Small-Town Hearts (19 page)

Sunlight dappled the shadows, points of brightness tweaking the fog, shifting it, moving it, drying it. As the sun burst through, the vendors moved into the street as one, eyes skyward, watching and waiting.

One by one, balloons dotted the air, rising from behind the trees of Island Park, their launch a kaleidoscope of quiet gentility, the deep blue July sky a perfect backdrop.

Danny was up there. Meg knew it, knew to look for a spectral balloon, the “Chasing Rainbows” theme indicative of Danny's colors. Several rainbow-toned balloons danced through the air, and Meg scoured the baskets, wondering if she'd see him, if she could make him out before his balloon got too high.

Marilyn gripped her arm. “Oh, honey, look at that one!”

Meg tilted her head, disbelief making her heart skip a beat while warmth pooled low in her belly as a beautiful ascending rainbow balloon waved a banner that read: “Megs, will you marry me? Chase rainbows with me?”

Her father appeared at her side, his grin saying he'd known all along. “You need a ride to the put-down site, Meg?”

“I can cover things here,” Marilyn assured her. “If sixty years in the candy business doesn't equip me for running a festival fudge booth, then I've been tap-dancing my way through life.”

“Sixty years?” Meg didn't know which way to turn first. Her eyes were glued to the banner, but once Marilyn's words registered, she swung around. “Are you—?”

“Danny's grandmother, Grandma Mary, at your service. And you, young lady—” she gave Meg a little shove toward
her father “—have a drop site to get to. I think my grandson is showing
güt gut
by proclaiming his love for you in front of the whole community. You don't want to keep him waiting, do you?” She reached forward and cradled Meg's cheeks in her hands, her smile an entreaty. “I think you've both waited long enough to find one another, and if I want to have a hand in raising my great-grandchildren, we need to get this show on the road.”

Her father tooted the horn as things started to make perfect sense to Meg. Marilyn's affinity to the kitchen, her husband, Gerald…Danny had told her about Uncle Jerry, no doubt named for his father, Gerald.

Bits and pieces slipped into place. Obviously her booth had been shifted south to allow her a view of the launch and Danny's banner. She should probably be mad that he'd taken so many liberties, but how could she be upset when her dreams called to her from overhead? “Is that Ben up there with him?”

“It is.” Her father grinned at her from the driver's seat. “Ben was understandably excited to go up, although your mother read him a prelaunch riot act. Danny said his uncle Jerry would never go up in the balloon, but that he'd crew from below, always on the pickup truck, ready to help.”

“Quite true.” Marilyn's eyes misted at the memory. She waved her hand upward. Danny and Ben waved back, their features indistinct, but Ben's excitement was obvious even from this far away.

Meg scooted in alongside her father, her heart bursting, the ache in her chest replaced by sheer anticipation. “Can you get through the traffic?”

Her father clapped the magnetic Vendor sign to the roof. “Vendors and ambulances get priority treatment this weekend, honey.”

Meg laughed. Of course they did, and well they should.
It was the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally, after all, and she knew great things were about to happen.

And about time, too.

 

She hadn't come.

Danny scanned the perimeters of the hay lot as
Chasing Rainbows
lost altitude, but other than a smattering of cars and his pickup truck and trailer, they were quite alone, no Russos in sight to welcome them back to the ground.

He worked to hide his disappointment from Ben and the crewman, but his heart settled like lead weight in his chest. He'd listened to Grandma and Kate McGee, he'd sent flowers and notes and had publicly proposed, but obviously the lady wasn't interested.

Not interested? Are you forgetting the way her hand fit in yours like they melded as one? Who are you kidding?

“Boss, you want this banner folded?” the crewman asked.

Burned might be a better choice. Danny eyed the crumpled banner and shrugged. “It's not like I can use it again.”

“Well, you could, I suppose.”

Somewhere in the midst of those five little words his heart resuscitated. He turned, tugged by the sheer pleasure of hearing her voice, knowing she was there, that she came to meet him. “To what end, Megs?”

