Cassie laughed as Danny banged on the window behind the shutters. “Hurry up in there. How much longer are you going to be?”
“Patience,” she told him. He never was any good at waiting and used to pound on the bathroom door all the time. He still did just to wind her up occasionally. She did up the last button and moved to the front. She pulled the dress slightly and smiled as she fastened the gold clasp on the cord around the waist. “Perfect.”
The fitted white crushed velvet bodice tapered to the waist where the full skirt then fell to the floor. A plain gold cord belt circled the waist, the excess cascading down the length of the dress. The scooped neckline stayed on the shoulders while the sleeves plummeted down the arms ending just over the wrists in a v point, dangling a good six inches below the wrists.
Picking up the circular silk chiffon veil, she wondered if Jack would come. Jack? Since when did you drop the pastor? It’s better not to think of him that way, especially after Miss Kingsley’s comment yesterday. I don’t think he heard her, since he didn’t say anything. Or maybe he’s as embarrassed as I am. And I thought Danny was joking about the narrow minded little old ladies who sit at the back of the church.
She sighed and set the veil on the mannequin’s head. She fixed it into position with the simple gold circular headband.
Danny tapped on the window. “Come on, sis. How long does it take? A fellow could die of boredom out here.”
“As long as it takes to finish and not a minute longer.” She grinned as she tossed her grandmother’s staple reply back at him. She pulled the dress slightly to the left, so the hem hung straight and then straightened the uniform jacket on the groom. As a final touch, she scattered rose petal confetti around the base of the two mannequins. The only thing she could think of to make it perfect was the bridesmaid’s dress she hadn’t even begun. Taking a deep breath she opened the shutters. “Tada.”
“Whoa…” Danny’s face was a picture, a mix of shock, amazement and wonder. “Wow sis, I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Oh, if only I had a camera.
She glanced from Danny to the man standing beside him.
Jack just grinned, his smile lighting his whole face.
Cassie headed outside to join them. “You like it then?”
“It’s wonderful.” Danny hugged her. “Thank you.”
She hugged him back. “You’re welcome.”
Danny shook his head, still wide eyed. “You really made it? In less than a week? You didn’t just hide the fabric I bought and go and hire that dress from some fancy dress designer place like you did the groom’s RAF uniform?”
“No I didn’t,” Cassie huffed. “I’m hurt you could even suggest such a thing.”
“It’s wonderful and far outweighs anything any other shop has done. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“It does look really good, but I already told you that.” Jack’s warm voice made her cheeks burn.
“You showed him, but not me?” Danny slapped a hand over his heart and staggered backwards. “I’m hurt.”
Cassie and Jack laughed. “I just happened to be there,” Jack told him. “She mentioned what she was doing, and that it was the one she designed years ago.”
Danny’s eyebrows shot up into his hair. “You designed it? It’s not a premade pattern?”
“Yeah, I designed it. It’s actually my wedding dress. Not that I’m getting married, but it’s the one I always wanted to walk down the aisle in. Figured this was the perfect opportunity to make it. So I just did it.”
“That is incredible. You wasted your talent riding horses. You should have been a dressmaker.”
“I really don’t think so. Like I told Jack, this isn’t a career. It’s a wedding dress for a display. That’s all.”
“Well I think it’s amazing. Don’t you, Jack?”
“I do.” He glanced at his watch. “Is that the time? I should make a move. I have to go visit Miss Kingsley. Set her straight about yesterday.”
“Oh…” Cassie swallowed hard, nausea and shame filling her. “You heard that.”
“I did.”
Danny looked from one to the other, confusion on his face. “What happened yesterday?”
“Miss Kingsley saw us at the duck pond and got the wrong end of the stick, that’s all. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m needed behind the counter. People to serve, things to do…” Cassie shot them a faltering smile and headed inside.
****
“That dress really is incredible.” Jack watched Cassie go inside the shop. Everything about her just grabbed his attention and held it.
“Don’t change the subject. What happened yesterday?”
“It’s nothing, really. I took Cassie to the hospital to pick up her new leg, as you know. The appointment over ran so we picked up Lara from school and then Lara asked Cassie to come to the park with us. She insisted on calling her Auntie Cassie. Miss Kingsley overheard, made a couple of comments under her breath. That’s all. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll set her straight.”
“Auntie Cassie?” Danny winked at him. “That could be a good thing. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
Jack caught his breath, his heart pounding. “What do you mean?”
“You used to look at her the same way when she was growing up. Just what are your intentions towards my sister, Pastor?”
“If you’re going to warn me off, Danny, don’t bother. She’s a parishioner.”
“I’m looking out for her. I know you and I know her. And trust me, you don’t look at all the members of your congregation the way you look at her. So I ask again, what are your intentions? Because if you’re even considering breaking her heart again…”
Break her heart again? I didn’t want to do it the first time—didn’t even realize I had. “You got half an hour?”
“I thought you had to go and see someone.”
“I do, but I want to sort this out first.”
“All right. Then let’s go and get some coffee. I’ll just let Cass know I’m going on a break.”
Jack gave Danny a sideways glance as they headed down the High Street. “You do realize I’m not dating your sister.”
“Yet,” Danny grinned.
“Yet? Do you know something I don’t?”
“I know she never got over that crush she had on you.”
“Oh?” Hearing it from Cassie was one thing. Hearing the same words fall from her brother’s lips was something else entirely.
Danny pushed open the door to the café and held it for Jack. “When she heard you’d married, a light went out in her eyes.”
