Luke and Sybil spent five hours at The Jazz House: Thirty minutes eating, three hours talking, and the rest of the time dancing. That would have made a nice first date, but when they left there, they wandered to Central Circle for coffee and strolled the streets until 2:00 a.m., which meant Luke was very tired when he woke the next morning.
All of the Pinderbrooks were late sleepers, including Luke, so when he opened his eyes and realized it was only 8:00 a.m., he assumed he would fall right back to sleep. However, his mind went directly to Sybil and sleep never came. He lay there with a smile on his face as his mind recalled their evening together.
He probably would have lain there for another hour just like that except a vision of Tallie interrupted his dreamy thoughts, which made him jolt out of bed.
“Oh no! I’m an idiot!”
He had a gut feeling Tallie had no intention of letting Archie know she was there, even though it made no sense to him. Because of that, he worried he’d really screwed up in forgetting to tell him he’d seen her. He hoped he wasn’t too late.
When he knocked on the Plumbys’ door, not even thirty minutes later, it was Albert who answered.
“Morning, Mr. P! I’m sorry to come so early but I need to talk to Arch. Is he up and around yet?”
He held the door open for Luke. “He is. He’s having his breakfast.”
Luke walked in and Albert asked, “How’s your family?”
“We’re all good! Just keeping busy, you know.”
“That’s good to hear,” Albert replied. “Busy is always good.”
When Luke walked into the dining room, he expected to find Archie under the dining table, but he was actually eating breakfast under an umbrella at the table.
“Have you graduated to the tabletop?” Luke asked when he saw Archie.
“I guess I have,” Archie said looking a little proud of himself.
Luke opened his mouth to tell Archie about seeing Tallie, but Archie spoke first. “I saw you talking to my agent yesterday at the book signing. You looked quite smitten.”
Luke’s smile revealed he certainly was smitten. “She came to the show yesterday . . . and then we had dinner . . . and we danced . . . and had coffee . . . she’s incredible, Arch.”
Archie smiled and lifted his chin in mock pride. “Who would’ve thought it would be me who would bring a woman into your life?”
Luke grinned. “Yeah, I guess, in a roundabout way, it was you. Seriously though, Arch, I think she might be the one. I know it was just one evening, but I have this feeling.”
“You don’t have to convince me. I’m a believer.”
“Oh man! I almost forgot, again! Stop interrupting me, Arch.”
“What?” Archie asked.
“Well, yesterday, when I was trying to get your attention at your book signing, it was because I saw Tallie.”
“You saw Tallie?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t sure it was her at first. She was wearing a big hat and sunglasses, but when I tried to get her attention, she took off. It was really weird.”
“It couldn’t have been Tallie. She can’t be here. She’s in New Zealand. And why would she run from you? That’s not like her.”
“No, I’m pretty sure it was her, Arch, and I don’t think she wanted me to see her.”
Archie felt somewhere between panicked and excited.
“Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?”
Luke lifted his hands and carried a guilty expression. “Like I said, that’s why I came to see you, but you kept getting interrupted, then I started talking to Sybil . . . and got completely lost in the conversation. Before I knew it, it was time to prepare for the show. Man, I am really sorry.”
“Why would she come to Outlandish without telling me?”
“I don’t know, man. That’s why I thought you should know.”
“Where did you see her?” he asked.
“Outside The Lupine, at the fountain. She was eating a pretzel.”
Archie grabbed his umbrella off of his stand and stood up. He put his hand on Luke’s arm and said, “Thanks, Luke. I need to find her.”
“No problem. I hope you do.”
After Archie ran out the front door, Annella offered Luke breakfast, and he happily accepted.
Archie didn’t run, but he walked as fast as his legs would go. It was only a few blocks to The Lupine, but to Archie it felt like miles. When he finally got to the hotel, he put his head down, closed his umbrella just enough to get through the door, and then opened it again once he was inside.
He hurried to the front desk and was out of breath when he asked, “Good morning, Mrs. Collin. Could you please see if Tallie Greenleaf is checked in?”
The gray-haired lady at the front desk was someone Archie had visited with on a few occasions when he’d come to meet Sybil for breakfast. She was talkative and kind and he enjoyed chatting with her, but all he could think of was finding Tallie.
“Oh hello, Archie,” she said much too slowly. “It was a good turnout yesterday, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, much better than I expected. Thank you for coming.”
“It’s just wonderful having a real author in Outlandish!”
Archie didn’t want to be rude so he said, “Well, thank you. I am quite happy about it myself.” He put his hand on the counter and looked at her pleadingly, “I’m so sorry to rush you, but would you please check your register for Tallie Greenleaf. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
“Of course, I would be happy to. Is she a friend of yours?”
“Yes,” he said, “she is.”
