The Promise of Rainbows

by Ava Miles

  “Yeah!” Sadie exclaimed. “If he keeps buying up that amount of flowers, there won’t be any left in the entire city.”

  “I hope he keeps buying you flowers,” Shelby said. “If you ask me, when a man stops doing the little things, the magic is lost.”

  Susannah opened the door to her Audi and threw her purse inside. “I have a feeling he’s going to do fine.”

  “Me too,” Sadie said, giving her another hug.

  Shelby wrapped her arms around Susannah as soon as Sadie let her go. “I’m happy he makes you happy, but if you ever need us like you did the other night, don’t hesitate to call.”

  When Susannah pulled away enough to meet her eyes, some of her happy glow had dimmed. “I will. I’m hoping for the best.”

  She nodded and waited until Susannah had driven off before turning to Sadie. “Mama’s right. She’s going to need a lot of prayers.”

  Sadie swatted her. “Oh, you’re always fretting. If Jake’s anywhere near as happy as Susannah, he’s well on his way to recovery.”

  “I sure hope so,” Shelby said, rubbing her arms as the wind picked up. “I need to get back.”

  “Me too,” Sadie said, “but I need to talk with you about something real quick.”

  Giving her sister her full attention, she crossed her arms to ward off the chill. She should have worn a thicker coat. “Okay, but hurry. I’m freezing my tail off out here.”

  “Are you serious about hiring a private investigator to try and find Daddy?” she asked. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it after what you said about Gail and…well…I have to be honest. I don’t want to try and find Daddy just to discover his medical history.”

  Shelby blinked a couple of times. “I don’t either, but I’ve thought about it a lot since Susannah got all flustered. She’s right about it hurting Mama, and that would kill me. It would open up a can of worms if we find Daddy.” Which is why she’d turned the burner down for the moment.

  “I agree,” Sadie said, “which is why I think we should pray on it some more. If we still feel it’s the right thing to do in a few weeks, let’s talk to J.P.”

  Shelby frowned immediately.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Sadie said, holding up her hand, “but hear me out.”

  Since turning tail from Sadie and racing off in her car would be immature, she held her ground. “All right. Let’s hear it.”

  “We both agree we don’t want to hurt Mama—or anyone else for that matter.”

  Shelby nodded.

  “If we explain our reasoning to J.P., I think he’ll be an ally with Susannah and Mama, should we choose to go through with it. I’ve never known J.P. to forbid us to do anything, and I think he might remember some things about Daddy, what with him being older when he left.”

  “J.P. doesn’t know why Daddy left any more than the rest of us do, Sadie.” She fought off her frustration. “But you’re right about him being more…open-minded than Susannah.”

  Sadie hugged her, and they swayed in place.

  “So let’s pray about it more and then see how we feel,” her sister said, letting her go. “It’s a big step.”

  “We may not find anything,” Shelby told her. That truth had dug in deep like a burr.

  “But we might,” Sadie fired back. “All the more important for us to discuss this with everyone who’s willing to talk about it. Our decision will affect the whole family, Shelby.”

  “It doesn’t have to,” Shelby said. “If people don’t want to know what we discover, we won’t tell them.”

  Sadie walked over to her car and unlocked it. “I need to run, but Shelby…if we find something, everyone will deserve to be told. Especially any medical stuff. But if we find him, I’d…I’d want to visit him and talk to him—even though I don’t know what our reception would be.”

  Shivering at the thought, Shelby dug out her key fob. “So we pray on it a spell more,” she agreed with a nod. She gave her sister a wave and headed over to her own car, unlocking it with the fob. Once inside, she rested her head on the steering wheel.

  Sadie was right; her interest in finding their daddy was about so much more than learning about his medical history. Gail’s recent news had only magnified her one true desire.

  She wanted to find her daddy for real.

  Chapter 22

  Over the next week, Susannah’s life altered dramatically. She spent every day with Jake, either working on his house, which included beginning the mural, or simply being with him.

