Simple Gone South

Lucy.”

She didn’t look much happier. “I see.”

Oh, hell, no. Rita May was one thing. She deserved to be disliked; she got up in the morning begging for it. But Lucy was another. “I thought you liked Lucy,” he said coldly.

She looked up, shocked. “Like Lucy? My darling, I love Lucy. So does your father. We adore her. It’s just that it’s been such a short time. Are you sure?”

“Not so short,” he said. “I know we haven’t been strictly involved long, but we’ve known each other since we were kids. It’s not like I met her last month.”

Caroline was nodding now, getting some of her color back. “And Lucy is open to this? You aren’t rushing her?”

Rushing her? “No. I know my mind and I know Lucy’s.”

He was on the verge of asking if he was getting a ring or wasn’t he? Though it wasn’t really a question of getting a ring. Because he was getting a ring. Today. Asa Reed would sell him any ring he wanted without all these questions. He just wasn’t sure if he was getting a family ring. And if Caroline couldn’t be on board one hundred percent, he didn’t want one.

“Well, all right then,” she said. “As long as you are both sure. That said, I cannot begin to tell you how happy this makes me.” And she did look happy. Finally. She leaned over to embrace him. “And I know Charles will feel the same. Of course, you will have any ring you want, save the one on my finger. And that will come soon enough.” She held out her hand where she still wore the engagement and wedding rings that Papa had given her.

“Not soon,” Brantley said. “You’re going to be around a long time. And,” he said slowly, “I am going to be here with you. In Merritt. When the Brantley Building is finished, I will have to set up my office, of course. I’ll need a place. I know you said you were going to use Papa’s old office, but I thought—”

And she began to cry. “No. I don’t need an office. I never needed an office. Of course, you will have it. Brantley, this is just the best Christmas gift anyone could have given me. Lucy, you staying here, the office . . . oh, and the wedding!”

Okay. Enough. “First things first,” he said. “About that ring . . .”

She wiped her tears and looked thoughtful. “Yes. About that. Brantley, have you thought of—”

Oh, what now? “Of what?”

“Have you thought of your mother’s rings?”

Oh, damn. Oh, hell. Did not see that coming. His heart began to race and his head spun. Sweating now. Breathe. Didn’t see it coming at all.

And Big Mama wasn’t seeing it. “Eva had such lovely rings. I don’t know if you ever paid much attention. Charles bought the antique Edwardian setting and had it set with the rubies and diamonds.” She went on talking about rose gold, the quality of the stones, Lucy’s taste, and how pleased Charles would be.

And he went on sweating. Deep breaths. Chills and heat.

And there was no Lucy here to save him, to calm him, to make him not crazy.

Breathe. Pretend it’s not happening. Show it who’s boss.

Finally, he found his voice. “I had really thought a diamond ring. Not colored stones.” Surely, there was a ring like that in that stash.

Big Mama smiled brightly. “Then let’s go to the bank. Just let me get my key to the safe deposit box.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lucy smoothed her green velvet tunic and found her assigned place in the parade lineup. Besides the three of them, Lanie had drafted ten others to give out the candy; they were to march at staggered intervals along the parade route and hand the lollipops directly to the children, one per child. They were also to skip and smile. If they could kick up their toes and ring the bells on their shoes, that would be even better.

Lanie had allowed Missy to make the rules and instruct the volunteers. Lanie had, however, denied her a bullhorn.

Lucy practiced a little skip step and put a bell ringing motion in it. Not bad. Now with the other foot.

Strong arms caught her from behind. “How about a little elven magic?”

And that warm caramel voice poured over her, melting her into nothing. And nothing would be what she’d be left with next year. She had given up trying to protect herself, had decided that Christmas was magic, and she was just going to let the magic happen. Determined to not let thoughts of next year ruin this year, she turned in his arms.

“What have you been up to today?” She hadn’t heard from him since early this morning, when he’d woken her with his tongue applied just so . . .

“Oh, this and that.” He whistled a little and turned his face up, pretending to study the night sky.

That probably meant he’d been shopping for a Christmas gift for her. In addition to the photo album she’d made for him, she had found a set of antique drafting tools. They would look neat hanging on the wall, if he ever settled down.

“This and that? You’ve been busy.” She toyed with a button on his shirt. “I might have expected this or that. Never both.”

He laughed. “See, here’s the trick. Schedule it in your DayRunner and it happens. I’ve been trying to tell you.”

“Brantley!” Missy was barreling toward them with a clipboard in hand and the bell on her pointed elf hat ringing. “Let her go! It’s time for the parade to start. Get up there on that sidewalk!” And she ran past, no doubt, to lay down the law to the rest of the elves.

“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