Beards and Broken Hearts (Magnolia Point)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

“ N eeds more mustard,” my sister says after licking her pointer finger.

“Ew, Holly,” I say, slapping her finger away from my deviled egg mix.

“These for someone special?” She asks.

“Sort of. Maddison Leigh gave me a lead on a new engagement, and I’m hoping that if I meet the bride before she’s had a chance to shop around?—”

“You can swoop in and make her a one-of-a-kind Daphne Wedding dress.”

“That’s the plan,” I reply, topping my mixture with a dash of paprika.

“Well, if she knows what’s good for her, she’ll beg you for a dress. I hoped it was for someone a bit more special…say a man.”

I snort a laugh at her ridiculous accusation. “Definitely not.”

“But why? Daphne, it’s been a long time. You’re allowed to date again.”

She has always been good at pushing my buttons, so her words jab at old wounds, making me defensive. “I’m happily single. You don’t need a man to be happy, Hol.”

“I just think it would be healthy if you weren’t still waiting for him.”

Grinding my teeth, I turn from the sink and glare at my sister.

“I’m not waiting for anyone. I moved, for crying out loud.”

“Then why would it be so bad to go out with someone? You don’t have to fall in love, but give a guy a chance. That’s all I’m saying.”

I hear a knock on the door just as I take a deep breath to calm down. Saved by the bell, Hol. Saved by the bell.

“Look, I know you mean well, but please worry about your own love life. That’s Maddison Leigh. Can you answer the door and drop this pointless conversation?”

My sweet sister’s face drops along, her eyes downcast as she nods, standing. “Yeah. I’ll take a tray to the car.”

I should have said that differently. That’s always my problem with sensitive subjects, I’m too brash.

As an apology churns in my mind, I turn back to finish cleaning. I hear my bestie’s cheerful voice when Holly answers the door. Who wouldn’t be cheerful getting the D from a very attractive Golf pro every day? I’m so happy for Madison Leigh, and as harsh as my words to Holly were, I really do hope she stops serial dating long enough to find Mr. Right. As for me, I’m perfectly content being alone. Dating has been nothing but a disappointment so far. I’ve resigned myself to single-dome, and I’m damn happy about it.

My ex set the bar too high and crushed whatever gentleness I had left, so it’s better this way for everyone. Building my brand is what’s important. I don’t have time to invest in anyone new anyway.

“Hey, you,” Maddison Leigh says, bouncing into my kitchen. “These look great. You all set?”

“Hello, sunshine. I’m ready if you are.”

Grabbing the remaining trays of beautifully decorated deviled eggs, I hand one over to her and sling my bag of samples over my shoulder, ready to meet the bride.

We find Holly already in shotgun and I shoot her an apologetic look that she returns with a sad smirk. Part of me hates that she’s so used to my brashness, but mostly, I’m grateful she forgives me.

“Okay, Holly, find us somethin’ good to listen to. Let’s go crash this potluck and book us some business,” Maddison Leigh announces as she backs out of my driveway.

“Thought you’d never ask,” my sister replies, syncing her phone to the car’s audio and scrolling until she finds the perfect song to hype us all up.

Don’t stop believing blares through the car. The classic from Journey gives me nostalgia, reminding me of the many times our mom played this song as we drove off to whichever band camp Holly was signed up for. Music is something they always had in common. Dad and I usually hummed offbeat while watching them have the best time.

When we park under a beautiful Magnolia tree, I feel lighter and ready to make this bride my new client.

Everyone must have gotten the same memo to be early because the party is in full swing when we step out onto the cobblestone path. The backyard is already bustling with people, and light jazz music plays in the background. A long red and white checkered table is set up with a long paper tablecloth and covered in mouthwatering crawfish, corn on the cob, little potatoes, and sausages. A station to the right has large containers of sweet tea, lemonade, and a cooler of Budweiser filled to the rim with ice.

“Wow, this is impressive,” Holly says beside me.

I take our moment alone as the perfect opportunity to apologize.

