
And Mr. Darcy was magnificent.
Sure, he was surly and dour. But he was tall and imposing. He looked around the room with contempt and whil
e his mouth said boorish things about the local girls, his eyes were drawn toward Elizabeth.
Blue eyes. Interesting eyes. Expressive eyes.
The rest of the movie I was enchanted. I ached for it to go on and on and dreaded the moment it would end. Every time Mr. Darcy was on the screen, I melted. When he looked at Elizabeth, I couldn’t breathe. When he helped her into the carriage, I gripped the armrest a little tighter. When he danced with her my heart stopped beating for a second. He was the most intriguing man I’d ever seen.
Did I mention Mr. Darcy’s eyes?
And then they argued in the rain and they were so passionate and the place was so beautiful. I knew every daydream I’d ever dreamed would have to be re-imagined to include those giant, mossy pillars and that vast, green countryside. Even the rain was romantic.
I wondered if they’d kiss. I wanted them to kiss. The anticipation of it all was killing me and I considered asking mom how it would end just to ease my mind, but I couldn’t let her know how much I was enjoying this movie she’d had to drag me to. Mr. Darcy leaned in so close I don’t know how they didn’t kiss. His feelings were so obvious in his eyes I don’t know how Elizabeth could stand it.
And then Elizabeth refused him. How could she? Just kiss her! She’d be putty in his hands if he’d just kiss her. But he didn’t and when he left and she collapsed against the wall, I wanted to cry.
Oh no! I was going to cry. I couldn’t cry at this movie. That would be far too embarrassing. I blinked hard and fast.
It took much too long for Mr. Darcy to reappear on the screen. Okay fine. It wasn’t that long, but it felt much too long. He was so quiet and hard to read, but when he was with his sister, he was happy and he smiled.
