Small-Town Hearts (18 page)

Grandma was working for Meg.

Could this scenario get any worse?

No.

But he'd thought that before and things had gotten much worse, so what did he know?

He glared at the phone once again, half wanting to head north and snag Grandma out of Meg's store, half wanting to hug her for jumping in when Meg obviously needed assistance and had tossed her very willing helper to the curb.

He sighed, scrubbed the base of his neck with a hand, frowned and glanced heavenward, uncertain what to pray for, but pretty sure he could use some divine help.

“Seeking celestial intervention, Danny?”

Danny swung around at the sound of Karen Russo's voice and shrugged, bemused. “Yes, actually. Apparently your daughter has that effect on me. Hey, Ben.” He reached out to shake Ben's hand, then clapped the younger man on the shoulder. “Are you loving your new crib?”

Ben laughed. “It's a-awesome. Mom's taking me to the dentist because I have o-off today, and I don't want to miss work to get my teeth cleaned.”

“A good work ethic is a wonderful thing.”

“I-is your balloon here yet, Danny?”

Danny shook his head. “Tonight. Have you ever gone up, Ben?” Thoughts of how Uncle Jerry clung to the ground with both feet despite Grandpa Schneider's urging pushed Danny's
mind-set. “You're more than welcome to come up with me on Saturday morning. If it's okay with your mom, of course.”

Karen turned Ben's way. “Adventures are always a good thing, Ben. What do you think? Would you like to go up in Danny's balloon on Saturday?”

“I would love that, Danny!” Excitement trembled Ben's speech. “M-my friends will be so jealous!”

“Ben Russo, that's not nice.” Karen's frown of mild displeasure had Ben retracting his statement.

“I'll tell them maybe they can go another time.”

“Much better.” Karen eyed her watch, made a face of surprise and headed for the street. “Gotta go, Ben, we'll be late. Danny, what time do you want him Saturday morning?”

“By five. Launch is at 6:00 a.m.”

“Five in the morning?” Surprise painted Ben's features. He clapped an exaggerated hand to his head. “That's early.”

“It is.” Danny cocked his head and lifted one shoulder. “Balloons launch when the wind is calm. Winds pick up during the day, so we have to launch early. You still in?”

“Yes.” Ben nodded, his jaw firm, his gaze set. “I'll be there.”

“Good.” Danny waved to Karen, climbed into his car—his
real
car, the rental a thing of the past now that he'd completed his business deal and been outed by the locals. The well-tooled engine sprang to life. He headed toward Main Street and parked in front of the McGees' store, but Mary Clare's ringtone interrupted him. He climbed out of the car, pulled out the phone and said hello.

“Danny, you're not going to believe this.”

She sounded better. Stronger. Danny leaned a hip against the car's hood and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “What?”

“That whole drug deal? An inside job. The assistant manager was back-door-dealing us, and we got it on surveillance when he tried to cut a deal with an undercover detective from the Southwest detective bureau.”

“Seriously?”

Her voice hiked up. “Joel had talked to me about the idea the other night—”

“Joel?”

“The detective from Southwest, up on Pine Street. We, um…” She hesitated, before continuing, “We went out the other night.”

“Out? Like a date, out?”

“There's another kind?”

“Good point,” he acknowledged. “And you talked security the whole night?”

Her light laugh inspired Danny's smile. “So it's good I cancelled my flight down there to rescue you, hmm?”

“Mom would have killed you.”

Danny didn't need to affirm that their mother had made that abundantly clear. “Let's just say I saw the error of my overprotective ways. So we're all good? The bad guys are locked up behind bars?”

“Yes, and I actually stepped in to help run shift because it's important to stay connected with the store-level concerns, you know? It's too easy to get jaded if you're never in the trenches, running a store, making product, setting up displays.”

Danny had learned that very same lesson himself, but it took him longer than it had his sister. Obviously his worry had been for naught, another valuable lesson learned.

Let go and let God…

“Anyway, I just wanted to bring you up-to-date and say thanks for trusting me on this. It meant a lot. Even if you did almost swoop in to take over.”

