Lake Effect (17 page)

“Shall we make our escape?” Wyeth asked.

“Yes, please.”

Flashbulbs went off like small explosives as they walked out the door, reporters shouting questions at Wyeth about the cancelation of the hearing and his exoneration of the charges. Wyeth wrapped his arm even tighter around Shelby and, pulling her close, raised his free hand to quiet the crowd.

“A statement will be released through the Packard Corporation tomorrow. Now, if you'll excuse me.”

Wyeth ushered her into the back of the waiting limo and climbed in behind her. They were barely away from the curb before he had her in his lap, his lips on her mouth.

“I guess you're not mad at me then for not staying on the island?” She gloried in the deep chuckle he gave as he pulled her even closer to him in a warm embrace.

“The next time I tell you to do something, feel free to tell me to shut up. I'm so glad you didn't listen. I didn't realize just how much I needed you here until now. Besides, you show up and the feds drop their entire case. The way I see it, I can't afford to be without you.”

“Who came forward?”

“We don't know but apparently whoever it was had recorded their anonymous informant boasting about having made up the charges. That's all the feds needed.”

Shelby thought back to Abby's confession at the spa. She remembered the smile on the face of the pedicurist when Abby threatened her. The woman had been fussing with her iPhone as the water was filling. Score one for the little people, she thought to herself, vowing the next time to tip even more generously.

“Wyeth, if you didn't know I'd be here tonight, how is it you came to have this in your pocket?” She held out the beautiful antique ring, her hand shaking slightly.

“Funny thing, that. I purchased it just a few days ago. I was going to fly to the island the moment my name was cleared, if my name was cleared, and ask you to marry me. Then, tonight, just before I was ready to leave the house, I saw it sitting on my dresser and just had to put it in my pocket. It was a reminder of what I wanted. I was using it as a good luck charm, a way to get me through what I was certain would be an awful evening and an even worse day ahead.”

“What if the hearing hadn't been canceled, if I hadn't been at the benefit tonight, what then?” Shelby whispered the question as she looked down at the ring.

“I'd made up my mind. I was going to mail you the ring and ask you to wait for me. I just knew there was no way I could lose you, Shelby.”

“Oh, Wyeth, I love you.” Shelby leaned into his embrace and let the tears flow freely. Wyeth held her in his arms, gently rubbing her back and placing small kisses on her cheeks.

“I love you more and I'm not taking you back to my mom's. I can't possibly wait that long. I want you all to myself.”

• • •

Wyeth wanted more than anything to ignore the ringing cell phone that had awakened him. Untangling himself from Shelby, he reached across the nightstand and picked the offending object up, jamming the button as if that would make the caller aware of his irritation.

“Packard.” His anger dissipated the moment Shelby started to giggle.

“You think you'd be offering me a raise after the way things have turned out.” He could hear the amusement in James' voice.

“I hate to interrupt your celebration but I've been told to tell you that you are both expected for dinner tonight. It's not a request. And, there's a Board meeting set for Monday.”

“Well done, James. Yes. Thank you I'll be there, for both. Shelby wants to know how Norman is doing?”

“My, you'll be happy to know that Norman made himself comfortable with James Jr. last night. In fact, when we went to check on him, we found them both cuddled together on the bed. Janele didn't have the heart to part them. She's a terrible mother.”

“Shelby will be happy to hear that.” Laughing he put the phone back on the night stand and pulled Shelby into his arms.

The reflection of the iris shone in the clear water of the newly renovated reflecting pool like a Monet painting, their shimmering image dancing in the late afternoon sun. The gardens were full of flowering hedges, hollyhocks, foxglove, zinnias, and a myriad of other plants. Off the back of the beautiful manor home was an herb garden, surrounded by boxwood hedges. The newly groomed lawn wove in paths through the various gardens, down a gentle slope, and right to the beach.

