Epilogue
CHAR
“What’s a girl gotta do to get a refill around here?” Betty shakes her empty highball glass as I place the last foil in her hair.
“Give me a minute, woman. I’ve got my hands full.” I laugh.
“Norma Jean! Be a doll and get me another Jack and Coke.”
“Comin’ right up, Miss Betty.”
Shaking my head, I meander over to the hair dryers and lift one. “Bring your bossy ass over here and sit under here while I work on Ellie’s hair.”
Ellie hands off one of the twins to Liz before scooping her sister out of the double stroller and passing her off to Margaret.
I get a little misty at the sight. If I thought To Dye For in Candy Cane Key was similar to Truvy’s place in Steel Magnolias, it had nothing on the Sycamore Mountain version. Seeing my favorite people surrounding me in my new salon feels surreal.
It’s so great to have my sweet friend Norma Jean here. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her until she came to town. My old salon sidekick wanders over to my side. “Tomorrow’s your big day, Char. I should be doing your friends’ hair, not you.”
“Oh, it’s relaxing.” I laugh. “Well, except for this one.” I point my thumb over my shoulder at Betty. “Besides, I think it’s almost a requirement to work during your wedding weekend in Sycamore Mountain.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“When are you and that hot firefighter going to give me some fairy grandbabies?” Betty asks, dipping her chin in the direction of Ellie’s twins.
They’re playing peek-a-boo with Liz and Margaret.
“I’ve given up waiting on Charlie. I think when he saw what a jezebel his mother turned into after raising him, it scared him celibate. ”
“Oh my god.” I cackle.
“It’s probably not far from the truth.” Norma Jean snickers.
Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I give her a shake. “It’s so good to have you here. I’ve missed you.” Norma Jean had stepped up to manage my old Candy Cane Key salon after I broke the news I wouldn’t be returning.
Once my stepfather was securely behind bars, I was able to board a plane with Dave and return to Candy Cane Key to meet with her, Liz, and Margaret.
Norma Jean didn’t jump at the chance but seemed open to take over temporarily.
She was blunt that she wasn’t sure this was the future she wanted, but it was fine for right now.
In all the years I’d known her, we’d never been the type to have deep and meaningful conversations. It was always lighthearted. Superficial. I wasn’t sure if this was because Norma Jean was guarded…or me.
“Well, don’t wear yourself out. You’ll be too exhausted tomorrow to enjoy your wedding,” Norma Jean adds.
“Life in a small town,” Ellie blurts. “When you have one baker, one florist, one salon owner, sometimes you have to do it yourself if you want it done right.”
“Well, at least you have Betty helping to cater the affair,” Liz says before blowing raspberries at a giggling Eva.
“How do you manage to spend so much time away from your restaurant?” Margaret asks Betty, her eyes never leaving Emma’s.
“I’ve got the boys running things. I just need to pop in unexpectedly once in a while to keep them guessing.
I’d hoped to make this my summer retreat, to get a little break from the oppressive heat, humidity, and tropical storms. Not when the mountains are whistling with ice and snow. ” She gives me a playful glare.
“I know, I know. But we wanted a snow-covered wedding. And New Year’s Eve seemed like the perfect time to celebrate starting a new life.”
“Oh, don’t listen to her. It’s going to be absolutely beautiful,” Margaret adds.
The bell jingles over the door, and Dave and Valerie walk in. There’s no containing my smile.
“Val!” the girls all greet in unison. Her eyes sparkle at their greeting.
While there are still some moments I can see Dave’s mother struggling with her depression, for the most part, she seems to enjoy life.
I’m pretty certain Sycamore Mountain has been as good for her as it has been for me.
With one part-time resident becoming the Thelma to her Louise.
“Oh, look at all of you girls,” Dave greets. “Everyone getting in a full day of beauty with my gal before I get to celebrate being the luckiest man alive.” He steps closer, giving me a tender kiss on the cheek before all the girls sigh.
“Hey, darlin!” Betty shouts toward her new bestie. “Where have you been? Get over here and keep me company until Char gets her hands on your already perfect hair.” Valerie’s cheeks blush lightly at her new friend’s compliment.
These two couldn’t be a more unlikely pair. Brash meets bashful. But Betty has been good for Dave’s mother. Instilling a lot of the same confidence and hope in her that she’s given to me.
Having finished Ellie’s up do, I turn off the dryer and encourage Betty to head back over to my station. She reaches for Valerie’s hand, tugging her along with her. “You decided whether you’re going stag to the wedding of the year?” she asks her.
