Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas Read online

  And a woman named Violet is opening a bakery next door to Aunt Teak’s. Nana says I can work there after school if I want to. I talked to Violet about it. She’s kind of a funny person. Nana calls her quirky. She’s always wearing these dresses that look like they should be in black-and-white movies. She even has a bunch of old books and a typewriter at her house. I think it’s kind of weird that she likes all that old stuff.

  I wish you were here. Violet told me that she remembered you from when you were teenagers and she’d come visit her grandmother. She said that one summer y’all worked together at Aunt Teak’s. I guess I like her a little more now that I know she knew you when you were my age.

  Love,

  Shadow

  Violet put the last of her belongings into a box and taped it shut. She’d passed being tired hours ago and was headed full into the land of exhaustion. But it was worth it. During the past few days, she’d moved from disbelief over her decision through panic and had finally arrived at excitement.

  She was opening her own bakery. Her own bakery!

  It had been her dream since law school, maybe earlier. Some of her fondest memories as a child included standing up on the barstool next to Grandma, stirring the batter or learning to make homemade icing.

  Cupcakes made people happy. And making people happy gave Violet a sense of accomplishment. She liked to feel that she’d brightened someone’s day.

  The doorbell rang, and she jumped up to get it.

  “I think you should reconsider. It isn’t too late.” Mom barged in as soon as Violet opened the door. “You don’t know what you’re doing. You’ve never operated a business. There’s much more to it than just baking some cakes and wearing a cute apron.”

  Violet sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t include you in my decision, Mom. But this is just something I have to do. If it fails miserably, I can go back to a law firm.”

  Mom paced the living room. “But you belong in the family firm. I know you’re disappointed that Landry was made partner. But there’s no need for a knee-jerk reaction like this.”

  Violet picked up a box and added it to the stack in the corner. She’d found the perfect house to rent in Hot Springs with plenty of room for her stuff and a great yard for Arnie. The papers were signed, and Jackson had promised to be there with a truck first thing Saturday morning. She had to admit, having a fake boyfriend during a move was quite convenient—even if it was Jackson. “That’s the thing. This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction. And it honestly has nothing to do with Landry.”

  Mom opened her mouth to speak, but Violet cut her off.

  “Or Amber. This isn’t about not being made partner or my sister getting married. This is about me taking control of my life and doing something that I’ve always dreamed of. Did the timing of those things help push me? Sure. But this isn’t something I just thought of—it’s something I’ve wanted for a long time.”

  “Honey, I just want what’s best for you. And I can’t see that taking such a big financial risk is what’s best.”

  So that’s what it was about. Money. “I’ve always been a saver. You know that. I have money saved up, and I’m already in the process of obtaining a small business loan. I’ll be okay. People start businesses every day.”

  “And they fail every day, too.”

  Violet blew out a breath. “Can’t you just be supportive? One time. Support my dreams.”

  “Not when your dream has the potential to end in disaster. Not to mention—how are you ever going to meet anyone suitable if you’re always holed up in a bakery? And you’ll be wearing awful clothes and all covered in flour. Not exactly the most attractive way for a single girl to be.”

  It was time to drop her bomb. “For your information, I’m seeing someone.” Violet wished she had a camera to capture the shocked expression on her mother’s face. “He works for the state in economic development. In fact, he’s helping me with my business plan and coordinating my move.” Sweet satisfaction.

  “And you didn’t tell me?” Mom raised her eyebrows. “How could you leave something like that out? Is he your plus one at the wedding? Amber told me you’d requested two spots at the rehearsal dinner and reception, but I figured you were just hoping to have a date by then.”

  Violet had been on the fence all week over her arrangement with Jackson. But in that moment, she knew she’d made the right decision by agreeing to his contract. “That’s right, Mom. He’ll be with me at the wedding.”

  And then she’d go play supportive girlfriend at his speech. And the week after his speech, they’d go their separate ways. What a beautiful plan.

