Boots and Bedlam

by Ashley Farley

  “That’s a good problem for us to have.”

  “Do you have any idea what Bitsy and Mike are planning for the parade?”

  “None. They’re keeping it top secret.” Faith fumbled in her purse for her keys. “Did Jackie mention Friday night to you? Bill has offered to take all of us in his boat for the parade. And Mike and I are having everyone over for chili afterward. I hope you and Eli will join us.”

  Sam smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it. Thanks for including us. It’ll give me something to look forward to.”

  Sam spent the day on Saturday, cleaning out closets and cabinets and under beds. She vacuumed, dusted, and polished until every surface shined. She scrubbed the tile in the bathroom and cleaned the bugs and cobwebs from the light fixtures on the front porch and back deck. When Eli got off work at three, they oiled door hinges, replaced burned-out spotlights outside, and fixed the toilet in Jamie’s bath that continued to run even after the bowl had filled.

  Five of the six people Sam invited to the open house on Sunday agreed to come. Sam left Sheila in charge of showing the house while she spent that afternoon at the market, organizing their special orders for Christmas and adjusting her inventory for the increase in business during the weeks ahead. By the time she-returned home at six o’clock, three of the five potential buyers had made offers. One of them, a young police officer who worked with Eli at the station, made a considerably higher offer than the other two.

  “His wife is expecting a baby in late January,” Shiela explained. “They’ve been looking for a house for almost a year. For financial reasons, they can’t close until mid-January, but they’d like to move in right after Christmas and pay you rent for the following month. The lease on their apartment is up on December 31. Obviously, they don’t want to renew. And they’d like to get settled before the baby comes.”

  “I don’t know,” Sam said, her lips pressed into a fine line. “I was hoping we could take our time in moving into the bungalow.”

  “Why don’t you give us a chance to discuss the offer?” Eli said as he escorted Sheila to the door. “We’ll call you in a little while.”

  He closed the door behind the realtor, and crossed the sitting room to Sam. “I realize this is a lot on you at once,” he said, taking her in his arms. “But I don’t see how we can leave that much money on the table. The other two offers are ten thousand dollars less. Do you know what we can do with ten thousand dollars? We’ll make it work somehow. I promise.”

  Sam rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ll remind you of that on December twenty-fourth when we are getting married, moving into a new house, and celebrating Christmas all in one weekend.”

  “I’m not saying it’ll be perfect. But I can promise we’ll get it all done.” He kissed her hair. “This is a happy time for us. Why don’t we go to dinner to celebrate?”

  “I don’t feel much like celebrating. I know I should be ecstatic, selling my house without officially putting it on the market, but I can’t shake this nagging feeling that something is wrong.”

  He held her at arm’s length. “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”

  “About marrying you? Never.” She cupped his cheek. “Just a lot of changes at once for a girl like me who has worn the same pair of cowboy boots for the past fifteen years.”

  While Eli called the realtor to accept the pregnant couple’s offer, Sam wandered from room to room, remembering the events that had taken place in her yellow Cape Cod during the past eighteen years. Her tour down Memory Lane ended in the kitchen where she removed a pint of barbecue from the freezer, brewed a cup of peppermint tea, and called Jamie with the news.

  “That’s awesome! Does this mean we can move into the house sooner?”

  “Aren’t you the least bit sad? I just sold our home.”

  “Stop being so sentimental, Mom. The bungalow rocks.”

  Get a grip, Sam. Everyone is excited about this move except you.

  “I’ve been meaning to call you,” Jamie said, his tone more serious. “I hope you don’t mind, but I invited Sophia to come home with me for Christmas.”

  “You did what?!” Sam said, slumping back against the counter.

  A stranger in the house for Christmas? As if we don’t already have enough going on.

  “Her parents accepted a last-minute invitation to go to Russia for the holidays. I didn’t want Sophia to be alone, especially not at Christmas.”

  Right. The fourth thing Sam knew about Sophia—she was an only child like Jamie.

  Sam sighed. “Of course not. Do you know how long she’s planning to stay? I’m going to need your help with the move. We have to be out of this house by the twenty-eighth.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be gone by then,” Jamie said, but Sam didn’t think her son sounded so sure at all.

