Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Laney
I’ll never admit this coat is stifling. I’m living my best holiday movie moment in this red coat with the large belt tied at my waist. Of course, I’m dripping with sweat because, although the temperature dipped into the low forties, we have enough people in attendance at this outdoor venue, plus standup heaters, that the temperature is at least sixty within ten feet of a heater.
The residents of Magnolia Grove have shown up in their holiday best and it’s great to see everyone having fun while supporting a good cause. All signs of the buffet dinner have been cleared and people are now mingling and bidding on the silent auction items or dancing. Couples are two-stepping around the dance floor as the band belts out a familiar classic, and I’m even tapping the toe of my boot in time.
Uncle Freddy holds court near the bar with a group of his friends, no doubt telling tall tales of his adventures. Everything about this evening has gone as planned, even if Lucy has gone a little overboard with the decorations and lights. You’d think the band was performing on a much bigger stage.
“Laney honey, you’ve outdone yourself.”
I smile at Ms. Linda and accept her compliment graciously. “Ms. Linda, you undersold how much work the Jubilee is each year.”
“Well, if I were honest, would you have taken it on? Besides, you did an amazing job. Your mama and gran would be so proud of you, sweetheart.”
One would think with as much as I’ve cried this week there would be no tears left. Somehow, they manage to appear, and I quickly wipe them away. Sympathy crosses Ms. Linda’s face and she squeezes my hand in comfort.
“I miss your gran terribly. This time of year must be so difficult for you and your uncle. I’m sure she’s looking down on us now, smiling at how wonderful this event turned out. And the entertainment is top-notch.”
“Ms. Linda, it’s the same band you’ve booked the last five years.”
Another pat on my hand and she says, “Of course it is, dear. I’m going to find a seat for the show. You should freshen up your lipstick.”
I trace my lips with my finger. Shrugging of her suggestion, I move through the crowd, thanking people for coming and supporting the library. There are only a few minutes remaining before we close out the silent auction. The tally is a pleasant surprise, and I’m filled with pride at the success of the entire evening. I wish the Miller duo had been around for the end of the Jubilee. Pepper would have had a blast with the boat parade and meeting Santa. Steve spent a lot of time at the fence between the properties, his sadness expressed through whines. Which has caused Uncle Freddy to hit the wine. It’s been a bit of an adjustment having him back. Thoughts of whether I want to continue having my uncle as a roommate bounced around in my head a lot today.
“Laney!”
I spin to find Lucy rushing toward me, a huge smile on her gorgeous face. Of course, Lucy has found the right balance of casual and dressed for a holiday event. She’s chosen a burgundy sweater dress that fits her like a glove, with her hair pinned back in a simple messy bun. My smile widens as I see her husband, Beau, trudging along behind her, apologizing for her blazing through the crowd.
“Hi, Lucy. Beau.” My friend wraps me in a hug, my arms stuck to my side while her husband nods in greeting.
“You look so pretty tonight. Did I already tell you that? But aren’t you dying in this coat? Here, let me help you take this off. Oh, look at your outfit. Perfection. Do you have any gloss? Let me...”
I swat her hand away as she starts to fuss with my hair. “What are you doing? Stop.”
“Laney, you need to get up on the stage in”—she looks at her watch—“ninety seconds. Let me gather the clipboards from the auction, and I’ll meet you up there. Go on now, hustle. Beau, will you hold this?” she asks, thrusting my coat at her much-too-patient husband.
I’m about two steps into my rush to the stage because apparently we have some sort of schedule I’m unaware of when she shouts for me to stop. Turning, I try to school my frustration but fear I’m unsuccessful.
“Take a mint,” she says, slipping a round peppermint candy between my lips.
Maybe we need to have an intervention for Lucy to discuss her stress level. She wasn’t like this during the summer wedding season. Pushing aside that thought, I realize as I’m ascending the steps how many people are in the crowd. Come to think of it, when did I agree to this? The dance fell on Lucy and her sub-committee. This is her job. I’m standing in front of the microphone when I realize she set me up. Almost the entire town stands before me. Silent. There are hundreds of people standing together and you could hear a pin drop. What is wrong with everyone?
