The house was so close to being finished. She’d promised her mother she wouldn’t move Gracie into a construction zone, but patience wasn’t one of her strong suits.
His hammer hanging loosely from one hand, Charlie promised, “We’ll have it done by next Wednesday.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Okay.”
He must have heard the doubt in her voice because he added, “I’ve figured in a contingency day just in case something unexpected comes up. Wednesday is D-Day. Done Day. You and that little girl of yours can count on it.”
“Thanks, Charlie. I’ll call the moving company and have my things brought from storage on Thursday, then talk to Cole about the pieces I bought in Savannah.”
She handed him a warm cranberry-walnut chocolate cookie. “I’m experimenting. What do you think?”
Charlie took a bite and grinned. “This one’s a keeper.”
Cookie in hand, he headed off to finish the front bath.
“I wouldn’t mind one of those,” a sexy voice said from behind her.
“Beck!”
“You look nice this mornin’, Tansy.”
She snorted as heat rose to her face. “Thank you. Since I don’t have to paint today, I took a chance and wore my new top.” With a grimace, she glanced down at the faded, old sweatshirt.
He stepped closer. “Isn’t that the sweatshirt you bought when we went to Myrtle Beach your senior year?”
“It is. I left it at Mom’s on one of my visits home from college. When I found it last weekend, I thought, why not wear it.”
“Remember the Putt-Putt golf course there?”
“I do. I beat you four out of five games.”
He laughed. “I let you win. Figured I’d be the real winner in the long run.” He waggled his brows.
Her blush deepened, the curse of a redhead. “It was a fun weekend.”
“Yeah, it was. So what are you feedin’ Charlie?”
“Cranberry-walnut chocolate cookies. Warm from the oven.”
“Sounds good. Got another?”
“I do. But”—she held up a finger—“I also have cinnamon roll sugar cookies.”
“With cream cheese frosting?”
She nodded.
“You used to leave those in my locker at school.”
“For your before-football-practice snack.”
He sobered. “I liked to think you baked a lot of love into those cookies.”
“I did, Beck.”
“Did you bake lots of it in today’s cookies?”
She tugged at her sweatshirt’s neck.
“Unfair question. I rescind it and will ask another instead. Can I have one of each?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “You can.”
“In exchange, I’ll help Charlie with that bath.”
Popping the last bite of cookie into his mouth, he headed off to work. After her nerves settled, still very aware of Beck in the house, she ran a mental check on what would be coming from storage.
Most were personal items—clothes, pictures, that kind of thing. Emerson’s parents intended to sell the furniture and pretty much everything else, including their wedding gifts. Just as well. A clean break. The problem, though? She had this big house and very little to put in it. But with Cole’s help and a quick trip to Traditions, his shop in Savannah, she’d found enough to furnish the downstairs, along with the basics for their apartment upstairs.
Her décor would be simple and understated. In other words, nearly bare. Still, it would be her nearly bare home, and that counted for a lot.
She stood in the center of the former living room, now the dining area, and listened as Charlie and Beck worked in the bath. Sunlight streamed through the windows. Soon, she’d hang some drapes or, maybe, lace curtains. She didn’t want to block the sun or the view. She wanted people to drive or walk by and be drawn in by the cozy look of the place, and she wanted her customers to look out and enjoy the spectacular yard and gardens.
Stepping onto the front porch, a sense of satisfaction filled her. A fall wreath her mother’d made graced the front door. Yesterday, Tansy had picked up several flower baskets and ferns from Cricket. She’d hung them from the overhang and set out four mismatched rockers she’d bought at an antique mall outside of town and painted the same minty green as the window trim. For the final touch, she interspersed a couple small tables among the rockers. Battered, flea market, galvanized metal buckets filled with colorful mums and silvery dusty miller paraded up the stairs.
She walked across the lawn, then turned and studied her work.
Perfect. With the broad overhead fans rotating slowly, the veranda welcomed people to come sit. To enjoy a pastry and a cup of coffee.
Every single day, she loved this house more. How had Lamont brought himself to sell it?