  Over dinner, Sam broke the news to Eli about Sophia. “I’ve been dying to meet her, just not in the middle of our chaos.”

  “We’re getting married, honey. In my book, the more family and friends who attend the wedding the merrier. Besides, throwing Sophia into our chaos will show us what she’s made of. If she’s anything like Annie, she’ll jump right in and make herself useful.”

  Sam felt a glimmer of hope. Eli was right. When Annie first came to town, she dove headfirst into their lives and landed on both feet. She was an asset to all of them at every turn—in the kitchen, at the market, with Bitsy. Maybe they’d get lucky. Maybe Sophia would turn out to be as equally helpful and pleasant as Annie to be around.

  EIGHT

  Sam had little free time outside of work that week, aside from the few minutes of online Christmas shopping she managed before falling exhausted into bed at night. The phone at Sweeney’s rang all day long with special orders for Christmas and the weekends in between. Business was booming. And she needed to stay focused.

  Not so long ago, eighteen months if anyone was counting, Captain Sweeney’s Seafood had almost gone bankrupt. Renovations to modernize the market had been an unpopular move with the local crowd, and the Sweeney family was forced to prove themselves all over again. Sam’s wasn’t the only livelihood that relied upon the market’s success. Both Lovie and Faith depended on their steady incomes. And although Jamie hadn’t made up his mind for certain yet, she sensed he was interested in running the business after he graduated from college.

  On Friday night, Mike and Bitsy won first prize in the boat parade for their dock decorations. Which included, but was not limited to, Santa in his sleigh guided by a team of reindeer prancing down the dock railing preparing for takeoff. With Bitsy’s help, Mike had spent months constructing and painting the plywood props and outlining them with strands of lights. Sam had never witnessed a happier seven-year-old than Bitsy when she accepted her trophy from the mayor.

  Annie and Cooper, one of Jackie’s seventeen-year-old twins, could not take their eyes off of one another during the celebration at Faith’s house afterward.

  Is he the mystery boy responsible for Annie’s glow?

  Sam’s suspicions were confirmed the following day when she happened upon the two of them huddled together, whispering and giggling, in the corner of the kitchen at Sweeney’s.

  “Cooper, honey, you’re just the guy I’m looking for.” Sam made herself busy at the sink, cleaning out a shrimp steamer. “Oysters are in hot demand these days. We’ve already gone through the bushels you brought in on Wednesday. Is there any chance I can persuade you and Sean to go for more?”

  “We’re already on it, Aunt Sam. I’m waiting for Sean to pick me up. He went out to the farm to get some buckets.”

  “You’re a godsend. I don’t know what I’ll do when the two of you leave for college in the fall.”

  Based on the crestfallen look on her face, Annie was dreading his departure as well.

  Sam waited for Cooper to leave before confronting Annie. “Cooper’s the one, isn’t he?”

  “The one who what?” Annie said, narrowing her eyes.

  Sam wagged her fin
ger at the girl. “Don’t play dumb with me, missy. I know he’s the one responsible for that extra kick in your step.”

  Annie’s cheeks grew pink. “Please don’t say anything to anybody. Neither of us has ever been in a relationship before. It’s all so new. We agreed to take things slow.”

  Sam set the steamer pot in the rack to drain. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” Moving down the counter, she gathered a cutting board and utility knife, and began dicing potatoes. “How does Sean feel about your relationship?”

  Cooper and Sean had quite literally fought for Annie’s attention last summer when she first came to town. Jackie had come home from Charleston to find them duking it out in the backyard. At the time, Annie had been more interested in saving her father’s life than in a relationship with either of the twins.

  Annie grabbed a knife and an onion and joined Sam at the counter. “Sean doesn’t know about Cooper and me yet. At least I don’t think so. I’m never really sure what goes on between those two. You know, that eerie twin thing?”

  Sam smiled. “I know it well.”

  Annie brushed an onion tear off her cheek with the back of her hand. “Anyway, Sean has a girlfriend. I like her a lot. Her name is Mindy, and she’s really pretty with an awesome haircut, short and blonde, like yours.”

