A Savannah Christmas Wish
She nodded, not opening the door any farther.
He rolled his eyes.
Back when she was a stupid teenager, his deep brown eyes had filled her dreams. She used to scribble his name all over her notebook and practiced writing Bess Forester.
“Will you let me in?” Irritation filled his voice.
She huffed out a sigh, opening the door. He walked by and she caught a whiff of his sandalwood scent. Her stomach clenched. He’d worn the same cologne ten years ago.
“Want something to drink?” She tugged on her tank top, wishing she wasn’t wearing her oldest and rattiest clothes. “I might have a couple of beers.”
Daniel rubbed his head, as if he had to think about this.
“If we have a beer together, I’m not going to rip off your clothes.” That had taken her a lot more beers ten years ago.
He frowned, as though he could hear her thoughts. “I guess a beer would be okay.”
She pointed to her balcony. “Grab a chair.”
“I don’t know how you live in this jungle.” Daniel waved a hand at her lush flowers and plants. “Are you sure they won’t attack?”
“They might.” And if there was justice in the world, they’d attack him. Unfortunately, ten years too late. “If I were you, I wouldn’t sit too close.”
He raised a blond eyebrow but headed outside.
On the way to the kitchen, she swept up the newspaper spread over the coffee table and shoved it into the recycling bin. The place wasn’t filthy. She rubbed her neck. It was sloppy, just like her outfit.
Who cared? This was Daniel. The only time he’d been attracted to her was when he’d been drunk.
Since that night ten years ago, she’d never seen him drunk. Never seen him lose control. Who could live that way?
She popped the caps off two beers and took a deep swallow of liquid courage.
Why was he here? For ten years they’d made avoiding each other an art form. As close as their families were, if she knew Daniel was going to be around, she kept her distance. Up until that night ten years ago, she’d followed him around as if she were a drooling puppy. Her face flamed. Her crush had been painful. When he’d worked with his father at Fitzgerald House, she’d used any excuse to hang around him.
He’d just thought she was a kid.
The bottles clanked as she headed to her balcony.
His long legs filled her lounge chair.
He took the beer. “Southbound. My favorite.”
Of course it was his favorite. Now she’d have to find another brand.
“Cheers.” He raised his bottle.
She didn’t clink her bottle with his. Taking a gulp, she smacked the bottle down on the glass table sitting between their chairs. “What do you want?”
“Jesus, Bessie, can’t we be civil?” Daniel pushed sun-bleached hair off his forehead.
She remembered how silky those strands of hair felt between her fingers. “When I look at you, I don’t feel particularly civilized.”
One golden eyebrow arched up.
“So is this visit about my rent?” She took another gulp and choked. “What kind of increase will I be looking at in October?”
Bess hoped not much. Without her King’s Gardens income, she’d have to economize. No more new orchids.
Daniel picked at the bottle label with his thumbnail. “I’m not here about rent.”
“So there’s no increase this year?” What a relief.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “We couldn’t figure out another way to do this.”
She frowned. “Do what?”
“Finance the Carleton House work.” He leaned forward. “We’re turning these apartments into condominiums.”
“Condos?” She dropped her feet to the floor.
“The market’s hot. Ask your future brother-in-law.”
She didn’t need to ask Abby’s fiancé, Gray, about the market. She knew real estate prices were going back up.
“I’m sorry.” Daniel swung his legs over the side of the chair, brushing hers. “We’re not renewing your lease. I...my parents wanted me to warn you.”
“This is my home.” She waved a hand, almost clipping his jaw. “I’ve lived here for four years. I helped your dad paint every apartment.”
“I know.” He held up his hands. “We need the cash.”
“Get Gray to put up more money.” She threw both hands in the air, knocking his arm.
His lips formed a straight line. “We can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” She couldn’t deal with this on top of losing her job. And to have Daniel come here and...and announce she was losing her home was wrong.
“This is my place.” Her sanctuary. “The light in the apartment is perfect for my orchids. Where will I find fifteen-foot ceilings?”
“Slow down.”
“No!” This day had gone from bad to heading for the Dumpster. Her fingers clenched into tight balls of fury.
He stood. “I’m sorry.”
She jumped up, not willing to have him tower over her. “Let me stay.”
“We can’t.”
“How about a...a contract for deed.” She could pay them over time.