Beck stepped out onto the porch. “The downstairs bath’s good to go. Charlie’s headed up to finish the plumbing in your apartment, and I’m off to hang new shelves in Dee-Ann’s pantry.” He walked to where she stood. “The cookies were great, Tanz. You’ll do well in your new venture.”
He leaned toward her, and she held her breath. Then, just as abruptly, he stepped away and, with an over-the-shoulder wave, hopped into his truck and drove away.
Eyes closed, she lifted her face, felt the sun’s warmth. Maybe they’d eventually be okay, but it sure didn’t feel like it right now.
In the meantime, she had too much to do and too much to be grateful for to feel sorry for herself.
Back inside, she strolled though the rooms, surveying them with a critical eye. Imagining them filled with furniture and customers, her heart swelled near to bursting.
Right now, though, she had a wedding cake to finish before tomorrow. All the fondant acorns and pumpkins were completed and nearly half the colorful leaves. The lemon sponge cake layers were waiting.
Time to roll up her sleeves.
* * *
Saturday morning arrived, and Tansy woke again at the crack of dawn. Smiling, she placed a hand over her stomach, hoping to still the butterflies. Today’s bride was a local, so this could very well be a make-or-break event. Friends would judge her. Was the cake heavy enough? Light enough? Too crumbly? Decorated well enough?
Whew, nerves on steroids.
Her mom had offered to watch Gracie today and, for that, Tansy sent a silent thank-you to her still-sleeping parent. Tansy had delivered and set up the first couple cakes she’d made for Magnolia House weddings, then slipped out before the festivities began. Today, she’d stay to help with the entire affair, which added a whole new layer of nerves.
Dressing extra carefully, she slid into a pair of flats and slipped her heels into a bag for later. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and grinned. It had been a while, quite a while, since she’d gotten all dolled up. Today definitely called for it, though. Today was her coming-out.
She’d chosen a maroon, lightweight wool dress. Subtle, it would let her blend into the background since she was, technically, the help, although she’d been invited as a guest, too. The dark color would also play into the bride’s autumn color scheme.
Kitty, bless her, had agreed to help transport the cake and set it up. What with the remodeling and everything else, she’d cut it far too close and hadn’t finished the cake till late last night.
The leaves had been real buggers, but today? Every second that had gone into them had been time well spent.
* * *
“Oh, Tansy!” Kitty walked into the kitchen an hour and a half later, a look of absolute rapture on her face. She circled the table. “This puts anything I’ve ever made to shame.”
“It does not. I’ve seen your cakes.”
“I don’t have your touch, Tansy.” She splayed her hands on her hips. “Things work out the way they’re supposed to.”
“Most of the time.”
“Sometimes, honey, we have to be patient.”
Tansy bit her lip. Was Kitty still talking about the cake and her new business, or had she traveled to more personal roads? Best not to ask.
Instead, she tipped her head in the direction of the dining room. “Come on. Let’s put my new espresso machine to work. We’ve got time for a cup before we hit the day running.”
“Sounds good to me.” Kitty stepped into the display area and ran a hand over the stainless steel counter.
Moving to the window, she checked out the backyard. “Cricket’s been here, hasn’t she? And the front porch…so warm and friendly. It made me want to sit down and try out one of those rockers. Chat with my neighbors while I sipped some of your fancy coffee.”
“Thank you. And, yes, Cricket’s performed her magic. She’s an absolute genius with anything green. Although…” She paused. “I did the porch myself.”
“Well done to both of you.”
Tansy wrapped an arm around the older woman’s waist. “I love my fountain.”
Kitty nodded. “And the roses. They’re lovely.”
“They are.” Tansy sighed deeply and swiped at the single tear that escaped. “I’m so happy.”
“I can see that,” she said dryly. “Now, where’s that coffee you promised?”
* * *
Cricket was already at Magnolia House when they pulled up in front. Busily wrapping ivy around stand-alone white pillars, she barely paused when Tansy and Kitty got out of the SUV. She’d placed the pillars so the rose garden, still in bloom, formed a backdrop for today’s happy couple.
“Jenni Beth is around here somewhere,” she muttered absentmindedly.
“We have the cake.”
“Oh!” Cricket jumped up, greenery scattering around her. “I want to see!”
