“I guess I’d better get up there on that sidewalk.” His amber eyes were as bright as his smile. “Though it’s hard to take a woman in an elf hat seriously, even if she does have a clipboard.”
“I’ll see you at the high school for the party after.”
He kissed her nose. “I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the route. Can’t have elf girls wandering around town, left to get to parties on their own. They might get stolen.”
He walked away, but turned to give her a little wave before he blended into the crowd.
Moments like this made her wonder if it might be barely possible that . . .
The band struck up “Jingle Bells”—the signal that the parade had begun.
The after parade party, held in the high school gym, was given by the Rotary to thank everyone who had had anything to do with the parade, from marching cub scouts to the largest corporate sponsor. Consequently, it seemed like most of the town was there. It wasn’t an elaborate party. Who had time to make decorations and fancy food with all the effort that had just gone into the parade and with Christmas three days away? But there was pizza, cookies, soft drinks, and punch. Santa was handing out candy to the children who had been in the parade, and the Merritt High band was playing background music. There would be a few speeches, but mostly this event was about visiting with neighbors.
Brantley steered Lucy to a large table near the portable stage where the other book club girls were sitting. Beau and Emma played nearby, wearing their mothers’ elf hats.
Brantley pulled a chair out for Lucy. “Ladies,” he greeted the table. “What fine elves you are. Where are your menfolk?”
“Doing what menfolk do,” Tolly answered. “Hunting. For pizza.”
Brantley looked around and sighed. “Then I shall do the same.” He dropped a kiss on Lucy’s mouth. “I will return triumphant. No woman of mine will go hungry, no matter how many boy scouts and baton twirlers I have to take out.”
When he had gone, they all turned and smiled.
“What?” Lucy said.
“This is it,” Lanie said. “I’ve got a feeling.”
“I’ve got more than a feeling,” Missy said. “I drove by your house today, Lucy, and Charles Kincaid was out there cleaning up the leaves in your yard.”
“What?” Lucy said. What she wanted to say was What in the hell? But there were children present.
Missy shrugged. “I’m just telling you what I saw.”
“I am so embarrassed.” Lucy covered her face. “I know I should have taken care of that. And it got so bad that Charles cleaned them up. But I’ve been so busy.”
They all laughed. “Busy with Brantley,” Tolly said. “I think Charles is just trying to show you that he approves.”
“I don’t know about Charles, but I certainly do,” Missy said. “I get down on my knees and thank God every night. It has been a hard job worrying about who Brantley was going to end up with.”
“Brantley has not ended up with—” Lucy began but stopped because the guys returned with pizza just as the mayor took the stage.
“I got you veggie and a water,” Brantley whispered, as he settled in next to her with his Coke and pepperoni and sausage.
At least no one could comment on how he had learned her ways because the mayor was speaking practically on top of their heads.
He thanked the Rotary and praised all the volunteers who had made the parade a success. Then he began to enumerate the strides Merritt had made in the past year—repaired roads, new businesses, the continued work by the Downtown Revitalization Committee. Then he went on to talk about Little League triumphs, the money the Junior League had raised for the hospital, the addition to the library, and Nathan’s team’s trip to the playoffs.
“That isn’t all that happened in our town this year. It’s just the highpoints. But, as most of you have heard, we have had exciting news of late. Beginning in January, work will begin to restore one of our historic treasures, the Brantley Building. Once it’s complete, it will fulfill a need that has been lacking in our community. We have long dreamed of having a multi-purpose center for cultural endeavors. And now we will have one, courtesy of the Brantley and Kincaid family.”
This was met with applause, maybe because people were pleased or maybe because they knew the mayor was almost finished.
But he said, “Mrs. Brantley, would you like to say a word?”
Miss Caroline was here? Lucy looked around. She was sitting with some of her friends not far from where Charles sat with Tiptoe Watkins and Laura Cochran’s father, Dr. Vines. Lucy gave them a little half wave.
Miss Caroline stood. “Thank you, Mayor Henry, but I believe I was quite loquacious enough on the subject at the press conference a few weeks back. Perhaps my grandson might say a word?”
More applause. Brantley didn’t flinch. He got up, mounted the little stage, and took the microphone. Lucy was so proud.
“Thank you, Mayor. I’ll be brief. My family is thrilled for this opportunity. I will not enumerate all that we plan to do, but Lucy Mead, Will Garrett, and I are already hard at work making plans. Just one of the things I am excited about giving this town is the ballroom. It sustained water damage in 1968 and has not been used since.” He gave the audience that million dollar melting smile and cleared his throat. “That was before my time but it is my understanding that it was once quite the little venue for good times and bad behavior.” Much laughter. “I may never have danced there but I did fight a couple of wars up there with the help of my trusty plastic soldiers and my second in command, Missy Jackson Bragg.”
“Second?” Missy called. “Not how I remember it.”
Laughter rang out and as it died, Brantley let his smile go. “But I will dance there. I’m looking forward to it. When I left this town, I thought I’d never be back for more than a visit. Then my grandmother asked me to take on this project and, well . . .” He gestured to Miss Caroline. “You all know my grandmother. Have any of you ever told her no?” Everyone laughed and Miss Caroline blew Brantley a kiss. “Back at you, Big Mama,” Brantley said. “Right back.” After a pause, he continued. “I have an announcement to make. No one knows this except my grandmother, but I hope this is something that will be considered an asset to Merritt and I am counting on it being welcome news for those dear to me. I thought I would only be here a short while, but I have changed my mind. Once the Brantley Building is restored, I plan to reopen Kincaid Architectural Design and Restoration in Merritt—in my grandfather’s former office in the Brantley Building.”
Brantley met Lucy’s eyes and smiled. And she smiled back. Oh, what this meant! They did not have to be temporary. They still might not end up together, but they had a chance!
Brantley was finally ready to stop running.
If this had been a romance novel, this would be the end, the happily ever after, where the reader just knew all would be well—because they would have time, sweet time.
Her heart was so full.
Brantley began talking again. “I’d like to tell you all that I decided to stay in town because of my ties, my family, my friends, and the charm of Merritt that cannot be denied. Those things are factors, but they’ve always been factors.”
Brantley stepped off the stage and came toward her.
“Now there is a variable—one I did not see coming.” He took her hand. “I am staying because of this woman.”
What? Surely this could not be happening. And why was he kneeling at her feet?