Mrs. Collin turned her back to Archie and looked through some papers on the back counter. “When did she arrive?” she asked.
“I’m not sure.”
While she looked through a stack of papers, she said, “I bought two of your books for my grandchildren. Abel is three, and Cassie is five. I know they’ll just love the story!”
Archie sighed without realizing it, and Mrs. Collin turned around to look at him. “Is everything all right, dear?”
Archie covered up his anxiety with a forced smile and said, “I just really need to find Tal—my friend.”
Mrs. Collin put her chin down, smirked, and raised her eyebrows. “Oh, I seeee!” she said nodding slowly.
Archie felt frustrated with the kind woman but had no idea how to make her work faster, so he decided to play along and said, “Yes, well, I would really love to find her. She’s pretty special to me.”
Mrs. Collin, seeming pleased to have been invited into Archie’s love story said, “You just wait there for a minute, dear. I’ll see what I can find out for you.”
When she walked into the back room, Archie found himself feeling incredibly impatient, but he knew there was nothing else he could do, so he stood and waited, tapping his fingers on the counter as he did.
Finally, after about five minutes, Mrs. Collin came back in and said, “I’m sorry, Archie, but she checked out about thirty minutes ago.”
Archie dropped his head. “You’re kidding?”
“I’m sorry, dear. I just got here right before you came in. Thomas was here when she checked out.”
Archie stared at the underside of his umbrella while he tried to figure out where she might be. He finally said, “Thank you, Mrs. Collin,” and hurried out the front door.
Now Archie ran—toward the parking garage.
When Archie got there, he ran through the entrance and saw a taxi driving away through the exit. He bent over to catch his breath feeling certain he’d missed Tallie by only a few moments, then stood, cursed, and kicked the concrete wall beside him.
He turned to lean against the wall, put his head down, and sighed.
“Did Archibald Benjiro Plumby just curse?”
Archie looked up quickly but didn’t see anyone.
“Who’s there?” he asked.
“Who else knows your middle name?” came a voice from the outside of the exit.
He turned in a circle and finally saw the top of a hat on the other side of an opening in the concrete wall. He walked over to it and said, “Tallie, is that you?”
She stood and turned to look at him with a look that expressed a little guilt. “Yes. It’s me,” she said quietly.
Archie ran out of the garage and stood before her.
“What on earth are you doing here?” he asked. “More importantly, why are you leaving?”
Tallie sighed and took off her hat. “I’m sorry, Archibald. I came . . . to see you, but . . .”
“But?” he questioned impatiently.
Tallie put her head down and moved one foot back and forth for a moment. “I know things have changed between us.”
“Why have things changed, Tallie? Your letters have been so unusual over the past couple of months. Please don’t tell me you’ve met someone.”
“No,” Tallie answered quietly.
“Then what?” Archie asked. “I’ve perceived anger in your letters, and you even posted a photograph in the PC Buzz without first asking for my permission as you said you would. That’s not like you.”
Tallie kept her head down. “I only did that so you would think of me.”
Archie lifted her chin with his finger. “Tallie, look at me.” Tallie looked up at Archie and he said, “I’m always thinking of you.”
Tallie kept her head up but turned her eyes away and said, “I heard Gemma on the phone with your agent and she said you had gone dancing together.” She finally looked at Archie and said, “You wouldn’t even dance with me.”
“Tallie, I can explain.”
Before he could continue, she added, “I saw you at the restaurant in The Lupine, too.”
“You saw me there and didn’t come to me? Tallie?”
“You were with her,” she said sounding a little annoyed.
“Yes, Tallie. She’s my agent. I’ve been with her a lot over the past few months. Remember, it’s you who sent her to me.”
He stood staring at her, waiting for her to reply.
“Well, you just seemed so happy to be with her and I thought maybe . . .”
“Maybe what?” Archie asked. “I’m so confused. What are you accusing me of?”
“Well, I did leave, and I shouldn’t have expected you to wait for me. I mean, I thought you would, but I shouldn’t have expected . . .”
Archie took Tallie’s hand. “Tallie, I’m desperate to know what you’re trying to tell me. Please just say it.”
Tallie hesitated and finally said, “I just want you to be happy. If you’ve fallen in love with Sybil, it’s okay. I understand.”
Archie laughed. Feeling a great sense of relief, he said with a wide smile, “Fallen in love with Sybil?”
“What’s so funny?” asked Tallie with a little irritation.
“Sybil is my agent, Tallie. I’m not in love with her. I’m in love with you. How could you even think that?”
Tallie felt her chest get heavy and she let herself cry. “You’re not in love with Sybil?” she managed to say through little sobs.