Her words deepened his smile to a grin. “I'm glad it's all okay. Good job, sis.”

“Thanks. Gotta go. Joel's meeting me at Smokey Joe's for lunch.”

“Go. Enjoy. I'll see you soon.”

Danny disconnected the phone on a rush of peace that not
only had his sister taken care of a corporate problem, she'd stepped out into the world of dating. Of course he'd be planning a Philly trip soon to check out this Joel. It never hurt a guy to know that a beautiful woman like Mary Clare had a big brother and a father to back her up, although from the sounds of it she was doing quite well on her own, and that felt wonderful.

Now if he could only say the same about himself. He headed into the McGees' store, uncertain what to expect.

“Danny.” Kate crossed the floor smiling, a feather duster clutched in her left hand, her movement easier than it had been days ago. “So good to see you. I was just telling Jed that I hope you got our thank-you note.”

Danny frowned, confused.

“I sent it to your apartment in Jamison.”

That explained the reason he hadn't seen it. Danny hedged. “Life's been crazy busy the past two days, so I'll make sure to check the mail when I get—” He almost said home but stopped himself.

Meg's place wasn't home. His parents' house wasn't home, either, not anymore. Truth be told, he didn't have a place to call home and that didn't feel so good, especially when he'd been contemplating home and hearth the past several weeks.

Kate put a hand on his arm. “Did all this nonsense people are spewing make trouble for you with Meg?”

Danny shrugged, sheepish, not wanting to involve this sweet, old couple.

Kate frowned and worked her jaw before setting the duster down with a thump. “I see it did, and that's just malicious tongues wagging, Danny, a few people who thrive on stirring up trouble. You pay them no mind, you hear?”

He started to reply but she cut him off.

“I mean what I say, and that's one thing you can count on with McGees. We're true to our word, and Jed and I are
tickled pink to have an opportunity to rest and relax on our little homestead. There are things we've been putting off for years on account of work and money. You've made that all possible by buying our place here, Danny, and we're grateful.”

Her words were so good to hear. He'd been feeling pretty low because Meg thought he'd targeted this benevolent couple, and the fact that Kate was taking his side meant a lot. “Thank you, Kate.”

“We'll set things straight, don't you worry.” Her voice and manner lent assurance to the simple words. “And that will fix things between you and Meg.”

It wouldn't. Danny knew that. If Meg couldn't trust him with a simple thing like buying local real estate, how could she trust him with her heart, her soul, her future? And how could he function knowing she was waiting for him to mess up, to do something underhanded?

Her trust issues had seemed innocent enough, but if a tidbit of idle gossip sent her mind whirling to deception, what kind of life would they have together?

Kate's touch to his arm strengthened. “A few weeks back, the good reverend preached about the Corinthians because the loose talk among them was deceitful, remember?”

Danny nodded, recalling Reverend Hannity's earnest words.

“Those folks saw the truth and the light after a fashion, Danny. Some things might take a little extra time and effort, but they're worth the expenditure.”

“You mean Meg.”

She nodded. “Yes. And when a girl's been burned twice, she's wise to be more careful in her dealings because while God expects us to help others, He also expects us to protect ourselves with common sense. Meg hasn't had much reason to trust her sensibilities these past couple of years.”

Kate made a valid point. Danny had recognized Meg's heightened caution from the beginning.

“Love endures all things,” Kate reminded him, the oft-used passage from Corinthians a mainstay in his parents' living room. She faced him, heartfelt. “God's delays are not always denials, young man, they're more like patience builders. Cornerstones. You're young, Danny Romesser. What have you got besides time right now?”

He thought, smiled and dipped his chin in agreement. “Not a thing.”

“So do whatever it takes and go get the girl. Wooing and courtship are timeless endeavors, you know.”

Whatever it takes…

Danny grinned and gave Kate a big hug. “I'm glad I stopped in here today.”

“Me, too. Now go. One of us has some fixing to do and it isn't me.”

Danny headed to his car, thoughts formulating in his head. By the time he pulled the car onto Main Street, he'd devised a plan of sorts.

