58

“Bennett, that will not do.” Sissy Jenkins rested her tight fists on either hip. “We need the sign raised a bit higher on the right. All visitors need to know exactly where to enter for the performance. Even though it will be terrible.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ben stretched to the right, delicately balancing on the eight-foot ladder, and lifting a silent prayer he would not mimic the fall that brought him to Gibson’s Run two weeks earlier. “Is that better?”

He glanced over his shoulder and saw not just Sissy Jenkins but the entire tight knit group of LAS members scrutinizing his efforts.

“Well, Bennett, dear,” Nancy Jessup said. “That does look quick nice and bold, but I’m wondering if we shouldn’t add some lights or garland?”

“Nancy, one can overdo Christmas.” Sissy said. “And we don’t want to draw too many attendees. After your granddaughter’s performance we may never get these visitors back for another Christmas Festival, let alone the dance tomorrow. We must think about moderation.”

Bitsy Grey rolled her eyes. “Sissy, stop being a Doubting Thomas. The children will be wonderful. My sweet Lizzie has been practicing all week and Emma is too cute not to steal the show.”

“The children will be wonderful." Sally Donaldson, the First Lady of Gibson’s Run, said. “No one expects them to be perfect, especially not with poor Darcy trying to pull off this play while her little heart must be in tatters. How is your sister, Bennett?”

Ben slowly descended the rungs to the ground. He wanted to get in the middle of his sister’s broken heart melodrama about as much as he wanted to discuss his own romantic hopes dissolving with the aroma of Italian cologne. “Ladies, if there isn’t anything else I can tackle, I think I should head back to Aunt Lulu’s to get her ready to come to the performance tonight.”

“Yes, dear, of course.” Nancy nodded. “We won’t keep you. See you this evening.”

Ben nodded and gobbled the space between the church’s entrance and his waiting car. Pressing the key fob, he started the engine, thankful for the first time in the four years he had selected the sedan with the automatic engine start as he imagined the waiting warm interior. His gratitude was incalculable for the rekindled relationship with his sister and the quick healing of Aunt Lulu, but he would be the first to admit his thin blood longed to return to the more temperate Nashville winter.

Reaching for the driver’s side door handle he heard his name above the hum of the heating engine. One of the festival organizers shuffled in a half walk/half jog across the parking lot toward him.

“Ben, could you hold up?”

The tall brunette’s name escaped him. She was related to one of the LAS members. Not good. In mere minutes, he could be Santa Claus in tomorrow’s parade, lead the cake walk, or be responsible for end-to-end tear down of the festival, all with a sweet smile and an offer of coffee.

“Whew! Should have worn jogging shoes.” She glanced toward her feet. “The sidewalks are dry and I thought I could try out my new fur-lined wedge boots. Didn’t know I would have to catch up with someone who has a longer stride than my husband.”

Husband! Bingo!

Jane Barrett. Married to a former NHL legend, Jane was also in charge of the dance. When he and Harper had been hanging lights, Jane stopped by and complimented the design. She seemed like a very organized, nice lady. What could she possibly want with him?

“I know you need to get back to Lulu, I was just hoping I could ask a huge favor of you.”

Ben yanked open the car door and pressed the car ignition off. “How can I help?”

“You’re a lifesaver!” Jane linked her arm through his and directed him across the parking lot toward the community center. He glanced at her shoes again. Had she run the whole way? It must be over a half-mile between the community center and the church.

“Did you run the whole way here?”

She shook her head. “My car is parked in the rear lot. My sister asked me to drop my niece off for the play tonight. I have nearly two hours before curtains up, I can tweak the final dance décor. And since it’s only a few blocks, I thought I would walk. Get in some steps and what not. My husband was supposed to help us with the final touches for the dance which are kind of heavy and need strong arms, but he was called to an emergency meeting. Some trade or something.” She waved a hand. “I used to live for all that nonsense, but tonight the NHL is mucking up my schedule. They’ll all be sorry.”

Ben had heard that tone before…Bitsy Grey. She was Jane Grey Barrett. Her LAS connection was Bitsy Grey. Bitsy was only one scary step removed from the most frightening LAS member, Sissy Jenkins. Ben would do anything her daughter asked. “I’d be happy to do anything you need. I just need to be back in time to get Lulu into the car and to the play. She doesn’t want to miss it.”

