Chapter 40 #2
I fill each of our mugs with prosecco as Rosie explains that, tonight, the town is voting on the new name for the Ice Cream Barn. As a new business, it wasn’t grandfathered in and Eli needs a name that matches the rest of the town businesses, alliteration and all.
“So what are the options?” I muse, staring up at the man as he wrings his hands together. Poor guy. I’m lucky that bonfires really were my bliss, so naming my store was easy.
“Pretty sure that’s what Babs is going on about up there,” Rosie says, tipping her mug toward the mayor. She waggles her fingers in greeting when Fletcher looks up, pure exasperation written in every line of his face, and his jaw flexes at the sight.
I’m laughing at her antics as Monty lowers himself into the seat beside me and lets out a beleaguered sigh.
“So there’s this whole thing about relationships,” he starts. “I save you, you save me.”
I frown. “I wasn’t aware you needed saving.”
“You left me alone with Rayna McGovern for ten minutes.”
“It was five tops,” Tally interjects.
He grunts. “I was trying to help you.”
Walker finally appears and pushes Rosie closer to me so he can sit next to Tally.
“The girls are only out for themselves,” he mumbles to Monty. “The sooner you realize that, the better you’ll be.” Then he wraps an arm around my sister and presses a kiss to her forehead.
Rosie arches a brow in my direction. “If you two start canoodling during the town meeting, I’m leaving.”
I tap my cup against hers in solidarity. “Where’s Billie?”
“Quinn had a school project,” Walker explains before looking pointedly at my sister. “I offered to help him but someone said I needed to be here.”
“Oh, shush, you know you love town meetings. Besides, we’re voting on Eli’s store name and you’re his best friend.”
“So he keeps reminding me,” Walker grumbles.
***
Two hours later Walker’s best friend looks downright miserable.
“But I don’t even serve frosties!” Eli moans from the stage.
It’s after nine and we’ve been debating the name of his Ice Cream Barn for hours.
It seems everyone has settled on using Fireflies as part of the title—since it’s Hope Harbor’s town mascot—but all the F words that have been suggested aren’t flying.
“Well, it’s better than frozen,” Rayna says with a huff. “Besides, I love a frosty, so maybe you should serve them.”
“What about fantastic?” someone else shouts.
“What does that have to do with ice cream?” Babs counters.
“Nothing.” Eli groans. “Why can’t we just leave it as the Ice Cream Barn? People get it. We serve ice cream. In a barn.”
“I still think Ice Cream with the Ice Man is the best option,” Stew pipes up.
Eli rolls his eyes. “No.”
“Okay, we’re not getting anywhere on this.” Fletcher stands up. “Why don’t we table this until the next meeting? Everyone can send in suggestions to the town chat in the meantime, and we’ll take a vote there.”
“Before we let everyone go…” Rayna interrupts, much to Fletcher’s dismay, “I wanted to update everyone on the amount that we have raised so far through the Maple Festival!”
“Is it enough for the hot tub?” Babs hollers.
Rayna glances in my direction and I swear she winks at me.
“More. In fact, we’ve done such a good job raising money over these past few months that we were able to fund a whirlpool for the senior center. But, not only that, we also had enough to cover a gift to thank Penelope Darling for all her hard work.”
I frown and glance at Monty, though he’s smiling at me as if he’s not surprised by Rayna’s speech at all.
“What’s going on?” I murmur out of the corner of my mouth as she heads toward me and hands me an oversized box wrapped in gold paper.
Monty’s smile only grows. “Open the town’s gift, Penelope.”
My brows furrow with suspicion as I rip the paper off to reveal the packaging for a brand-new laptop.
“There’s no way,” I whisper, shaking my head.
“No way what?” Rayna challenges, and I know, in this moment, that the woman in front of me is behind this purchase. She did something similar last spring for Tally with her bakery lease.
Tears spring to my eyes. While the store has been doing better lately thanks to the viral Instagram content, a new computer was still out of my budget for the time being. But now, with the help of the town, I’ll be able to start growing the business even more.
“Thank you,” I say, trying to smile as tears fill my eyes.
“It was all you, Penelope Darling,” Rayna replies. “You give so much to this town. We’re just happy to be able to give something back.”
Monty presses a kiss to my cheek and I hide my face in his shoulder.
At the sound of his throat clearing, I lean back and he grins before standing. “While we’re talking about how fabulous Penny is, I have something I wanted to add to tonight’s agenda.”
“What are you doing?” I whisper-shout.
He smiles down at me. “Just making it official.”
“Making what official?”
Though I’m sure he can sense the panic in my tone, he doesn’t bat an eye.
“What’s this item?” Rayna asks, eyeing him.
Monty winks at me and then straightens his shoulders.
