Chapter Forty #2
“Oh dear,” Isabel said. “I hope we haven’t traumatized him.”
I didn’t think so, but I knew a good therapist if he needed it. She was in Birmingham, and I saw her every other week. I was doing really well these days—leaps and bounds better—but still had a ways to go.
“I forgot to mention to him that if he does happen to find love,” Nettie said, “he shouldn’t drag his feet when it comes time to propose!”
She turned toward us, eyes narrowed.
“Subtle,” Callum said to her. “Real subtle.”
Maeve laughed as she approached from behind us. “Subtle is one thing Nettie is not, honey. Did you two have a good morning?”
She moved at a whirlwind pace these days since her hip had been replaced, healed. At work, I could barely keep up with her as we walked the halls of Juneberry.
“We had a great morning,” I said. “Found the perfect tree.”
“It’s a Charlie Brown tree,” Callum said, a hint of exasperation in his tone.
I made a face at him.
He coughed. “It’s perfect.”
We were going to plant it in Tenn’s backyard after the holidays.
Our backyard.
We’d bought the house from Tenn this past spring after he downsized to a one-story home that just happened to be down the street, next door to Vera’s.
Everyone in town was talking about how friendly the two had become.
I glanced over at them now, sitting next to each other on the bride’s side of the aisle, their heads nearly touching as they chatted.
Nettie must’ve known what I was looking at, because she bumped me with her arm, gave me a smile. “Sparks.”
I grinned and nodded.
As the musicians launched into a song, keeping the volume low, the preacher said, “If y’all don’t mind taking a seat, we’re ready to begin.”
Katy came running over. She rarely skipped anymore, which broke my heart a little. “Juliet, we saved your seats!”
Callum laughed as Katy grabbed my hand, towed me along.
She was nine and a half now and was growing like a weed.
Her hair was longer, turning darker, and her glasses were now blue.
Every so often, she stayed the night with Callum and me, and more often than not, we made time to climb into Bill’s strong arms and read for a while.
I’d learned you’re never too old to read in the arms of a tree.
Maeve beat us to the row of chairs where Tallulah was sitting with Jake, snuggled up close together.
I looked around for Mary Joy, found her on Tenn’s lap in the row in front of us, pulling on his beard like she was trying to take it off.
I could hear him saying, “You didn’t like that so much the last time, munchkin. ”
I scooted in behind Katy. Callum took the last chair as the volume of the music swelled.
Katy stood on her tiptoes, looking around. “Where’s Deckle? Is she here? I don’t see her.”
“I’m sure she is,” Tallulah said, smiling. “Sit, sit.”
Callum reached over, took my hand, and I laced my fingers with his. As my wrist turned, I caught sight of the small tattoos, both new, on its underside. A robin and a feather.
My family had been surprised to learn the truth about my grandfather and his trip here but not shocked—my mom, especially.
I suspected she knew all of us better than we’d ever understand.
When Amy had helped Mom clean out Grandpa’s place, she’d found Renny’s half of the torn picture in a Whitman poetry book and mailed it to me.
I’d taped the two sides back together, and now the photo sat on the mantel in a big house on a tree-lined street that had mossy sidewalks and an abundance of charm.
Callum leaned in, and I breathed in his cedar scent as he said, “Big wedding or small?”
I smiled. “Small. Destination wedding or local?”
His eyes widened, the blue shimmering like water in the sunlight. “That’s a tough one. To be determined.”
When the trio started playing Canon in D, we all stood up. Katy wiggled in front of me and Callum to stand at the end of the aisle where she had a better view. “Mama,” she whispered over her shoulder, “I see Deckle!”
Tallulah smiled. “Good, good, but shh.”
I felt my eyes welling as Evanthe swept down the aisle in a stunning champagne-colored column dress, carrying Deckle in her arms instead of a bouquet.
There was a rose clipped to Deckle’s white collar, and it seemed to me that her knowing golden eyes were glittering with happiness as they reached Jed, who was wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.
His dog, the one who apparently didn’t tolerate cats, had crossed the rainbow bridge several months before, and the next thing anyone knew, Jed and Evanthe were engaged, sending a shock wave through the community.
Almost everyone had been stunned. But not Tallulah.
She had seemed to know that this day would come.
Maybe not Callum, either. After all, it was Jed who had shown up in his garage early one Monday morning a year and a half ago, holding a fat cashier’s check made out to Juneberry Cottage.
A check offered in exchange for Callum’s silence about the potato he’d found in the tailpipe of Jake’s truck, which had caused it to break down.
Sabotage that had been orchestrated by Evanthe and carried out by Jed.
It was a transaction known only to four people: Evanthe, Jed, Callum, and me.
When Callum had asked Jed why, all he’d said was, “Love.”
A perfect explanation if I’d ever heard one.
As we sat back down, I glanced at my left hand again and couldn’t help smiling as I pictured the engagement ring Callum had given to me just this morning.
I’d left it at home because I didn’t want my happy news to take away from Evanthe’s big day.
Inside, though, I was beyond excited, jumping for joy, and couldn’t wait to tell Tallulah, Maeve, and Katy.
But as we sat down once again, I happened to glance to my right and saw the three of them looking at me with matching big smiles.
And suddenly I had the feeling they already knew.