Home on Apple Blossom Road (Life in Icicle Falls) (23 page)

Mia was well worth watching. She was still wearing a short denim skirt and it showed off her legs. She wiggled her butt, did a couple of kicks and a fancy turn, right in sync with everyone else as if she’d been dancing that particular dance forever instead of learning it on the fly. Man, she was cute.

The guy who’d positioned himself next to her thought so, too. He was a big beefy guy with a snake tattooed on his arm. He grinned down at Mia, and Colin frowned. Then he put his hands on her waist and tried to turn the dance into a couple’s affair.

That was it, no more sitting and watching. Colin left his drink and quickly got out on the floor, just as a twirl separated Mia from her erstwhile partner, managing to insert himself between her and the slab of cement with legs.

“Hey, pal, what do you think you’re doing?” the guy demanded as they all grape-vined three steps to the right.

“Dancing with my girlfriend,” Colin said, trying to master that butt-shaking kick thing.

“I didn’t see her out here with you,” said the guy, and gave Colin a shove.

He was in the middle of a turn, and the shove sent him spinning. Great. He’d invented a new step, the turkey shuffle. He was vaguely aware of Mia saying, “Hey, don’t you be doing that.”

He righted himself just in time to see her kick the guy in the shin. Wow. She’d come a long way from the timid kid she’d once been.

She left the dance line and came over to Colin. “Let’s dance.”

He was about to spin her into a classic swing step when the oversize pest limped past, using a very ungentlemanly term about Mia.

Okay, nobody talked to a woman like that, especially a sweet woman like Mia. Colin grabbed him by the arm. “What did you say?”

“You heard me,” the guy growled and shook off his arm.

Colin grabbed it again. “You apologize to the lady.”

“The hell I will,” said the mountain.

“You’d better if you don’t want to wind up eating your teeth,” Colin snarled. He worked out at the gym. He could take this guy.

If he could keep his balance. The mountain gave him another shove, sending him into a dancer behind him. “Hey, watch it!” The guy shoved Colin back to the mountain, who was ready for him.

Next thing Colin knew, he was swinging wildly, hoping to connect with the big ugly’s jaw, and Bill Will had entered the fray, along with the dancer Colin had crashed into. Then Andy was in there, risking life and limb and glasses. Fists were flying and so were a couple of beer bottles, and then someone even bigger than the mountain had Colin by the shirt collar and was reminding him where the front door was. And Mia was running along behind, protesting that Colin hadn’t started it.

“We don’t care who starts it,” said the bouncer. “Our job’s to finish it.”

Finish it they did, with all three couples, as well as the mountain and a few other brawlers, suddenly out in the cold.

“Dude, that was fun,” Bill Will said as the mountain stomped off to his truck.

“I was so worried you’d get hurt,” Andy’s little brunette said, clutching his arm.

“It takes more than a punch or two to hurt me,” Andy said, puffing out his chest. His glasses were bent and his hair was sticking out in all directions, but he was smiling. This was probably the most excitement he’d had in years and, judging by the way his date was looking at him, there’d be more excitement to come.

“Hey, let’s all head over to Zelda’s,” Bill Will suggested.

That could go on all night. Colin had wanted to dance with Mia, get a chance to hold her in his arms. At the rate the evening was going,
that
wouldn’t happen. “Another time, guys,” he said. “Thanks for jumping in back there,” he added, and gave both his old pals a parting bro hug.

“Anytime,” Andy said, making the most of his moment of macho.

“So what was all that about?” Mia asked as they walked to the car. “Don’t tell me you were jealous.”

“What do you think?”

“I think some things never change.” Her smile wasn’t quite so teasing.

He didn’t want an argument about their past coming between them, not tonight. He decided to give it the boot. “I guess I was always a little crazy where you were concerned. And stupid,” he added before she could say it. “I’m over being stupid.” She was leaning against the car now, looking up at him. He put his arms around her. “We never did get to dance.”

“We were kind of busy.”

“Yeah, but I really wanted to dance with you.” He opened the car door, reached inside and turned on the radio. Sam Smith was singing “Stay With Me.” Colin held out a hand. “How about a dance right now?”

