Let the festivities begin...
Joe wasn’t really feeling festive...not at all.
The memorial service for Mr. Wilks had been the day before. Piper had attended, as well as most of Whistle Stop. Word around the square was that Mr. Wilks had felt fine right up until he’d had a massive heart attack. A neighbor had found him at home with his dog by his side.
It got Joe thinking about his life. If he kept pushing the people away who cared about him, he’d end up like Mr. Wilks. Old and alone. Was that really what he wanted?
His heart kept telling him that wasn’t the path for him. The truth was, he missed Piper. He missed her a whole lot. And though Java was a great dog, his canine companion couldn’t fill the spot that Piper held in Joe’s heart.
Thoughts of her had haunted him night and day since the fire. He replayed the horrific scene over and over in his mind. The memories made him inwardly cringe. How could he have been so awful to her?
No wonder she wouldn’t forgive him. Who could blame her? He deserved whatever she decided to throw his way. He glanced over at Java. So why had she given him the dog? Did it mean she didn’t hate him? Or did it just mean she wasn’t equipped to take care of the energetic pup?
He glanced around for a glimpse of her, but there was no sign of her. He and Java kept walking around the town square. As co-chair of the Autumn Fest, he was obligated to be here to make sure things ran smoothly. He didn’t think there was a business in town that was open today, at least none that he’d noticed when he’d participated earlier in the 5K Fun Run and Walk.
It was during the run that he’d noticed Piper participating. Maybe she was taking some of her own advice and loosening up. If only he could find a way to prove to her that he could do the same, then maybe they’d have a fighting chance at making this thing between them work.
A local country band started to play. Not even the strums of the guitars or the upbeat rhythm of the drums could put some pep in Joe’s step. He was relieved to hear they were singing something cheerful and none of the lyrics were about lost love. He didn’t think he could take that right now.
“There you are.” Mrs. Sanchez rushed up to him, huffing and puffing. “I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”
“Me? Why? Is there a problem with the festival?” He hadn’t noticed anything when he’d made his rounds.
She shook head. “Everything is running smoothly.”
“Then what is it?”
“I wanted to remind you that you’re due at the dunking booth in”—she glanced at her watch—“twenty minutes.”
“I’m what?” Then he recalled how Piper had teased him that she’d signed him up for the dunking booth.
“Is there a problem?” Mrs. Sanchez sent him a worried look over the black rims of her reading glasses. “I have your name right here.” She tapped her pen on the clipboard. “Please tell me you haven’t changed your mind. Everyone is having so much fun over there, and I don’t know if I can find a replacement in time.”
He was about to explain there had been a mix-up, but then he realized this might very well be the ideal opportunity for him to show Piper that he could let go of his well-placed defenses. If she saw that he could let down his guard, maybe then she might give him another chance. What did he have to lose?
“I’ll do it, but can you do me a favor?”
The woman’s penciled brow lifted. “What do you have in mind?”
“Could you make sure Piper is near the dunking booth when I’m in there?”
The woman’s eyes twinkled with delight. “I knew not to give up on you two. When people are right for each other, nothing can keep them apart. You can count on me. I love playing matchmaker.”
That much he knew about Mrs. Sanchez. If it were up to her, she’d have the whole town married off by now. But she was doing her best, one couple at a time.
In this case, he just hoped it worked.
♥♥♥
So close and yet so far away.
It seemed as though every time Piper turned around, there was Joe. At the race. At the bandstand. At the high-striker game. Once or twice she’d thought she caught him staring at her and glanced away. But as soon as she looked back, he’d moved on. It must be part of her imagination. Surely he wasn’t missing her, too. Was he?
Impossible. Because as close as he was, she’d never felt such a huge, gaping distance between them. The empty spot in her heart ached. If only there was a way to bridge the gap.
The one bright shining spot in all of it was the fact that Java was by his side, and they truly looked happy together. Was it wrong to be jealous of a dog? She sighed and gave herself a mental shake. Now she really was being melodramatic.
“Hey, sis.”
Piper turned to find her younger sister, Katie, strolling up to her. She smiled, and as soon as her sister was next to her, she gave her a big hug. “You made it.”
“You doubted that I would?” her sister asked innocently.
“You have to admit that you spend as little time in Whistle Stop as you can these days.”
Katie shrugged innocently. “I’m just busy. You know how it is running a business.”
“And how is the chocolate business? Have you found a new home for it?”
“Not yet, but I haven’t given up.” Katie glanced at her. “But enough about me. Wow, look at you. You are looking great.”