  They went out to their first restaurant together, and the next day, sure enough, there was a picture of her and Jake holding hands all over social media. She didn’t mind. It wasn’t like they could hide away from the world forever, and now that they were officially dating, they didn’t care who knew. Of course, it bothered her a touch to think some might suggest she was being less than professional, dating a client, but after all the strides they’d taken together, there was no way she was going to wait until his home was finished to be with him.

  Her mama called, and they talked a good spell about how happy Jake made her. Her brother checked in with her too, and Tammy, Tory, and Amelia Ann insisted on taking her out to lunch. She delighted in sharing her joy with them over a scrumptious sausage and pepperoni pizza at DeSano Pizza Bakery. Tory had given her some tips about what it was like to be involved with a country music star. While she’d joked about using a frying pan on the more obnoxious photographers, she’d said to simply let the men do their thing. That’s what the press wanted mostly anyway.

  Truth be told, her expanding family was so interested in her business, she wouldn’t have been surprised if Rye himself had called. Now, if Clayton had done so, she would have fallen off her chair.

  When Sunday rolled around, she and Jake went to church together. They held hands going into the service, during, and pretty much throughout the fellowship afterward. Tongues wagged. People stared. Many flat-out congratulated her, saying it was about darn time she’d found a man. She was so happy, she didn’t even mind. Much. Jake took it all in stride, telling everyone he was the luckiest man in the world.

  She’d asked him to come to Sunday dinner, and he insisted on helping her make the blueberry pie she’d promised to bring as a contribution. All he really did was wash and stem the blueberries, but it felt so good to cook with him and bring something they’d made together.

  When they arrived and joined everyone in the kitchen, where pots were simmering and meat was sizzling, she made sure to tell everyone Jake had helped with the baking.

  Rye immediately slapped him on the back and said, “When you start baking pies with a woman, you’re a lost cause. I know that from personal experience.”

  “You’ve never made a pie in your life, Rye Crenshaw,” Tory said, giving him an arch look that made him smack a kiss on her cheek.

  “I wash things,” Rye said with that wicked drawl of his. “Sometimes.”

  “Don’t listen to him, Jake.” Tory picked up a clean spoon and shook it at her husband. “That man likes to think that watching in the kitchen is helping.” She thrust it into a bubbling pot of grits and stirred with a good amount of gusto.

  “When the cook is so beautiful, I can’t do anything but watch. I’d cut my hand with a knife or burn myself. I recall someone burning her hand taking out the cornbread once.”

  “You’re impossible!” she said, shaking her head.

  Everyone was laughing when Annabelle bolted into the house with a panting Barbie at her side.

  “Jake!” she yelled, catapulting herself into his leg. “I was in the tree house with Rory. Mama radioed you were here.”

  “Radioed, huh?” he asked, sinking down to one knee to receive her little hug.

  Susannah pretty much melted at the sweet sight of them together, and everyone else seemed to have the same reaction. Her mama sidled up to her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “He looks happy,” Mama said softly. “Like you.”

  “Yea
h,” was pretty much all she could say. “I love him, Mama.” It felt so good to say the words, to give voice to this truth she knew in her heart.

  “I know you do, sugar,” Mama said with a squeeze. “And he loves you.”

  He hadn’t said it yet, but she knew he did. Every time he looked at her…well, it was like she was the sun and the moon and the stars combined—which he told her pretty much every day. He’d even written it into a new song, he’d said, but he hadn’t shared it with her yet. But she knew it was about her. About them. Talk about humbling and romantic.

  “Are you happy with his progress?” she asked, keeping her voice to a whisper so no one would overhear.

  “You know I can’t say,” Mama replied, resting her head on her shoulder. “He needs to tell you, sugar, but I think it’s pretty obvious he’s happy.”

  Jake did share some of the aspects of his sessions with Mama with her. He’d told her about Mama’s assignment to write a letter to God, which had unsettled him but crystalized how he felt. This past week, he’d had two sessions, and he said he wanted to continue to give his PTSD the attention it needed. He hadn’t experienced another episode, and his relief was obvious. She took it as evidence their prayers were helping. She continued to lift him up every time he came to mind, which was pretty often. Truth be told, it was probably a good thing he was her only client right now. She couldn’t imagine trying to concentrate elsewhere.