“We can’t. This is for Carleton House. For your family.” Pity filled Daniel’s eyes. “We need you out by September thirtieth.”
“The thirtieth?” she squeaked.
He stared at her fists. The idiot backed up, holding his hand in front of his face.
“Oh, good Lord, I won’t break your nose.” She threw her hands in the air.
“Are you sure?” Daniel took another step back and stumbled over the lounge chair. “You’ve broken it before.”
“I was seventeen.” And he’d just told her that sleeping with her had been the biggest mistake of his life. “It wasn’t on purpose.”
“I’ve never been sure it was an accident.”
She glared at him. “We’re not talking about that night. Ever.”
CHAPTER TWO
I love to smell flowers in the dark... You get hold of their soul then.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
BESS ALMOST TRIPPED on the uneven sidewalk.
It had been four days since Daniel, the villain, had said he was kicking her out of her home. Okay—not fair. They were selling her apartment. An hour ago he’d called and said he had the asking price. They were meeting at Becca’s Coffee Shop.
Didn’t Daniel remember what had happened here? Ten years ago, this had been Dora’s Café. Bess had run into Daniel here and he’d looked so sad, she’d been determined to cheer him up. Even though he’d been in college, she’d invited him to a party on Tybee.
He’d been hers for exactly six hours. Six wonderful hours until midnight. Then, after losing her virginity, the magic had disappeared. Daniel had been appalled that they’d had sex. He’d left her broken and rejected.
His words echoed in her head. I can’t believe I lost control. This should never have happened. It won’t happen again.
Even after his rejection, the next weekend she’d driven to Georgia Tech, hoping to convince him that they could be together.
Daniel had humiliated her. He’d accused her of getting him drunk. She was the reason he’d been out of control. Because of her pushing, they’d slept together. When he was around her, he lost sight of right from wrong.
That four-hour drive back to Savannah had been the worst time of her life.
Bess shook her head, shook away the past. Was Daniel really so cruel that he wouldn’t recognize where the worst night of her life had started?
The door jangled as she entered. After buying a cup of tea, she found an open table.
Daniel walked in wearing a Braves ball cap, and T-shirt and jeans that outlined the muscles he’d developed since the last time she’d touched him. It wasn’t fair that he was the hottest man in the coffee shop.
He nodded and headed to the counter.
Anger bubbled up inside her like a boiling kettle. She shoved it away. All she wanted was the price of her apartment. Then she’d leave.
After getting a glass of something cold, he headed to her table. “Hey, Bess.”
“How much are you asking for my apartment?” Her mouth almost puckered from the bitter words.
“I’m fine.” Daniel glared. “Thanks for asking.”
“Neither of us can stand to be in the same room for more than five minutes.” She flipped her braid down her back. “Especially not here.”
“What are you talking about?” He truly looked puzzled.
“You’ve forgotten?” Typical.
“Forgotten what?”
“This used to be Dora’s.” She pressed her lips together. “The night I invited you to the party.”
His mouth dropped open. “I forgot. I would never...”
She let out a shaky sigh. A least Daniel hadn’t picked the spot on purpose.
She waved a hand. “What’s the asking price?”
He pulled out a flyer and slid it across the table.
She skipped through the pictures and legalese, searching for the third-floor unit price. Her heart nearly stopped. “Two hundred and fifty thousand?”
He nodded. “We kept it low based on the comps in the area.”
Low? Her hand shook. The amount sounded insurmountable. “Can I keep this?”
“Sure. It’s the mock-up.” He reached for her fist but jerked his hand away as if she were poison oak.
Her teeth ground together. “You think I can’t qualify for a mortgage.”
“I guess...” He blinked. “You and your sisters have so much cash tied up in Fitzgerald House.”
“I make a good living.” But she didn’t. Acid burned in her gut. Her job was finished in a week and a half.
“I can ask around for available apartments,” he offered.
“No, thanks.” Now that she knew the asking price, she’d contact mortgage companies.
“You could move in with Abby,” Daniel suggested, taking a sip of his tea.
Bess wanted her own space. “I’ll figure it out.”
Daniel flashed his endearing crooked smile.
Her heart beat faster. Didn’t her darn body understand that one smile from Daniel could never erase the scars from his rejections?
“Can I keep renting after September thirtieth?” Until she figured out a way to buy her apartment.
Daniel set his glass down and drew circles in the condensation. He nodded before he answered. “Sure. But you need to move your plants so we can show the place.”
