The Calendar Brides (15 page)

“Don’t know what I’ll have to celebrate,” Nona said. “Other than turning eighty-eight.”

“That’s a double-digit year.” Rachel gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Which means it brings good luck.”

Nona surveyed her wearily but gave a grateful smile. “You invented that.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You’re a very bad liar.”

If Nona only knew.

Rachel pushed off the bed and smoothed out her gown. “I’d better get out of this dress. Don’t want to wear it out before the big day.”

“Thanks for taking the time to show it to me.” Her eyes looked a little misty. “I still remember the other girls, and what they looked like on their wedding days…all of them. If only…”

“What?” Rachel asked gently.

“If only I could feel there was hope for Bev and Susan, too.”

“Of course there’s hope for them! They’re wonderful women.”

“Yes, and so lonely.”

“No, they’re not, Nona. Both of them have jobs that—”

“Jobs don’t keep them warm at night.”

Rachel knew Nona was just being traditional and speaking from her own experience and advanced age. “They’ll be fine. I promise.” She motioned for Nona to help her with her zipper in back and Nona did. “Besides,” Rachel said speaking over her shoulder. “It’s better not to marry at all than to marry the wrong one. Isn’t that what you always say?”

“Yes, that’s true. But Zoe…”

“Now, what about Zoe?”

“I wish that she and Dillon would go ahead with it.”

“Nona…”

“And when on earth is someone going to give me another great-grandbaby? The others are practically in high school.”

“Clarissa is just four years old!”

“That may be true, but I’m not getting any younger, you know.”

Rachel hugged her grandma with a laugh. No, she wasn’t. Her Nona wasn’t changing much either. She was just the same as she’d always been. Opinionated and meddling, but with an enormous heart of gold. “I love you, Nona,” Rachel said sweetly. “All of us do.”

“So you didn’t squeal?” Tom asked her. “Not a word?” Tom had blue eyes and dark hair, and always wore a suit. He looked like a banker, but actually worked at a jeweler’s. On account of that, he’d given Rachel lots of pretty things, including the one-and-a-half-carat diamond that sat on her finger.

Rachel gave an indignant pout. “What do you think I am? A blabbermouth?”

Their pizza arrived and Tom pushed the pie stand aside, taking her hand. “I just know it’s hard for you. Keeping secrets.”

“I wish you could have seen her, Tom. So low over Luigi.”

“She’ll brighten up soon enough.”

“I know. I only wish I could have told her.”

“For the record, I think the others are right. It will be so much easier to explain when you’ve got it all done. Plus, once the preorders are in, you’ll have a good sense about whether or not you’re going to make it.”

“We
are
going to make it.”

“Of course you are.” He kissed her hand, then released it, offering to serve her a slice. She pointed to a large one with extra mushrooms, then thanked him as he set it on her plate.

She took a bite, savoring the cheesy goodness. “I really hope it sells.”

Tom served himself two slices. “I said I’d stock them at the store.”

“Yeah, and everyone else is helping, too.”

“Everyone needs a calendar.” He smiled supportively. “Especially when Miss December is as pretty as you are.”

Rachel giggled and set down her piece. “It’s going to be Mrs. December soon.”

He met her gaze and smiled. “Not soon enough.”

“May isn’t that far away.”

Rachel studied Tom in his red-striped tie, considering two things about him. One, just how handsome he was, and two, what an unlikely pair they must appear to the others seated in this casual restaurant. Tom was well kept and organized, and she was…well… She took a sip of wine, but a little too quickly, and some splattered on her sweater…all over the place.

Tom dipped his napkin in his water and dabbed at the spot from across the table. “Best to get it out quickly,” he explained. “Red wine stains.”

Boy, didn’t she remember.

Rachel had been reaching for a bottle of Chianti on a high shelf when it tipped forward and slipped from her fingers. In a flash, it had crashed to the floor and exploded in a billion pieces. Only the bent wicker basket remained, along with a spreading cranberry-colored pool. She’d jumped back as it raced toward her toes, slamming into something.

“Oomph!”

Crash!
More wine splattered up, spraying her jeans.

Now there were two broken bottles of wine at her feet. The second had a better label.

Rachel spun with a gasp to find a tall, handsome guy, staring down at the mess and his own stained slacks. He was a business type, though she hadn’t seen him before. Or, had she? “Oh, gosh,” she said, staring in horror as well. “I’m sorry!”

“It’s all—” he began.

“Just look at your slacks!”

He did, then met her eyes. “They’ll wash. Are you hurt?”

“Hurt?” she asked, puzzled. “No, I don’t think… I mean… Did I hurt you? Step on your foot or something?”

He shuffled his foot to the side, flexing it at the ankle. He wore expensive Italian loafers, the kind Rachel had seen in magazines. “I don’t think anything’s broken.”

“Broken?”

He cracked a smile. “I mean, other than the wine.”

One of the store workers hurried over with a mop and a bucket. “I apologize,” Rachel told him. “It was totally my fault. I’ll pa—”

“I’ll take care of it.” He extracted a leather billfold and nodded at the old man at the register. “Both bottles.”

“I couldn’t—”

His brow rose with interest. “Why not?”

Rachel wondered if he was always this serious and self-contained. Then, it hit her. She recognized him! He was the former class president of Chandelier High! Though he’d graduated six years ahead of her, so they hadn’t been there at the same time. “I know you! You’re Tom Delaney!” Of course! His pictures had been plastered all over the halls. He’d been a mega tennis and soccer star. His trophies still held honored spots in the display cases.

He blinked at her, surprised. “That’s…right,” he sputtered. “But how did you—?”

“You used to date my cousin,” she informed him.
 

“Cousin?”

“Bev D’Amato. In high school.”