“It is. And, hey, Hol, I’m really sorry I snapped earlier. I know you’re looking out for me, and I shouldn’t have said what I did. There’s absolutely no shame in dating whoever, whenever you want. I also just worry that doesn’t make you happy.”

She looks at me solemnly. “It doesn’t. You’re right,” She says, “And I forgive you. I like that we tell each other all the things we don’t like hearing. Sometimes we need it,” she continues.

“A lot of times,” I reply with a laugh that she echoes. Then we’re joined by Maddison Leigh and a woman who leaves me speechless.

From her button nose to her kind blue eyes, the sight of Elenore Michaels sends a shiver down my spine, and I forget how to talk. My tongue weighs a thousand pounds for a moment, and all I can think about is the last time I saw her.

One of them says something, probably in greeting. It might be Maddison Leigh, but my brain is completely blank. Suddenly, I don’t feel like the confident businesswoman who walked into this party. Instead, I’m eighteen with tears in my eyes and a rock in my throat.

“Hello again, sweet pea.” Her voice pulls me from my spiraling panic.

My lip trembles, and I fight to clear my throat. It doesn’t work, and I still don’t have the faintest idea of what I should say.

More than anything, I wish the ground beneath me would suddenly open and just take me down to the earth's center. Imagining a young Josh Hutcherson and sexy Brendan Frasier in the movie, Journey to the Center of the Earth, makes me want to laugh.

I force a small smile for the woman who unknowingly holds my heart in a vice-like grip. The distraction is welcome but doesn’t last. I force myself to say words out loud even though I’m nervous.

“Hi,” I muster in reply.

“You two already know each other?” Maddison Leigh looks between the two of us as Elenore laughs softly.

“Once upon a time, but now I see a beautiful woman who’s all grown up and a successful dressmaker, I hear.”

She says in a way that encourages me to continue and tell her all about myself, and as much as I want to, I still have a hard time clearing the chaos of memories currently assaulting me. The last time I saw Elenore, she broke my heart for someone else. A so-called man who was too big of a coward to do it himself.

Lucky for me, that’s when Holly pipes up. I imagine she’s shaken out of her own shock. “You would be beyond impressed, Ms. Elenore. Daphne’s dresses are one-of-a-kind beauties and will make any bride feel like a queen.”

“Well, that sounds lovely, dear. I would love to know what a queen feels like, even if it's just for my big day.”

“You’re the bride?” My sister asks awkwardly, sticking to my side for support, even though I sense how badly she wants to exit this conversation.

My knees feel a bit stronger, and I no longer think I will burst into tears, so I venture into the conversation slowly.

“You would make a beautiful bride, and I would be honored to make your dress if that’s something that wouldn’t be too uncomfortable,” I say in a professional tone.

“Oh, dear child, I would love that more than I could ever say,” Elenore says, gripping her chest, and all loss of professionalism that I had mustered goes out the door as she pulls me into her arms for a warm hug.

The last time I hugged the older woman, I was a whole head shorter than her, and she was several pounds heavier than her now slender form, but the embrace is as warm as it was then.

“It’s settled then. Time to celebrate,” Maddison Leigh says as she scurries off, returning just as soon as Elenor and I take a step back, still facing each other. Waiters offer guests glasses of champagne, and I take one, smiling graciously at my friend for saving the day. We all raise up in a toast to working together.

With a little liquid courage and hugs out of the way, Elenore introduces Holly and me to her fiancé Darrel, who has worked in accounting his whole life and seems very sweet. I catch the way he looks at her when she’s not looking, and my heart melts. No one deserves happiness more than Elenore, but I can’t help but wonder what happened to her Ivin, the man I knew as her husband all those long years ago. More burning questions haunt me as the night goes on and the party ends.

Finally tucked in bed, sleep evades me as I toss and turn, and the biggest question becomes clear: Was it a terrible idea for me to agree to make Elenore’s dress? Does this mean I might run into my teenage heartbreaker?