She smiled up at him, joy brightening her eyes, her cheeks, her gaze, an old-fashioned calico dress making her look too good to be true. “Well if I say no, you could just change the name.”

“What if I don't want to change the name, Megs?” He moved closer until only a breath of air separated them, a thin breath at that. “What if there's only one woman who can ever make me happy? Be my bride, my wife? Have my babies?”

“Then she'd be a fool to say no, Danny, and despite my track record, I'm no fool.”

He grinned and grazed her lips a kiss, soft and gentle. “Is that a yes?”

“Most assuredly. And can we make this soon, please? Your grandmother has informed me that she's moving back here to help raise her great-grandchildren.”

“Oh, she did, did she?” Danny eased back, smiling, his hands cradling her cheeks, her face, her hair. “And as you've discovered, I hate to disappoint Grandma.”

“Understandable, because she's a doll. I can see where you got your charm.” She leaned back, braced by his hold, his touch. “Yes, I'll marry you, Danny Romesser. And I'll have your babies. And I might even ride in your balloon.”

He took her mouth in a sweet kiss of betrothal that was almost instantly interrupted by cheering. Danny looked up, bemused. “Where did all these people come from?”

Megan glanced around and grinned. “A logical guess would be the balloon rally. When you propose in front of thousands of people, you're likely to gather an audience. Once they can get through the traffic, that is.”

Danny laughed out loud. “Well, since you said yes, I don't care who knows. How soon can we get a license, Megs?”

“We'll get it once my busy season is past and your store is successfully opened,” she told him. “Business first, Danny.”

Grinning, he swept her off her feet in a big hug, swinging her around to the delight of the crowd. “I can promise you, Megs, that from this day forward it will never be business first again.”

She planted a kiss to his lips, her promise and pledge. “You've got that right, Danny-boy.”

“A
perfect day for a wedding, Meg.” Karen adjusted Meg's veil, stepped back and smiled her approval.

“And then some.” Meg's dad stepped into the room and handed her a note. “Danny asked me to deliver this.”

“Did you read it first?” Meg asked, teasing. “Because I've been dumped via phone and text in the past. A note would just add insult to injury.”

Adam chucked her under the chin. “Read the note and see.”

Meg opened the envelope, scanned the contents, smiled and walked to the open window. Early fall colors backlit the town park in ribbons of green, gold and crimson, while mums blanketed the churchyard in a perfumed hue of country shades against dark green grass. “Hey, you.”

“Hey, you.” Danny grinned up from below. He put a finger to his lips then splayed his hands wide while keeping his voice soft. “Just wanted you to know I was here, Megs, and properly dressed for the occasion.”

She leaned out the window, wondering how she could have ever thought Brad or Michael would be The One, grateful she hadn't made such a serious mistake and certain that Danny
in a tux was a God-given gift to womankind. “I didn't doubt it for a minute, Danny.”

Her words broadened his smile. “Really?”

“Really, truly.”

“I love you, Megs.”

She blushed, heat invading her cheeks, excitement warming her from within despite the cool, fall breeze. “I love you, too.”

Marilyn approached from the side church steps. She slipped an arm around Danny's waist. He dropped a kiss to his grandmother's cheek and raised his gaze once more. “And you're sure you won't mind being part of the biggest candy conglomerate on the East Coast?”

“The concept is growing on me.” Megs grinned from her lofty parapet and blew them a kiss. “And since I changed my official business name to the Colonial
Cookie
Kitchen as of last Saturday, you won't have to worry about my little store putting Grandma Mary's out of business.”

Marilyn sent her a quick smile of approval. “I'm breathing easier just knowing that, honey.”

Meg laughed and followed Marilyn's progress as she headed back into the church. “She's wonderful.”

“She says the same about you. You ready to make this official, Megs?” He jerked a thumb toward the church sanctuary.

“Ready when you are.”

He stepped back, blew her a kiss and blessed her with a smile that said he was more than ready for everything awaiting them. “I'll meet you inside.”