“Move my plants?” An ache grew in her chest. “But I babysit a lot of those orchids.”
“What?” Daniel’s brow furrowed.
“People hire me to care for their orchids.” She leaned forward. “When they flower, I send them back.”
“I...” He pushed back his ball cap. “I’ve never heard of anything like that.”
“It’s better than throwing away a valuable plant.” She straightened her shoulders. She hated people tossing perfectly good orchids. “It’s easy money.”
He grinned again. This one probably had panties dropping throughout the café.
Not hers. Never again.
“That’s—clever.”
“Thanks.” Warmth from his compliment swelled in her chest. She was pitiful. He was taking away her home and a stupid compliment made her insides wiggle like jelly.
“They’re beautiful, but it looks like a jungle.” He wagged his finger. “They have to go.”
“Okay.” She rubbed between her eyes. “Maybe they’ll fit in the B and B’s sunroom.”
“You’d have to keep the apartment picked up,” he warned.
“Sure.”
“I’ll help you move your stuff.”
Wasn’t that the story of her messed-up relationship with Daniel—first he broke her heart. Then he offered to help.
“Can I wait until after Mamma’s wedding?”
She didn’t want anyone to know about her troubles.
“I can help you move stuff on Sunday.”
Rush me, much? “In the afternoon. Late afternoon. There’s a family brunch on Sunday.”
“That works.”
She sighed. Now she needed to meet with her sisters and confess she’d lost her job and her home.
* * *
“THE ARBOR LOOKS SPECTACULAR.” Dolley stood under Bess’s ladder. “You, not so much. Get dressed. Now.” Her sister already wore her yellow chiffon halter dress.
Bess tugged the tulle until it draped down the side of the arbor. Climbing down, she took a few steps back. Then glanced over at her sister. “You look fantastic.”
Dolley twirled and the skirt flared out. “You will, too, once you’re dressed.”
“Is Mamma ready?” Bess looked at her watch. Lord, she needed to check the ballroom.
“She’s getting her hair done.” Dolley waved her off. “Go.”
Bess took the Fitzgerald carriage-house steps two at a time. She tore off her shorts and T-shirt and hopped in the shower. After scrubbing, she washed her hair and shaved, slowing down so she didn’t nick her ankles.
With a towel wrapped around her hair, she slapped Abby’s lemon verbena lotion on her legs and arms. Then she blew her hair dry. She grabbed a handful of her strawberry-blonde curls. What do I do with this mop?
Instead of making a decision, she dashed on makeup. Then she pulled on a strapless bra and underwear, wishing she’d picked a dress with straps.
“Are you ready?” Dolley called out from the living room.
“Everything but my hair.”
Her sister leaned against the bathroom doorway. “You might want to put on clothes, too.”
“My shorts?” Bess joked.
“No.” Her sister moved behind her. “Let’s put your hair up.”
“Or I could leave it down.”
Dolley grabbed a brush and binder, and tugged it through Bess’s hair. “No, up. You have a nice neck and you’re almost tan.”
“You mean my freckles are blending together.” It was the best they could hope for in a family of redheads.
Dolley pinned and hummed, spraying Bess’s hair with more hair spray than she’d used in a year. Then she pulled out sections of hair and curled them.
“Is Abby ready?” Bess craned her neck to see what Dolley was doing.
“Stop moving, and yes. She’s in the kitchen, but she’s dressed.”
“I have to check how Molly’s doing in the ballroom.” Bess tapped the counter. “Are you done?”
“Almost. Jeez.” Dolley wrapped another strand of hair around the curling iron.
“I don’t have to look great. It’s Mamma’s day.”
“It won’t hurt you to dress up. There might be good-looking men at the wedding.”
Daniel would be attending. Bess swallowed. Maybe the dress would make him see what he’d tossed aside. It would be nice to have him regret what had happened between them.
Dolley stepped away and handed her a mirror. “I’m awesome.”
Bess blinked. Her hair was all gentle swirls and soft curls around her face. “It’s...amazing.”
“I’m a genius. Hang on.” Dolley pushed her back onto the vanity chair. She rummaged in Bess’s makeup bag. “Don’t you own eyeliner?”
“No.”
Dolley pulled open Abby’s perfectly organized makeup drawer. “Close your eyes.”