Would it work? Maybe. Maybe not. But Kate was right, he had time and a clever mind, two precious gifts. Meg had melted into his arms more than once, her feelings obvious. His task was to reignite those feelings and capitalize on the moment. And if that sounded too businesslike, so be it, because this time Danny Romesser meant business.

M
arilyn's eyes grew wide when she entered the kitchen the following morning. “Oh, my dear, what gorgeous flowers. Are they from your beau?”

“No.” Oops, Meg didn't mean to sound quite so adamant.

Marilyn offered a wise nod as she slipped into an apron. “I suppose the current term is ‘significant other.'”

“Not that either. Just someone I thought I knew.”

“Now that sounds ominous.” Marilyn headed to the counter, bent and breathed in the bright-toned bouquet, the blended scents permeating the kitchen already. “Oh, lovely. Just lovely. No card?”

“There was.” Meg didn't mention that the card was now at the bottom of the wastebasket.

“I see.” Marilyn stepped back, smiled and winked. “Playing hard to get is one of those things that either works well or fails miserably, so it's a fine line to walk, but that's all I'm going to say about that. I can see it's not a topic you care to explore this morning.”

“Thank you.”

“Indeed.” Marilyn bobbed her head in quick assent. “I'm moving these out front, though, because this heat is not a bit good for them, delicate and pretty as they are.”

She bustled through the Dutch door with the beautiful basket of flowers in hand, intent on her task. Meg opened her mouth to stop her, to say she didn't want or need anyone in the town to see that Danny sent her flowers, but then clamped her lips shut. If she said too much, Marilyn might take up the topic again, and Meg didn't need any more advice for the lovelorn. She'd had her fill, her current circumstance making it impossible to appear in public without seeing whispered asides once again. Ouch.

Marilyn hustled back into the kitchen, her lithe movements belying her years. “I'm so excited to be here, to work with you, get to know you, Meg.”

Her enthusiasm softened a hardened edge of Meg's heart. “Me, too. Having you here has been absolutely wonderful.”

“Oh, you.” Marilyn waved a hand in Meg's direction before bobbing her head toward the front. “Do we have time for the chocolate fudge today?”

“Yes. If you'd like to start the base, I use the same basic recipe for the chocolate, chocolate-almond and chocolate-walnut. I've got pans ready and this recipe is an old favorite.”

“It is.” Marilyn eyed the card and nodded. “It sets up nice and cuts well. That's so important for presentation, isn't it?”

“Yes, but few people recognize that, Marilyn.” Meg eyed her curiously. “Most people just think fudge is fudge.”

Marilyn nodded briskly as she gathered ingredients to the right-hand counter. “While I'm not one to go overboard on appearances, gift presentation, well… I wanted those fudge boxes to look just right.”

“How sweet.” Meg smiled at her, imagining a younger Marilyn with a houseful of kids, making fudge, Christmas lights winking in the background.

“Yes, it was.” Marilyn dipped her chin, concentrating on the recipe before her, eyes sharp, each measurement precise, while Meg worked cookie dough in the back corner. Despite
the promised sultry summer temperatures, she needed to get cookies baked ahead. Wellsville went over the top with preparations for the rally, and the Russos had been part of the action from the beginning.

As a vendor, Meg rented two hot spots for the weekend. Hannah would run the cookie and coffee booth along the banks of the Genesee River in Island Park, the view of the balloons and the frenetic activity reason enough to get up early and stock the booth predawn on Saturday. The balloon launch's proximity to Danny kept Meg intent on running the Main Street booth, foregoing the opportunity to see the balloon launches up close and personal. The thought of a face-to-face encounter pushed her pulse into overdrive, making rational thought an irrational concept.

No, she'd nurture the shallow shred of dignity she had left and work the Main Street festival area while Hannah and Crystal staffed the cookie and coffee booth. Maintaining a distance from Danny offered a tiny but tangible strength to her force field. Yeah, he'd scarred its surface with his sweet humor and mind-stopping kisses, but she'd pulled back in time to avoid complete disaster, and that was good.

Except it didn't feel one bit good.

“I plan on helping this weekend too, dear.”

