Counting on Starlight (19 page)

His voice grew soft. “I didn’t want to let you down. That’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.”

“I think we’ll go say hi to Chin Mae and Bert,” June said. She grasped the handles of the wheelchair and pushed it toward the house.

Liann stood fixed where she was. If Jake was leaving, she didn’t want to rake her heart over broken glass.

He stepped closer.

“So,” she heard herself asking, “you heard from Kansas Tech?”

He nodded, and she felt her heart splinter. “I got a letter. They said thanks, but no thanks.”

“You mean?”

“I’m staying here.”

No, her heart wasn’t splintering. “What about your job here in Starlight?”

“I’m still assistant coach, for now.”

“You’re not leaving, then?” He wasn’t going, and neither was she, so that meant...

He shook his head. “No, this is all of Maddie’s stuff. We’re moving her up to Colorado to be with Mom and Dad, where she ought to be. She’s been suspended for a week because of leaving campus without permission like that.... Starlight ISD is putting that on her record and sending it to Colorado. We’re actually leaving for Colorado now. I have some personal days I can take, and I plan to be back here in time for Friday night’s game.”

“I’m sure going to miss her.”

“So what about you? Are you going to Ventura?”

“No. I got all the way up there, heard their spiel, and realized I don’t want that anymore. I decided to stay here. I’ve grown partial to spinning flags and tossing rifles.” She stepped closer to him. “I’m also looking at going to grad school, to be an adolescent counselor.”             

A grin slid across his face. “You’re staying? Here?”

She nodded then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, not caring if anyone happened to glance out the window. “I’m not leaving, Jake. I want to be here, with you. That’s what I really want. To ride Patch and Misty, and get stranded, and go fishing, and find out more about Billy and Justine’s cottages. I want to dig for fossils and harvest honey and go through the Dairy Queen drive-through. And go to Austin for some really good shoe shopping.”

Jake pulled her into his arms, lifted her up and spun her around. “I think all that can be arranged.”

“Good, because I’m staying. You’re stuck with me,” she said as a laugh tickled her throat.

He kissed her. “Good, ’cause I’m not going anywhere either. Except to Colorado and back.”

Liann frowned. “I’m going to miss you. I feel like we have lost time to make up for.”              

“So come with me right now. Today.”

“To Colorado?”

“Of course. I could use a driver. It’s a good fourteen hours probably, longer with Maddie. Mom and Dad are along, too. I know they’ll enjoy getting to know you.”

“I’ll pack my bags now.” When Liann pulled away from him, he clamped onto her hand.

“Not so fast. One more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I love you, Liann Rivers. More than my job, more than any of this.” He kissed her one more time.

“I love you too, Jake Tucker.” She had come to Starlight, praying God would turn the mess she’d made into something beautiful. And so He had, for all of them.

Epilogue

“Guess who’s getting married?” Aunt Chin Mae marched into Liann’s apartment, waving a newspaper.

“Me! That’s who!” Liann felt like she’d reverted to a giggly teenager again, but when she looked at herself in the full-length mirror, she saw herself in a wedding gown. April, the perfect time for a wedding in Texas, with the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush gracing the fields outside with riots of color.

And downstairs, outside at the beautiful view of the west from her aunt and uncle’s property, rows of white chairs faced an outdoor altar underneath the ancient live oak. In less than fifteen minutes, Liann would head down the steps with her father, cross the parking lot and walk down an aisle of fresh grass to become Mrs. Jake Tucker.

“Not just you getting married, silly.” Aunt Chin Mae laughed. “Your old Matt. See?”

“I don’t care,” said Liann’s mother. “I’m finally getting to wear my mother-of-the-bride dress today.”

“Let me see.” Liann reached for the paper. She’d always wondered what happened to Matt. There he was, on the society page of the
Austin American-Statesman
. Matthew LeFleur set to wed  Christina McElvey on June 22nd. Ironic, almost a year to the day of what would have been their old wedding date. “‘The groom-to-be is the youth pastor at Grace Covenant Church. The bride-to-be is an physical education teacher in Austin Public Schools, as well as a piano player at Grace Covenant Church.’”

“What? Let me see that.” Tamarind, wearing her bridesmaid dress in a gorgeous shade of periwinkle, leaned over her shoulder. “I knew there was something fishy about him.”

Liann laughed at the irony. One of her last memories before everything caved in, was Matt wanting her to learn to play piano. Ancient history. All things were now made new. She shook her head and tossed the paper back to her aunt. “Can someone get me a damp cloth? I need to get this ink off my hands.” She silently wished Matt well then put him out of her mind forever.

“Right here,” said Justine,  removing a wipe from a package in her purse. “I’m well prepared.”

Maddie crossed the apartment with only the slightest of limps. “You’re so beautiful, Liann. I’m so glad I’m getting another sister.” She’d healed up and blossomed during her time in Colorado and had decided to let her mother homeschool her. Tim Rollins was working and finishing his senior year, preparing to enter the work force to help support his baby boy.

“Ladies, we need some bridesmaids lined up downstairs right now,” Billy called up the stairs.

“Guess that’s us!” Maddie went to grab her bouquet on the table.

“Okay, mother of the bride, too,” came Billy's voice again.

“That’s right,” Liann’s mother said. “I don’t want anyone to miss me in this dress.” Nobody would, not with all the sequins. “C’mon, Chin Mae. You can walk behind me.”

“I’m not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be in my seat” But Aunt Chin Mae trotted after Liann’s mother.

Liann was left with her four bridesmaids, Maddie, Justine, Tamarind, and Beth. “Ladies, thank you all for every way you’ve added to my life since I’ve moved to Starlight. I once thought it was one of the worst mistakes I’ve ever made, but now my life is full to overflowing.”