Shelby and Wyeth stood, hands held together under a white arch. The bride wore a beautiful pale green dress that flowed in layers to just below her knees. The zigzag cut of the hem and the shimmer of the material made her feel every bit like a fairy princess. A wreath of flowers circled the crown of her head, the finishing detail. The groom stood tall and handsome in his black suit and tie, crisp white shirt, and a stylish black leash in his hand that led down to a newly groomed, large collie dog. Family and friends filled the beautiful white chairs that had been rented for the occasion. The weather was perfect, with a breeze off Lake Erie ensuring that it was neither too hot nor too cold.

Lindsey stood behind Shelby while James behind Wyeth. Shelby's mother, May, brushed back tears from her front row seat, holding on to her husband's hand. Behind her, Cheri Beauchamp beamed as Len pulled her closer to his side. Across the aisle, on the groom's side, Olivia Packard held onto Janele who sat with a sleeping Madeline in her lap, beaming up at James Jr. in his little tuxedo, holding onto his dad with one hand and Norman with the other.

“You may now kiss your bride.” The small crowd of family and friends broke into applause and a standing ovation.

• • •

Shelby removed the buttermilk biscuits from the oven and brushed them with butter. She slapped the hand that reached out and tried to take one.

“Stop that! You'll burn yourself and these are for paying guests, not the innkeeper if you please.” She laughed as her husband patted her very rounded belly and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek while stealing a hot biscuit off the tray.

“As the innkeeper, ma'am, it is my duty to taste test everything that comes out of this kitchen. Besides, I promised my son I'd bring him one.”

“Wyeth, the boy is two years old. He could not possibly have sent you in here for a biscuit.”

Her husband just winked at her, playfully swatted her behind and left her laughing in the kitchen as their guests began to file in.

Johannah Bryson has been writing for as long as she can remember, creating characters and their stories, always with a happy ending. She lives in northeast Ohio with her real life hero, has raised two beautiful children as well as four female collies and one crazy male Border Collie. She hopes you enjoy Shelby and Wyeth's story and loves to hear from readers at
[email protected]
.

“What … is that?” Maisie Scott asked as she eyed a white cardboard box poked with tiny holes sitting on one of the tables inside Ginger Snaps, the diner on Main Street.

“It's a gift.” Her sister, Cady, pushed the small box toward her with pleading hazel eyes. “You need something to take care of.”

Maisie shook her head, hands on her hips. “I have plenty to take care of.” She tilted her head toward the half-full diner. “See all these customers?”

Cady frowned. “That's not the same, and you know it.” She gave the carton another tiny push toward her. “Start small and work your way up.”

Sighing, Maisie looked down at the matte pink and white checked floor. She'd known something like this was coming when her sister asked her out for a girls' night last weekend. As much as Cady had tried giving her space, they both knew she couldn't keep quiet much longer.

Ginger, the diner's owner, picked a great time to walk out of the back. “No critters in here. You want the board of health after me?” She was a stern but fair woman, and Maisie enjoyed working for her. Ginger gave her plenty of hours, so Maisie's savings had continued to grow, getting her closer to her goal of buying a house.

With unbelievable speed, Cady scooped up the box and held it close to her chest. “No critter here.” She turned to Maisie and smiled the same way she always did when she knew she'd get her way. “I'll put him in his cage and you can name your hamster when you get home.”

Maisie ignored her busybody older sister and continued to wipe down the tables with a terry cloth towel. Her heart sank at the thought of what would be waiting for her when she got back to the apartment she was renting in her sister's basement. She wasn't ready for a pet. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

“Excuse me, can I have a refill?” A gray-haired lady with way too much makeup held up her lipstick-stained coffee cup, interrupting Maisie's thoughts.

“Sure, I'll be right there.” Maisie blinked away her tears and shoved the towel inside her apron pocket while she walked back to the coffeemaker. First, Cady had insisted she start going to therapy, and now she had gone out and bought her a mouth to feed. Why couldn't her sister just see she needed more time?

Maisie rushed the pot of steaming coffee over to the lady, hoping for a good tip. A few more months of saving and she might have enough money for a down payment on a place where she would have the privacy to hide in her shell as long as she wanted. Too bad Cady hadn't gotten her a turtle, then they could hide in their shells together.