Tansy laughed. “Not yet. Give me time to set it up, then I’ll unveil it.”
“Don’t forget to come get me.”
She chuckled. “I won’t.”
When she stepped into the kitchen, Kitty right behind her, she was surprised to see Beck at the counter, drinking coffee and chatting with Charlotte.
“Hey, Kitty. Tansy. You need help draggin’ stuff in?”
“Stuff?” She went for playfully indignant. “Are you referring to my cake?”
He shrugged. “Guess so.”
“You’d better watch out, boy, or she’ll cuff your ears, and I’ll help her. You’re talkin’ about a work of art.” Charlotte drew herself up.
Beck rolled his eyes, and Charlotte nailed him with the look. “You’ll be wantin’ to move, too, ’cause she’s gonna need this counter for her things.”
“Things is better than stuff?”
“Yes.” Charlotte, Kitty, and Tansy spoke in unison.
“Guess that’s unanimous. Set your things down, Tansy, and we’ll go get the rest of your things.”
Walking beside her to her SUV, he put a hand at her waist and leaned in to sniff her neck. “You smell good.”
“Like lemon cake and frosting?”
“Nope. Like hot, sexy woman.”
“Beck—”
“Just sayin’.” He opened the vehicle’s back door. “What needs taken in?”
“Everything you see.”
His brows arched. “All this for one cake?”
“One very special wedding cake.”
“Right.” He dragged out the word. “The work of art.”
* * *
In no time at all, they’d hauled everything inside, and she shooed both Beck and a very reluctant Charlotte out of the kitchen. Jenni Beth had invested in a wheeled table for her bridal cakes, and Tansy set a cut crystal plate in the middle of it, then carefully placed her first cake layer.
She’d finished all the scrollwork and intricate patterns at her own shop. Now, she only had to insert the dowels for strength, set the layers and pipe around them, then place the decorations and topper. Surprisingly enough, her hands were steady.
Within half an hour, she stood back. “What do you think, Kitty?”
“I think the bride’s gonna cry when she sees it, and every single woman in attendance today will be knocking on your door askin’ you to make her cake when the time comes.”
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Oh, yes, you did.”
The kitchen door squeaked open and Charlotte’s head peered around. “Are you done yet?” Then her eyes widened. “Oh, honey, that is just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
* * *
Since the cake was ready to roll, literally, and had been duly admired by all, Tansy moved it to the reception area, which consisted today of the old plantation home’s living and dining rooms. Most of the furniture had been moved out, and small round tables had been covered in pale yellow linen. The bridal table sat in front of the fireplace that Cricket had decorated for fall, turning it into an autumn wonderland and promising some incredible photos.
Jenni Beth hustled around putting the final touches on the room, and Cricket finished her decorations. Both stopped to check out the cake again.
“That is phenomenal, Tansy.” Jenni Beth walked to her, burnt-orange candles in hand.
“I have to say the same about what the two of you have done.” Tansy turned a full three-sixty to take in the entire area. “Cricket, you used real pumpkins for the vases on the table! Clever girl.”
The pumpkins held orange calla lilies, gold-colored roses, and burgundy mums along with vivid maple leaves and deep-red berries.
“Thank you.” Cricket bowed. “I scooped out the pumpkins and rinsed them with a bit of bleach water. Easy-peasy.”
Several fall leaves in hand, Cricket linked arms with Jenni Beth and Tansy. “We are awesome, aren’t we? And we clean up pretty darned good, too.”
“We do. When we’re finished here, we’ll raise a toast to the very first wedding we’ve all been here for.” Jenni Beth grinned.
“Why wait? Why don’t we raise that toast right now?” Cricket headed toward a table filled with flutes and champagne. She popped a cork and splashed a little into each glass.
Today, her chopped, pale-blond hair was held back from one ear with a glittery barrette. She wore an incredible vintage olive-green silk dress that Tansy coveted. Jenni Beth, her long golden hair flowing down her back, looked polished and tailored in a chocolate-brown suit.
Crossing the room in her sparkly shoes, Cricket handed them each a glass. Before they could toast, though, Beck stuck his head in the room, whipping his phone from a pocket. “Might never again get a chance to shoot three women this gorgeous.”