Maddie nodded. “Plus, you’ll have the best seats at the football games next fall, married to the head coach of Starlight High Yellowjackets.”

“Yes, I sure will, won’t I?” A laugh bubbled up inside her at Maddie's words. “But I’m not going to wear that hideous yellow shirt anymore.”

At that, the women laughed as Liann’s father climbed the stairs. “Baby girl, we’re ready to go now.” He looked distinguished in his tuxedo, and Liann wished now that California wasn’t so far away.

“Daddy, you never told me what you think of Jake.” She had no doubts in her heart about him.

“You did good, Li. You did good.”

With that, Liann placed her hand on her father’s arm and stepped downstairs into her new life.

THE END

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed another journey to Starlight, a sweet little town with lots going on in the heart of Texas, near Fort Hood. Starlight is a blend of all the cities and towns in the area, where in fall, high school football is king.
During August, the marching bands and football teams step up their game to give their towns a season they'll never forget. Rebecca's Kitchen is a real restaurant in Kempner, Texas, that serves delicious pie and good downhome country cooking.

Don't miss books one and three in the Lone Star Hearts series,
Catch A Falling Star
and
The Sweetheart of Starlight

Catch A Falling Star
is available here:
http://amzn.com/B018YEG77I

The Sweetheart of Starlight
is available here: http://amzn.com/B01A1BDRAC

Here's a sneak peek at book three,
The Sweetheart of Starlight
:

Prologue

August, Oklahoma City

Tamarind Brown could barely lift the trophy in all its electroplated glory, but she grinned anyway as digital cameras clicked and flashed in her direction. Sweat snaked a fresh trail down her back and along her temples. She surveyed the cheering crowd and allowed herself a moment under the great shining sun.
That's right
.
The title is
mine.
Mine!
If only Daddy had come to see this one. Three days, sweating over the smoker. Trying not to worry, praying as she coaxed tendrils of smoke from the apple wood to infuse the meat roasting on the rack above.

“Congratulations, Ms. Brown.” The emcee of the Great Southwest Barbecue Extravaganza handed her an envelope. Tamarind already knew what the check amount was inside. Enough for gas money home, and then some.

“Thanks, Bud.” She smiled at him as she shifted the ginormous trophy to her hip. Bud winked at her before she scanned the crowd again.
Sorry, Bud, you're old enough to be my dad.

Another smiling face in the crowd, though, made her pause. Rick Mantovani, grinning at her with those snappy dark eyes of his and applauding. He gave her a nod, then whistled through his fingers. Sure, he'd won in the pulled pork category, placed second in chicken. They'd chased each other throughout the Southwest this summer from one barbecue competition to the next. But no, she'd won the overall title with her beef barbecue points. She gave him a nod, complete with plenty of her own personal sauce.

Then the crowd swarmed after Bud declared the competition over, and Tamarind lost sight of Rick's Cheshire Cat expression. He'd probably hop the next flight back to New York. That thought alone almost made her quit smiling...just a little. Wasn't he going to tell her goodbye, at least? He mentioned something about shooting her an e-mail after they both returned to their respective homes, his in northern New Jersey and hers in central Texas.

Right. They both ran restaurants and had stolen the time this summer to sneak off to try their hands at competitive barbecue. Most likely she'd never see him again.

Tamarind made herself keep smiling. As some of her fellow competitors congratulated her, the sound of their voices garbled together, reminding Tamarind of the sound of the lunch crowd back at The Pit in Starlight. Home.

Chapter 1

Texas in February wasn't supposed to be this cold.

Rick shivered as he crossed the parking lot, dodging the occasional puddle as he did so. The wind's icy breath pressed on his coat and whipped the Texas flag that flew from the flag pole near the restaurant's entrance. A wisp of smoke rose behind the building. The scent of mesquite drifted in his direction.

He paused before going inside and glanced at the assortment of pickup trucks in the parking lot. Tamarind would probably flip if she knew he was here, and that he didn't tell her he was coming. It was easier this way, his explanation kept for the right time. Not on the phone, or e-mail. In person.

She had a nice place. A carefully screen-printed sign in lettering that looked much like brown logs tied together with rope to form the letters, THE PIT, with a subtitle in flowing script: Barbecue And More. The script was a little bit of sass along with the rustic words. The contrast made him smile.

Rick pulled open the glass door, which stuck a little. The last of the breakfast aromas inside struck him—ham, eggs, toast, with the unmistakable underlying notes of freshly brewed coffee.

The other diners looked up. Rick nodded an apology for the swirl of cold air that followed him inside. The main dining area was a combination of the typical vinyl booths at the perimeter of the room with blocks of tables filling the center of the room.

Too bad Tamarind's prize money wasn't enough to replace her old cushioned, vinyl upholstered booths. Rick knew the pressure of keeping costs down and customers coming into the restaurant. His restaurants might be nearly sixteen-hundred miles away, but he faced the same obstacles. Yet business was good for him, even in the tough economy.

“Seat yourself wherever you can find a spot,” called out a cheerful server from where she stood at the cash register not ten paces away.

“Thanks.” He ignored the curious looks and found a spot in a corner booth. As he sat down, he ran his right hand across the surface of the table. Clean. His stomach rumbled.
Patience. You'll be full soon enough...and then some.
He looked at his phone before setting it on the table. Just after eleven. Early enough to get some lunch. Or brunch, if he wanted to get technical about it.

Rick pulled a menu from the holder. The front displayed the same logo from the sign outside. He was tempted to order breakfast, but what he really wanted to get to was the barbecue.