  “He’s good with Annabelle,” her mama said, and Susannah knew what she was suggesting.

  He would be a good father. That thought had already struck her a couple times. She refused to feel bad about it.

  Jake finally stood, and Annabelle took his hand. “Seems we’re going to see the tree swing.”

  “We’re not going to see it, Jake,” Annabelle said in exasperation, looking so darling in her blue coat and pink stocking hat. “You’re going to push me.”

  “Oh, right,” he teased. “You’ll have to remind me. I’m getting along in years.”

  “You’re not that old,” Annabelle told him, pulling him toward the back door. “But even old people can push me on the swing. Granddaddy does sometimes.”

  “Thanks so much, missy,” Rye’s daddy fired back. “She’s a spitfire, that one.”

  “Yes, I am,” Annabelle responded with a wink. “Come on, Jake.”

  He looked up at Susannah, and she felt a smile spread across her face.

  “Seems I have a date,” he drawled.

  The moment he left, she could feel all eyes pinned on her. She lifted her shoulders and said, “So, we’re pretty happy.”

  “We’re not a bunch of mules,” Rye said, crossing the room to tweak her nose. “He baked a pie with you, girl. That man is crazy about you.”

  “And I him,” she responded with a grin.

  “That’s good,” Rye said, two-stepping his way over to his wife’s side. “When’s dinner going to be ready, honey?”

  “Do you ever think about anything but your next meal, Rye Crenshaw?” Tory asked him.

  He snaked his hand around her as she was passing him and pulled her flush against his chest. “Yeah, darlin’. You and the baby. Now let’s see what we can hunt up for snacks.”

  “I have them right here, Rye,” Tammy said, pulling a large serving plate out of the refrigerator. “Eat away.”

  Rye plucked one of the peppers slices off the plate and popped it into his mouth, making Tory laugh.

  “We really can’t take him anywhere,” she told everyone.

  “He’s incorrigible,” Rory said, brightening up when his uncle handed him a slice of pepper. “Right, Aunt Tory?”

  “Right,” she agreed, ruffling his blond hair.

  Tammy removed a few more dishes from the refrigerator and set them on the counter. “I made a spicy ranch dip for the vegetables. That should go well with the savory zucchini treats you made, Tory.”

  Susannah took a plate and filled it with a few pepper slices and a dollop of ranch. Her sisters crowded in to do the same. Someone cleared their throat behind her, and she turned to see Amelia Ann. Her friend crooked a finger at her, so Susannah crossed the room to where she was standing with Clayton.

  When she reached them, Amelia Ann kissed Clayton on the cheek. “Run along and find someone else to chat with for a bit. We have some girl talk to do.”

  Clayton leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’ll bet the topic begins with the capital J. Susannah, it’s good to see you and Jake so happy.”

  “Thanks, Clayton.” When he left, she turned to her friend. “You’ve worked wonders with that man. Before you, he’d pretty much rather chew gravel than have a civilized conversation.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Amelia Ann declared. “What can I say? I have the touch. Seems you do too. I know you told me how things were between you and Jake, but let me tell you, honey. Seeing is believing. That man is going to have a ring on your finger before you know it. Hand to God.”

  The way she was feeling, a ring sounded pretty wonderful. She might have daydreamed about it some. Besides, that way they could finally explore the passion between them. That part of their relationship…

  Well, it was the only one filled with tension.

  After another belly-stuffing dinner, Susannah watched Jake mingle with her expanding family. Everyone was more than welcoming. Now that he was with her… Well, they knew where things were heading.

  When all the dishes were cleaned up, they settled into the den. Annabelle climbed onto Jake’s lap again, which Susannah thought too sweet for words.

  “Y’all look good together,” she told them seriously. “Mama says.”

  Someone loudly cleared their throat, and Susannah looked up like everyone else.