“Of course, she doesn’t. She was the reviver of the Christmas pageant, after all. I only need you for maybe fifteen or twenty minutes. I was in a few of Lulu’s pageants back in the day. Played a mean back row, silent donkey, if I do say so myself.”

They turned onto Main Street and the ethereal glow of Harper’s light installation nearly sucked the wind out of his lungs, just as it had every time, he walked into the dreamland she’d created. Ben couldn’t help but take a little pride in the small part he played in bringing the beauty to life. The night they laced lights through town and then sipped cocoa at Harper’s family home was a treasure he knew he would lean into in the dark nights waiting for him when he returned to Nashville. He longed to tell Harper how much she had impacted his life in such a short time, but what was the use? She was clearly still in love with Marco, Ben had overheard as much just the other day. Her presentation to his father was today. Harper had wowed them. Not that he heard from her, but Ben knew in his bones her presentation was the best. He didn’t think Harper could present anything but wow-inducing designs. And the ‘wow’ would lead to the reigniting of the first-love romance Harper and Marco had shared. Working endless hours together would inevitably lead to love. Ben could testify to his own love-induced, long hours romance hanging a few Christmas lights.

He was happy for her.

Not Marco. Ben’s generosity did not spread to Italian usurpers, but he could be happy for Harper. She deserved all the happiness and joy in the world even if Ben wasn’t to be the purveyor.

Jane continued to chatter as they closed the distance to the wide barn doors of the community center. Nearly two-thirds of the center had been partitioned into booths and table space for the festival, but a long banquet hall had been reserved for the end of the festival dance. When open, the barn doors would reveal both spaces, but for now, the building gave no hint that it housed the homey and the hopefully elegant décor all under one roof.

“My husband’s first trip to Gibson’s Run was for a Christmas party at my parents’ farm. Of course, at the time I was trying to be a dutiful girlfriend to another man, even though I was hopelessly in love with, at the time, my friend-only future husband. Lindy, my husband, and I almost allowed a mutual sense of duty let us miss out on true love and happiness.”

“What happened? Did your husband stop your wedding or something?” Ben chuckled to himself. Stopping a wedding never happened in real life, only in romance novels and romantic comedies.

“Actually, my fiancé did. Only about an hour before the wedding.”

“What?”

Jane nodded. “It’s a bit of a story, but needless to say, Paul figured out we weren’t meant to be. And thankfully before we ever said, ‘I do.’ Sometimes we can be so caught up in thinking we know what someone else needs or wants we forget to ask the other person and ourselves.”

Yanking the side door open, Jane nudged Ben through the doorway and into a near pitch black space.

“Hang-on, let me get a light.”

In an instant the room was bathed in the soft glow of what seemed to be moonlight, yet they were clearly indoors. The tables, high-top and traditional, were layered in dark cloths dotted with low, wide bowls filled with silver and blue stones and holding fat three-wick candles. Hanging from the ceiling were dozens of silver and white stars of varying size, dangling at random heights and lengths, twinkling like the night sky.

“Wow, Jane, this is amazing.”

“Thanks.”

The near whisper slid through Ben, warming his soul and breaking his heart. Turning he locked his gaze with Harper’s. He couldn’t see the deep Caribbean blue, but he could still make out the sparkle.

“Did you do all this?”

She nodded. “This,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Was what won me the contract for the festival design. Jane’s theme is ‘One Starry Night…’ I designed to her theme. The committee threw in the outside lighting as a bonus.”

He took a step toward her. “It’s quite remarkable. I thought Main Street couldn’t be beat, and yet you’ve managed to make it seem as if we are outside under a star-lit canopy. I can’t imagine what else needs to be done.”

“Uh…that was a ruse.” Jane said. “Needed some reason to get you here. And you seem more than willing to lift heavy objects and perilously teeter on high platforms to hang nonsense, so I figured it wouldn’t take much arm twisting. And with that, I am off to meet my husband at Lulu’s house to help him and Isabel get your aunt to the pageant. No rush. I’m sure you two can see the video. There’ll be like seventy-five home movies of this joyous event. You two enjoy the rare moment of quiet in this town.” Jane kissed Harper on the cheek and squeezed Ben’s shoulder. “She’s a keeper. Don’t hurt her or I will have to send my very large husband and his friends after you.”

