Best Laid Wedding Plans (33 page)

Richard's eyes landed on Jenni Beth, and he actually snarled. “I should have known you were behind this.”

She felt cold. Goose bumps raced over her arms. No one had ever looked at her with such hatred. When Cole put an arm around her waist, she drew strength from it.

“You did this to yourself, Richard.” She met his eyes. “We all make choices, and we all have to live with the consequences, good or bad.”

“Miss Goody Two-shoes, aren't you?” He leered at her. “You'd better watch your back.”

“Another threat, Thorndike?” Jimmy Don asked. “Guess you're not quite as sharp as I thought you were.”

Sawyer Liddell, the only reporter for
The Bottoms' Daily
, rushed through the door as Jimmy Don herded Richard through it. A camera flashed, and Richard shouted obscenities.

Wallet, moving faster than Jenni Beth had ever seen, managed to position himself in time to be included in the next few pictures. Walter did, too, she noticed. Their sixty seconds of fame.

Gloria sat motionless at her desk, white as chalk.

Jenni Beth walked over to her once Richard was gone. “You okay?”

The assistant nodded. “The bank's books should be examined. I think something funny's been going on, but I can't prove it.”

“Thanks, Gloria. I'll pass that on to Jimmy Don.”

On the way back to Magnolia House, both were quiet.

“I feel sick to my stomach, Cole.”

He glanced at her. She'd gone pale. “Want me to pull over?”

She shook her head and rolled down her window. “This kind of thing isn't supposed to happen in Misty Bottoms. Did you see the way Richard looked at me? Like he wanted me dead.”

“He can't hurt you, sugar.”

“I know. Still—”

“He's a pompous bully. He played with people's lives.” He hesitated. “One more thing you should know.”

“I'm afraid to ask.”

“I went by Pia's shop on my way to your place this mornin'.”

“Why?”

“I had a text message from her.”

When she simply stared at him, he said, “Bella Fiore is locked up tighter than Fort Knox. I think she's involved in all this clear up to her eyeballs.”

“Stella won't have any flowers tomorrow!”

“Yeah, she will. Pia might not be rotten to the core. In fact, I think she's the one who made that call to Stella. She was sendin' you a warnin', hopin' you'd back off.”

“She didn't know me very well,” Jenni Beth muttered.

“Truer words were never spoken. But I think, in her own warped way, she tried to help. I had Jimmy Don check her house. Nobody home. Nothing personal left behind. This morning's message said that your bride's arrangements are finished and waitin' in the cooler at Bella Fiore. A shop key's under the mat for you.”

“I'm thankful for that.” Jenni Beth's heartfelt sigh filled the truck. “You think Richard will talk?”

“I honestly don't know.”

As they pulled up in front of Magnolia House, Jenni Beth threw her arms around Cole. “You want to go to a wedding?”

Startled, he asked, “What?”

“Stella's. She'd love to have you there.”

“Wouldn't miss it for the world.”

Tansy, her auburn hair curling wildly, breezed into Magnolia House an hour later, unannounced.

“I can't believe you came!” Jenni Beth threw herself at her friend.

After a long, heartfelt hug, Tansy said, “I can only stay a couple hours. I promised Emerson I'd be home tonight, but I had to see you, to be part of this in some small way. You have to be so excited.”

“I am.” Jenni Beth tipped her head and studied her friend. “Do you ever call him anything else?”

“Who?”

“Emerson. It's so formal. Does he have a nickname?”

“Are you kidding?”

She shrugged. “Where's Gracie?”

“I left her with Grandma. The two had big plans for the afternoon.”

Tansy's smile didn't quite reach her emerald eyes. When they'd hugged, Jenni Beth swore she felt Tansy's ribs, she was that thin.

“I'm sorry I was short with you on the phone.” Tansy shrugged. “It wasn't a good day.”

“Tansy, can I do anything to help?”

Her friend stiffened. “I came to help you, not the other way around.”

“I know, but…”

She shook her head. “I'm fine.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire
. Jenni Beth bit her tongue. She couldn't push. If and when her friend wanted to share, she would. Until then, Jenni Beth would have to bide her time. That didn't mean it would be easy, though.

“So what do you need done?”

“Are you up for a little last-minute weeding?”

“You bet.”

“I left some gloves on the table out back. I've been after it all week, so this is kind of touch-up. Together we should finish in no time.”

“I'll get them,” Tansy said.

Jenni Beth picked up the pruners she'd laid down when Tansy had driven up. As she straightened, she saw Beck round the corner of the house and, literally, collide with Tansy.

Uh-oh.

Beck reacted as though he'd been threatened him with a bucket of scalding water. Hands in the air, he backed up. Without a single word, he shot off in the opposite direction.

Tansy stood without moving, but Jenni Beth swore her shoulders sagged.