I blink my eyes, the huge concert style lights blinding me. My gaze scans the crowd searching for a familiar face to ground me. When I spot Honey and JD smiling up at me, I release a breath.
“Good evening, everyone.” I pause and allow the crowd to return the greeting. “Thank you all for coming to the closing event of the Holly Jolly Jubilee. It’s been an honor to serve as the chairperson for this event. The committee has gone above and beyond my expectations. Please help me in thanking them with a round of applause.”
I look at the steps for Lucy. How am I to announce the auction winners without the information? Behind the curtain closing off backstage I hear the strum of a guitar and a few whispered voices.
“My intention coming up here was to announce the winners of the silent auction but?—”
I’m cut off when the lights dim and a few switch from glaring white to red and green. The colored beams dance around the stage at my feet and I move around, looking out to the crowd. A gasp falls among those in the first few rows.
Holy crap. Crossing the stage to where I’m standing is Savannah Carter. Savannah was a huge country artist back when my parents were in high school. My mama loved her music and fully supported her transition to television star. We spent every Tuesday night as a family in front of the television watching Savannah’s House .
The superstar steps next to me and I am forever grateful for that mint Lucy force fed me. Wait...
“Good evening, Magnolia Grove.”
Of course everyone goes crazy when Savannah Carter greets them. I’m going a little crazy myself. Goodness, she smells good. What is that? Gardenias? I should know this.
“Laney, thank you so much for letting me and my friends crash your event. As you know, tonight we’re streaming Country Christmas Live . When we heard about Magnolia Grove and the Jubilee, we knew it was the perfect place for us to close out the night.”
I’m dumbfounded as I stare at her, mouth agape. Live. Oh shit. My eyes scan the crowd again and this time, with the lights dimmed I see the cameras and a large console with people standing behind it.
“Oh. Uhm, thank you for being here?” It’s a question because what is happening?
“Darlin’ we’re honored. And to the good folks at home, I must tell you how wonderful this town is. I’ll definitely be coming back.”
My friends and family hoot and holler as Savannah praises our town. Do we want a huge influx of tourists? Not really, but we also aren’t going to turn away an opportunity to boost the local economy.
“Now friends, I must confess something. Laney here had no idea we were coming.” Savannah wraps her arm around my shoulder and internally I’m bouncing up and down in excitement. Hopefully on the outside, I’m smiling. “This entire idea formed in the last few days and well, it’s a bit of a surprise. So, surprise, Laney.”
The crowd erupts in front of us, and I turn to see a different band on the stage. This time, instead of a basic set of drums in the middle of the setup there is a kit with a name I recognize embossed in gold. A man about Uncle Freddy’s age winks at me and taps his sticks together twice.
Walking out from the shadows are two people I have missed more than anything. Pepper is wearing a red dress, her curls peeking out from below a traditional Santa hat. She’s a sight for sore eyes but it’s her daddy who captures my full attention. Gone is the vacation casual look I’d grown accustomed to and in its place is country super star chic. A pair of perfectly fitted jeans and a crisp white shirt with a shiny belt buckle give away his status, but it’s the smile on his face that reminds me of home.
Savannah continues to entertain the crowd while Ryan leads Pepper in my direction. She releases his hand and rushes to me. I drop down to accept her as she jumps into my arms.
“I missed you, Pepper.”
“I missed you too. Where’s Steve?”
A laugh bubbles out of me as I wipe the tears from my eyes. “He’s at home.”
“I’ll be right back,” Ryan promises before joining Savannah at the microphone.
I stand, holding Pepper in my arms. My mind is swirling with all that is happening. Ryan is here. He came back. I glance out to the audience and see all of my friends lined up, huge smiles on their faces. Sneaky brats.
“Hi, everyone. I hope you don’t mind us crashing the party. A huge thanks to The Ramblers for performing tonight. As most of you know, my daughter and I came to Magnolia Grove a few weeks ago. We had a difficult year, and I wanted to give her an opportunity to experience a true holiday season. What I didn’t expect was for this town to feel so much like home. I’d like to say it is as perfect as the perfect cup of coffee from Jitterbug or the delicious Bagel Bin sandwiches that had us both feeling like we left a piece of us here when we left.