Archie didn’t answer Tallie. Instead, he put his palm gently against her cheek and leaned down to kiss her. When his lips met hers, Tallie didn’t resist but kissed Archie back as tears ran down her cheeks.
Their kiss was tender but long, and when their lips finally parted, Archie smiled at Tallie and wiped her tears away with his hand, one cheek at a time.
“I could never love anyone but you, Tallulah Z. Greenleaf. Haven’t I convinced you of that?” Dropping his head to the side, he said quietly, “When I thought I missed you today . . .”
He didn’t finish. Tallie touched his lips and smiled. “When you thought you missed me you used a particular four-letter word. You must have been pretty upset.”
Of course Tallie was just teasing Archie, but he pressed his lips together, and closed his eyes as if being hit with guilt. When opening his eyes again he said, “I’m sorry you heard that.”
Tallie smiled and said with a little sarcasm, “Well, it was a tense moment.”
“Oh, but that wasn’t my only slip. I’ve been yelling curse words at the top of my lungs in my sleep. I guess it’s where I’ve been venting my frustrations. Although that’s no excuse. Dream or no dream, it must be somewhere inside of me.”
Tallie covered her mouth with her fist, trying to keep a straight face because of how serious Archie was being. She knew his remorse was sincere, and she tried not to find humor in it all, but she finally surrendered to her lighter side and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” he asked innocently.
Tallie couldn’t answer.
Of course, at this point, Archie was beginning to see the humor in the conversation, and he did enjoy watching Tallie laugh, so he laughed with her until they were finally all laughed out.
Archie smoothed Tallie’s hair and said, “You know, I was paid a decent advance for my books, and I was thinking I’d get a place of my own.”
“Really?” she asked, wiping the tears of laughter from her face.
Archie continued. “The only thing is I don’t think living alone will suit me very well.”
Tallie didn’t realize his meaning. “I’m sure you’ll get used to it, and your parents are right here in town. You’ll be fine.”
Archie moved closer to Tallie. “I’m not much of a romantic, as I’m sure you’ve realized by now, but I was making fairly romantic preparations for an important question I planned to ask when a certain someone returned from New Zealand.”
Tallie was beginning to understand his meaning.
“However, with your unexpected return . . .” Archie stopped and questioned, “You are back to stay?”
Tallie bit her lip and said, “Well, I hadn’t planned to. I told Gemma I’d be back after Christmas.”
Archie shook his head, “No.”
Tallie was surprised at his resolve. “You don’t want me to go?”
Archie shook his head again and repeated, “No. Absolutely not.” He kissed her forehead. “I don’t think living alone will suit me very well, but I do think you might make a good roommate.”
“I can’t just live with you, Archibald. It goes against my beliefs. You know that.”
“No, that came out wrong. I’m not asking you to just live with me, Tallie.” He laughed. “It goes against my beliefs, too.”
“I know,” she said.
“Tallulah Z., I was hoping you might agree to marry me.”
Tallie’s chest began to rise and fall, and she put her hands over her face.
Archie asked, “Is that a good sign . . . or a bad one?”
Tallie took her hands off of her face and wrapped her arms around Archie’s ribs, pressing the side of her face against his chest. Archie held Tallie with his free arm and let his cheek rest on the top of her head. They didn’t speak but only stood together under Archie’s umbrella coming to terms with the confirmation of their love.
While still in an embrace, Archie said, “I’m sorry. I would have had a ring if things would have gone according to . . .”
Tallie unwrapped her arms and put her finger on Archie’s lips. “Shhh. I’m the one who messed up your plan. Don’t apologize. It’s entirely my fault . . . and marrying you would make me the happiest person alive.” Shaking her head slowly, she continued. “I’ve been so lonely since my mom died, and you’ve made me so happy. I never would have gone to New Zealand if I had seen this in our near future. When I left, you didn’t have the book deal, and I didn’t see any way I could come live here in Outlandish. Archibald, I left out of desperation. I needed that security. And I kept remembering the promise I made to my mom . . . about not being alone. I wouldn’t have left you otherwise. I want you to know that.”
“Did Gemma take care of you? Did she make you feel safe and cared for?”
Tallie nodded. “Archibald, I know you don’t really like Gemma, and I do get why. I know she has selfish motives sometimes and is definitely too bossy and direct, but she did give me a sense of security I couldn’t find anywhere else, and I think God used her to help me when I didn’t know what to do with myself.”
“I did question her motives,” Archie said, “especially when she asked you to go away with her for an entire year, but I’m grateful to her for providing what I couldn’t. I did want to, you know. I just didn’t know how. My life was just as unstable as yours was.”
“I know, Archibald. You were right, though.”
“I was right? About what?” he asked.
“You were right about Gemma being unhappy. The night before we both flew away for the holidays, she broke down and cried. Can you believe it?”
