Chapter 44
The next morning, Hallie and I stand at Grady’s carriage house downtown knocking. After I drop her off, I’m heading to coordinate
the furniture delivery at the Daniel House.
Hallie peers in a window, fogging the pane. “Don’t see anything.”
I hope I mask my irritation when I say, “I’ll call him and see what’s up.”
The phone rings, and when Grady answers, I can tell it’s on the speakerphone in his car. “Hey, Mack. I’m sorry.”
It’s all I need to hear to know Hallie will be my design sidekick for the day. I look over at her standing patiently, waiting
on her father. It digs at me, again, in that familiar father-free spot inside me. I never wanted this for her. In fact, Magnolia
promised me marrying Grady would be a ticket to happiness. Now everyone can see how wrong that went.
“Where are you?” I ask, trying to keep my tone even. “Hallie and I are at your place for drop-off.”
I can’t help but wonder if this is some twisted “payback” for my swiftness in dismissing him from the studio yesterday.
I hear the white-noise sound of the road. “There’s been an accident at my parents’ property, and I had to split right away. Mom’s in a complete state about it, and Dad was dealing with getting the first responders some space.”
“Oh,” I say. “All right, then.”
It’s a valid excuse if ever there was one, and I know once he references his folks he’s not lying. I’ll make the most of an
extra day with my darling girl.
“Well, I hope everyone’s ok,” I say. “I’ll call your folks to check in later.”
“I know they’ll appreciate that,” he says. “But I need to go. I’m pulling up and it’s all flashing lights and sirens.”
I hang up the phone and smile at Hallie. “Would you like to help arrange furniture today, my love? You know I can always use
your eye.”
Hallie sighs. “Did he forget about me?”
I move to her and take her in my arms. “No, honey. He was really disappointed, but there’s been some sort of emergency in
Beaufort.”
“I could’ve gone too,” Hallie says. “I’m a great helper, and I don’t interfere.”
I run a hand across her forehead and cup her chin. “ That you absolutely are, but there are certain situations that are just for adults to manage.”
Hallie pouts and balls her hands into fists.
“I can call Lincoln and see what he and Foster are up to.”
A jaunt back across the bridge would eat into my work time, but it’d be worth it to smooth this over.
“Can’t,” Hallie says. “Foster’s got reptile camp, remember?”
“Ah,” I say.
I do remember now, and I should’ve had it at the forefront of my mind, considering I had to call to see if Hallie could get
in as well. The best I got was a spot on the waitlist.
“The camp should’ve just let me in. I’m one extra kid. And a good listener.”
Hallie looks right at me, as if I’m the one controlling the camp roster. As if I even knew this camp existed before Foster
moved in and signed up for it.
“I’m sorry it’s not working out. And you’re right, you’re a great listener and a great kid. It wasn’t personal,” I say. “Maybe
I can see if Maya is going to be at the studio?”
Hallie shakes her head. “If I’m just going to be pawned off, I might as well go somewhere I’m actually useful—like the Daniel
House.”
I hide the smile that threatens. “Couldn’t agree more. And I’ll be grateful to have your help.”
I text Fitz on the way to the Daniel House, and once he confirms he’s coming for furniture installation, I ask him if he’ll
stop for Hallie’s favorite pizza for lunch. I promise him he’ll be her most favorite and save her day. Fitz agrees and promises
to throw in one of the cookies they sell at the counter.
An hour later, we’re at the Daniel House watching as a gingham-print armchair, a pair of mahogany side tables, and a wood
spindle floor lamp wrapped in plastic are unloaded from trucks. I’m focused mostly on getting the right pieces in the right
rooms, and from there, our team can easily adjust the layout. Already I’ve realized one of the benches for the upstairs hallway
is too small and will need to be swapped out, and a cabinet arrived damaged on one corner. No shipment is perfect, I know
as much by now, and I have items in storage that can sub in until the final options arrive.
Fitz appears at the gate with pizza boxes in hand.
I meet him halfway and take them from him. “I seriously owe you for this. Grady had a legitimate excuse this time—for once—but
it’s starting to wear on Hal.”
“I’d bring pizza every day for my magpie if she needed it,” Fitz says. “How’s the furniture?”
I smile. “It’s fabulous. Seriously, we knocked it out on this one. And we don’t even have accessories or art in yet.”
“So I’ll be swooning is what you mean,” Fitz says.
I turn to head back in, but Fitz’s hand on my arm stops me.
“Before you go in,” Fitz says. “I have news.”
“Oh no. Bad?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Mostly good, a little bit bad.”
I stand there, and the steam rolling off the pizza boxes warms my skin. “Tell me, Fitzy.”
“Get the Farm Rio dress, Magnolia Junior,” Fitz says with a layer of sadness.
“We’re having the wedding.” I say it quietly because I know the “we” doesn’t include everyone it should. “I will be there,
and Hallie will be there with all the bells and whistles our money can buy.”
Fitz cracks a smile. “Speaking of, and because I know it’s been a rough day for her—can I ask her to be the flower girl?”
“Well, of course.” I set down the boxes on the path and pull my friend into a hug. “But shouldn’t you propose to the other
groom first?”
Fitz laughs and I can feel the joy rumble across our embrace. “ Details . I’m fairly certain he’ll accept, and Hallie can be trusted to keep a secret.”
“Christmas two years ago,” I say, leaning back.
“Didn’t crack once, even when you offered ice cream to dish what she and I picked out for your gift,” Fitz says.
I pull out of Fitz’s arms and squeeze his hands. “Whatever you need, wherever we can fill in the gaps, we’re here.”
“Good,” Fitz says. “Because I’ve already got a laundry list of tasks lined up for us this weekend.”
I laugh and recover the pizza. “I never doubted you. And I’m all yours.”
“So no big dates with that handsome photographer?”
I grin. “That’s Thursday. We’re going to meet his old mentor, Marcus Wilson, at Spoleto.”
“Very swoony.” Fitz wraps an arm around my shoulders, and we climb up to the house. “Sounds like Sunday will be a perfect
day for wedding prep and gossip.”
“I can promise at least half that equation,” I say.
We work our way through the maze of newly delivered furniture and eventually find Hallie. She’s thrilled to see her uncle
Fitz and even more so when she discovers what he brought for lunch. And as Fitz describes her duties as flower girl in the
upcoming wedding (fiancé pending), Hallie looks on with the utmost of serious looks, nodding, bound and determined to be the
best flower girl the city has ever seen.
She reminds me of myself.