Missy's Moment (The West Series Book 4) (15 page)

Sure, the town had gone through its ups and downs. There had been not one, but two tornadoes that had ripped through the area in the last fifty years. The first had taken his aunt, a woman he could only remember through pictures and through her daughters’ eyes. The second storm had almost taken his cousin Haley in the same way. He shivered when he remembered how close it had come. Then his thoughts turned to Missy. She hadn’t been in town for that storm since she’d been away at college, but that didn’t stop his mind from twisting and wondering what he would have done had it been her instead.

“Hi,” Missy said, standing right in front of him, and he realized he must have gotten lost in his thoughts. “Daydreaming?” She smiled.

He smiled and took her into his arms. “Hi.” He brushed his lips over hers. “Are you about done for the day?”

She nodded. “Want to do dinner?”

He smiled. “Maybe after some shopping. I closed today.”

“What?” She leaned back and looked at him. “I thought you were closing on Wednesday?”

He laughed. “It is Wednesday.”

She stopped and pulled out her phone from her back pocket and frowned down at it. “How did I miss a whole day?” She shook her head and smiled up at him. “Congratulations, home owner.” He enjoyed the kiss and hug she gave him right there in the waiting room.

“Thanks. I was hoping you’d help me out. I need some items and was going to swing through the antique store across the way.”

“Oh, I’d love to. I’m always making excuses to go in there. I just love looking at all the stuff they have. Let me get my stuff and clock out.” She kissed him again quickly and rushed towards the back.

He turned and saw the mother and girl smiling up at him.

“Congratulations,” the mother said. “I remember when we closed on our place five years ago.”

He nodded and sat back down.

“Where did you buy?” she asked after a moment.

“The old Jones place out on Old Airport Road, about five miles out of town.”

The woman looked at him and he could see something cross her eyes. “Good luck,” she said, just as Haley walked out.

“What kind of items are you looking for?” Melissa asked as they walked across the street holding hands.

He laughed. “Everything.”

Two hours later, he sat in an old recliner and listened to his stomach growl. Looking down, he frowned. “I know buddy. Who would have thought that she was a shopaholic?” He laughed when Missy hit him playfully on the shoulder.

“I’m almost done. Besides, we’ve gotten you some really good pieces.” She sat next to him. “What do you say to a home-cooked meal after this?”

“Sounds great.” His stomach chose that moment to growl even louder. “When? Where?”

“Mama’s, after I finish negotiating for the desk.” She nodded towards the roll-top he’d been eying since walking into the place.

“Fine. Think you can talk him down to two-fifty?”

She smiled. “Just sit back and watch the pro.”

Less than half an hour later, they sat in a booth at Mama’s and ordered dinner. He’d gotten a great deal on a couch, a beautiful oak headboard, a matching dresser and nightstand, and the roll top desk he’d been wanting. They would be delivered later that week along with a few other smaller items they had bought.

It was meatloaf night at Mama’s and everyone in town knew that Willard the chef cooked the best barbeque meatloaf around. Some said it was a recipe handed down from his family, others claimed it was one he’d made up himself. Whatever the origins, people crowded in when they drove through town and smelled the spices in the breeze.

They’d been lucky to get one of the last booths along the back in the newest section. Shortly after the tornado had gone through town, Jamella had expanded the small diner into what it was today. Now, instead of just a dozen tables, there were over twenty tables and booths. The new tile floors shined. Gone was the old ceiling that occasionally leaked during a heavy rainstorm. There was even a new jukebox in the back that played everyone’s favorite music.

The kitchen had been totally remodeled as well, or so everyone had heard. Mama’s was the only place in town to get a home-cooked meal and usually you bumped into someone you knew.

Ten minutes after they’d sat down, Holly walked in. She stopped in the doorway and looked around, waving at a few people. Then she spotted Melissa and Reece and rushed over to their table.

“Well, hello. Mind if I join you?” She didn’t wait for an answer and instead pushed Melissa lightly until she moved over.

“Sure,” Missy said, moving over a little more. “I haven’t seen you in a few days.”

“I received a shipment of new stock and have been buried in books.” She pulled out a book from her rather large bag, which she’d set next to her. “Speaking of which…” She handed it to Melissa.

“Oh! It came.” Melissa gripped the book and hugged it to her chest. Then she pulled it back and looked at it, stroked the cover, and smiled. “Look.” She turned it around and showed it to him.

All he could tell was that it was a new book. Its cover was bright and colorful.

“Nice,” he said, trying not to add too much sarcasm to his voice. Melissa heard it and smirked at him.

“It’s Holly’s book,” she said, looking down at it again.

“Holly?” He looked over at the small redhead, who looked like she was boiling over with joy.

Melissa nodded. “Yes, it’s the story of her father’s life.” She turned and he read the title,
S
erving Life
.

“Congratulations,” he said, looking closer. “I’ve never met an author before.”

Holly blushed. “It was nothing really. I just took some of my father’s journals and an old box of poetry of his and put it all together.”

“Whatever,” Missy said, playfully pushing her friend. “I know how many hours you put into this. Well, I’m not giving this copy back, and you’re going to sign it for me.” She hugged it again.

“That’s fine. I have a box full of them.” She giggled. “I can’t believe it.”

Just then, the waitress walked over.

