Faith, Love, and Fried Chicken: Seasons Boxed Set Bundle 1-4 Page 10

  He went to the sink and washed his hands, then pulled a stool up to the other side of the island. “I’m all yours. Where can I help?”

  “We’re splitting the thumb print cookies and shortbreads up between the dinner tomorrow night and gifts for neighbors. There’s tons of dough.” She made a kissy face at him, puckering her lips. “Do you think you can get one of the bowls out of the fridge and put confectioner’s sugar on the counter surface?”

  “I am at your beck and call.”

  “And I love you for it.” She stood to slide the two finished ­sheet pans of jam-filled cookies into the oven. Leaning over into a cabinet, she pulled some cooling racks from beneath, setting them up on the counter by the stove.

  “We all set then, for tomorrow night? I’ll meet ya’ at the VFW right after work, 4:00 okay?”

  “Perfect. I’m supposed to get off by 3:00, so Nancy and I’ll be there. Momma’s comin’ with Marcus ‘round that time too.”

  “We servin’? Cookin’? Do you know?”

  “There should be plenty of help with Nancy’s church pitchin’ in. The chef’s makin’ most things beforehand. I expect he’s as busy as we are tonight.” She cocked her head to the side, watching him as he worked the firm dough with the rolling pin. “We’ll set up the chafing dishes, rewarm, serve, and keep the food stocked.”

  Dash heard music playing from somewhere in the house. She must’ve seen the question in his eyes. “Momma’s gonna play a few Christmas carols. Can’t wait. It’s been a while since she’s taken the time. It’s a blessing.”

  The chords of Silent Night washed over them both. Jaycee drew closer to him, licking the jam from one of her fingers. Her eyes softened. He pushed the stool further from the counter and she sat on his lap, momentarily tucking her head beneath his chin. Her soft sigh twisted at his insides and his mind wandered to the little box tucked inside his jacket in the hallway closet.

  Why’d life have to be so complicated? Truer words it was perfect most days, especially moments, hours with Dash. But being yanked back to reality on a daily basis by the worries of this world were pulling on Jaycee’s last patient nerve and the good Lord knew she hadn’t many of those.

  Jaycee saw the man again talking with Jack. He slipped something into the white glove covered hands of Jack’s Santa outfit, who pocketed whatever it was and headed back into the enclosure. Jaycee followed him a short time later, seeing him step away from the lockers. Well, enough was enough.

  “What’s goin’ on?” She said, glaring at the man, her imagination and gander up.

  “Excuse me?” He went to the mirror calmly, adjusting his red hat and the spectacles at his nose.

  “I am well aware that man is passin’ you stolen items from the stores ‘round here. And I can sure enough prove it. Open your locker!”

  Despite the whiskers plastered to Jack’s face, she saw the man’s face redden. He stepped towards her threateningly. A tingle of fear crawled up her spine and she faltered. Glancing back, she saw the gap in the tent was open wide enough to see the morning walker’s club stroll past.

  “My dear, I could silence you in the course of one second.” He flexed his fingers before him, watching her through hooded eyes and glancing toward the opening.

  Jaycee raised her voice, “You wouldn’t dare!”

  The man’s bulk was almost obscene but with the swiftness of a cat, he came at her reaching toward her neck. Jaycee stumbled back and tripped over a spare wrapped present at her feet. She crawled quickly towards the tent door and stopped short at a pair of dirt encrusted boots at the opening.

  Jaycee breathed out a warning to whoever was there, “Run! He’s dangerous.”

  She saw the boots with their untied broken laces step over her. There was scuffling and grunting behind her as the two men fought. Jaycee ducked her head and prayed. A sharp yelp split the air and then a rush of air blew across her hair.

  Unshed tears escaped Jaycee’s eyes as she cautioned a glance behind her. The man with the ragged boots, it was the old man. He had come to her rescue! And now he was lying in a heap on the floor behind her. She crawled over to him on her knees.

  A crowd had started to gather at the tent flap and a woman came in, putting a hand at Jaycee’s back and going to kneel by the man’s prostrate frame.