“Can Steve have a sleepover?” Pepper whispers in my ear.
I snicker and nod in affirmation. If things work out like I hope, maybe we’ll all be having a sleepover.
“Tonight, we’re live streaming from Magnolia Grove as my contribution to the Country Christmas Live program. I’m going to sing a few songs. Ladies, are you okay where you’re at?” Ryan asks me and Pepper.
“Yeah. We’re great.”
I stand, holding Pepper, singing along like the crowd as Ryan croons a few traditional holiday tunes. I’ve been to a few concerts over the years, but I have to say, being here in the wings is a different experience all together.
After finishing his own version of Let it Snow , Ryan hands over his guitar to a young kid and motions me forward. I place Pepper on her feet, and we walk toward the microphone when the drummer who winked at me earlier scoops her up and tosses her over his head, causing her to giggle. When I pause, not sure if I should go with them, he points to Ryan.
When I’m close to the microphone, he reaches for me. I place my hand in his let him pull me close. Days of sadness and tension evaporate with this single touch.
“We’re at commercial for two minutes and I’ve cut the mic.”
“Okay?”
“Laney, I never should have left. I didn’t want to leave. You. This town. I’ve not felt so much like myself as I did in the weeks with you. I don’t have all the answers to every question in that beautiful mind of yours, but I know we’ll figure it out together. If you’ll have me. Us.”
My mind is spinning at each of his words. I have so many questions, and while typically I need the answers before I can move forward, this time I don’t want to wait to figure them out. I want to take this leap of faith with Ryan. To discover the answers together.
“I know we’re running out of time but what are you asking me?”
Ryan looks to the side and nods, a clock showing thirty seconds is displayed on a stand.
“I love you, Langston Ann Whitfield. It’s fast and unexpected, but my feelings are real. I want to buy that house next door to your family home. I want us to build a life here in Magnolia Grove. More than anything I want to fall asleep with you in my arms each night and wake to your beautiful smile each morning.”
I’m crying for the second time tonight as I throw myself into his arms, my lips landing on his a little more aggressively than is respectful for television. Or in front of my family and friends.
“I love you too. Maybe we could split our time between here and Nashville? I don’t want Pepper to be far from her grandparents or Katie.”
“You are the best person I know, Laney. I have to perform a few more songs. Before I send you off to your seat, I need you to stand here with me and remember how you told me you love me.”
Ryan shifts us a step to the side to make room for Savannah to speak into the camera. She entertains the crowd with a few funny quips before switching places with Ryan. I’m dumbfounded this is all happening but also too happy to fully accept how public this all is.
“Thank you for sticking with us, friends. I have one more surprise for this evening. We’ll consider it an early Christmas present for the woman I love.”
It isn’t only my cheeks that flush with embarrassment, I can feel the heat on my neck and tiny beads of sweat pooling in my lower back.
Ryan accepts his guitar back from the kid, only this time I recognize Dixie as he lifts the strap over his head. It’s red with white snowflakes. Perfect for the occasion. I’m focused on the design when a voice I recognize begins singing from somewhere. It’s not possible. She doesn’t perform live much anymore.
Only tonight, she’s here.
Cora Vincent walks out of the shadows of backstage and waves to me as she joins Ryan at center stage. Together they begin the opening lyrics of the song I heard Ryan playing over the last few weeks. It’s a beautiful story of second chances and promises of a future. I feel the truth in every word, his passion and love expressed with the stroke of Dixie’s strings.
I’d forgotten Savannah Carter was holding my hand until she squeezes it and whispers in my ear, “Ryan is one of the good ones. Let him love you.”
My ability to speak is lost, so I give her a slight nod as the duo before us finishes out the song. Quickly, they jump into one much more festive and in line with the holiday season. When they are done, the crowd goes wild, Savannah closes out the show, and I accept Ryan’s embrace and kiss full of promises.