“Eyeliner makes me look like a raccoon.” But Bess closed her eyes.
“Sit still.” Dolley worked on her eyes, adding more eye shadow along with the liner. “There.”
Bess blinked, worried she would cry and muss Dolley’s work. “I look...” Like someone else. Her eyes were bigger, greener. “I bow to your superior hair and makeup skills.”
“You should.” Dolley hit her hair with another spritz of hair spray. “Get dressed.”
Bess pulled on a chiffon dress similar to the ones her sisters wore. Abby and Dolley had convinced her to wear the strapless design. Slipping on sparkly heels, she tugged on the short skirt. “Well?”
Dolley whistled. “You’re hot. Let’s go help Mamma.”
They headed to the Mamie Eisenhower room in the main house. Bess knocked.
Abby, wearing the same yellow dress but with straps, opened the door. “Finally. Come see how pretty Mamma looks.”
Mamma’s golden-red hair gleamed and her blue eyes sparkled. The worry from years of struggling with Fitzgerald House no longer marred her beautiful face. Her tea-length ivory dress with a full skirt made her look so young.
Bess pinned a spray of white dendrobium orchids on the side of Mamma’s hair. “You’re gorgeous.”
“I feel foolish.” Mamma twisted her hands until Bess caught one and held it. “We should have gone to the courthouse and skipped the folderol.”
“Absolutely not,” Dolley protested. “Martin better be good to you, or he’ll answer to us.”
“He’s very good to me.” Her mother blushed. “But at my age, I shouldn’t be planning such a wingding.”
“Nonsense, you have daughters in the business.” Bess kissed her cheek. “I need to check the ballroom.”
“Wait.” Abby popped the cork on a champagne bottle. “We’re celebrating before everything gets crazy.”
Bess held glasses while Abby poured. Dolley moved around the room, taking pictures of the bride.
“Is that a new camera?” Abby tried to hand Dolley a glass.
“I bought it on eBay for a steal.” She flashed the hefty camera at them.
Bess waved a hand around the group. “Set it up so we can all be in the picture.”
Dolley did, then joined the family.
“To you, Mamma.” Bess raised her glass. “Be happy.”
Mamma’s eyes filled with tears. She held up her glass. “To my girls. May you all find the happiness I’ve found.”
They touched their glasses and chimes rang out. “The Fitzgeralds.” The flash went off as they laughed.
The champagne fizzed on Bess’s tongue. “Ooh, this is nice.”
“It should be.” Abby grinned. “Gray bought a couple of special bottles.”
Bess tipped the bottle to read the label. “Dom Pérignon?” She took another sip and let it slide down. She could drink this all day. “I love it.”
“First Gray sends his family’s plane to pick us up and now this.” Mamma held up her champagne. “Private jets and drinking stars. This is the life.”
They laughed and drank until there was a knock. Marion, the B and B’s head of housekeeping, stepped in. Her dress was a shimmery copper and set off her beautiful brown skin.
“You look stunning.” Mamma hurried over and gave Marion a hug.
“There’s a glass for you, too.” Abby filled a final glass.
“We’ll have to hurry, Judge Geneva’s here.” But Marion tipped her glass to Mamma. “I’m happy for you.”
Mamma beamed. “Thank you.”
“Now we need your daughters to get married.” Marion sipped. “There should be babies here.”
Marion and Mamma linked arms and looked over at them.
Abby raised her hand. The diamond on her finger twinkled. “I’m getting there.”
Bess and Dolley looked at each other and shook their heads.
“I’m too busy to date.” Bess shrugged.
Dolley laughed. “I’m having too much fun.”
“You should never be too busy for love.” Mamma’s eyes filled. “It’s worth the risk.”
Bess wasn’t interested in taking risks, at least not for love.
“No tearing up.” Abby took Mamma’s hands. “We’ll all cry.”
They finished their champagne and hustled Mamma to the library. Bess handed small spider-mum-and-orchid bouquets to her sisters and a larger one to Mamma.
“I should check the ballroom.” Bess headed to the door.
Another knock. Gray stuck his head in and whistled. “You all look beautiful.” He came over and took Mamma’s hands. “You are a stunning bride.”
Mamma blushed.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
Mamma straightened her shoulders. “Yes.”
Gray opened the library doors to the courtyard.