She let him draw her against him and they started swaying. Someone left the Red Barn and the music leached out the open doors. The band was singing “Love You Like That,” and suddenly lyrics about love were all around them. “You still feel so good in my arms,” he whispered and tightened his hold.

* * *

What would have happened, Mia wondered, if she’d flown back to Icicle Falls all those years ago and refused to leave until they had everything ironed out between them?

Never mind that. She had
now
, and now was what mattered. She slipped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. With every step, every breath that ruffled her hair, the connection grew stronger, along with the pull to forget about career success and come home. And yet she’d worked so hard for it. She needed it, needed to finish what she’d started. Surely Colin would relocate for a few years.

She decided not to bring up the subject. Tonight was perfect. Why risk ruining it?

The dance ended and, for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. She was sure she’d felt the brush of his lips at her temple. Instead, he whispered, “Let’s go.”

They didn’t go home, though. The car seemed to have a mind of its own, taking them to Memory Lane, that little road hidden from the world. Colin turned off the engine and faced her. He reached out a hand and played with a lock of her hair. “I want to make it work this time.”

So did she. She almost said it. Almost. But first they needed to get something straight once and for all. “You know why it didn’t work last time. You didn’t trust me. I never cheated on you with Arthur. Never. And the only reason I wound up with him was because, well, he hung in there and you didn’t.”

“I was a fool,” he said.

“In the end, though, I couldn’t marry him. I guess it was like with you and Lorelei. We weren’t a fit.” His hand slid down to her neck, gently brushing her skin.
Ooh, do that some more.

“It’s always been you,” he said. “I’ve tried to find someone else. What a waste of time. I’m tired of wasting my time, Mia. Tired of wasting my life. I want to get things right. I want to do something worthwhile, and I want to do it with you.”

He was already coaxing her toward him for a kiss but his words stopped her. “What exactly do you mean by that?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean?”

“How do we make that work?” Did she give up her job and come home an almost-success and hope that was good enough?

“We’ll find a way,” he said, and kissed her.

She closed her eyes and tried to imagine what their life would be like. All she could see was his father’s disapproving face.

* * *

The next day the family, with the exception of Dylan, went to church. More people wanted to hug and commiserate. Some simply wanted to make sure they had the inside scoop on what was going on with the Wrights.

“Colin, you rascal, we haven’t seen you at church in ages. I hope you’re not planning on following in your father’s footsteps,” said Hildy Johnson. “It’s important to stay connected to the Lord.”

“Yeah, but probably not with some of his followers,” Colin said, and it was all Mia could do not to snicker. Hildy was one of those sheep that only the Good Shepherd could love. People had been hoping for years that she’d get lost, but she showed up every Sunday.

She turned her attention to Mia. “And Mia, it’s been far too long since we’ve seen you. Your aunt told me you got a promotion. I guess you’ll never come back to Icicle Falls now.”

Mia was aware of Colin’s gaze and the question behind it.
Will you?

“I could have moved,” Hildy continued. “Thought about going to art school in Seattle after high school. I’ve always had quite a flair for art.” She shook her head, making the slack skin at her chin wiggle. “But you know what they say, love comes in the door and a woman’s plans go out the window. So here I am, my talent wasted. But Nils couldn’t live without me.” She lowered her voice. “I swear, if he didn’t have me, that man would put his pants on the wrong way. Ah, well, men will gobble up your life like an anteater gobbles up ants.” She gave Colin’s cheek a playful pat. “So beware.”

“Is there a right way to put on your pants?” Colin whispered when Hildy turned to talk to Aunt Beth, negotiating for a discount on a coat she wanted let out.

“I guess so,” Mia replied. Poor Nils. He had to be the most henpecked man in Icicle Falls.

“Maybe while she’s at it, Aunt Beth could sew the old bat’s mouth shut,” Colin muttered.

Hildy did have a gift for irritating people, but Mia suspected there was some truth in what she’d said. Perhaps it didn’t matter if plans went out the window. Perhaps, no matter what she planned, it wouldn’t ever be good enough.

The ushers finally herded the congregation into the sanctuary, where they settled in and started singing their first hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.” Mia knew the words. She wished she meant them.

She found it difficult to concentrate on the sermon. It was too hard to keep her thoughts in the present when they kept wandering into the future.