Marilyn's spritely voice interrupted Meg's self-harangue. “Marilyn, that might be too much, don't you think? You've been working all week, and it could be really hot on Main Street.”

“Don't you worry about me,” Marilyn fussed, eyeing the fudge mixture with hawklike intensity. She leaned forward, sniffed, nodded and adjusted the flame downward. “I'm a tough old bird, and I can't wait to be part of the fun. At my age there's precious little left in this world to buy, so shopping the vendors is pointless, whereas helping one—” she beamed a bright smile in Meg's direction “—is a dream come true in so many ways.”

“If you're sure…”

“Positive.”

The clipped, one-word answer sounded familiar, Danny's quick repartee a thing of the past.

“I'll be here first thing to help load.”

What could Meg say? She needed the help. Her parents would be there off and on, but they were big rally supporters with their own volunteer commitments throughout the day. “Thank you, Marilyn.”

The older woman's smile blossomed like a brown-eyed Susan beneath a full sun. “You're quite welcome, dear.”

 

“We're loaded?”

“Done.” Meg's father headed toward the driver's side early Saturday morning. “I'll drop Hannah's inventory off first, then circle up to your stand once the send-off crowd thins.”

“Great. Thanks, Dad.”

“No problem. And your mother will be along later with Ben.”

Meg nodded as she headed for her car. “It's not like her to miss a morning launch. You're sure she's okay?”

“She's fine, just a little behind because of all the work she's been doing. And she's picking up Ben, so that's a difference this year.”

“Good point. Driving to his place and then all the way back up here would have been silly.”

“Exactly what she thought, so she'll see you later. It will take me a little while to get through to Hannah, so don't hurry down to your booth.”

“Gotcha.” The Main Street Festival followed the early morning balloon launch, giving the Main Street vendors more time to get ready. “Marilyn and I will see you later, then.”

He nodded, tipped his scarred baseball cap Marilyn's way and eased the van onto the road.

“Meg?”

Meg turned, sucked in a deep breath and refused to contemplate what could go wrong this day if she and Danny crossed paths. Surely he'd have the good sense not to browse the festival site, wouldn't he?

Marilyn took a plain, brown paper bag out of her satchel and handed it to Meg. “I made this for you, dear. I hope you don't mind or think it's presumptuous, but I know you've missed dressing your part this week and this might help.”

“What on Earth?”

The older woman sent her a quick, endearing smile. “Just a little gift from an old lady who loves to work with calico.”

“Calico?” Meg opened the bag and sighed. “Oh, Marilyn, how did you know?”

“About the material?” Marilyn smiled her delight. “You like it, don't you? I wondered if it would suit you, but Maude said you and your young man were in the shop not too long ago and you expressed a preference for the tea-stained blue calico, so I thought—” she shrugged and waved a hand toward the candy store and Meg “—that this would be a nice thank-you for letting me work here, letting me be part of the fun.”

“Marilyn…” Meg didn't know what to say. Quick tears pricked her eyes, the aged woman's thoughtfulness a blessing beyond measure. “I—”

“And look here.” Marilyn's voice washed away the tears. “I made this sleeve open to ease over your cast, that way you can wear this now. Once you've healed, I'll just nip a seam in there quick as a wink and it's good as new.”

Warmth crept into the rocky place Meg had called a heart the past week. Sweet warmth, like a fresh-glazed cookie, melt-in-your-mouth good. She reached out and grabbed Marilyn into a hug. “Thank you.”

Marilyn returned the hug then tapped her watch. “But we'd best get a move on if we're to see the launch, hadn't we, dear?”

The launch. Of course Marilyn would want to see the
launch, and even though it was the last thing Meg wanted to see, she nodded graciously. “Of course. Let me slip into this and we'll be off.”

“Do you need assistance?”

Meg smiled and held up the open sleeve. “Not with this.”

“Then I'll be in the car.”

Early morning fog shrouded the Genesee River valley. The launch would be delayed until the fog cleared. Visibility was huge in ballooning, and some mornings presented a challenge.

Marilyn peered through the windshield, her excitement palpable. “This brings back so many memories.”

“Of?”

Marilyn furrowed her brow, tightened her jaw and shrugged as if upset that she'd spoken out loud.