The click of the door behind Jane echoed through the room punctuating the quiet of the space.

“I think I am confused.”

“You think?”

“I am confused. What is all this about? Why the subterfuge?”

“Big word, Dr. Langston.”

“You are being evasive, Miss Jessup.”

“I wanted you to be the first to see the final product.”

“It’s beautiful. Truly beautiful. But why did you want me to see it today? I’m Lulu’s date for the dance tomorrow. I would have seen it then.”

Harper stepped forward and shrugged. “But I wouldn’t have been able to see the surprise and delight on your face.”

She laced her fingers through his, igniting a flame in his belly with her touch.

“And, I was hoping I could have the first dance.” With her free hand, she swiped at her phone and the woeful harmonies of one of his favorite country bands filtered through the speakers.

Leading him through the dozens of tables, she stopped at the edge of the ten by twelve-foot wood planked floor. “I didn’t want to have to fight all the other ladies for your attention.”

She rested her hand on his shoulder, the length of her body a mere breadth from his. With self-control he was shocked he still possessed, Ben curled his arm around Harper’s waist and pulled her into a tight embrace. “There’s no fight, Harper. No one has my attention but you.”

They swayed to the music. Steps were a foreign concept to him. His spirit was too full with Harper. His mind spun and his heart pounded. He didn’t question why or how they had arrived at this moment, he only allowed himself to feel.

To feel the tickle of her curls against his chin and the weight of her head against his chest.

To feel the way her body fit perfectly with his and how her breaths flowed in rhythm with his. To simply feel the moment.

The song slid to another and Ben’s hand widened against the small of Harper’s back. Her heat warmed his palm even through the thickness of her sweater dress. He felt her fingers trail the width of his shoulder, down his bicep and then retrace their path, burning a trail in their wake.

“Do you mind if I tell you about my day?” she asked.

Lifting her chin with his forefinger, he locked his focus with hers. “Please.”

Harper visibly swallowed and the slightest hint of a blush brushed her cheeks. “I got the contract for the hotels. With Marco’s company.”

Ben stopped. He released her and took a shallow step back. Chills shivered through his body. He tucked his arms inside each other. “Congratulations. That’s great.”

“It is. I’ll get to lead my own team of designers. Bring my vision to life. For all the U.S. hotels in their portfolio. A job like this will last several years and really establish my business.”

“That’s really great, Harper. I’m happy for you and Marco.” Ben glanced to the floor. Maybe if he stayed still enough the world would roll back a few moments. Just a few, when happiness seemed within his grasp.

“Thank you, but there’s no me and Marco. Just me. I told Marco I couldn’t take the job if he expected more than a professional relationship and he decided to go home. I will have a different, U.S. based project lead.”

He snapped his focus to her face. “No more Marco?”

“No more Marco.”

“But I thought you still loved him? I heard you tell Aunt Lulu as much.”

“Didn’t your mother tell you never to eavesdrop? It’s rude and you generally don’t get the real story.”

Unlinking his arms, he closed the gap between them. “And what is the real story, Miss Jessup?”

“The real story, Dr. Langston, is I am head over heels in love with you. Every oversized, wonderfully kind and generous part of you. I love you, Ben. I know it’s soon and all that nonsense, but—”

“I love you, too, Harper.”

Cupping her face between his palms, Ben lowered his lips to touch hers. The touch was soft and gentle, like coming home. But to the home he had longed for his entire life and had yet to find, until Harper. He kept his kiss light. Any slight pressure, and he didn’t think he would be able to stop. Lifting his lips from hers, he cuddled her to his chest. Kissing Harper Jessup tilted his world on its’ side and yet, in the same instant righted his whole life.

With a deep breath, inhaling her spicy-vanilla scent, he pressed a soft kiss against her curls. “I guess I can get used to long distance.”

“Not unless you are leaving Nashville.”

He stepped back and met her smiling gaze.

“I get to pick the order of hotels. And I picked the Merrymont.”

The hotel was two blocks from his apartment.

Most of his life, Ben tried not to doubt God’s plan, but he was only human and since his mother’s death he had wondered what God was doing. And now he knew. “Let me be the first person to welcome you to Nashville.”

“I have to say, this is a stellar welcoming committee.” She stretched tall and brushed her lips against his.

“I’m here to serve.” He said as he leaned into the kiss.