Chapter 81
PENN
A week later,I was standing in the middle of Darcy’s living room, wearing a suit, while she ran her fingers through my hair. “Darcy, I am more nervous than I have ever been in my life. What if they say no? What if they throw things at me?”
“Stop it,” she said, moving to my collar and straightening it. “They never have anything to throw. Lettie is the only one who sneaks food in, and she isn’t going to throw anything, I promise.”
“Right. What if they say no, though?”
“They aren’t going to say no. You look like a walking GQ ad. No one is going to say no.”
“I don’t think Mr. Fitzgerald cares what I look like,” I replied.
Darcy puckered her lips. “Mmm . . . you’re probably right.”
“Well, thanks for that. I’m feeling much more confident now,” I teased.
She giggled as she traced her hands along my chest. “It’ll be fine. But, honestly, it should be illegal for you to be this hot. I’m going to have to beat the Black Widows off with a stick.”
“You don’t think the town will want to kick me out? Make me leave?” I stepped in closer to her, closing the space between us and running my hands along her back.
We were getting ready for a town meeting. One where I would be asking for forgiveness from the people of Aveline. Could I have just moved into this town and said screw them all? Yes, but then again, what would be the fun in moving to Aveline without truly living like the Avelinians?
Darcy started loosening my tie. “I won’t let them.” She was working her fingers down my button up shirt. “I will tell them they’ll have to get through me first.” She kissed me and began stepping forward, pushing me along with her.
The back of my legs hit the couch, and Darcy stepped out of her skirt, her hands running along my torso.
I moved my tongue to meet hers, parting her lips and tasting the sweet cinnamon of her gum. “Do we have time? We won’t be late, right?” I asked, knowing that at this moment, I didn’t care one way or another if we were going to be late, or if we even showed up, as long as I got to have her right now.
“We can make it quick,” she replied as I lifted her up onto me and leaned back onto the couch.
Darcy and I were lying together, sweaty and out of breath, not thinking about the time or where we needed to be. All we were doing was relishing in each other.
That is until the sound of a text message interrupted our dream-like state. Darcy reached over and looked at her phone before she jumped up, naked, her body on full display.
“Shit!” She checked the phone again, squinting as though trying to make sure she was reading it correctly as I lounged with my hands behind my head. “We have to go! Like right now! Get up!”
“But I’m enjoying the view,” I replied.
Darcy turned around and rolled her eyes, throwing her underwear at me and then reaching back for them. “I need these actually. Get up!” She fumbled into her skirt, falling around the room as she was putting on her shoes, and I got up, scrambling to get on my suit.
We ran out the door only a few minutes later and drove to the town hall. Darcy was fixing my tie as we walked in, and all eyes were on us. I had a sneaking suspicion our pre-meeting sex was obvious, and I felt uncomfortable at the idea of them all knowing that was why we walked in late.
Darcy, however, was cool as a cucumber. “We aren’t late,” she said, pointing to the clock. “We have one minute.” She turned to me and tugged on my tie. “Knock ‘em dead, babe.” She kissed my cheek before she grabbed a seat next to Lettie and Tuck.
I made my way to the front and sat with the others who had something to talk about at this town meeting. I was sitting next to Mr. Manyon, who wanted to propose a traffic light on Violet Boulevard, and Miss Patsy who wanted to bring in Food Truck Tuesdays.
And I was there, asking the town if they would forgive and accept me.
It was weird, almost like I was asking someone’s parents if I could hang out with them and pleading my case for why I wasn’t the bad kid in the neighborhood or why I wouldn’t be a negative influence on the rest of them. I was a child scorned, asking for forgiveness, for no discretion, but it was the Aveline way, and if I knew anything about the town, it was that they were very particular about their outsiders.
I couldn’t blame them—not after what I had done.
Mr. Fitzgerald stepped up to the podium, the emcee as usual, and spoke into the microphone.
“Townspeople of Aveline, we are gathered here today for our monthly town meeting, and today, we have several things on the agenda. I would like to start with a couple of friendly reminders.” Mr. Fitzgerald cleared his throat, took his glasses from the top of his head, and placed them on the end of his nose. He read from a piece of paper. “Please remember that the free samples on Saturdays at the General Store are one per person. Please tell your children and grandchildren this as well...”
I heard a cough, and Darcy muttered, “Donovans,” and then she coughed again.
I couldn’t help the smile crossing my face at her outburst as Mr. Fitzgerald flipped the page and continued. “Also there has been an abundance of chewed gum under the bench in the gazebo, and as a reminder, that is gross.”
Darcy once again coughed, but Mr. Fitzgerald held up his hand. “We know who the culprit is, Darcy.” Then he shut the notebook and took his glasses off.
“Now, I know Mr. Manyon and Miss Patsy have pressing issues to discuss, but we are going to get to those in just a little bit. The first item on the agenda...” He paused before continuing. “Well, Penn Murphy, can you please come to the podium?”
I swallowed hard, looking back at Darcy—who gave me a thumbs up—and I stood, walking slowly to the front of the town hall and then facing the crowd. I picked a piece of lint from my jacket and ran my clammy hands along my pants.