Jenni Beth closed her eyes. Why couldn't these two, who'd loved each other, at least be friends?

When Tansy returned with the work gloves, they set off for the rose garden. Beck's name didn't come up in their conversation.

Ruthlessly searching out even the smallest weed, Tansy said, “I can hear the questions in your head, Jenni Beth, so let me lay it out there. Emerson and I are still together, but our marriage isn't good. We fight all the time. We haven't slept together in—” She gave a half-laugh. “It's been so long I couldn't even tell you.”

“Why don't you leave? Nobody would blame you.”

“I—”

The crunch of tires had them both turning.

Tansy rested a hand on her friend's. “Please don't say anything about this to the others.”

Jenni Beth crossed her heart.

Cole slid from his truck, and Tansy ran to greet him. He swept her off her feet in a huge bear hug.

“Gosh, it's good to see you, Tanz.” He reached behind him and shut the truck door, meeting Jenni Beth's gaze over their friend's head. “I brought that arbor I was tellin' you about, sugar. Why don't you come take a peek and see if it'll work?”

“I wondered where you'd disappeared to.” She moved to the back of the truck as he jumped into the bed to lift the white latticed arch.

“It's perfect.” She clapped.

He jumped out, and without thinking, she gave him a big kiss. Red-faced, she stepped back.

Tansy sent her a mischievous grin. “So that's the way the wind's blowing.”

“It's more of a storm most of the time,” Cole said. “Your friend here has a real temper. And, boy, can she hold a grudge.”

“That's so not true,” Jenni Beth argued.

“Yes, it is,” the other two said together.

She stuck out her tongue.

“There's maturity for you,” Cole said. “I have somethin' else to show you. If you approve, I'll hang it today.”

Jenni Beth watched as he reached into the backseat and withdrew a long, blanket-wrapped bundle. When he uncovered the wood and wrought-iron sign, she simply stared at it. Words deserted her.

Magnolia Brides
, in elaborate script, had been engraved into the wood. Magnolia blossoms formed the dots over the i's. The wrought-iron bracket suited it perfectly.

“What d'ya think?”

“Cole, it's incredible. I love it.” She launched herself at him. “It's real, isn't it? Magnolia Brides is real.”

“It is. You want me to hang it by the carriage house door?”

“Yes. Oh yes!” She laughed, raising her hands to her cheeks.

“First, though, let me get this arbor in place. Tanz, this isn't heavy, but it's kind of awkward. Why don't you grab one end, and we can carry it out to the garden while Jenni Beth admires her new sign.”

As they moved off, Beck came back toward the front of the house. “There are a couple small things I'd like to finish. I know you don't want any more mess till after tomorrow's wedding, but I promise to keep out of your way.”

“It's fine. The sooner all this is done, the better.”

“Anything else you need right now? For tomorrow?” He hitched up his tool belt.

“Nope.” She showed him the sign. “Isn't it wonderful?”

“It is. You want me to hang it?”

“No, Cole's going to. It amazes me, but I think we're good. I desperately wanted a tent in case the weather turns bad or someone needs shade, but no matter how I crunch the numbers, I can't find a way to justify the cost.”

“Why didn't you say somethin'? I've got one at the lumberyard that should be large enough considering Stella's small group.”

She shook her head. “I can't afford it, Beck.”

“I'll put it on your tab. When this place is rollin' in dough, we'll settle up.”

“Beck—”

“Nope. No arguing with me about it. The thing's packed in a box doing nothin' but takin' up space. Might as well get it out and dust it off.”

She grinned and threw herself into his arms, giving him a hug and a big smooch.

Cole felt Tansy tense beside him. He understood her feelings exactly. The sight of his girl in another man's arms didn't go down very well. The fact she hadn't admitted yet that she
was
his girl made no difference.

And Tansy and Beck? Man, those two had themselves some history. How had their lives—all of them—derailed so badly?

Voice carefully neutral, he said, “Doesn't mean anything, Tanz. She does that all the time. With everybody.”

“I know. It doesn't matter to me, anyway. I'm a married woman, remember?”

The sadness in those big beautiful eyes just about cut him off at the knees. “Come on, sugar, it's all gonna be okay.” A finger beneath her chin, he pleaded, “Don't you dare cry. I can deal with almost anything but a woman's tears. They destroy me.”

Her chin quivered, but she sent him a watery smile. “Let's stand this trellis up and see how it looks.”

“Deal.”

They'd no sooner finished than his phone chirped.

Jimmy Don. Cole listened as he walked back toward Jenni Beth. Finished, he pocketed his cell.

“That was the sheriff,” he said.

“Did Richard confess?”