Archie’s expression revealed compassion. “No, I can’t, but I knew there was more to her.”
“Yeah, you did. You saw it before I did. She admitted that she’d gotten on the wrong path and wasn’t happy with her career or her life. She told me she was going to move on and find out what makes her happy.”
“That took a lot of courage,” Archie said. “I hope she finds happiness.”
“You know what she told me?” Tallie said smiling.
“What?”
“She told me you were her first inspiration to leave her career.”
“Me?” asked Archie. “How?”
“Yes, you,” she answered. “She said your perseverance in following your own path, especially in such tough circumstances was enough to make her really look at her own life and look for opportunities that suited her better.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“I can,” said Tallie. “You were an inspiration to me from the very first day I met you.”
Archie rolled his eyes. “Oh yes, that day on the beach . . . when I ran away from you. I can see how that’s very inspiring.”
They both laughed and Archie said, “I guess I should thank you for persisting in meeting me. We both know I deserve no credit for that. God knew I’d never meet anyone unless they chased me down.”
“It is funny thinking back on it,” Tallie admitted.
Archie brushed Tallie’s hair away from her face with the back of his hand. “I should also thank you for insisting I write my book, and even calling an agent on my behalf. You know, I never would have been able to ask you to marry me if my career was at a standstill.”
“Well, Gemma deserves at least some of the credit for that,” Tallie added. “She’s the one who gave me Sybil’s name and number.”
“Yes, I’ve thought of that,” said Archie with a nod.
“And we can’t forget Sybil,” Tallie added. “After all, she’s the one who made your dreams come true. I mean, you are a published author now.”
Archie looked tenderly at Tallie. “No Tallie. It was you who made my dreams come true.”
Tallie closed her eyes. “This feels like a dream. This is the last thing I expected to happen today.”
“You were leaving,” Archie added seriously.
Tallie opened her eyes and said seriously, “What about Sybil? Archibald, do you think she has feelings for you, because it sure looked that way to me.”
Archie shook his head. “No, she doesn’t have feelings for me, but Luke might have found his perfect match.”
“Luke?”
Archie nodded. “I don’t ever remember seeing him so love-struck, even with Lily.”
“Really?” Tallie said with a childish excitement. “That’s wonderful! He seemed so sad when I talked to him last. It broke my heart, it really did.”
“Yes, well, his being love-struck almost kept me from finding you in time. He came to tell me he saw you yesterday when I was at my book signing, but when he began talking to Sybil he completely forgot why he was there.”
Tallie bit her lip. “I ran away from him yesterday. I didn’t think he would recognize me with my hat, but then he said my name, and I panicked and took off.”
“You thought your hat would disguise you?” Archie asked with a chuckle.
She put the hat on. “Well, what do you think? Would you have recognized me?”
“In a second,” he said, cupping her face in his hand.
Tallie looked at Archie with admiration. “I wish I could have been there with you at your signing. I’m so proud of you.”
“You could have been there, you know.”
“I know. I feel so stupid now. I read everything wrong and messed everything up, didn’t I?”
Archie smiled tenderly and shook his head. “No, you didn’t.
“Tallie, I prayed God would give you to me, and when you went away I thought he was telling me it wasn’t meant to be. I’ll admit, I was angry, even at you. I’m sorry for that. I can see now that God was working out a plan that needed to play out just as it did.”
Tallie cried again. “I prayed that, too. That God would give you to me. When I called Sybil before I left with Gemma, I really hoped it would lead to a book contract for you. I don’t think I could have gone to New Zealand if I hadn’t done something to give us some hope.”
“It worked,” Archie said with a nod. “God used that connection to make it possible for us to be together. He answered our prayers, Tallie. He did give us to each other—just as we asked.”
Tallie smiled and wiped a few lingering tears with her fingertips. Archie put his arms around her and, leaning down, whispered in her ear, “Tell me again that you love me.”
She stood on her toes and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Archibald.”
Again he whispered in her ear, “Tell me again that you’ll marry me.”
Tallie pushed away from his chest and looked up at Archie. “Yes, Archibald Plumby. I will marry you.”
Archie smiled warmly and pulled Tallie close once again. She pressed her cheek against his chest, and they stood embracing each other in silence underneath Archie’s umbrella. When a few moments passed, Archie stepped back and said to Tallie, “Shall we go and tell Mother and Father?”
Tallie put her hand against her chest. “Mother and Father. I like the sound of that. You know, I only asked God to give me . . . you. But he’s also giving me another mother . . . and the father I never had. I don’t think I’m coming off this cloud anytime soon.”
Archie kissed Tallie on the cheek. Taking her hand from her chest, he placed it on his arm and moved to her side. He leaned down to smile at her and asked, “Shall we?”