  Jaycee looked around. Jack must’ve taken off out the opposite way. She heaved a sigh, letting the tears flow freely. A moment later security was there, and among them, the same guard who had given her such a hard time outside the mall.

  She hiccupped, trying to control her crying. “Santa—Santa was the thief. He and another man. Check the locker, he stashed something there a while ago and I confronted him.” She nodded towards the old man, lying still. Gritting her teeth, she fell at the old man’s side. “Th—this man saved my life.”

  The VFW was off a side street near downtown. It was an old warehouse of a building with an ancient kitchen, but, Dash expected, big enough for their purposes. When he arrived, decorating was in high gear. There was an organ in the main room with long tables and chairs encompassing the entire floor space. Red and green paper draped each table, along with greenery and a battery-operated candle in the center of each. A large, round Christmas tree had been pushed into a corner where its lights flashed along to some imagined tune.

  He glanced quickly around the room for Jaycee. She had called him earlier, on the tail end of tears, telling him what had happened at the mall. He’d wanted to drop everything and rush over, but her parents had been called and she was heading home in their car to take a hot shower and change. Dash had urged her to try to rest before the evening.

  He knew she was safe, but he’d wanted to see her, hold her. Assure her it wouldn’t happen again. He’d protect her. But how, in a world that was becoming increasingly more dangerous and unsound? His breathing sounded loud in his ears as headed for the swinging doors of the kitchen. She’d be back there. God hadn’t failed him. She was fine. His heart squeezed at the thought of what could have happened. But she was okay. And that was all that mattered.

  She was standing next to an oversized boiling pot. Her blonde hair was pulled away from her face. She met his gaze across the crowd of people, the noise dimming as he looked into her eyes. Tiny shadows smudged beneath them and weariness showed across her face. He crossed to her, one hand encircling her waist as he came to stand before her. He bent forward, nuzzling her cheek, oblivious to anyone around them. “I’ve missed you. Couldn’t stop worryin’.”

  “I’m okay,” she said quietly, cupping his chin in one of her hands to hold his face still next to hers. “Jobless again, but okay.” Her grin twisted as tears appeared in her eyes.

  “Can you take a break for a minute?”

  She nodded, turning the heat beneath the pot lower and wiping her hands on the towel hanging on the stove front. She grabbed his hand and led him out the back door, which was propped open to allow cool air to circulate in the hot kitchen.

  He was flushed already. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think of anything but proposing. He had to do it. But was this it, the perfect moment? Maybe he should allow her to heal. To grow…without him. Dare he put the burden of becoming his wife on top of all her other cares now? What if she said no? Worse, what if their relationship ended completely if he asked?

  The sky was darkening already. The back parking lot held few cars. Jaycee led the way over to the tree line, a picnic table tucked in beneath an ancient elm. She needed this time, away from the noise, the heat, and the chaos.

  She was so grateful things had turned out the way they had. And even more so that Clem Turner, the old man, would be okay. He was admitted to Mercy Hospital for the night, tucked safely into a warm bed.

  “The old man, Clem…can we go see him after. Maybe bring him a plate of food for Christmas Eve?”

  “Nothin’ more I want to do than thank that man for saving you.” Dash sat on the top of the picnic table with Jaycee kneeling on the bench facing him.

 
; “It’s funny. Christmas used to be all about the presents. Now…now it’s about the people I love and…” She nodded towards the VFW, “those who have so much less but still have joy in their hearts. That certainly is how to keep Christmas all year ‘round.”

  He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close. The wind caught and snagged at her loose sweater, pulling on the ends. His face was in her hair. She closed her eyes, willing him to move closer, closer ever still.

  “God gave us the greatest gift. Jesus’ life, which overcame the sting of death. We can have joy…no matter the circumstance.” She felt him gulp. He moved to look into her face. “I wasn’t quite truthful. There is one other thing I can think of that I’d like to do more.”

  She opened her eyes then and noticed from the shelter of the reaching branches of the old tree, the dancing flakes of snow beginning to fall around them.

  “Snow! It’s been years!” Dash’s eyes lit up and she could swear he had tears in them. “Are you okay?”