“He's dancin' around it right now. Jimmy Don probably won't be able to charge him with much more than mastermindin' the vandalism, but Thorndike played fast and loose with moral and ethical codes. All things considered, I imagine we can renegotiate that bank loan of yours and have your bottomland removed as collateral.”

“He wanted my land even before I went in, didn't he?”

“Yeah. You got sucked into a game of dominoes, sugar. You owned the land, your folks were in financial trouble and always dealt with his bank. Richard knew it was only a matter of time till you came in for a loan. You'd have to give up the one asset you had.”

“What if I
hadn't
gone to him?”

“He'd have made it work somehow or another. When the mob's squeezin' you, you do whatever it takes. You threw a wrench into his plans by refusin' to sell him the land outright.”

Cole dropped onto a stone bench and pulled her down beside him. He'd already filled Tansy in on their morning, and she sat in the grass beside them.

“How's Pia tied into this?”

“Her dad. Word is he has ties to the family, if you know what I mean. Kind of a Gotti-wannabe. My guess is that Richard's more afraid of D'Amato than of jail time, so I doubt he'll roll on him.”

“Why would he get mixed up with someone like that?”

“Jimmy Don's been pokin' into that. Turns out our bank president likes to gamble. He's probably into D'Amato for a huge hunk of change. Following Gloria's hunch, Jimmy Don contacted Coastal Plains' headquarters, and they've already got a team on the way from Savannah.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, wow. He probably dipped in the till to stall D'Amato until he got his hands on your land. And
that
might earn him some jail time.”

“This will give them something to talk about at Dee-Ann's,” Tansy said. “Who said Misty Bottoms was a quiet little town?”

Stella's wedding day broke bright and sunny.

Jenni Beth had one finishing touch for her office, today's temporary bridal suite. For her first wedding.
Oh please, oh please, let it go well.

She hated that Tansy hadn't been able to stay but was so thankful they'd had some time together yesterday.

Off to the left of the rose garden, she caught sight of the white tent Beck and Cole had sweated over last night. It glistened in the morning sun, and she crossed her fingers that the day would stay sunny.

“Have you got it, Dad?”

“Sure do.”

The two of them made their way slowly across the yard, her grandmother's gilt-edged mirror between them. Maneuvering it through the door, they rested it against the carriage house wall. Beside it, on the window ledge, Ms. Hattie's African violet was lush with deep purple blooms.

Her dad draped an arm around her waist, and together they stared at their reflection. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

The last shard of the ice around her heart melted. For the first time since they'd received word of her brother's death, her heart felt totally open.

Cole had found the key, and this moment put that key in the lock. She was alive. She wanted to feel again, to love again.

“Love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart, and your mother and I are proud of you.” He kissed the top of her head. “And I'm so thankful you've come back to us.”

“I'm glad I'm here, too.”

“Are you?” He took a step away and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You've given up a lot to rescue your mother and me.”

“Daddy—”

“No. Let me say this, Jenni Beth.” Her dad's mouth worked with emotion. “Your mom and I didn't handle any of this well. Not Wes's death, not the house or our finances, not you. We forgot in our grief over losing one child that we still had another who might need us.”

He swiped at a tear, and Jenni Beth had trouble breathing.

“Cole reminded me of that, and I'll be forever grateful.” He sniffed. “Thing is, you rode in and rescued us. You shouldn't have had to do that.”

“I think maybe we rescued each other.”

“Maybe.” He patted her back. “I'll go check on your mother. She was fretting about what to wear.”

Jenni Beth laughed. “She'll look beautiful. She always does.”

He nodded. “I'm a lucky man. I have
two
beautiful women in my life. Two women I love.”

With that, he walked out, closing the door softly behind him.

Her heart nearly exploded with emotion. Love, happiness, sadness, thankfulness, regret all raced through her mind, nipping at one another.

She moved back to the mirror, reached out to run a finger along the edge. She imagined she saw her grandmother's face staring back at her.

“Thanks for this, Gram,” she whispered. “The house will be full of life and love again.”

A touch of sadness flitted over her. “I hope you're not upset with what I've done, but it's the only way. For Magnolia House, for the Beaumonts, for Misty Bottoms. I think Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandpa Beaumont's wedding gift to his bride will save us all. It all started with a wedding. We've formed a circle.”

* * *

Stella and Bear's wedding went off without a hitch.

Her father, who'd insisted on handling the music, hit the power button on cue and “Destiny” by Jim Brickman played over the speakers. As the song ended, Stella rode down the rose-strewn carpet of grass on the back of her Harley. Stunning in a white cocktail-length bridal dress, her short veil flowed behind her and the ribbons in her bouquet fluttered in the breeze.

The second Bear saw her, the hulking six-foot-five groom broke into tears as big as spring raindrops.

When Charlotte joined him in the weeping, Jenni Beth handed her a hanky. Stella glanced at them and grinned.