“I know there was some confusion as to the status of Penny’s and my relationship recently, but I just wanted everyone to know that I am in love with Penny Darling and that we are, in fact, officially dating.
And before you ask, I intend on marrying her.
Not yet,” he adds before Rayna can open her mouth, though she’s already held up a finger in question.
“Well, since we’re being honest here—” Monty’s father’s voice cuts from across the room. He’s a few rows behind us and the gathered crowd turns to face the usually reserved man. “I want to tell everyone that, ten years ago, I made the worst decision of my life.”
My jaw drops open as the room falls quiet. Every single person’s head seems to bounce between him and the woman he’s now staring at.
“Rebecca, I made a mistake,” he starts. “I was depressed. I was scared, and rather than talking to you, rather than telling you that I love you and I never wanted to lose you, I pushed you away in the hopes that you’d get to chase your own dreams.”
Monty’s mother is seated beside my own just a few rows up, and as she listens to her ex-husband, tears stream down her face.
I look to Monty, and the way he’s watching his dad, with so much pride in those teary, gorgeous green eyes, makes me well up all over again. He pulls off his glasses to swipe at the water droplets forming underneath and I reach out to hold his hand.
“Is there any way,” his father continues as his voice threatens to break, “that you could find it in your heart to forgive me? Any way that you could give us another chance?”
He hasn’t finished his sentence before Rebecca is moving. She pushes past a row of people and throws her arms around his neck, hugging him to her.
“Well, while we’re getting things off our chest,” Stew says loudly from the stage. “Rayna, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go on a date with me?”
Monty chuckles and I pinch his side. “Look what you started.”
“Look what you started,” he says, so much damn love in his eyes as he turns to me. “You’re the one who taught me what love means. Just like you said you would. I love you, Xuxuzinho.”
“And I love you, too, Jake Montgomery.”
Around us, the entire room has erupted into chaos with people yelling out their confessions, but I don’t miss how his parents sneak out of the hall, hand in hand. When the door opens, golden leaves kick up from the steps and float around them.
Smiling, I stare up at the man who’s completely stolen my heart. “I told you fall was the most magical season of all.”
Hope Harbor Happy Chat
Rayna: Happy Halloween Hope Harbor!
Rosie: I’m still recovering from last night’s bonfire…can we have a rain check on the celebrations for at least a second?
Tally: No! And everyone remember to stop by the farm tonight. My mom will be there handing out candy with Billie and Quinn. But the cowboy and I will be on Maple Lane with Daisy.
Penny: Monty and I will be handing out candy at the bookstore.
Babs: What is your costume?
Penny: Nope, not telling. That’s a surprise.
Babs: Just wondering if Monty will be shirtless.
Babs: I’m plotting out my stops based on what I can’t miss and Monty without a shirt is definitely one of those things.
Monty: I will be fully dressed, Mrs. Wilcox.
Babs: Oh, so formal. Does he talk to you like that in the boudoir, Penelope Darling?
Penny: Can we go back to picking names for Eli’s ice cream barn?
Eli: PENNY!
Ruby: What about Freaky Fireflies?
Babs: Sounds like the fireflies are getting it on. Also, what does that have to do with ice cream?
Rayna: I’m telling you Frosties and Fireflies is best.
Tally: I really liked Frozen Fireflies.
Eli: The new name is Fireflies and Ice Cream Flights. A seven-year-old did a better job naming it than all of you. And LOOK IT STILL HAS ICE CREAM IN THE TITLE.
Rayna: Oh I like that
Babs: Me too! Does that mean you’ll do flights of ice cream like Rosie does at the brewery?
Rayna: Yes! I can never decide between the raspberry and the chocolate. A scoop of each please. Although a flight would be like four…
Tally: Oh I’m so down for this!
Rosie: It’s actually kind of brilliant.
Eli: CAN WE ALL AGREE IF I DO THIS I’M FORGIVEN FOR PLAYING FOR NEW YORK?
Fletcher: All in favor of renaming The Ice Cream Barn and forgiving Eli say aye.
Rayna: Aye
Rosie: Aye—this is the one and ONLY time I’ll agree with you Mr. Mayor
Babs: Aye! And look hell has frozen over!
Tally: I’m still a fan of frozen but I can go with this. Aye.
Penny: Monty and I say Aye!
Babs: Aw look they’re a little team now.
Eli: If my best friend doesn’t say Aye, I’m driving over there and forcing him to hang out with me while I cry for the next four hours.
Walker: Oh for fucks sake, AYE
Rayna: Walker, this is a town chat, please mind your manners.
Walker: I’ll happily leave the town chat, Mrs. McGovern.
Tally: Ha, you wish!
Fletcher: Come down to town hall tomorrow to fill out the paperwork, Eli. You’ve got a new business name. Congrats. Happy Halloween Everyone!