Mariah Stewart - Coming Home

“The police chief?” Candice repeated.

“Yeah, and the woman he’s marrying is a county criminal investigator, and all her brothers and cousins are FBI agents. God forbid anyone should think about committing a crime in St. Dennis over the weekend.”

“God forbid,” the woman agreed as Vanessa came back out to the shop floor. “Well, thank you for letting me try on the dress.”

“Of course. Come back anytime.” Vanessa walked her to the door and held it open for Candice to pass through. She waved good-bye from the door and closed it behind her.

“What a slow day,” Vanessa complained to Steffie. “That was it as far as customers go.”

Steffie glanced at her watch. “It’s early yet. It’s a nice, warm sunny morning. By two this afternoon, the sidewalks will be packed.”

“So what’s put that shit-eating grin on your face this morning?”

“Guess who I had coffee with while you were trying to make your first sale of the day?”

“I couldn’t even begin to guess.”

“Mountain Man.”

“Oh, Grady?” Vanessa tried to appear disinterested. “Where’d you run into him?”

“Across the street at Cuppachino. He was there with Beck and the other brother who’s going to be in the wedding and his wife.”

“Andy. Dorsey is his wife.”

“Right. And I’m here to tell you, the man is not all that dull.”

“Really? Couldn’t prove it by me.” Vanessa refolded a stack of T-shirts. “I met him at Hal’s party the other night. I wasn’t impressed.”

“You lie.”

“No, seriously. I wasn’t at all…”

Steffie started to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Vanessa raised an indignant eyebrow.

“Did you know that when you try to tell a lie, your eyes shift to one side?”

“You’ve been watching too much TV,” Vanessa grumbled.

“Seriously, Ness.” Still grinning, Steffie rested her el bows on the counter. “How could you not be impressed? He’s good-looking, articulate, smart, interesting-”

“You got all that over one cup of coffee?”

“And a cheese Danish.”

“A Danish?” Vanessa raised an eyebrow. “What happened to the water diet you were on a few days ago?”

“This was a special occasion.”

“Well, since you so obviously think this guy’s got it all, I say go for it.”

“Thanks, but he’s not my type.”

“Stef, you just finished telling me that he’s-”

“He’s all those things I said. He’s a really nice guy. But…” Steffie shrugged. “No spark. Know what I mean?”

Vanessa stared at Steffie. “I’m… speechless.”

“I know.” Steffie grinned. “I could hardly believe it myself. But you know how I always know the minute I meet a guy if there’s ever going to be something there or not?”

Intrigued, Vanessa nodded.

“Well… nothing.” Steffie held up both hands. “Nada. Zilch.”

“Wow. Who’d have guessed it?” Vanessa’s eyes began to twinkle. “The first really hot single guy to hit St. Dennis since I moved here, and Steffie isn’t feeling the love. I guess stranger things have happened. Perhaps not in my lifetime, but still…”

“There is an explanation.”

“Do tell.”

Steffie leaned over the counter. “I heard that Beck invited Wade MacGregor to the wedding and that he’s coming in on Friday. And that he isn’t bringing a date.”

“I saw the name on the guest list, but I don’t know who he is.”

“He’s a guy who used to pal around with my brother. He and Beck used to sail together.”

“Just a guy?”

“Just the guy. As in, the guy I wrote about in my diary. The guy I walked three blocks out of my way every day just to go by his house. The guy who broke my heart when he took Krista Blackwell to the prom junior year.”

“How about senior year?”

“I don’t remember who he took his senior year, but my senior year, I wanted to ask him but my mom wouldn’t let me.”

“Why not?”

“Because she thought he was too old for me.”

“How much older?”

“Like, four years.”

“That’s a lot when you’re in high school, Stef. He’d have been in college already.”

“He was. I invited him to my graduation party, and he came and brought me flowers.” Steffie’s eyes took on a dreamy look. “I made him kiss me out back near the grape arbor.”

“What happened next?”

“You mean after the kiss that set the standard for the entire rest of my life and has never been duplicated?” Stef made a face. “He was outta there so fast I barely even saw him leave. Left me brokenhearted. Never wrote, never called.”

“So you would want to see him again… why?”

“I guess just to see what I missed.”

“Uh-uh. Wrong answer.”

“There’s a right answer?” Steffie frowned.

“Yes. The correct response would have been, ‘So that he can see what he missed.’”

“Well, that goes without saying.” Steffie fluffed up her long blond hair.

“So where’s he been all these years?”

“I don’t know. No one ever really seems to talk about him. Everyone talks about his sister, of course. His sister is… wait for it now.” Steffie paused dramatically. “Dallas MacGregor.”

“Dallas MacGregor, the movie star?” Vanessa’s eyes widened. “I did hear that she was a local.”

“Not exactly. Her great-aunt is a local, lived here all her life. Still does, even though she’s like a million years old by now. Dallas used to visit a lot when she was a kid. Believe it or not, she and my brother had a thing going once upon a time. When their dad died, her mother and brother moved in with the great-aunt for a while so that Wade could go to school here. Dallas was older than Wade and she was already in college by then. She did come back in the summers, at least, until Wade finished high school and their mom moved away. You always see stuff in the magazines and newspapers about Dallas, but I never hear much of anything about Wade. I imagine someone in town knows what he’s been up to. Beck must hear from him.”

“I’m sure Beck knows. Want me to pump him?”

“No, thanks. He’ll know why you’re asking and he’ll tell Wade. I’d rather ambush him.” Steffie grinned.

“Well, then, have you gotten a dress yet?” Vanessa walked to the front of the shop. “Because if you haven’t…” She pulled a silk sheath in pastel water-colors from the rack. “This little number just happens to be your size.”

“Ohhh. Gorgeous! The colors…” Steffie reached out with both hands. “Gimme…”

Vanessa laughed and handed over the dress. “You know where the dressing room is.”

Minutes later, Steffie stepped out wearing the dress and pronounced, “I am an absolute goddess in this dress.”

“Oh, my. You certainly are.” Vanessa nodded. “It’s perfect on you.”

Stef looked at the tag and gulped. “Think I could get the same twenty percent off that you offered the woman who just left?”

“I can do better than that. Since it’s so perfect for you-and I admit I did think of you when I ordered it in-I’ll give it to you at cost.”

“Gasp.” Steffie held a hand to her heart.

“The offer comes with strings.”

“Anything. You name it. Lifetime unlimited ice cream-delivered to your door. A flavor named after you…”

“Loan me one of your girls to cover the shop for Saturday afternoon until closing. Nan is working for me on Thursday and most of Saturday, but her grandson is being christened on Sunday in Virginia and she needs to leave on Saturday by four. I’ve asked everyone I can think of. I just need someone until seven. All she’ll have to do is turn off the lights and lock the front door.”