The service was sentimental, romantic, and funny, and the weather was absolute perfection. Even though the tent hadn't been necessary, Kitty commented that the shade kept the sugar roses from melting and sliding down the sides of the cake. Now there was something to be thankful for.

And Pia's flower arrangements? Jenni Beth had never seen better. And there was a worry. Misty Bottoms no longer had a florist. No florist, no bridal bouquets.

Somebody had mentioned Beck's cousin was a florist. That she was considering opening her own shop. Jenni Beth would have to check that out, see if she could talk her into opening it here in Misty Bottoms. But right now? Today? She'd concentrate on Stella and Bear.

Luanna and her friends served Kitty's impressive cake, its Harley-riding bride and groom topper firmly in place, and uncorked champagne with great aplomb. Toasts made and glasses raised, her father once again moved to his post. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Stella and Bear hit the floor for their first dance as man and wife to Celine Dion's “Because You Loved Me.”

Yes, Jenni Beth thought, this would be a forever marriage. Her heart swelled with happiness. And then her gaze landed on Cole.

She loved the man beyond words.

A heaviness centered in her heart even as pride forced a smile.

* * *

At Duffy's Pub, Cole snagged a table for his family and Beck.

“Dance with me, Nick.” His sister took her fiancé's hand and dragged him onto the postage-stamp-sized floor.

Cole sipped his beer. Maybe he'd ferret out Jenni Beth and talk her into a celebratory dance. Her first wedding had been flawless—despite Richard and Pia, a destroyed rose garden and wedding cake, a broken cake topper, and, and, and! She had to be one happy woman right about now.

He spotted her across the room, her back to the wall, swaying to the music and wearing a grin the size of Texas. And he knew what he had to do. This wasn't what he'd planned or the way he'd imagined it, but it felt right.

Making his way to her, he handed her a flute of champagne, tapped his own glass to hers. “You did it, Jenni Beth.”

“I did, didn't I? With a whole lot of help from my friends.” She sipped at her glass. “None of this would have happened without you, Cole.”

He shrugged.

“If I'd failed, you'd have gotten the house.”

“Yeah, me or Richard.”

“So tell me. I'm dying to know why you worked so hard at losing.”

“The house belongs to you and your family. It's meant to be.”

“What were your plans, Cole?”

When he looked at her questioningly, she said, “That morning at Dee-Ann's, you told me you had plans for Magnolia House, too.”

“I intended to turn it into a B&B.”

She looked shocked. “You're kidding.”

“Nope. It would have been a huge change for your folks, but I planned to hire help to take care of all the day-to-day work. I didn't expect your mom and dad to do anything except show up for social hour once in a while.”

“Why would you do that?”

“So Todd and Sue Ellen could stay in their home. At first, it was for Wes. I'd made him a promise. But somewhere along the line things changed, and it became all about you. You wanted this so badly, sugar, and I wanted you to have it.”

“So when I was saying all those mean things to you, none of them were true. You were actually watching out for my family. Helping my brother, my parents, and me.”

“Mostly you.”

“That's way over and above what you'd promised.”

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding, his hands sweating. Now or never. He plunged in. “I did it because I love you, Jenni Beth. A soul-deep, forever love.”

She blanched, and he panicked. What if she didn't feel the same for him?

He swallowed, took her hand. “I think we should get married. At Magnolia House.”

“Married?”

He nodded. “You. Me. Magnolia House.” He spoke slowly, as if to a young child.

She stepped away. “Married?” she repeated. Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips. “Cole—”

Although his heart was breaking, he forced himself to back up. “It's okay, sugar. I'm a patient man. I'll give you time to get used to the idea.”

She said nothing.

More nervous than he'd ever thought possible, he plowed on. This was turning out to be a heck of a lot harder than he'd imagined. “Shoot, I know this isn't a Hallmark card proposal. You deserve the works—candles, romance. Heck, a little privacy.”

When she continued to stare at him, he said, “I do know a great wedding planner. She's just opened an incredible venue.”

He reached for her hand again, stared into those slate-blue eyes. “I don't have the fancy words, Jenni Beth, but I love you. I want you to be my wife. Mrs. Cole Bryson.”

“You mean that?” Her eyes misted. “This is real?”

“Yeah. The feeling, the wish. Both are very real. And, Jenni Beth? Just so you know, I'm not goin' anywhere. I love you, and I'm here to stay. Forever and ever.”

With a squeal, she launched herself at him, dribbling champagne down his neck. “Yes, yes, yes! I love you, Cole. I always have, and I always will.”

Cole held her close. And that, he thought, was what happened when you dared to dream a little dream. A dream of forever.

Order Lynnette Austin's next book
in the Magnolia Brides series

Every Bride Has Her Day

On sale May 2016