31. Delilah
DELILAH
I held Stella’s hand as I waited in the wings to go onto the stage.
I’d managed to bail on the dinner portion of the evening.
Stella lied for me and said I’d been battling a migraine.
The last task I had to complete to fulfill my contractual obligation was to announce the winner at the final gala.
With my heart thundering in my chest, I trained my gaze on Mr. Plum while he talked about all the criteria that went into selecting the winner of the Most Romantic Small Town in Texas competition.
Lacey was in the crowd. I had caught a glimpse of her and Bodie when I’d arrived. Although I’d removed Jasper’s name from the guest list, I still wasn’t looking forward to seeing anyone from Ido. My feelings were still too raw, too painful.
I’d had to relive all of them over the past week while I sorted through the time I’d spent in each town. My decision had been a difficult one, even more so due to the circumstances, but I was comfortable with my choice and couldn’t wait to put the past few months behind me.
“Without further ado, let me introduce the contest judge to announce the winner. Please welcome, the reigning Miss Lovin’ Texas, Delilah Stone, to the stage.” Mr. Plum clapped his hands while he waited for me to meet him onstage.
“This is it, go on.” Stella gave me a tiny nudge.
I took a deep breath in through my nose and held it for a count of three before letting it out in a slow exhale. Then I pasted on the biggest, brightest smile I could muster, and stepped into the spotlight.
“Thank you, Mr. Plum. It’s been my pleasure being involved in such an exciting competition. All three towns put their best foot forward, making my decision an incredibly difficult one.” I smiled into the crowd, my gaze drawn to Lacey, who sat at a table right in front of the stage.
Bodie had moved his chair right next to his wife’s and held her hand. They both looked so hopeful, it almost made me forget my next line.
“Ms. Stone?” Mr. Plum blinked a few times. “Would you do us the honor of announcing the third-place winner?”
My attention snapped back to the laptop sitting on top of the podium. I clicked the mouse and a picture of East appeared on the screen. “Coming in third, I’d like to congratulate the town of East, Texas.”
A polite smattering of applause came from the crowd.
“I had a fantastic time getting to know the folks in East. If you’re ever in the mood for a romantic trail ride or date night at the most charming barbecue joint west of the Mississippi, East is where it’s at.
” I stepped back from the podium as Mr. Plum welcomed East’s mayor and his wife to the stage.
They snapped a few photos, and he handed them a small trophy in the shape of Texas with a heart placed over East’s location on the map.
“I’ll be honest, I had a hard time choosing the second-place winner. Both Hartwood and Ido welcomed me with open arms.” I paused, glancing down to see Lacey grip Bodie’s fingers and sit up straighter in her seat.
“Both towns have tons of personality. The residents were so friendly and welcoming. But a decision had to be made, so I’m thrilled to announce the second-place winner is Hartwood.” I posed for pictures with Mr. Plum and the mayor of Hartwood, who was clearly annoyed at the perceived snub.
Mr. Plum took the mic. “As you’ve all figured out by now, we have a winner. But before we make it official, Ms. Stone was kind enough to go above and beyond her official duties to prepare a slideshow of some of her favorite moments in Ido.”
The lights dimmed as a screen lowered behind the stage.
Music filtered from the speakers, and the tune “Cowboy Take Me Away” began to play.
Images of Ido flashed on the screen. First, the kickoff celebration where I’d had my first taste of Helmut’s cooking, then heard the musical magic of Kirby and the rest of the Wicked Washboarders.
There were photos from the vineyard tour, my luncheon with the ladies’ group, and the speech I’d given at Abby’s school.
I managed not to cry until the picture I’d taken of Jasper and Buster on the blanket at the Hamptons’ movie barn appeared on-screen.
I dabbed at my cheeks with a tissue. Even though I’d chosen waterproof mascara because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold it together, I still didn’t want to have streaks running down my cheeks.
Light from the hall spilled into the room as the ballroom door opened. The slideshow froze, a picture of Jasper and me covered in butterflies and mud stuck on the screen.
“That right there was the moment I knew I’d fallen in love with you,” Jasper’s voice boomed from the back of the room.
My heart pounded in my chest as I squinted into the darkness. All I could see were the silhouettes of the people who were coming through the door.
He wound his way through the sea of tables, each step bringing him closer to the stage. “Although I was pretty sure you were going to steal my heart the very first time I set eyes on you.”
