Chapter 17
HAYES
Hayes parked his truck in front of the community center and headed inside to find Tessa for their first appearance as Mr. & Mrs. Hickory Falls.
Luckily, it was a small group for their first appearance.
He had told Tessa it was no big deal, but he was a little nervous.
Hopefully, he and Tessa could pull it off, and it wouldn’t be awkward.
He didn’t know why he thought things would be awkward.
So far, he and Tessa had been in sync whenever they were out together in public.
The awkwardness lay in the times they were alone.
He knew he wasn’t imagining the lingering touches and glances.
But now was not the time to address that or even think about it, Hayes told himself.
He promised Tessa seven months of all-in “marriage,” so that was what he was going to do.
His feelings could and would wait. What would happen after Tessa’s birthday, he didn’t know.
He didn’t know if he would even have the courage then to address his feelings for Tessa. Only time would tell.
Hayes was saved from his thoughts when his friend Sawyer Robinson called his name. Sawyer had become a good friend to Hayes since he moved to Hickory Falls a few years ago, after buying the Landmark Diner.
“Hi, Sawyer,” Hayes said. “What’s up?”
“Not much. Heading to the luncheon like you are, Mr. Hickory Falls,” Sawyer smirked.
“Very funny,” Hayes commented. “You know how it is when Bob gets an idea. He won’t let it go until you agree.”
“I know. But seriously, congratulations on your marriage,” Sawyer said, clapping Hayes on the back.
“Thank you,” Hayes said. “When you know you know.”
“I will have to take your word for that,” Sawyer grinned. “But you and Tessa seem like a good fit.”
As they walked into the community center together, Hayes spotted Tessa talking with Willow by the punch bowl.
“There she is now, Mrs. Hickory Falls,” Sawyer said as he and Hayes walked toward Tessa and Willow.
“Hi, guys!” Tessa smiled enthusiastically at them.
Hayes stopped right in front of Tessa. He paused for a moment. They were supposed to be newlyweds greeting each other, so he leaned in to give Tessa a peck on the cheek. Tessa blushed and smiled.
“Oh my gosh! You two are adorable!” Lila gushed as she joined the group.
Tessa looked at Hayes, and he winked at her, which just deepened her blush.
“Good afternoon, everyone!” Mayor Jenkins called from the head of the room.
“Thank you, council members, city officials, and local business owners for being here today. I think we are going to have a great summer, especially with our additional festivities for the Fourth of July! And speaking of our new festivities, let me welcome to the stage our inaugural Mr. & Mrs. Hickory Falls, newlyweds Hayes and Tessa Adams.”
The crowd clapped as Hayes and Tessa made their way to the front of the room. Utensils began clinking against glasses. Tessa and Hayes looked at each other questioningly.
“It’s like at a wedding reception,” the mayor’s wife explained. “When everyone clinks their glasses the newlyweds kiss.”
Hayes looked at Tessa. She looked a little shocked.
“Mrs. Jenkins, this is a town function, surely they don’t expect—" Hayes was cut off by more glasses clinking.
He looked at Tessa. She seemed calmer now and whispered, “Why not?”
So Hayes leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips to cheers from the crowd.
As he was about to pull away, Tessa leaned into him and deepened the kiss.
For a moment, the crowd disappeared as he and Tessa became a little lost in each other.
Gradually, the cheers reached his addled brain, and he and Tessa separated.
They both looked at each other with a startled look on their faces. Then, they faced the crowd with smiles. Hayes reached out and took Tessa’s hand, hoping to reassure her and maybe reassure himself a little as well.
TESSA
Tessa felt Hayes grab her hand and give it a little squeeze. She gave him a small smile and turned to face the crowd. She looked into some delighted faces. Everyone seemed to be truly happy about her and Hayes’s impromptu nuptials.
After their interesting introduction, they took their seats.
Tessa found herself not fully focusing on the meeting.
She was thinking about the kiss she and Hayes had just shared.
She knew they had both felt something with that kiss.
Was it just a small attraction because of their forced proximity?
Hayes was objectively handsome. Or was it something more?
She was pondering this when Hayes said, “Isn’t that right, Tessa?”
“Huh? What? I mean, could you say that again?” Tessa stammered.
Hayes gave her a curious look, but repeated his question, “We are all set to host the town cookout at the resort again, right?”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Tessa replied. The town cookout was one of the highlights of the summer.
Almost all of the longtime town residents and several of the summer visitors gathered at the resort’s main pavilion, which overlooked the lake.
The townsfolk brought all sorts of food from savory to sweet.
There were games, live music, and dancing.
It really was a fun time for everyone. A little precursor to the main event of the Fourth of July parade and fireworks.
“I was just saying how apropos it was that the reigning Mr. & Mrs. Hickory Falls were the hosts of the cookout this year,” Mayor Jenkins said. “It will be quite the draw. Everyone loves a love story.”
“Uh, yes,” Tessa agreed. “The staff and I have already begun the planning and decorations for the cookout. It should be another great year.”
“Your grandmother would be so proud of how you have kept the traditions going, Tessa,” Mayor Jenkins said. “She and your grandfather were very respected in our community.”
“Thank you,” Tessa said quietly.
After that, the luncheon moved on to talk of all the summer events, and, apparently, Mr. & Mrs. Hickory Falls were to make appearances at most of them.
It seemed like every time Mr. & Mrs. Hickory Falls was brought up, there was a clinking of glasses.
However, for the subsequent clinks, Tessa and Hayes just shared very quick pecks on the lips.
Tessa was mostly relieved by this. However, there was part of her that wished to explore their first kiss a little further when the whole town wasn’t watching.
She blushed at the thought. Hayes looked over at her then. “Are you okay? You look at little red.”
“Oh, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about,” Tessa assured him. But Tessa was afraid she had a lot to worry about when it came to Hayes.