“Why? Are you bringing a date?”
“Nah. I’m keeping my options open. Don’t need to send any messages that I’m looking for Mr. Right by bringing a man to a wedding.” Betty winks. “But you should. I heard Earl is—”
“Do not finish that sentence!” Dave interrupts. “If you even think about setting my mother up with him, the wedding is off.”
I spin on my heel to face my fiancé, my brows shooting up to my hairline.
He grabs me, pulling me flush against him. “We’ll elope.”
“Oh, good grief,” I splutter. Turning to his mother, I grab her hands in mine. “Your hair really does look perfect for tonight. But you going to let me do your hair for our big day tomorrow?”
Valerie smiles up at me. “I can’t wait.” Her eyes glisten, the emotion in them almost causing me to sway on my feet. “You’ll officially be my daughter,” she whispers. My heart clenches. This genuinely sweet woman. I know this is as much a beginning for her as for me.
I can’t believe how my life has changed.
And this weekend is the stuff New Year’s wishes are made of.
A rehearsal dinner amongst my friends and new family at Elliot’s Hot Chicken tonight, followed by a winter wedding and reception on a snow-covered mountain tomorrow.
Betty has stepped up to help, taking over the kitchen tonight to serve brisket and barbecue.
While the reception will include all of the favorite southern dishes we’ve come to enjoy from Ellie and Matt’s place.
My gaze bounces around the salon, a mixture of both pride and affection filling me at the sight. I have so much to be thankful for. I can’t wait to revel in every moment with all of them.
Dave
It’s New Year’s Eve, the morning of my wedding, and other than the fact my bride-to-be spent the night with Matt, Ellie, and the girls, I’ve never been happier. Jumping from the bed, I walk over to the window and glance down at the snow-covered mountain below. “Our snow globe” as Char refers to it.
I owe her a lot for not only giving me a chance, but allowing my mother to reconnect and begin to rejoin life.
Char has not only infiltrated my heart, she’s placed Mom under her spell as well.
The carefree way she’s been able to engage her in conversation, building her self-esteem.
They paint each other’s nails, experiment with baked goods they find on Pinterest, and laugh over girly mundane things I’ll never wrap my head around.
But the joy that emanates from my mother now is priceless.
Beyond anything the expensive therapists could do for her.
Char has brought her back to the woman I remember.
After a leisurely breakfast with Mom, I shower and dress in my favorite black suit. The one I wore when we met all those months ago. Looking at the man in the mirror almost startles me. Who knew I could ever be this happy?
With a spring in my step, I gather my mother on my arm and carefully usher her out the door. There’s a fresh coating of snow sparkling on the ground and trees. As if Sycamore Mountain was pulling out all of the stops for Char’s wish for a beautiful winter wedding.
The ceremony is being held in a heated tent.
One side will be open during the vows to allow the snow-covered mountains to set the stage.
The white chairs, green and white floral arrangements adorned in holly berries, and clear blue skies provide the perfect palate for this incredible day.
The park-like setting in front of one of the town’s largest lakes seems as if it was designed for moments such as this.
We’ve tried to keep the wedding small. But it has taken on a life of its own. First it was close friends and family, including all of my firefighter brothers and their wives. But now it appears the whole town is here.
But why wouldn’t they be?
From the moment Char stepped into Sycamore Mountain, it was clear she belonged here.
And not just because I wished it was so.
Now that she’s opened her salon, she’s an integral part of the community.
Add in the fact she plays auntie to Ellie and Matt’s twin girls, and there’s nowhere else she’d rather be.
Brecken pats me on the shoulder. “Hey, man. You ready?”
“Yeah.” I stand tall, unable to hide my eager grin. “So ready.”
If anyone had told me that one day Brecken would be standing by my side as my best man, I’d swear they were crazy.
But here we are. We’ve managed to cultivate a brotherhood I never would’ve anticipated.
Trevor says the two of us remind him of life with his older brother. Constant ribbing and hijinks.
All of a sudden, I feel a sharp elbow to the ribs. “She’s lucky to have you, man.”
“Thanks. But I’m the lucky one.”
He snickers. “No chance she’ll turn into a runaway bride?”
“Shit, man. Why’d you put that in my head?” If we’d tied the knot before her stepfather was arrested, I might be worried. But the only nerves I feel are making it through the ceremony and reception without wanting to rush off to our honeymoon.