  Sam nudged Annie with her elbow. “Make Cooper be good to you. And don’t let him talk you into doing anything you’re not ready to do.”

  Annie blushed again. “Don’t worry, Sam. We are figuring out this relationship thing as we go, one step at a time.”

  “You know you can come to me if you need to talk. About anything.” Sam looked up from her task, and held Annie’s gaze until she nodded. “Enough lecture for one day. Tell me, how are things coming with the plans for my wedding luncheon?”

  The yellow flecks in Annie’s brown eyes glimmered. “Heidi and I have almost nailed down the menu. Jackie is helping us with the decorations. You are gonna be so surprised.”

  “So Jackie’s gotten involved, has she?” Sam said with a snicker.

  “Um . . . maybe I wasn’t supposed to say anything. I hope you’re not mad if she helps.”

  “Of course I’m not mad. I just think it’s funny. My sister can’t help herself. She lives to plan parties.”

  Jackie’s involvement explained why Heidi hadn’t included a line item for decorations in her proposal. Sam received an estimate for the rentals—chairs, tables, and linens—and the expense of the food, including the seafood, which Sam was supplying through the market at cost. Heidi was providing all of the china, crystal, and flatware from her inventory for free.

  “Just make sure Jackie doesn’t go overboard like she tends to do.”

  “She’s not,” Annie said, shaking her head. “Simply elegant is her goal. She wanted me to ask you if you’ve done anything about flowers for the church.”

  “I’ve ordered several large white poinsettias. Tell her that’s all I want.”

  “What about a bouquet?”

  “I’m turning fifty in June, Annie. I don’t need a bouquet.” She quickly changed her mind when she saw the disappointed look on the girl’s face. “Okay fine. Maybe something small.”

  Annie set her knife down and went to the sink to wash her hands. “I almost forgot. I have something to show you.” She disappeared into the office and returned seconds later with a handful of drawings. “I know you don’t want to send out invitations, but since you’re having only a few guests, I thought something handmade might be special.” She spread the drawings out on the counter.

  Sam scraped her diced potatoes off the cutting board into a pot on the stove and turned her attention to the cards. “Did you make these yourself?”

  Annie nodded.

  Using watercolors, she had painted wreaths of greens with red berries on cream-colored card stock, and then created a calligraphed announcement of the nuptials between Sam and Eli with the date, time, and location of both the service and the reception beneath.

  Sam ran her finger across the calligraphy. “They’re really beautiful, Annie. I love them,” she said, giving Annie a half hug. “You never cease to amaze me with your endless talents.”

  “I’m glad you like them. If you’ll give me the list of your guests, Cooper and I will hand deliver them tomorrow.”

  Sam planted a kiss on the girl’s cheek. “I couldn’t love you more if you were my own daughter.”

  NINE

  On Wednesday morning, Sam was on the phone helping Belinda Baker, one of her best customers, plan her Christmas brunch when Mimi Motte stormed into the market. She marched up to the counter and gestured at Sam to end her call. “I need to talk to you,” she said in a loud whisper. “I don’t have much time.”

  Jackie had worked for Mimi at Motte Interiors for fourteen years. Mimi had never been a fan of the Sweeney family, always acted as if the sisters and their mother were in some way inferior to her, but she’d been downright nasty toward them ever since Jackie resigned from her firm and took several of their key clients with her.

  Sam turned her back on Mimi and stepped away from the counter while she concluded her call. “I know it’s a difficult decision, Belinda. You want everything to be perfect for your family for Christmas. But you really can’t go wrong with either the shrimp and grits or the crab casserole. Why don’t you give it some thought and call me back once you’ve made your decision? We still have plenty of time.”

  Sam ended the call and jammed her cell phone in her back pocket. “Good grief, Mimi. What’s the emergency? You act as if the sky is falling.”

  “This is worse! My caterer just walked out on me, and I have ten power couples coming for dinner tonight. My house is a wreck.”

  “At least you have oysters.” Sam went to the kitchen and returned with the five dozen oysters Mimi had ordered. She set the netted bags on the counter and scanned the bar codes into the cash register.

  Mimi jabbed her finger at the oysters. “And just who do you think is going to crack those? Did you not hear me, Samantha? I told you my caterer quit!” she said.