“I liked her, but wasn’t sure she liked me.” Jack’s heart sank, and he felt sick as they sat down. “She always seemed to like the horses better than anyone or anything.”
“That’s because you were my friend, not hers. I didn’t want to share you any more than I wanted her hurt, so I didn’t say anything to her. Looking back, it was petty and childish, and I probably spoiled things for the both of you. You guys could have made me an uncle by now.”
Jack studied the menu and then put it down. “If I’d married her back then, I’d never have become a pastor. I’d never have married Elisa or become Lara’s father. Despite the pain of losing Elisa and the problems of being a single father, I wouldn’t change those years for all the tea in China.”
“And Cassie would never have become a champion jockey. Did she tell you that?”
“No, she didn’t.” Jack smiled at the waitress. “Hi, Stacey. Could I have a mug of tea and a toasted teacake, please?”
“Sure thing, Pastor. What about you, Danny?”
“I’ll have the same.” Danny waited until Stacey had gone before carrying on. “She would have settled for a safe career, probably became that vet she was always talking about. Instead she went for something almost as dangerous as Formula One racing. She took stupid risks. I mean steeple chasing is bad enough, but riding in the Grand National?”
“She was good at it,” Jack said. “We watched her career closely.”
“Yeah, she was one of the best, but no matter how many times she came off, she insisted on carrying on. It was just stupid of her. I told her over and over she’d break her neck one day, and she almost did. Another inch or so, or another horse landing on top of them…or the horse trampling her neck, not her leg, or…”
“None of that happened.”
“No. She just ended up crippled. And there’s not a thing I can do about it.”
“Hey. Don’t even think it. She’s not stuck in a wheelchair, or paralyzed from the neck down. She can still walk and talk and make the most amazing dresses. Like I told her, disabled is a label that only affects you if you let it. Cassie is anything but disabled. She can’t come to terms with it, if no one else can.”
Danny smiled at Stacey as she put their order down. “Thanks.” He looked back at Jack. “She can’t do what she could before.”
“That’s rubbish, too. She’s scared. Who wouldn’t be? But trust me, she is more than capable of driving or getting back on a horse or even making a name for herself in the bridal dress business. All she has to do is try. Especially now they have given her a prosthesis that fits. She came out of the consulting room yesterday almost dancing on air, and pain free for the first time in months, she said.”
“The accident changed her….”
“Not in the way that matters. She’s still your sister. She can still laugh and cry and crack the most awful jokes. She just wants you to love her, Danny, that’s all. She needs normality and if you teasing her every second of the day is what it takes, then do it.”
“I’ve missed that. I admit I saw the leg and not her.”
Jack picked up his cup. “She noticed. Just promise me you’ll do something about it. And as far as my intentions towards your sister go? Yes, I still feel the same way I did all those years ago. I think God led her back here for a reason. I’m hoping that reason was me, if I can say that reverently—or at least I’m hoping I am one of the reasons. I intend to ask her out before the sun sets. If that’s all right with her big, protective brother?”
Danny looked at him seriously. “Shouldn’t you be asking Dad this? Or Miss Kingsley, come to that?”
“I don’t want to marry her, yet. I just want to court her.”
“I’m teasing, Jack. By all means court her—just be warned. You hurt her and pastor or no pastor…”
“I understand.”
Danny’s cup clinked against the saucer. “I don’t want to interfere in your pastoral stuff, but is going to see Miss Kingsley a good idea?”
“I’m sorry?”
“So she said something she shouldn’t have. It might be better to ignore it. I’m sure she would be mortified if she knew you and Cassie overheard her.”
Jack stifled his automatic reaction. “Maybe, but…”
“The only person this affects is Cassie—aside from you and Lara.”
Jack nodded, taking a bite of his teacake. “All right, but if she interferes again…”
“Then we’ll sort something out. Otherwise let it be. Put it in God’s hands and let Him do what He sees fit.”
“Shouldn’t that be my line?” Jack asked.
Danny grinned. “Pastor, preach to thyself.”
“You wait…that will come out in a children’s talk one day.”
****
Grabbing the first craft kit he came across, Jack made his way over to the counter. His skin prickled and his chest tightened at the thought of what he wanted to say. What if the words got stuck in his throat? Would she feel the same, or was he about to make the biggest fool of himself since the school Christmas concert when he was seven? All anyone could remember about that day was that Jack Chambers was sick all over his new shoes as well as the school governor who was sitting in the front row.
Cassie smiled at him. “Hi. Can I help you?”
His knees threatened to give way completely. “Uh, yes.” He slid the felt doll kit across to her.
“I’ve made this one. She really does look as adorable as the cover shows, and it’s pretty simple to do—just use craft glue. Do you need some?”
He nodded dumbly.
“Is there anything else?”
Jack took a deep breath. It was now or never. His heart leapt into his throat threatening to choke him. “Yes. Would you…that is…”
“Are you all right? It’s not like you to be tongue tied.”
“I was wondering if you’d come out with me. A walk, or dinner, or something—”
“Yes.” Cassie cut him off.
“You…you will?” He could hardly believe his ears.
“I’d like that, very much.”
“Good, so would I. What time do you finish today?”
“Two.”
“Then I’ll pick you up at two thirty.” Jack turned to go.
“Did you still want the kit?” Cassie’s soft voice turned him back
“Oh…yes…sorry.” He pulled out his wallet. “Don’t want you thinking it was a plot device to ask you out.”
“Oh. You mean it wasn’t? Because as far as plot devices go, it’s a pretty good one.” Her gaze caught his, and he laughed.
“All right, you got me. But I’ll take the doll. Lara will love making it.”