“Do you like balloon launches, Marilyn?”

“I like festivals.” She angled her head, the warm brown eyes peppered with golden sparks, well-used laugh lines crinkling Meg's way. “They're vibrant. Alive with characters.”

Meg wouldn't disagree there. Every festival had its fill of characters, and Wellsville was no different. She pulled down the back road, parked the car in the vendor lot and headed up a decorated alley with Marilyn. She paused at the roadside, frowned, turned then frowned again. “We're supposed to be right there.” Meg pointed to a fried dough stand. “That's been my spot for years.”

Marilyn headed across the street at a quick clip. “Let's see what's up, hmm?”

Meg hurried after her, the fog shadowing shapes of curb-side tables and booths, giving Main Street an eerie effect in the thin light.

“The committee called me with the change Thursday night,” the gal setting up the fried dough booth explained. “I got home from shopping for the festival and had the message waiting.”

“But I never heard a thing,” Meg countered. “And my dad will have no idea—”

“Meg? That you?” Her father's voice hailed her through the morning dampness. “We're down here.”

Meg offered a quick thanks to the fried dough vendor and headed south on Main Street. As she neared the site of her booth, her feet paused. “No.”

“What dear?” Marilyn pressed forward, peering. “What's wrong?”

“They put us in front of Jed and Kate McGee's store.”

“We don't like them?”

Meg shook her head, confused and dismayed. “Oh, we like them just fine, we love them, they're great, but…”

“But?”

“They just sold their store to a man who's going to put a candy store there. A Grandma Mary's candy store.”

“And that makes you angry.” Marilyn nodded as if that was the most sensible thing she'd ever heard.

“No, not at all,” Meg assured her. “He's opening it for his grandmother, and I think that's wonderful—although it's a little scary for me from a business perspective, but I'm not afraid of a little competition.” Meg eyed the store, then shrugged. “Well, a lot of competition, actually.”

“Well, then, I'm confused. Why don't we want to be here, in front of this store?”

“Because what if he comes by? I can't see him now. That would be horrible.”

Marilyn flexed her brow as she attempted to sort through Meg's ramblings, then gave up visibly. “I'm lost, dear.”

“I thought I loved him.”

“Ah.” Marilyn's face softened measurably. “Now we're getting somewhere. And he loved you?”

Meg shook her head. “I thought so, but when I heard how he pushed these old people out of their store, I went a little crazy on him.”

Marilyn patted her arm much like one would soothe an irate child. “It's a woman's prerogative, dear.”

“I kicked him out.”

“He was living with you?”

“No, of course not, but I rented him the apartment next door because if I didn't Brad and Denise would have wanted it, and the last thing I needed was my former fiancé—”

“One of them,” Marilyn interjected. She raised one shoulder in response to Meg's questioning look. “Maude filled me in.”

Of course she did.

“I had no choice but to rent the apartment to him, and he turned out to be so nice and helpful, funny and sweet, so kind…” Meg thought of how respectfully Danny handled Ben, of his affability with her parents, his ease at blending into any situation, how wonderful it had felt to be part of that and how crushed she'd been to realize it was all an act.

“Meg, you want these here?” Her father interrupted their conversation by hoisting a waxed box of fudge into the air.

“No, I want them there.” Meg scowled and pointed to her allocated spot a block and a half north. “But obviously that's not going to happen.”

“I'll stack them here and you can decide where each variety goes when you're done talking.”

“Venting, actually,” Marilyn called after him. She turned back to Meg, eyes wide with understanding. “So you chucked him, did you?”

“Yes.”

“I did that once.” Marilyn moved behind the booth and started organizing the fudge trays according to the stickers along the clear acrylic front panel. “By the time I realized my mistake, I had my share of groveling to do, but Gerald had a forgiving heart. And he liked my fudge. A lot.”

“Really?”

The old woman's gaze softened with aged wisdom. She
nodded. “Oh, yes. Sometimes a woman is so sure she's right when she's the most wrong.” She swept the street a quick glance of appraisal, then nodded Meg's way. “The fog is lifting.”

“It is.”