Sunshine and Whiskey: A Garden Falls, TN Romance

by Allie Kay

Sam squeezed my shoulder. "Sean, you can change it. Keep being the same calm and loving man I've seen with my daughter. They'll see why she's so drawn to you. I did. Okay, so it took me a while… but hey, I got there."

  I laughed and offered the older man a cup of coffee. We took our coffee back out to the garden and sat in the gazebo but I couldn't sit still. I hopped up to pull a few dead leaves off one of the plants. Picked a dropped bloom out of the fountain. I didn't know what to say to Sam, so I waited for the older man to initiate conversation. Sam and I had gotten along well these last two weeks and I'd hate to ruin it with a misplaced comment on the day I married the man's daughter.

  "You don't have to walk on eggshells around me. Relax. I'm not going to stop you from marrying Talia. I've admitted I was wrong," the older man told me with a smile.

  The smile didn't reassure me. I gave Sam a weak smile and returned my focus to the coffee cup in my hands. What if she changed her mind? Her dad finally seemed okay with us getting married, but what if Talia decided it was a bad idea.

  "She'll be here. Don't worry," Sam said, slapping me on the shoulder.

  "How did…"

  "How'd I know? Because you looked like I felt the day I married her mama. I thought there was no way in hell that Helen was going to show up. But she did. Talia will too."

  We were quiet for a moment.

  Sam was the first to speak. "So, I know things were not the best with your mom. Where's your dad?"

  "Don't know. He took off before I was born. Brian was only a toddler."

  "Okay, this may seem random. But Talia told me a few things about your mom and they… uh, well, they struck me as familiar. Can I ask you… was her maiden name Welch?"

  "Yeah, how'd you know that?" I looked over to see Sam looking embarrassed.

  "I, uh… I used to date your mom."

  I laughed at the irony of the whole situation. What the hell? Sam had dated my mother. I could have had a father like Sam instead of the absent bastard I had. But, like I told Talia before, I wouldn't have been the man I was today without my background. Sam changed the subject and started telling stories about Talia when she was a child. It helped me to relax. Mainly because it helped me realize Sam really was okay with Talia marrying me now. And given our history, that was a damn good feeling.

  39

  Talia

  While Sean and my dad were having coffee and checking over the yard, Mom and I were already preparing for the ceremony. My nerves kept me jittery, but I had no doubts Sean would be there waiting for me. If there was anything I was certain of, it was Sean's love for me. My mother insisted on doing my hair and makeup. Once that was done, I dressed carefully in a simple ivory gown. The slightest hint of a baby bump raised the bodice of the satin. Sean would love it. He loved my growing belly.

  As I arrived at the house, Sean was ushered outside to the gazebo. He wasn't supposed to see me. How was seeing your future spouse prior to the ceremony bad luck? But my parents were adamant that at least a few traditions be followed. So, despite a deep-seated need to see Sean, to be in his arms, I waited. I sat in the library and watched all the cars pull up. Watched all the guests walk around the new path to the rear of the house. The guests were all seated when I came out on my father's arm. Sean had a few friends on his side, Jack and Laney from Garden, and surprisingly, Jess. My side was full. Claire blew me a kiss when our eyes met.

  Looking up at Sean standing in the gazebo, the broad smile on his face warmed my heart. His charcoal grey suit emphasized his broad shoulders. I couldn't take my eyes off him. He was magnificent. His love for me filled the air and I could feel it from where I stood.

  My father walked me up the flagstone aisle to where Sean stood with the pastor. Daddy kissed my cheek before putting my hand in Sean's and reaching up to squeeze the younger man's shoulder. My eyes filled with tears at the smile on my father's face. I was overjoyed to see his smile and I pulled my father in for a big hug before I turned to Sean. His face lit up with that crooked smile I loved so much.

  The day could not be more perfect.

  My voice shook with emotion when I said my vows. Sean, however, spoke his vows with such conviction that I heard several of the guests sniffle. When Sean slid the simple gold band on my finger next to the opal engagement ring, the tears spilled over and ran down my cheeks. He wiped them away with a shaky hand. When the pastor proclaimed us man and wife, my heart skipped a beat. We shared our first kiss as a married couple. Mindful of our audience, we kept the kiss soft and tender like the night we started dating.

  A year ago, I would have laughed if someone said I’d be getting married with a baby on the way. I’d have told them happily ever after only existed in the romance novels that were my guilty pleasure. I didn’t believe in knights in shining armor riding up to rescue the damsel in distress.

  I still don’t believe in that shiny armor. After all, if it’s too shiny, he’s not much of a knight now, is he? My knight has scars and is just a bit broken, but he’s pulled me out of my distress.

  Maybe the shining isn’t in the armor, but the love shining from his eyes.

  But I definitely found my happily ever after.

  THE END

  Take Your Time

  Allie Kay

  After too many drinks at a costume party, Zane Richmond winds up in bed with Claire Ballard. Zane has been in love with his sister’s best friend for years now. So why does waking up next to her wearing only a Zorro mask nearly break his heart? Oh, just the slight matter of Claire hating his guts…

  Claire doesn’t believe in romance. She’s watched her mom go from man to man as the romance fizzled. She’d rather just be alone. After a one-night stand ends with a letter, she finds herself corresponding with the man who identifies himself only as ‘Z’. Her memory of their one night together is sketchy, but his sweet notes and thoughtful conversations spark something in the depths of her soul she’d thought untouchable.

  When Claire finds herself in real-life danger, Zane takes charge. Claire sees a side of him that she really likes, but she can’t fall for Zane when she also has feelings for the mysterious Z. But when the secret surrounding Z’s identity come out, can Claire handle the truth?

  Buy Take Your Time today and see for yourself what you can find when you look twice.

  Available Sept 11th, 2018

  About the Author

  Allie Kay writes emotional, heartfelt stories set in small town America. If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out with her family or with her nose buried in a book.

  Get in touch with her on social media:

  @AllieKayAuthor