  “I can’t imagine if somethin’ happened to you today, Jaycee. You are the love of my life.” He removed a hand from behind her back and put it inside his coat. “I got you…this.” He pulled something small and furry out and handed it to her. She gasped. It was an exquisite bear with jointed arms and legs. She pulled it closer to her face, looking at the t-shirt and embroidered picture of a fried drumstick.

  “It’s adorable. Where did you ever find it?” She hugged it close, feeling it’s soft warm fur.

  “God led me to it…and to you. I love you more than anyone or anything on this earth. I’ll be with you here in Twain, Georgia, New York City, or wherever you think we need to be. I’ll support your dreams and help you reach new heights, but I want to do it as your husband. Jaycee will you marry me?”

  The world was a snow globe and she was the princess inside. Yet it wasn’t a fairy tale. Her one true love was real. God had seen fit to send Dash to her. And wherever He led, Dash would be there. For an eternity, for the now and the then, for the coming years, and the happy ending. He was hers and she was his.

  “Yes, Dash! I’ll marry you!”

  And then they kissed. It was the fourth of July, Christmas Day, and her birthday all wrapped into one. The snow drifted and blew, carrying across their lips as they parted. Jaycee opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue to catch a flake. Life…life was good. It was dear and fragile and not to be tarried with.

  Dash let out a yell.

  Light spilled from the kitchen and out onto the pavement. Faces appeared in the doorway and Dash’s smile widened. He grinned from ear to ear. Pulling the little black box from his pocket, he opened it and placed the ring on Jaycee’s right hand then snapped the box shut and rewarmed her with kisses on each and every finger.

  Spring

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Momma, if wedding dresses weren’t meant to be pink then why are there so many in this here store?” Jaycee’s smile widened as she clutched the puffy blush dress covered from waist to hem with roses.

  She couldn’t contain her happiness. It seemed to spill over wherever she found herself. It was spring, with winter taking a back seat early in March and tulips and daffodils bursting on the scene. Her wedding was soon and she still didn’t have a dress. She had plumb worn out her Daddy. This was the fifth dress shop in a fifty mile radius they had visited and he’d stopped coming after the second.

  Dash’s Aunt Katie and her Momma just smiled at her enthusiasm, undiminished despite the hundreds and hundreds of dresses they had looked at. They forgot, Jaycee loved to shop. Had gone through bridal magazines even as a child. And try as she might, it was hard to pick just one. The problem being now…it had to fit just so with little alteration because in a few short weeks, she would be Mrs. Dash Mattheson.

  Jaycee pushed the notebook towards Dash for the third time. “I need yer help.”

  “And I’m willin’, darlin’, but it’s your choice. It won’t much matter to me.”

  She stamped her right foot in response and pulled the notebook from between the two of them. He willed his words back, but they were out there now. “You know what I mean. Whatever you want will be perfect.”

  “But I don’t know what I want. I need yer help!” She sighed and ran a hand across her forehead.

  Dash tentatively held out a hand. She looked down at his fingers, clearly irritated. Her eyes narrowed and she flipped the book back within his reach, releasing it as it touched the tips of his fingers. He grabbed and caught the white beribboned spiral book, gazing at the cover, “Bride’s Planning Bible”. More like Bridezilla’s. He began to grin but squashed it, his eyes moving to Jaycee and he quickly opened the book, flipping through pages and pages of notes, sketches, pictures, and lists.

  “That one there.” She pointed. A yellow tab clung to the page edge labeled Table Centerpieces.

  “So what are the choices?” he asked, the words all popping out of him at once. He sat down as he spoke, more of a fall into the relative safety of the brown tweed couch, praying for understanding. He tried to care, he really did…about the flowers, cake topper, color scheme. It was just dizzying the scope of detail over minutia.

  Jaycee ticked off from memory, not stopping to breathe. “A round vase with glitter on the bottom half and real flowers. We could do that and include a candle. There’s also the idea of tiny bottles in different sizes, maybe four or so on each table with a simple bud in each; again, a candle could be somewhere in the placement. And…well, look at the list and I’ve printed a few pictures.” She paced back and forth then landed by the kitchen entrance, “Think about it. Envision each in yer head. I’ll be right back.”