White chairs fanned out from the arbor where Bess had intertwined bright yellow spider mums with more dendrobium orchids. The gardens edging the patio danced with late-summer color. White daisies nodded to black-eyed Susans. Bright zinnias and marigolds added sparks of color against lush green foliage and her small palm trees. The trio of August Beauty gardenias lived up to their name. Petunias in yellows, reds and pinks, along with vines of sweet peas and kidney weed, cascaded from tall bronze pots.
The judge, Martin and his sons took their places. The guests quieted. The fountain splashed in the background while a harpist played “Ode to Joy” accompanied by twittering birds.
Dolley glided down the white satin aisle first.
Bess kissed her mother’s cheek. “I love you, Mamma.”
“I love you, too.”
Bess moved down the aisle next, smiling. Daniel’s parents, Samuel and Debbie Forester, sat next to each other. Nathan, Daniel’s twin brother, waved. Daniel nodded. No smile. What a surprise.
Resentment surged through her like a pulsing sprinkler. Not today. Today was Mamma’s day. She took her place next to Dolley and waited for Abby to come down the aisle.
Finally, Mamma stepped out of the library. Everyone stood. Bess’s eyes filled.
Mamma glowed as she walked toward Martin. He held out his hands for her, love lighting his face. Underneath the arbor, Mamma and Martin vowed to love one another. A butterfly landed on top of the trellis as they kissed.
Bess’s tears broke free.
Abby handed her a tissue.
To the intimate group of witnesses, the judge said, “I’m pleased to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Martin and Mamie Robbins.”
The guests surged to their feet, applauding.
“Mamma’s no longer a Fitzgerald.” Bess caught Abby’s and Dolley’s hands. Having her mother change her name seemed so final.
She and her sisters moved down the aisle behind the couple and hugged and kissed them.
Photos were taken. Congratulations called out. Bess headed to the stairs.
Mamma called, “Bess?”
“Do you need something, Mamma?”
“My daughters.”
“I was—” Bess pointed to the ballroom “—checking on Molly.”
“I’m sure everything is beautiful.” Mamma handed her a glass of champagne. “You’re done working for the day.”
Bess grimaced but took the glass. Mamma didn’t know how prophetic her words were.
More friends arrived, filling the courtyard with happy conversation. Servers passed through the expanding crowd, circulating Abby’s appetizers and glasses of champagne.
“Everything is beautiful.” Deb Forester gave Bess a warm hug. “Your gardens are stunning.”
“Thank you.”
Daniel raised his glass. “Nice dress.”
“Thanks.” Bess wanted to yank up the top after Daniel’s comment. In a crowd this large, she should have been able to avoid him.
“Let’s see what Bess has done with the ballroom.” Martin and Mamma led the guests up the exterior terrace stairs.
“Wait.” Bess used this as an excuse to escape Daniel. She had to check the room before she let Mamma walk in.
Bess sneaked in the door. Her hand pressed against her chest. She and Molly had created magic.
The fragrance of flowering citrus trees saturated the air. Twinkling fairy lights covered the branches and sheer toile bows draped from each corner of the room. Pale yellow linens with matching napkins covered the tables. Marion’s crew had made the chandeliers sparkle, and they threw off rainbows as the sunlight faded. On the tables, candles surrounded tall vases of yellow spider mums, yellow roses and glowing white orchids.
Molly was packing up a box. “Have fun tonight!”
“Thank you.” Bess took a deep breath and threw open the French doors.
Her mother walked into the room and turned in a circle, her mouth open.
Oh, shoot. Her mother hated it. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you what you wanted.”
“It’s...it’s...” Mamma hugged her tight. “Oh, Bess, it’s incredible.”
Bess hugged her back, relaxing into the embrace. It was amazing how good it felt to get a compliment from her mother.
A server came by with a tray of filled flutes. “Congratulations.”
Her mother and Martin greeted guests as they came through the receiving line.
Everything was going well until she sat down for dinner. The place card said she was sitting next to Daniel. She started to rearrange the cards, but she wasn’t quick enough.
A woodsy scent warned her Daniel stood next to her. He plucked the card from her fingers. “Are you moving me?”
Daniel’s broad shoulders filled out his dark gray suit perfectly. His golden hair curled at the collar of his crisp white shirt. Shouldn’t he look like a devil? Maybe have a big twirling mustache?
“Wouldn’t you rather sit by your brother?” Her face heated up. “You don’t see him very often.”