After church there was more visiting to be done, more people wanting all the latest on Colin and Mia’s lives, as well as speculation over what they’d find on their treasure hunt, which was the talk of the town.

“I think this is why Dad doesn’t like to come to church,” Colin said as they left. “He’d be fine with God if His people weren’t such a pain in the ass.”

“They’re not all bad. Most people ask about you because they genuinely care.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he said and placed an arm around her. “As usual,” he added with a grin.

Bailey called Mia at Beth’s just as the family was walking in the door from church. “You’re still in town.”

“I am,” Mia said.

“I’m sure you’re getting ready for a big family dinner, then. I have to go over to Mom’s in a little bit, but I thought we could have a quick latte first. The shop’s closed on Sundays and Todd’s over doing some stuff at the Man Cave, so I actually have some time to breathe. I’d love to see you.”

“Same here,” Mia said. It had been far too long since she’d hung out with old friends.

“Go ahead,” Aunt Beth encouraged her. “Dinner’s a couple hours away.”

“Looks like I can make that work,” she said to Bailey. “I’ll see you at Bavarian Brews.”

“I’ve got a better idea. Come by the tea shop and I’ll show you around.”

Ten minutes later Mia was walking up the steps of the old Victorian that housed Tea Time, Bailey’s teashop and tearoom. Bailey was waiting to let her in and swung the door open with a flourish. “Welcome to my kingdom of tea.”

“It’s adorable,” Mia said, taking in the tables with their linen tablecloths and bone-china settings, the lace curtains at the window and the shelves displaying chintz teapots and saucers.

“As you can see,” Bailey said, leading her into the shop area, “we carry Sweet Dreams chocolates.” She pointed to a shelf filled with glass Mason jars containing loose tea, all tied with lavender ribbons. “I’m making a lot of my own tea now. The chocolate mint is a big seller.” She pulled one off the shelf and gave it to Mia. “A little welcome-home present.”

“Really? Thanks.”

“I have ulterior motives,” Bailey said with a grin. “Give people a sample and they’re hooked. Once you’ve tried this, I’ll have you for life. Come on upstairs. I’ve got our lattes ready.”

She led the way up a wooden staircase with a carved banister. The top landing had a little sitting room with a love seat, coffee table and a couple of chairs. Two large, steaming mugs sat on the coffee table, along with a plate of cookies.

“This is so cute,” Mia said, looking at the bookcase with its candles and a wedding photo of Bailey, the old Tiffany-style lamp. “Is this extra seating?”

“Extra seating for Todd and me. We live up here.” She handed Mia a mug. “I assume you still like white-chocolate lattes with extra foam.”

“Oh, yes.” Mia took the mug and glanced around. “It’s cozy.”

“It’ll do for now. We have our master bedroom in the back, and we use the second bedroom as an office. The third one’s going to be the nursery,” she added with a sly grin.

“You
are
pregnant! I wondered.”

Bailey patted the bulge under her top. “I am.”

Mia leaned over and hugged her. “I’m so happy for you.”

“We’re excited. I wasn’t in a hurry to get pregnant, you know. I mean, I’ve been having so much fun with the tearoom. And between that and the Man Cave, we’ve been superbusy. But I’m ready for a new challenge. And a baby Todd, what’s not to like about that?”

“So you know what it is?”

“We’re pretty sure it’s a boy.”

“Wow. I bet your mom’s excited,” Mia said, trying to ignore the little stab of jealousy. Was she ever going to have a baby bump? She shoved away the thought. Who invited her biological clock to this party, anyway?

“Oh, yeah. She’s totally into the grandkid thing. And between Samantha and Cecily’s kids, our baby will have lots of cousins to play with.” Bailey took a cookie, then slid the plate closer to Mia, who managed to resist the temptation. Barely. “Enough about me. Tell me about you. How’s the job?”

“Great. We’re marketing a new product and I’m in charge of the campaign.”

“You’ll probably be president of the company someday.” Bailey picked up the plate and held it in front of Mia. “Come on, you know you want one.”

“Or course I do, but I have to say no to
something
. Aunt Beth is stuffing me full of goodies.”

“Okay, I’ll have to eat yours. I’m eating for two now.”