Tansy faltered, but when the other two, their arms around each other, raised their glasses and smiled at Beck, she joined them. One flash, then a second.
“Gotcha.” He dropped the phone into his pocket and disappeared for all of two seconds. Peering around the doorjamb, he said, “Um, Tansy? Thought I’d remind you that you owe me a dance.”
“I do not.”
“Yes, you do. You danced with Angus Duckworth during our song at the prom.”
Outraged, she gaped at him. “You remember that?”
“I told you. I remember everything about you, sugar.” His voice deepened, and she felt its rumble in the pit of her stomach.
“Jenni Beth needed a break,” Tansy protested. “Her toes couldn’t take anymore.”
“I really did, Beck.” Jenni Beth chuckled. “She did me a huge favor.”
“I have no problem with that. Damn shame Cole bailed on you and you had to go with Angus, but the fact remains, she owes me a dance, and I mean to collect.” With that, he was gone.
Cricket sipped her champagne, her big eyes the color of a winter storm studying the other two. “You girls have interesting pasts.”
“The problem with the past,” Tansy mumbled, “is that it doesn’t always stay there.”
* * *
The wedding went off without a hitch. Sitting in a folding chair toward the back, Tansy marveled at both the simplicity and the elegance. She understood both were the result of long hours spent by Jenni Beth and her bride in the planning stages and even longer hours by Jenni Beth after all the meetings. Every single detail had been tended to superbly.
Resplendent in an A-line chiffon gown with a sweetheart neckline and beaded waistband, the bride, on the arm of her groom, turned to face the guests. Her black hair hung in long waves, a crystal headband its only adornment. The groom, in his black tux, wore an ear-to-ear grin. Halfway through their recessional walk, he swept his surprised bride off her feet and, laughing, carried her the rest of the way to the cheers and applause of family and friends.
That, Tansy thought, is what a wedding should be—absolute unadulterated bliss. She said a quick prayer that today’s couple would always be this happy. Then she slipped unnoticed into the house to help prepare for the onslaught of guests into the reception area.
After one final check on the cake, Tansy pitched in. Although, to give Jenni Beth her due once again, she’d hired staff that knew exactly what to do.
A couple hours later, the sun set and the wedding party and their guests moved outdoors to dance beneath the stars. Tall patio heaters had been placed throughout the table areas. In addition to providing a touch of welcome warmth, their glow added to the romance of the candles and a full moon.
That same warm glow filled Tansy. Her friend had hit a home run, and she couldn’t have been happier for her. And that she, herself, had played a part in the celebration, and would again, many times over? Thrilling. She caught a glimpse of Jenni Beth, Cole’s arm wrapped around her, their heads bent close as they talked. At the next table over, Cricket and Sam held hands and chatted with Lem Gilmore and his wife, Lyda Mae.
Two by two, like Noah’s Ark. Everyone in pairs.
Except her.
She scanned the yard and the portable dance floor.
No Beck.
Guess he didn’t want that dance after all.
* * *
Weddings made Beck nervous. They put crazy thoughts into every female’s head. He’d tried to catch Tansy for their dance, but every time he’d checked, she’d been busy. Time to chalk it up to a lost cause—for now.
Deciding to say good night to Charlotte, he checked in the living room first, thinking that even though Jenni Beth had told her not to, she might be in there fussing and cleaning up. The room was empty.
Turning, he bumped smack into Missy Frampton.
“Hi, Beck. You’ve been busy lately.”
“Lot goin’ on, Missy.”
“When you get a free night, why don’t you give me a call?”
He thought about a redhead with turquoise eyes. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can make you forget her, Beck.”
Before he could extricate himself, he heard footsteps coming their way, moving toward them. High heels. He knew that gait.
“Whoops, excuse me.” Tansy’s voice could have sliced steel. Without another word, she turned and walked out.
* * *
By the time he’d freed himself from Missy, who’d had way too much champagne, Tansy was nowhere in sight. Jenni Beth said Tansy had pleaded a miserable headache and had gone home.
Disgusted, Beck shook his head and left. He wouldn’t be getting his dance tonight.