His neck reddened slightly behind his button-down collar. “Bev, yes. She works at the bank now, doesn’t she?”

“Have you seen her?”

“Only in passing. We haven’t exactly kept up.”

Yeah, Rachel remembered that part. He and Bev had both left for college and gone their separate ways. At least, Tom had gone his. Bev was glad to get away to Italy once she’d learned Tom had taken up with someone new, and broken her heart. “I guess things happen,” she said, studying his face for clues. Bev had said all sorts of horrible things about him, but he didn’t look that menacing up close.

“We were kids.” He shrugged, but his gaze was earnest. “Hope she’s doing well?”

“Stellar.”

“Glad to hear it.” He grabbed a new bottle of wine for himself, then passed Rachel a different Chianti. “Might I recommend this one? You’ll probably like it better than the one that landed on the floor.”

Rachel laughed. “I’m sure I’d love it, but…” She studied the price tag and flinched. “I think I’ll stick with the bargain brand.”

“My treat,” he insisted.

“But why?”

His blue eyes danced, revealing a hint of warmth. “Because I can.”

They’d run into each other again the following week at the very same store. Rachel had thought about telling Bev she’d seen her old flame, but had decided against it. Bygones were bygones after all, and it appeared Bev had moved on. While she didn’t have a boyfriend at the moment, she’d gone on to date other guys. So, in truth, Tom Delaney was ancient history.

“You must have liked it,” he said, when he caught her picking up the same label he’d bought her previously.

Rachel turned with a smile, pleased to see him. “Your recommendation was solid. My Nona loved it.”

“Your…grandmother?”

“Yes, we were having a family party.”

“How nice. What were you celebrating?”

“We celebrate once a month. My sisters, cousins, Nona, and me.”

His smile was genuine. “Anything in particular?”

“Just being together.”

“You’re lucky to have that kind of family.”

Rachel couldn’t recall exactly what Bev had said about Tom’s family. She thought he had an older sister, but maybe that was it. His eyes studied her, lingering awhile. “You never did tell me your name, though I suspect there’s a D’Amato in there somewhere.” Everyone in Chandelier knew of the family. The fact that her Nona had six sons who’d produced only daughters was legendary in itself.

“I’m Rachel.” Both her hands were full of wine bottles so she nodded instead. “I didn’t think you’d remember me from high school. I was a few classes behind.”

“That explains it.”
 

She looked at him.

“I was wondering how I could have forgotten such a pretty face.”

Rachel blushed, feeling caught off guard. While she was flattered by the attention, this was Bev’s old boyfriend, and she’d never want to do anything to…

“Rachel?” he repeated. “Did you hear me?”

“I’m sorry.” She pulled out of her haze. “Did you say something?”

“I was asking if you’d like to come with me?”

He what?
“Where?”

“To the wine festival next Saturday. There are lots of great vintages to explore. You might even find another your Nona would enjoy.”

Well, if she did it because of Nona, that would be okay, wouldn’t it? Rachel had never been to a wine festival. It sounded so posh, and exciting. And like a totally grown-up thing to do. All right, so she was a grown-up, but she hadn’t yet gotten around to doing a lot of grown-up things. She’d only been out of college a year. And that year had been spent looking for jobs until she’d taken the position at Plants and Pottings. Besides, it wasn’t like Tom was a stranger. He was a local that everybody knew. He also ran the jeweler’s he’d taken over from his dad, and did quite well at it. Rachel had gathered this by asking around. Real casual-like. Which meant she’d asked her cousin Lena to see if there was any gossip at the bar.
 

Turned out Tom was friends with Lena’s boss Dave, who vouched for him as a stand-up guy. Dave said everyone in high school had loved Tom. He’d been witty, charming, and probably the brightest guy in the class. He could have become anything he’d wanted, if he hadn’t felt obligated to take over the family business. But Tom didn’t seem to mind. He was the sort of man who believed family came first. Lena had spilled all this in a secret session in Nona’s kitchen when no one else was listening. She was also a youngest child, like Rachel, and the two of them were very close. Even though Bev was Lena’s older sister, Lena suggested there were certain things it was better for Bev not to know. Besides, Rachel’s silly infatuation with some guy she’d seen at the liquor store might never go anywhere. She’d only seen him once.
 

Now, it was twice, and Tom was asking Rachel if she wanted to see him again. She did; she couldn’t deny it. Tom was sophisticated and worldly, and oh, so handsome. Plus, he seemed established and very settled, so unlike her. And gosh, when he smiled and those blue eyes sparkled, Rachel practically felt transported to the moon. It was goofy and she knew it. Plus, it was only an outing and not some sort of marriage proposal. But she couldn’t help how she felt, any more than she could contain her building excitement. Tom Delaney—the most popular guy to ever set foot in Chandelier High—had asked her out,
on a real date
!
That was just so cool. It was probably the coolest thing that had ever happened to her since winning that poetry contest in the eighth grade. That just proved how sorry and misguided her life had been. What Rachel D’Amato needed was a new direction. More importantly, she owed it to her Nona to seek out better wine. In fact, the whole family was depending on her. Next time it was her turn to bring the prosecco.
And so, without any further hesitation, she said yes.

Their plates were cleared and espressos arrived without too much of a delay, because Tom had arranged for them to come in advance. He was always so prepared and organized. Rachel loved that about him. And, though she was still coming to terms with why, he appeared to love everything about her. No matter what kind of day she was having, Tom stayed on an even keel. It was good to have that kind of guy around. He steadied her and she pepped him up. They were a pair, and a perfect example of opposites attracting. Although they both had one serious thing in common: their deep love of family. While his family was small, Tom would clearly give the world to them. He’d embraced the D’Amatos just as surely. It might have been a little awkward between him and Bev at first, when Bev heard the news. But she was mature and could put it behind her. Tom could, too.