“Thanks, doll.” The lady smiled and winked at her with a glittery eyelid that any Vegas showgirl would envy.

Maisie pressed her full lips together and did a quick nod. “You're welcome.”

She went behind the counter to grab more napkins for a little boy having a hard time finding his mouth, by the look of all the red sauce on his chin and the table. Maisie bent down to grab a handful, and when she looked up from the stainless steel counter, she noticed a customer had just sat down with his laptop. All she could see was the top of his blond head.

“Be right back.” She whisked the napkins over to the thankful mom and rushed back to take the guy's order. They were short-handed today because the other daytime waitress, Lola, had called in … again.

“What can I get ya?” She blew a stray lock of red hair out of her eyes.

Laptop guy looked up from his computer with a smile that reached all the way up to his dazzling blue eyes. “I was told you had the best apple pie in town.” His dark blond, wavy hair fell just over his ears and framed his masculine, tanned face. His snug-fitting, olive green polo shirt, with two of the buttons undone, made her heart rate speed up.

Maisie swallowed and tried to find her voice. “Sure do. Would you like coffee with your pie?” Suddenly conscience of the coffee stain on her white T-shirt, she lifted her hand to cover it.

He put down the menu and looked at her. “I'll pass on the coffee, but I would like a glass of milk.”

Maisie nodded, “Be right back.” She hurried to the kitchen to get his drink and was thankful to be behind closed doors so she could pull herself together. Dazzling Eyes was the first guy she had really noticed in the last two years. She had looked into those blue eyes and felt her heart skip a beat, but the moment had passed as quickly as it had come, replaced with guilt. She poured the milk, straightened her apron, and walked back out to the counter to find that he had put his laptop away. Trying not to look at him, she cut a large slice of pie and brought him his order.

“Apple pie and milk.” She placed the plate and glass in front of him.

He held up his fork, eyeing the pie like it was an old friend. “Thank you.”

She nodded and wiped her palms on her faded blue jeans. “Sure. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Maisie looked up at the sterling silver clock to see that her shift was over in ten minutes. She nodded at the elderly man in the corner. He was in this diner as much as she was. A couple of regulars came in and sat down at a gray vinyl booth underneath an oversized picture of cookies. The diner's walls were lined with black and white canvases of sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, snicker doodles and, of course, ginger snaps.

Already knowing what they wanted, she called back to the cook, “Two cheeseburgers — the works — and two orders of home fries.” She'd leave right after she got this order out. After placing her regulars' sodas in front of them, Maisie went back up to the counter to give Dazzling Eyes his bill.

“Best apple pie I've had since I left home,” he said, handing her a folded up twenty. “Keep the change.” This time when he smiled, she noticed a dimple in his left clean-shaven cheek.

He had just given her the best tip she'd ever gotten. She wondered where home was but didn't ask. “Thanks,” she said, taking the money over to the register to cash out her gratuity.

“Order up,” the cook called as he passed it through the window.

She watched the door close behind her big tipper.
And there he goes, probably never to be seen again.
She sighed and lifted the tray.

• • •

Ryan Tucker pushed open the diner door and walked back down the sidewalk to his SUV parked around the corner in his clinic's parking lot. Budding Bradford pear trees lined the walkway, and a blanket of newly risen, yellow crocuses smothered the faded mulch. Pleasant Valley, Indiana, wasn't too bad so far.

He had opened his veterinary clinic for exotic animals last week, and today his assistant, Alice, mentioned Ginger Snaps Diner after he told her about missing his momma's apple pie more than anything. The diner was right around the corner, so after work he'd walked down to give it a try.

When he'd arrived in Pleasant Valley, he hadn't been so sure about this small town that had more corn and soy fields than he'd ever seen. But he wanted to open his clinic where there was a need. So far he was the only vet for exotic pets in town, which should be great for business. Not to mention, after the secret he'd been hiding from his family for the last six months, a new start was welcome. As much as he loved his family, there was one embarrassment he'd like to keep from them.