  Chapter 13

  Jackson Stratford: DINNER FRIDAY NIGHT? I KNOW YOU’RE ANXIOUS TO MARK SOME OF THOSE CONTRACTED DATES OFF THE LIST.…(Text message sent September 13, 1:12 p.m.)

  Violet Matthews: DID YOU REALLY JUST ASK ME OUT VIA TEXT? JUST FYI, IF THIS WEREN’T A RUSE, I’D SAY NO. FRIDAY’S FINE. PICK ME UP AT 7. (Text message sent September 13, 1:17 p.m.)

  Jackson walked past a FOR RENT sign on the way to Violet’s front porch. He hadn’t seen her all week, but they’d texted a few times. Mostly details about tomorrow’s move. He knocked on the door and waited.

  The door swung open. “Come on in.” Violet ushered him inside.

  The living room was littered with boxes and plastic totes. “I don’t know if I could sleep in a house this chaotic.” He grinned. “And you have so much stuff.”

  She made a face. “I’m sure you’d manage, Mr. OCD. I’m sorry that my chaos and clutter offends you so much.” She grinned and motioned toward Arnie, who slept on a rug in between two stacks of boxes. “My super shedding dog doesn’t seem to mind.”

  Jackson couldn’t help but laugh. “Poke fun all you want.”

  Violet grabbed her purse and cell phone from the coffee table. “I won’t make you stay in this mess any longer than necessary. Let’s go.”

  “I’ve never seen you in jeans before,” he said as they walked out the door. “What gives?” Not that he was complaining.

  She grinned. “Well I didn’t want to show you up by being the better dressed portion of a reasonably attractive couple.”

  He chuckled. “Are you always going to remember every dumb thing I say?” He opened the passenger door of the Range Rover, and she climbed inside.

  “Probably. At least until the week after your speech.” She grinned. “Then I won’t care.”

  Jackson got in the car and glanced over at her. “So I was thinking…”

  “First time for everything,” she said with a laugh, cutting him off.

  He pulled out of the driveway and headed down the street. “Very funny.” He cleared his throat. “As I was saying. I was thinking that we should fast-track the whole ‘getting to know each other’ portion of things.”

  “And how do you propose we do that?”

  “I’ll text you a question. You answer it. You text me a question. I’ll answer it.” He grinned. “That way we can be a believable couple in a shorter amount of time.”

  Violet sighed. “Okay.”

  “I’ll have you know that texting isn’t my favorite form of communication, so I’m kind of making a concession here.”

  “How gallant of you.”

  Jackson merged onto the interstate. “Where do you want to eat?”

  “Someplace where I can get vegetables. That isn’t crowded. Or too expensive. How about Cracker Barrel?” She looked over at him. “And it just occurred to me that we haven’t discussed money.”

  “Money?”

  “This relationship is not real. I don’t expect you to pay for dinners and things.”

  Jackson hadn’t even thought about it. “It’s four months. I’d go on at least twenty-five dates over the course of four months. So I’d be paying that money anyway.” He shrugged.

  “You’d go on twenty-five dates in four months? Where do you find these girls?”

  “Jealous?” He grinned.

  She laughed. “Hardly. I’m just myst
ified.”

  “For your information, I meet them everywhere. Starbucks. The gym. Work.” He shrugged. “Church.”

  “You go to church?” From the incredulous tone to her voice, he may as well have said he met women on the moon.

  Jackson was beginning to get irritated. “Yes. I go to church. In fact, I even teach the Wednesday night men’s Bible class.”

  Violet sputtered. “Wonders never cease.”

  “There’s a lot about me that you don’t know. If you’d just throw out any preconceived notions you formed about me all those years ago, you might find that I’m actually a pretty nice guy.”

  Violet fell silent. Finally she cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that. It’s just that I remember you as being something of a wild man back in college.”

  “I’ve done things I’m not proud of. But that was a long time ago.” He gave her a sideways glance. “I’ve changed a lot.” He frowned. “But you haven’t.”

  He drove in silence the rest of the way to the restaurant.