“Thanks,” Piper said proudly. “At last, I’m doing the weight-loss thing for me and not everyone else. I feel great, and I have so much more energy.”
“You might have to share your secret.”
“That’s easy.” Piper told her about her exercise routine and her low-carb diet. “Everybody is different. You just have to experiment until you find what works for you. But between you and me, I think you look great just the way you are.”
“Aww...thanks. But, you know, now that our brother has officially announced that he’s running for mayor, a girl must look her best in front of the cameras.”
They both laughed, because this was, after all, Whistle Stop, not some big city. No one would pay them any more attention than they already did.
“I still can’t believe he’s going ahead with this plan.” Piper was really worried that he was taking on too much at once. “I warned him that with his business and the upcoming wedding, it might be too much, but you know that he never pays attention to me. I’m just the nosy little sister.”
“You might be right. I passed Bella on the way over here, and she didn’t look happy. She was smiling, but it was one of those forced smiles. I sure hope Mason knows what he’s doing.”
“You and me both.” Piper glanced around and decided she should check in on the cake auction. She was curious to see how many cakes were up for sale. “Why don’t we head over to—”
“Piper! Yoo-hoo! Piper!” Mrs. Sanchez’s voice filled the air.
Piper hesitated. She really didn’t want to work today. After all of the planning and whatnot, it was time to enjoy the fruits of her labor. And, besides, it wasn’t often that her little sister paid her a visit—definitely not often enough.
Knowing she couldn’t be rude to the kindhearted woman who’d done so many generous things for her, she turned. “Hi, Mrs. Sanchez. Isn’t the festival turning out to be a huge success?”
The woman’s face was a bit rosy, and she fanned herself. “I’ve certainly been getting my share of exercise today. At this rate, I should have signed up for that fun walk this morning.”
“Maybe you can next time.”
Mrs. Sanchez nodded. “I thought you’d want to accompany me to check on the donations.”
Piper glanced at her sister. “Want to join us?”
“Sure.”
Together they moseyed over to the donation center where they collected and counted all of the proceeds. A big placard behind them displayed the total amount they needed to revitalize the town square and the train depot. On the placard was a thermometer that was updated hourly with the percent collected.
“Oh, look, we’re closing in on fifty percent.” Mrs. Sanchez beamed.
“And we still have hours to go before the festival winds down. I think we’re going to make it.”
“I do, too,” Katie piped in.
“And they’re just about to update it.” Mrs. Sanchez walked over to speak with one of the festival volunteers.
Meanwhile, something, or rather someone, caught her eye. Joe. And he was in the dunking booth. Oh no! She’d forgotten to take his name off the list of volunteers. Talk about taking a bad situation and making it worse. He was really going to hate her after this.
“What has you so distracted?” Katie asked.
“Um, nothing.” Piper glanced away, but she just had to have another look at Joe sitting there in the dunking booth with a smile on his face. Really?
“Must be something.”
Piper blinked just to be sure she wasn’t imagining the whole scene. But he was still there. How could that be? He’d been so opposed to the idea of the dunking tank. Was it possible Joe was changing?
And then he started heckling the ball thrower. “Oh, come on. Surely you can do better than that. My mother can do better than that.”
“Who is that?” Katie asked.
Piper continued staring at the scene unfolding in front of her. “It’s Joe.”
“Not him. I remember him from the town meeting. The other guy. The one throwing the balls. I don’t remember seeing him before.”
With concerted effort, Piper moved her gaze away from Joe. “That’s Joe’s friend. His name’s Holden Wainwright. He’s new to the area.”
“Oh.”
There was something to that very short answer. Maybe Piper wasn’t the only one with her eye on a guy. “Why, Katie, do I detect a note of interest in your voice?”
“What? Um...no. I’m too busy to get involved with anyone.”
Her little sister moved in mysterious ways. Piper had a feeling she was keeping a big secret, and that’s why she’d moved to the big city. But until Katie was ready to talk, there wasn’t anything Piper could do to help. “Maybe Holden is just what I need to convince you to move back here.”
“Don’t even think about it. I can’t move home.” Katie turned away from Holden. “But you sure seem to be interested in Joe. You can hardly tear your eyes off him. Guess you two did a little more than plan this event together. A few late nights, huh?”
“You’re imagining things.”
“Really? Then how come every time you look away, he’s staring at you?”
“Really?” Piper immediately turned back to the dunking booth, hoping to catch him staring. It didn’t work. He was busy heckling the next paying patron.
Katie smiled and sent her an I-got-you look. “You’ve got it real bad.”
It was true. And Piper had no clue what to do about it.