Simple Gone South

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?

“Lucy Mead is a treasure beyond measure, though I think you all knew that before I did.”

Hell and double hell. People were on their feet applauding and catcalling. Out of the corner of her eye, Lucy saw her three best friends clutching about each other and crying.

Yet, she still did not know what was going on until he said, “Lucy Mead, please do me the honor of becoming my wife.”

And suddenly she was on a carousel spinning out of control. Oh, it was pretty. Tempting even, but wrong because it was going to overturn and crash any second. Faces swirled around her. Miss Caroline, Charles, Missy, Lanie, Tolly, but most of all Brantley. He was smiling and so sure.

Then it occurred to her that it must be a joke. They must be filming a reality show and she was being taped for her reaction.

But Brantley reached into his pocket and pulled out a platinum ring with a diamond as big as a grape. And then there were the other diamonds around it.

That’s when she knew it was no joke. That ring had not come from some reality show prop room. It had not come from the mall, or even Reed’s Jewelry. It had come from someone’s jewelry chest or safe deposit box. And she knew whose.

What if she let him put it on her hand? What if she married him? Had his babies, lived and loved him for the rest of her life? Wasn’t that what she wanted, what she had wanted since that fifteenth summer when she learned about love and heartbreak and he learned about grief?

Love. Grief. Those were the keys. He had not said one word about loving her. He needed her as a crutch for his grief. That was clear. And staying in Merritt was not a sign that he was ready to stop running. This was just another way to run, to hide.

The carousel spun faster and faster and faster. Out of control.

This was no romance novel; it was a horror story.

Lucy jumped to her feet and ran.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lucy was in the Merritt High School parking lot before she remembered that she had no car and no way home. Lanie had picked her up before the parade and Brantley had brought her here. It was too far to walk, and public transportation in Merritt amounted to calling family or friends.

She might have called Annelle, but she was on her way to Charleston. Calling any of her friends was out of the question. That was the last thing she wanted. She had to get out of here, though. They’d be hot on her trail in no time.