  Maybe this had been a bad idea after all. Violet might never see him as anything more than the guy he’d been in college. And even he could admit that guy hadn’t been the greatest.

  But didn’t everyone deserve a second chance?

  Violet was pretty sure she’d hurt his feelings. She’d just been so shocked at the thought of him teaching a Bible class that she’d not been able to control her mouth. “I really didn’t mean to offend you,” she said as he pulled into a space at Cracker Barrel. “I was just surprised.”

  Jackson turned off the ignition and turned to face her. “I’m not proud of the guy I was back then. I know I wasn’t exactly walking on the straight and narrow. But I’ve done a lot of growing up since then.” He gave her a tentative smile. “At least I own up to my mistakes.”

  She sighed. “Do you think I’m too judgmental?”

  “I think maybe you just don’t trust me.” He took the keys from the ignition. “Yet.” He shrugged. “And that’s fine. There’s plenty of time for that, and besides, in order for our plan to work, you don’t have to trust me. You don’t even have to like me.”

  “I just have to pretend that I do,” she said softly.

  Jackson nodded. “That’s right. Let’s see how good of an actress you are.”

  She laughed. “I was the lead in a play when I was in fifth grade. That’s the extent of my acting experience until now.”

  Jackson opened the door for her and helped her out. He reached over and took her hand as they walked toward the restaurant.

  She tensed.

  “Easy there. I’m not going to bite. Just practicing.” He dropped her hand at the door and held the door open. “After you.”

  Violet brushed past him, and her heart beat faster. Holding hands meant he’d be pushing for their fake first kiss soon. It had been so long since she’d kissed a guy. What if she’d forgotten how? Stupid Zach had really done a number on her.

  “You okay?” Jackson asked once he’d put their names on the waiting list for a table.

  She nodded. “Just thinking.”

  “Moving is overwhelming, huh? And starting a new business on top of it.”

  Violet smiled. “I’m overwhelmed, but in such a wonderful way. I’ve dreamed of doing this for such a long time. Now that I’ve made the decision, everything is just falling into place.”

  “God’s plans are always better than we expect.”

  She looked into his blue eyes. Sincere blue eyes. “Aren’t they though?”

  Jackson smiled. “Once I finished my master’s at Auburn I had the same kind of thing happen. I’d prayed and prayed that I’d find the job that was right for me. And then the job in Mobile came open, and it was perfection. Trusting that God would lead me in the right direction was hard, but once I opened myself up to things besides just what I wanted or what I thought was best, I ended up getting the perfect offer.”

  “I didn’t know you had your master’s.”

  He nodded. “Yep. I think that was really the time in my life when I grew the most. I wasn’t at a Christian school any longer and wasn’t surrounded by Christians. It was very difficult at first to make good choices, but eventually I found my own faith. There were some dark days, but ultimately I think it was the time when my Christian walk started—apart from what my parents believed or my friends believed. I searched and questioned and developed my own relationship with the Lord.”

  Violet was impressed by his candor. Maybe she’d underestimated him. “That’s an amazing story. And I know what you mean. It’s easy to make good choices when you’re surrounded by people who come from the same kind of background as you. I lived in DC for a little while after law school. I loved the city, but I was faced with things I’d never been faced with before. I’m glad, though, because ultimately it made me stronger.”

  “Skywalker, your table is now available.”

  Jackson took her hand. “That’s us.”

  “Skywalker?” she hissed. “Seriously?”

  He grinned. “It’s a thing I do sometimes. Call me Luke in front of the hostess.” He squeezed her hand and led her to the hostess stand.

  She burst out laughing. Jackson might not be the uptight guy she had him pegged to be.

  Come to think of it, he might have some layers to him that she hadn’t expected.

  Dear Mama,

  Chase and I broke up. And right after I spent all my money on a fancy tennis racquet. The store won’t take it back either.

  Nana says I can sell it on eBay or something, but I’ll never get my money back. And I made a C on my history quiz.