  Dash leaned forward, looking at the splashes of color before him. He flipped the page to view glued in pictures and the swipe of nail polish near one in particular. Jaycee’s scrawl lay in between. Pink Dove. Turquoise Stone. Alabaster Glitter. He was beginning to see why people eloped to Vegas.

  He closed his eyes and counted to three, plopping his finger onto the page. He opened his eyes just as quickly when he heard Jaycee closing a cabinet loudly in the kitchen and returning. She walked to his side and looked down at his haphazardly placed finger. Sliding onto the couch next to him, she took his other hand in hers, bringing it to her cheek. Her eyes became teary and she gave a tentative smile.

  Dash relaxed. Crisis averted. He looked down at what he’d picked. Small wooden boxes with chipped paint and bunches of flowers peeking from within met his gaze. Better’n a sharp stick in the eye.

  There it hung. Wrapped in a white garment bag, the oversized hanger peeked out and clung to the back of the closet door. The Dress. Steamed and fresh from the store. A perfect fit.

  Jaycee sat cross-legged on her bed, her mind caving to the serenity of the blank white canvas and diving into the silence and oblivion. No lists called out from the notebook and magazines littering her space. Forgetting her phone and to-do’s, peace stole over her. She imagined Dash’s face when he saw her for the first time. Tears pricked her eyes and clung to her lashes. This was it. Grown up and married. To Dash! How did it happen so fast? Yet, she had waited a lifetime for it. For him, even when she’d found him the most annoying boy in Georgia.

  She glanced away and back to the chaos around her. It was too much. How could she get it all organized, done and still be the bride?

  A moment later, she heard a loud knock at the door and Kitty ducked her head in.

  “You’re here!” Jaycee exclaimed, jumping from the bed, causing a paper explosion. Ignoring the mess, she wrapped her arms around Kitty’s neck in a tight squeeze.

  “Geez Louise. Look at this place,” Kitty responded with a loose hug then stepped back.

  Jaycee’s eyes swept the room then came to rest again on Kitty. She inspected her friend closely. “Did you just get in? You look…exhausted.”

  “Last night before dinner. And I am.” She shrugged Jaycee’s concern away and pushed a magazine towards the center of the bed to sit.

  J
aycee bent to pick up the loose papers that had flown to the floor then resumed her position on the bed, facing the dress. Kitty followed her gaze.

  “That it?”

  “It is! Do you want to see?”

  “Can’t wait! I know you sent me a picture, but...”

  Jaycee handed Kitty her bride’s binder then went over to the closet door.

  “Can you look at the list, see what the maid of honor wants to help with? Hint-Hint.”

  Kitty nodded and opened it as Jaycee dressed.

  “Don’t peek yet.”

  “I won’t. This is fascinating reading by the way.”

  Jaycee laughed. “Stop, Kitty. This is serious.”

  Kitty looked up then to see Jaycee as she turned in the pink flowing concoction.

  “Wow! Amazing! And so you.”

  Jaycee cocked an eyebrow. “So it’s not too over the top?”

  “Are you seriously worried about that?”

  Jaycee looked down at the dress, lifting it slightly to display her toes. “No. I just wanted to hear what you thought. Do you love it?”

  “I do and you’re breathtaking. Dash will be mesmerized.” Kitty stood and crossed the room to Jaycee, taking her hand. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thank you, sweets.” Jaycee leaned in to hug Kitty, but she backed away. Jaycee frowned, noticing the worry in her friend’s eyes. “Okay. Enough about me.”

  She shed the dress quickly, careful to hang it on the numerous hangers to keep it from wrinkling. “Your maid of honor dress is in the closet. You want to try it on?”

  Kitty shook her head emphatically, biting her lower lip. Jaycee grabbed for her hand. “Hey, tell me what’s goin’ on.”

  Kitty’s face crumpled. She seemed indecisive, turning from Jaycee and facing the bed. “I – I just can’t. Oh!” Kitty said, burst into tears and running from the room.