“Sounds good.”

The trill of sweet music called the attendants. Alyssa and Hannah took their spots, with Alyssa's little girl, Cory, leading the way, a basket of flowers clutched tight in her four-year-old hands. Her baby brother, Clay, sat in a front pew with her daddy and big brother.

Meg smiled at her parents. “This time you actually get to walk me down the aisle. But I promise you one thing.” She leaned up and pressed a kiss to both their cheeks. “You will never have to do this again.”

“Music to my ears, Meg.”

“I'm just happy I finally get to wear this dress.” Karen smoothed a hand over the gauzy, gold fabric, hints of beaded sparkle kicking back light. “Although I was more than happy to buy you a new one, dear.”

Meg checked her reflection in the mirror one last time, the simple A-line strapless dress gracious and gorgeous all at once. “And I love that Marilyn made my veil. And that she's moving down here for her retirement.”

Adam proffered his arm. “She loves being back in town, meeting her old friends.”

“That's what she told you, Dad?”

“She did.”

“And you bought that?”

Adam frowned. “Of course. Why else would she move down here?”

Karen sent him a look that said more than words. “She wants to babysit her great-grandchildren, dear. When they come.”

Adam laughed and hugged Meg's shoulders. “Well, I can't deny I'm looking forward to being a grandpa after so many false starts.” He saw the look Meg shot him and pulled back. “But first, the wedding.”

“That would be nice. Are we ready? And can I trust both of you to behave yourselves? No jokes at the bride's expense?”

“None.”

“Promise.”

She grasped their arms as they moved forward, the sweet sounds of fairy music Meg's cue to appear on the white satin runner. She stepped through the oak-trimmed entry and caught sight of Danny at the front of the church. He winked
and smiled, one brow raised in appreciation for the dress and the woman wearing it.

And that was a feeling Meg would have a lifetime to enjoy.

Butter a 9"x13" pan, then line the pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil for ease in cutting.

Combine sugar, butter, milk and maple syrup in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat slightly and boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Over-cooking toughens the consistency of the fudge, so watch the clock or set a timer, and don't think you can walk away and do laundry or answer the phone, because my experience tells me that tiny duties inevitably stretch into elongated ones and so I often burn the first batch.

You'd think I'd learn after a while, wouldn't you?

Remove from heat, add powdered sugar and vanilla. A teaspoon of maple flavoring may be added at this time, but isn't really necessary. Beat by hand (this is a preemptive strike against high calorie intake, because this fudge is irresistible and any exercise you can get ahead of time keeps you ahead of the game) or with hand mixer until thick and glossy. Mix in walnuts and pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate until set.

To cut: Slide foil out of greased pan, place on countertop or suitable cutting board and use sharp, thin-bladed knife or fudge/brownie cutter.

Store in airtight container.

This fudge freezes well, keeps in refrigerator well.

Dear Reader,

We raised our six kids in a sweet, small town. We understand the good and bad of that. Small towns embrace their own, have an enduring ambiance and there's nothing like Friday night football under the lights. The downside is that everyone dies famous; there are few secrets and little discretion at times.

We encouraged our children to grow wings, but like any gardener, I wanted to show the importance of a good root system. It's easy to forget the legacy, work, traditions and the backbone once you're ingrained in another time and another place, but those original roots help keep us anchored, nurtured and focused. In
Small-Town Hearts,
Danny finds comfort for youthful indiscretions in an old faith renewed, an old town refurbished and his grandmother's truisms that linger at every turn. And he finds his match when he meets his competition, our spunky Meg, an Old World-style entrepreneur who's been burned because she's anxious to hurry God's plan, force His hand.

I love this story of “third time's a charm.” Let me know what you think by visiting the “guys” and me at www.menofalleganycounty.com or drop by “Ruthy's Place” at www.ruthysplace.com. You can also reach me by emailing me at [email protected] or snail mail me c/o Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279. I look forward to hearing from you and swapping stories and recipes!

In His hands, in His time,

Ruthy