  “I can’t say I blame him if you yelled at him like that.”

  Mimi banged her fist on the counter. “You have to do something!”

  “Calm down already.” Sam cast a glance at the ship’s clock over the door. “Robert is at lunch now. But if you leave the oysters with me, I’ll have him crack them and display them on a tray of ice for you when he gets back.”

  “That only solves one of my many problems. I need a cook. I don’t even know how to turn on the oven. And a florist. My arrangements always end up lopsided. This is a sit-down dinner for twenty-two. I need three servers minimum, two for the big table in the dining room and one for the smaller group I’m putting in the living room. Please, Samantha. You’ve got to help me.” Mimi removed a tissue from her Louis Vuitton handbag and dabbed at her dry eyes.

  Sam sighed. “I’m not sure what you want from me, Mimi. I don’t have a caterer in my back pocket.” A thought occurred to her and she snapped her fingers. “On second thought, maybe I do. Heidi Butler, the woman who is planning my wedding luncheon, has just moved back to the East Coast from California. She’s been doing a lot of work for Jackie’s clients. I’m happy to call her to see if by any chance she’s free.”

  Mimi sniffled. “Hmm. I don’t know. I’m not in the habit of taking handouts from my competition.”

  “I’m offering you a referral for a caterer, Mimi. Not Jackie’s client rejects. She’s the only person I know who might be available. Take it or leave it.”

  Mimi slumped against the counter. “Fine. Call her.”

  Removing her cell phone from her pocket, she clicked on Heidi’s contact information. When Heidi answered on the third ring, Sam explained the reason for her call.

  “Let me see . . . If I juggle a few things around . . . I have two appointments this afternoon, but I can reschedule them for later in the week. I can get someone to cover for me at the Ravenel reception this
evening. I think I can make it work. I’ll be there in an hour.”

  Sam pressed the phone to her chest. “Heidi says she can be here in an hour.”

  Mimi snatched the phone away from Sam. “Mimi Motte here. I trust you can handle the flowers and the food. We’ll need three servers as well.”

  Sam grabbed the phone back, set it on the counter, and pressed the speaker button. “You’re on speaker now, Heidi.” She glared across the counter at Mimi.

  “I doubt I’ll be able to find anyone on this short notice. Charleston is hopping with parties. Tis the season and all.”

  “That’s not good enough. How can I possibly have a party without servers? I’ll have to postpone.”

  “What about Annie?” Heidi suggested. “Can she help out?”

  Mimi perked up. “Who’s Annie?”

  “My part-time help,” Sam said. “She works here after school. She’s a whiz in the kitchen. I can do without her for the afternoon.”

  “One down, two to go.” Mimi shot Sam a quick head-to-toe glance. “What about you, Samantha? Are you free to work the party tonight?”

  Sam hesitated. She’d rather have the dentist drill decay out of her tooth with no local anesthesia than spend the evening in Mimi’s presence. On the other hand, Eli was working nights this week and she was growing tired of watching sappy Christmas movies on Lifetime. No sense in passing up an opportunity to earn a little extra money. Sam ran her fingers through her short hair. “Alright, fine. I can come over after we close the market at six.”

  “Two down—”

  Sam held up her hand. “Take my advice, Mimi, and quit while you’re ahead.”

  Annie answered the door when Sam arrived at the Motte’s sprawling contemporary house a few minutes past six.

  “This house is amazing, Sam. Come see.” She took Sam by the hand and dragged her through the downstairs. “Too bad you couldn’t come during daylight. The view is amazing.” Like a docent in a museum, she offered interesting tidbits as they passed through each room. “That grandfather clock in the corner belonged to Mimi’s great-uncle. And the woman in the portrait above the fireplace was her grandmother, who once ate dinner with Queen Elizabeth. Can you believe that?” Photographs lined the hallway that led to the back of the house. “Look, there’s George and Barbara Bush. Colin Powell. Condoleezza Rice.” She leaned in close to Sam’s ear. “The Mottes know everyone. There’s Jack Nicklaus and that tennis player.” Annie snapped her fingers. “I can’t think of her name. She’s way older than me.”