I closed my eyes, the tears free-falling down my cheeks. I tapped on the mouse, desperate to get the slideshow playing so I could leave the stage. The next picture showed Abby and me with the crazy goat, then faded into the shot I’d captured of the butterflies being released into the air.
“Delilah.” He stood at the foot of the stage, his hair tamed, his cheeks freshly shaved, his broad shoulders encased in what looked like a brand-new dark gray suit coat. His tie was yellow, my favorite color.
“You can’t do this now, Jasper,” I whispered. “It’s too late.”
Lacey made a move to get out of her chair, but Bodie put his arm around her and muttered something in her ear. Any chance of being saved by the mayor disappeared.
“I love you, Delilah Stone. Someone once told me it’s never too late to do the right thing. Please, tell me you meant it. Say you’ll give me a chance to explain myself and prove I’m the man you fell in love with.”
Mr. Plum gasped and grabbed for the mic. “Lights, please. We’re thrilled to congratulate the town of Ido . . . the most romantic town in Texas.”
Jasper’s eyes went wide. “You picked Ido?”
I moved to the edge of the stage and squatted down as best I could in the tight yellow dress I’d picked to wear that night. “You missed it. I did pick Ido. You could have saved yourself the trip.”
“Delilah, what you saw in the barn that night, it’s not what you think. I was trying to save my family from finding out the truth about my brother. I should have come clean when I’d had the chance, but I didn’t want my folks to get their hearts broken.”
My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow but the emotion welling up in my chest made it almost impossible. “I know.”
“How?” Jasper’s gaze searched mine.
I took in a breath, trying to stabilize my pulse. “My dad called and told me.”
“Helmut.” Jasper’s shoulders rose and fell. “But why, after everything I put you through, why would you pick Ido?”
I didn’t want to look at him, didn’t trust myself not to lose it when I saw the hope and love shining in his eyes. But then he put his finger under my chin and nudged my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze.
“Because that’s where I fell in love. And what’s more romantic than that?”
“Come here.” He reached out and swept me off my feet, cradling me against his chest before he set me down on my feet in front of him.
“Ask her, Jasper.” Abby came close and I slowly shifted my gaze from Jasper to see his family had joined us.
“What are all of you doing here?”
Suzy stood next to Abby, her hands covered in those black lacy gloves she’d been wearing the first day I met her.
Mitchell, Trent, and Davis had all cleaned up.
I almost didn’t recognize Jasper’s brothers without their cowboy hats and jeans.
And there was an extra. I assumed that was Noah, the only Taylor brother I hadn’t met in person yet.
He must have driven down from college. He stood next to Lucas, who held little Maggie in his arms.
“Yeah, ask her.” Helmut stepped next to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, who smiled like they’d just won the lottery.
Jasper got down on one knee in front of me.
“Delilah Stone, I know I’m not an easy man to love, but I’m also not a man who love found easily.
That’s why I know in my heart we’re meant to be together.
You bring out the best in me, and I hope you’ll let me do my very best, every single day for the rest of our lives, to bring out the best in you. ”
“Get to it,” Stella said. She’d joined Helmut at the edge of the circle, her eyes taking on a kind of shine I had never seen before.
“That’s why I’d like to ask you . . .” Jasper looked up at me. The light in his eyes shut out everything else in the room.
“Will you marry us?” Abby shouted, jumping up and down.
“Abby!” Jasper jerked his head toward his sister.
“What? You were taking too long.” She shrugged, her cheeks flushing pink.
“Us?” I asked.
Jasper stood and took both of my hands in his. “Yes, us. You told me once you’d always wondered what it would be like to have a big family.”
I nodded. “That’s true.”
“Well, here we are.” He glanced around at his brothers, his sister, his parents, and his aunt. “If you say yes, you’ll be getting more than a husband. You’ll be getting all of us.”
It was too much. I’d never known the kind of love that seemed to pour from the Taylors, wrap around Jasper and me, and fill me so full of happiness I felt like butterflies were beating their wings against the walls of my chest.
I looked straight into his eyes. “Yes.”
He stood and immediately caught my lips in a kiss while his family clapped and shrieked around us.
I had gone into the contest with no expectations, but I was leaving with everything I’d ever wanted.
Ido may have won the title, but there was no doubt in my mind that I was the real winner.