“Do you happen to have any champagne?” Reece asked her.

“No, but we do have some sweet white wine.” She looked at the three of them.

“We’re celebrating Holly’s book.” Melissa held it up.

“Oh,” the waitress said, reaching down and hugging Holly. “Congrats, honey.” Then she shocked Reece by putting her fingers to her mouth and whistling. “Listen up, everyone. Holly’s new book is here.” She took the copy Melissa held up for her and raised it above her head. “I’m sure you can all get your copies first thing in the morning when Holly opens up. She’ll probably sign them if you’re nice enough.” Several people laughed.

Holly stayed and ate dinner with them. Several people stopped off at the booth and congratulated her. Reece really enjoyed watching how she handled everyone and realized he’d yet to make a stop at her bookstore.

It wasn’t as if he was a big reader. Growing up the way they had, there hadn’t been time for books. Ryan and he had done okay in school, but no one would have called them geniuses. Their father only tolerated them staying in school because it was the law. Once, he’d tried to pull them out for a full semester, but the school had called the truancy officers and someone had stopped by and set the old man straight.

After listening to Holly talk about some of the times her father had had during his tour in Vietnam, he began to think it was time he picked up a book again.

When he walked Missy home, he started to follow her in without invitation.

“Aren’t you going to head over to your new place?” She turned and put a hand on his chest, stopping him.

“No.” He looked down at her knowing exactly where he wanted to be. With her.

“You have to sleep at your new place the first night.”

“Why?” He wrapped his arms around her.

“Well, it’s bad luck or something.”

He chuckled. “I’d rather be here with you.”

“Hmm.” She bit her bottom lip, making his mouth water. “There must be a way.” She leaned back. “Do you have a sleeping bag?” He nodded, not liking where this was going. “Perfect. I’ll just go grab mine and we can swing by and get yours.” She stepped away.

“Wait.” He took her arm. “You’re willing to leave the comfort here and sleep on the floor of a place that probably doesn’t have power yet, just in case it’s bad luck that I don’t spend my first night at my new house?”

She nodded and laughed. “Sounds crazy, but I think we’ll have fun. Like camping.” She frowned. “My folks never really took us camping. My mother’s idea of camping is the Best Western.” She chuckled.

“Yet you own a sleeping bag?”

She laughed. “Still in its wrapper.” He laughed.

When they finally drove up to his new house, it was after dark. His truck lights lit up the front porch.

“I’d forgotten how cute this place is,” Melissa said, leaning forward to get a better look out the window.

He shrugged his shoulders, feeling a sense of pride come over him. This was all his. Sweat and blood. It had cost him more than he’d ever be able to count. He shut off his truck and just looked at it.

“See those lights over there.” Melissa pointed off to the left. He could see lights shining through a cluster of tall pines a couple hundred yards from them. “That’s the Douglas place.” She nodded to the right and he could see more lights about the same distance away. “That’s Jamella’s place.”

“Oh?” He looked closer. “I didn’t know she was going to be my neighbor.”

“She and the sheriff, now that they’re living together. Her and the sheriff now that their living together.” She leaned back and sighed. “This town still has its surprises. Like those two. No one knew that they'd been an item for years.”

“Well are we going to just sit here or are you going to show me in?” She reached around and grabbed her sleeping bag. “I brought you a surprise.” She held up a slick black bag.

“What?” he asked, eager to know what was in the bag. He was a sucker for surprises.

“Oh, no. You’ll just have to wait until after you give me a tour.”

He grabbed his sleeping bag and the large flashlight he’d had enough forethought to grab. When he unlocked the front door, he was rewarded when he flipped the light switch. Lights flooded the front living room.

This space was the one that he liked the least. He had plans to remove the wall between it and the dining room, making the two rooms into one that looked and felt bigger.

“Hmmm, maybe you can take out a wall?” Missy said, setting her sleeping bag down and stepping in.

“I’d thought the same thing. That wall there.” He pointed towards the dining room. “There’s no need for it.” Besides, it was covered in dark wood paneling that had to go.

He started to show her the kitchen but stopped when he noticed a large basket sitting on the bar area. They walked over together. Pulling out the card, he read out loud.

Reece,

Congratulations on your new house. We hope this gift will help turn it into the home of your dreams and make your first night here a little better.

p.s. I took the liberty of having all the utilities switched into your name.

--Alex, Grant, and Laura

“Family. Gotta love them.” She smiled at him and gave him a quick hug. “My brother thinks of everything.”

He looked into the basket and was happily surprised that there was a bottle of champagne, a plate of Alexis’s brownies, a small container of tools, and a roll of toilet paper,

“I just bet the tools are my brother’s doing.” She smiled. “The toilet paper is Alex’s.” He laughed because he’d thought the same thing.

They walked around the house, and he showed her around, room by room. They briefly stepped out on the back deck, which he knew needed some work as well. They gazed at the stars and enjoyed the sounds of the crickets and frogs.

“All in all, it’s a great place. Could use some new carpet, some paint to update the look.” She sighed and leaned against the railing.

He nodded. “It’ll do.” He reached over and pulled her close. “Now, what did you bring me?” He nodded towards the bag she’d set on the countertop next to the basket. He knew Alex’s brownies were good, but he was hoping for something else from Missy.