  J.P. walked into the center of the room, his hands crossed behind his back. “I have some good news to share…”

  When Susannah saw Tammy stand up too, she reached for Jake’s hand. Was it finally happening? Annabelle scooted off Jake’s lap and ran over to clutch her mama’s hand. Rory took J.P.’s. Then Tammy and J.P. reached for each other with their free hands.

  “Tammy has finally agreed to marry me,” he said, letting the most lop-sided grin she’d ever seen from him spread across his face.

  Annabelle jumped in place. “Finally!”

  Rory added, “Amen!”

  Tammy cast them all an impish glance, and untucked the chain around her neck holding a diamond ring. “I told y’all I would eventually. Thanks for being patient with me.”

  “I would have waited decades for you to agree, honey,” J.P. told her as he took the ring off its chain and slid it onto her finger.

  “Thank God it didn’t take decades,” Rye announced, rising and hugging the whole group—the whole family—with his long arms. “I don’t think I’ll be able to dance the two-step at your wedding when I’m that old.”

  “I can dance all right at my age,” Hampton Hollins informed his son as he pulled Tammy into a hug.

  Margaret Hollins embraced the happy couple and the kids with a natural, wide-mouthed smile and then proceeded to hug everyone waiting in line to congratulate J.P. and Tammy—something more than shocking to Susannah, who remembered the woman’s earlier reserve. My, how she had changed.

  “My daughter is getting married!” she declared. “And to the best man imaginable.”

  Laughing from her Mama’s fierce hug, Amelia Ann turned toward her sister with a sheen of tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you, Tammy. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

  “Thank you, honey. We’re getting married in June, sugar, when J.P.’s gardens will be in bloom,” Tammy told her sister. “I hope you don’t mind us getting married so closely to you and Clayton.”

  “Not a bit,” her sister assured her. “I’m going to bring in May. You can round out June.”

  The congratulations continued, and someone popped a bottle of champagne. The kids became even more hyper, bouncing around and telling everyone how the chocolate fairies couldn’t wait
for them to live at J.P.’s house again.

  “First a baby, and now two engagements,” Louisa said beside her, a knowing look in her eye. “Our family is truly blessed.”

  Her mama couldn’t have been more right, and Susannah was so happy she could share their blessings with Jake. Maybe someday they would share this kind of news with her family.

  They weren’t the first to announce they were leaving, but a couple of hours later, they exchanged a look and followed Amelia Ann and Clayton out the door.

  Jake drove to his house since she’d parked her car there that morning. “I’m so glad Tammy finally agreed to marry J.P. That man has waited something fierce for that sweet woman.”

  “I know,” Susannah agreed. “They deserve all the happiness in the world after everything they’ve been through.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Jake murmured, taking her hand as he thundered down the road.

  When they arrived at his house and parked, he leaned over and kissed her warmly on the lips. “I’ve been wanting to do that pretty much all day.”

  The garage door light was on, but little else, so there were shadows on his face. Somehow it only made him more beautiful. “It’s the longest we’ve gone without kissing in days,” she said.

  “By my account, it’s been at least five hours. I don’t want to ever break that record.”

  “Me either,” she agreed, turning in her seat and setting a hand lightly on his thigh.

  “Want to come inside and kiss me some more?” he asked, his mouth turned up in the most flirtatious smile.

  “I do,” she said, equally flirtatious. “Thanks for asking.”

  He laughed and opened his door. She did the same and met him at the side door.

  “It’s early yet,” he said as he let them inside the house. “Do you want to watch a movie?”

  “I thought we were speaking of kissing,” she said, smiling at him.

  “We were. I imagined kissing you while we were watching a movie. Like a teenage date.”

  It did feel rather like they were teenagers sometimes. Their hands could only stray so far before they were forced to separate. Stopping the flow of passion between them was becoming increasingly difficult. Susannah had been struggling with her feelings. Was it wrong that she was doubting the wisdom of waiting after all these years? Jake made it really hard to want to wait. She knew it was wearing on him. By the end of the night, there was often a downright grimace on his face. Hers too.