Mr. Fitzgerald went on. “As you all know, this is Penn Murphy. Penn came to Aveline and stirred up quite the scandal. Today, he is here to ask the town for another chance. And before he pleads his case, I want you all to remember chapter seven in the Book of Aveline. We bring forth forgiveness in our hearts. Go ahead, Penn.”
I ran my tongue over my teeth and took Mr. Fitzgerald’s spot at the podium. I was nervous. My stomach was churning, and I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I wiped it slightly with a tissue Darcy had given me. She had warned me it would feel like a million degrees in the barn with everyone staring at me, daggers in their eyes. I hoped they could see the remorse in my face and hear the change in my voice.
“Hel—Hello, everyone.” My voice cracked slightly. Not exactly the change I was going for, but I cleared my throat. “I know most of you are mad at me, and I completely understand why.”
I looked into the crowd and caught Hazel’s eye as she winked at me. I smiled uncomfortably.
“When I first arrived in Aveline, my intentions were not pure. I was a man who was career driven. I had been all my life. I worked hard and didn’t care who I stepped on to get where I wanted to be. My job, my career, it was all I had. But then I discovered Aveline, and all of you.” I looked at Darcy, who nodded encouragingly.
“This place and everyone here changed me. I began to see there was more to life than working. I brought a list of all the things I discovered that were more important to me than my career. All the things I discovered because of all of you. I’d like to read them now.”
I inhaled deeply as I took a piece of paper from my pocket and opened it up. I began reading. “Sometimes, the important things in life show up in ways you would never expect. Sometimes, they show up like books from Margot’s and flowers from Rosie’s. The best cup of coffee in the entire world from the Aveline Café, the warmth of the fire at the Green Gables Inn. A friendly smile from Ruby, and Tuck’s homemade pies. And playing UNO with a girl who drives you absolutely crazy.
“The point is, the more I got to know you all, the more I realized nothing I came for seemed to matter anymore.” I watched some of the crowd’s faces perk up as I began to find my groove. “I started to feel connected to people here. I started to look forward to seeing the familiar faces, and I knew I couldn’t do what I came here to do.
“And that’s why I didn’t. I had made the decision to forfeit my plan long before anyone had caught on to what I was really in town for. I quit my job to preserve Aveline because Aveline was what was important to me.”
I watched Mrs. Fitz, Ruby, and Millie all nod.
“So, I’m sorry for what I originally came here for. I’m sorry I lied to all of you, but I’m not sorry I fell in love with this town. And I’m especially not sorry I fell in love with Darcy Miller.”
There were collective gasps from the townspeople, hands over their mouths, and my eyes ventured to Darcy’s. She was sitting, frozen in place, with her eyebrows raised so far up that I was sure they were going to leave her forehead. I hadn’t meant to spill that. I hadn’t meant to tell Darcy I loved her in front of her entire town, but it poured out with no warning. I considered the fact that I had known it for a while, that all of the feelings that had deepened for her had been love, but neither of us had said those three words.
Not until now.
“It’s true. I am in love with Darcy Miller,” I repeated, still watching her face for a reaction, and yet it hadn’t moved.
“And so, um, I hope that you all can forgive me.” I placed my hands in my pockets, feeling hyper aware of everyone staring at me and my confession of love thickening the air.
Silence echoed in the barn, and I began to wonder if maybe Darcy didn’t share my sentiments. If maybe she hadn’t gotten that far, if maybe she liked me, but she didn’t love me. I wondered about these things as I swallowed a lump of embarrassment that had formed in my throat.
“Well for goodness sake, get up there, Darcy, and kiss him already!” Rosie yelled from her seat.
“If you don’t, I will!” Flora smiled, licking her lips.
Darcy stood up slowly and began walking toward me. I left the stage and met her at the side, my hands in my pockets. I felt a fluttering in my heart. This was no longer just getting to know each other, fun, and sex—this was deeper. Deeper feelings than I had ever felt for anyone. Deep enough that it scared and excited me. I hoped I hadn’t just put her on the spot or made her feel like she had to divulge feelings she wasn’t ready to share. I should have kept it to myself and not blurted out my affection for her in front of the entire town.
“Hey,” she said, interrupting my spiral of thoughts.
“Hey,” I whispered back before adding quickly, “I’m so sorry. You don’t have to say it back or anything. It just sort of slipped out, and I probably should have waited until we were alone—”
“I love you, too,” she blurted.
I tilted my head, running my tongue along my teeth. “Yeah?”
“Yes,” she smiled.
I felt my shoulders relax, and the tension left my body. “You aren’t just saying this because we are standing here and everyone is staring at us, right? Because you don’t owe me a response.”
“I mean it. I mean, you bug me to no end, but...no lies.” Before I could say another word, Darcy was on her tiptoes, kissing me, and everyone started clapping.
Darcy and I pulled away laughing, and everyone gave us a standing ovation, as though the whole thing had been a spectacle, a play rehearsed for their entertainment.
“I think you’re in, Penny Bear,” Darcy smiled, her hands on both sides of my face. “I think everything is fine.”
What she didn’t know was that it was more than fine; everything was perfect.