Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Laney
One of the blessings of growing up in a close-knit small town is everyone rallying to help out. Like tonight when I should be the one seeing to my guests, ensuring they have snacks and refreshments, and instead Emma and Lucy are covering for me. My gran would be disappointed. She was the epitome of a prepared hostess with something ready to serve an impromptu guest and plenty to add an extra plate at the dinner table.
I’m not one to be easily enamored by a celebrity. Heck, I grew up in a town that produced two professional athletes. Mattie Lincoln was always meant to play football professionally and Boone West has spent more than a decade as the king of the rodeo circuit. So why is this stranger keeping me from behaving like a rational adult? It’s slightly ridiculous and extremely embarrassing.
When Nash first mentioned Ryan by name, my mind couldn’t compute the connection. But by the time I hightailed it out of Magnolia Mart and made it to my car, I could see it. I saw what the beard and ballcap hid. Memories of articles about him over the years played back like the shuffle button to my favorite playlist. His acoustic duet with Maggie Gibson at the Country Crown Music Awards repeated a few times. The way he sang with such passion. I’ll never forget it. Photos of him and his wife on the red carpet, obviously in love and happy. Even a magazine cover of him holding his new daughter. The little girl I know is Pepper.
An article I read about a year ago about his former wife’s battle with an illness. It was that memory that had me searching for an update. There would be no wife or mother to Pepper joining them next door. Katie Miller would not be greeting me with a smile and a wave across the driveway. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to Pepper. I see her loss. It’s something I know first-hand.
The drive across town doesn’t take long but it was enough time for me to try out a few different ways to break the news to Ryan. I may not know what it’s like to be a celebrity of his caliber, but I did grow up in a small town where gossip is a second language. Besides, even if most people don’t see the significance, I do have my own reputation in various mathematics and science circles.
Except he wasn’t home when I arrived. The driveway was empty and there was no answer when I knocked. I caught myself peeking through the blinds each time a pair of headlights lit up the house. The reason I am so invested in warning him is a problem for me.
“Laney?”
I blink a few times and shake my head, knocking the thoughts out of my mind and focusing on my friend. Ana is new to town, having moved here for a fresh start a few months ago. It’s been nice being friends with someone who didn’t grow up here. I love my town, but it’s a breath of fresh air to spend time with someone interested in getting to know who I am now and not who I’ve always been.
“Are you ready to get started?”
Smiling, I nod. “Sorry. Just a lot on my mind. Let’s get this going.”
Ana takes her spot next to Lemon Walsh and on the other side of Honey Beaumont. When Ms. Linda asked me to consider assuming her position as the Holly Jolly Jubilee committee chair, she also suggested I recruit the next generation of women in Magnolia Grove. Thankfully for me, and the town, they all agreed. We’re lucky to have women of all backgrounds who bring something special to the group. As the elementary school principal, Lemon has been a godsend when it comes to logistics and identifying potential obstacles. I’m grateful for her friendship with Ana, who is the mother of Lemon’s boyfriend’s daughter. Just thinking that makes me wonder if an outsider would think our little town considers that a scandal of sorts. It’s not.
“Hello, ladies,” I greet, my voice cutting through the chatter. “Thank you for coming tonight. Ms. Linda was kind enough to join us for any last minute adjustments we may need.”
Everyone settles in, mugs of tea or glasses of wine in their hands and notebooks settled on their laps. Steve is sitting at my feet as if he too has something to discuss. For months we’ve met and poured over the details of Jubilees past. It was fun to read notes from behind the scenes of a beloved event we’ve been attending our entire lives. This meeting is simply to dot all of our I s and cross those T s.
“Wren couldn’t be here, but she confirmed Decker has the Santa boat ready to go. Is there anything we’re missing?” My eyes scan the group, and I’m greeted with shrugs and head shakes. “Okay then, well, Ms. Linda what do you think? Are we ready to go?”
Standing and smoothing out her sweater, Ms. Linda turns to face the group. I consider taking her spot. We could be here a bit.
“Ladies, I am so tickled at all the changes you’ve made. I knew you all would take this to the next level and make the Jubilee something truly special. Thank you for keeping the traditions but spicing them up. Now, I still don’t know why you’re opposed to a kissing booth. I personally think with all the good-looking men in this town, we’d make a killing for the library fund. But y’all do what you what you think is best.”
Giggles and a single snort fill the room. Steve isn’t one to be left out, so he barks a few times before doing a few laps around the room. Pleased with herself, Ms. Linda does what could only be referred to as a curtsy before turning her attention to me. “Laney, honey. I think you’ve done a wonderful job. I’m looking forward to the dance to close out everything. One thing you may want to consider is a backup microphone for Saturday’s lighting. I didn’t do that one year and almost wore out my vocal chords trying to shout over all the hoopla.”
“Excellent suggestion. I’ll take care of that. Anything else?”
We all know there is something else.
“Pastor Brewster may not be prepared for the amount of popcorn at movie night. Lemon, do you think you can give him a little bit of advice?”
“Happy to.”
For the next fifteen minutes, I wear a hole in my cheek trying not to smile. Ms. Linda shares her suggestions and thoughts for each committee member and when she begins her second loop around the room, we’re all saved by Olivia’s phone alarm. She played the innocent act well enough to convince a few of the ladies that she forgot to turn off a reminder, but I know better. She tosses me a wink and moves around the room, gathering glasses as the others say their goodbyes.
“I put the glasses in the sink, but I know there are dishes at my house so I’m not doing yours.”
“Fair enough. Thank you. And for the alarm. I owe you one.”
Oliva waves me off and says, “Girl, the minute you said Ms. Linda was coming I set that reminder. We’d be here for two more hours if we let her keep going. I love that woman, but goodness she’s having a tough time letting go.”
I follow her outside, Steve running ahead to sniff around the yard. When the taillights of Olivia’s car become nothing more than a speck down the road, I call for my buddy, but he doesn’t come.
“Dang it, Steve. I don’t have a flashlight or my phone. Come on now.”
His collar jingles from across the driveway. Oh for goodness sake, he’s next door. Why is this my life? Quickly, I cross to next door and whisper yell for my bratty fur baby.
“You lose something?”
I could win a screaming contest for the sound that came out of my body. Part yell and a lot of screech; it was one for the books. My heart thumps quickly in my chest and my breaths are labored as I run in place. In. Place. Not away from the voice.
“Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Ryan steps out of the shadows, Steve in his arms, cradled like a baby and loving every second his tummy is scratched. Gone is the ballcap and thankfully the sunglasses. Now that he’s right in front of me, I can’t believe I didn’t notice it before. Maybe it’s because he’s not on my TV or a magazine cover, but whatever the reason, I see him now.
“Can’t blame me. I wasn’t expecting someone to be lurking in the dark.”
He smirks and there’s a slight flutter in my belly. “I don’t think you can lurk on your own property.”
“Really? I wasn’t aware lurking was protected by some sort of land law.”
Ryan chuckles and I ignore that flutter in my belly. Again. “Maybe that’s something we should look up.”
We both smile and my breathing evens out. My heart? Yeah, that’s still galloping.