  So I’m having kind of a terrible week. Daddy called to see if I’d come to Texas for Thanksgiving. To tell the truth, I don’t really want to. Stephanie will try to be my BFF and take me shopping and stuff. But she doesn’t understand me at all. She keeps sending me these e-mails that say she wants to be my friend and be involved in my life and wants me to come back to Texas and be a good big sister.

  But I don’t want to. It makes my heart hurt to be there because I don’t understand how Daddy could forget about you. I haven’t forgotten. So why did he?

  Oh, and I met a guy in the library the other day. His name is Thomas, and he is on the Quiz Bowl team. He has the cutest glasses. I think he is going to ask me out.

  I miss you,

  Shadow

  Chapter 14

  Jackson Stratford: HOPE UNPACKING IS GOING WELL. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BAND? (Text message sent September 18, 10:34 a.m.)

  Violet Matthews: THANKS FOR HELPING UNLOAD. UNPACKING IS A PAIN. BE GLAD YOU AREN’T HERE FOR THE CHAOS. HA. AND U2. OR BON JOVI. THE OLD-SCHOOL STUFF FROM THE LATE ‘80S. YOU? (Text message sent September 18, 10:39 a.m.)

  Jackson Stratford: REMEMBER THAT LESS IS BEST. WANT ME TO COME THROW SOME OF THAT STUFF OUT FOR YOU? I’M GOING WITH SOMETHING MORE CLASSIC: THE BEATLES. (Text message sent September 18, 10:42 a.m.)

  Violet opened the back door and let Arnie run into the fenced-in yard. This place was perfect. Not too far from the shop, but in a rural area. She couldn’t believe it had been for rent, and the Realtor had told her if she liked it, there was a chance the owners might want to sell.

  She adored everything about the place, especially the big yard and big kitchen—two of her must-haves. And while three bedrooms seemed like a lot for one person, she planned to turn one into an office and have a guest room set up so Reagan could come visit.

  The Lord had certainly blessed her.

  She glanced around the sunny kitchen. It would be easy to get overwhelmed by all the things that needed to be done. Not only did she have a house to put in some kind of order, but she also had to make a lot of decisions about the business. Starting with a catchy name.

  Her phone buzzed.

  Jackson.

  She picked up on the third ring. “The Beatles? Really?”

  He laughed. “I’m a classy guy. I appreciate the finer things in life, which includes re
ally good music.”

  “I guess.” She took the tape off of a box labeled KITCHEN UTENSILS and began to unpack. “So what’s going on? You trying to break the contract already?”

  “Not a chance. Actually, I was calling to see what you have planned for Saturday.”

  “I guess I’ll be unpacking and organizing. Why?” She peeked out the window to check on Arnie. The sweet dog was wriggling in the grass.

  “It’s the Legends Balloon Rally. I thought we might go to some of the festivities.”

  Violet wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know. I’m a little overwhelmed here, trying to get settled and starting to work at the shop. I’m planning on painting the inside pretty soon.”

  “That’s exactly the reason we need to go to the festival. You’ll need a break by then. We’ll eat, listen to some music, and watch the hot air balloons. It’ll be awesome.”

  She sighed. “I just have so much to do.”

  “Tell you what. I’ll stay at the lake house on Saturday night so I can help you paint on Sunday afternoon.”

  Violet thought for a moment. “Can we count painting as one of the contracted dates?”

  He chuckled. “You never stop negotiating, do you?”

  “Nope.”

  Jackson let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, fine. Saturday night and Sunday will each count toward the twenty-five if we grab dinner on Sunday. We’ll be rid of each other before you know it.”

  She opened another box. “Sounds like a plan. What time will you be here on Saturday?”

  “How about late afternoon? That’ll give us time to go to the festival first, and then we’ll have dinner. Maybe five?”

  “See you then.” Violet hung up and put the phone back on the counter. She’d never been to a hot air balloon festival before, but had always heard about it. Inevitably, they would run into her grandparents. It had been forever since she’d introduced a guy to anyone in her family. Not since Zach.