Full bloom, p.19
Full Bloom, page 19
part #3 of Holly and Ivy Series
“Just enough time for what?” she asked as he guided her into the seat and closed the door.
When Nick got in the driver side, she asked again, “Just enough time for what?
“To get to the county clerk’s office before they go to lunch.”
“Why are we going to the…” Holly stopped and swallowed hard.
Nick grinned as he turned the key in the ignition. “You told me to name the date. Today’s the day.”
66 TWENTY-FOUR HOURS
Lucky, Amy and Winston ran to the driveway as Holly and Nick pulled up. They repeated their customary frenetic welcome, but Lucky seemed especially happy to see the pair. Nick bent down and rubbed her ears.
“Good girl!” he said. “When we get home, I’m going to fix this dog a steak dinner. With all that’s been going on, I don’t think she’s gotten the hero treatment she deserves.”
“I’m all for that.” Holly knelt down beside the dog and hugged her neck. Standing back up, she smiled. “Home. That sounds so good. It was great having the weekend to just laze around and catch up, but I am ready to go home.”
“Yeah, I’ve had enough of the country life myself.” Nick pulled her close. “But let’s get one thing straight. We still have a lot of catching up to do.”
Holly smiled. “Save something for the honeymoon.”
Giving him a quick kiss, she took Nick’s hand and pulled him towards the house. As they neared the porch, they heard laughter inside. At the sound of the door, Kate, Ivy, Benny and Tommy turned in unison.
“Oh, you’re just in time,” Ivy chuckled. “Benny’s been telling us about his family’s reaction to Flo’s arrest.”
“Yeah,” Benny’s grin evaporated. “But listen, before I say anything, I need you to swear you will never tell a soul that I’m the one that caught Aunt Flo’s lie or anything else I’m about to tell you.”
Holly and Nick both raised their right hands and simultaneously said, “I swear.”
“Okay.” Benny crouched in a conspiratorial posture. “The only reason they found Aunt Flo’s bloody shirt was because nobody in the darn house took the garbage out. I usually stop by once a week to do that for my mother, but with everything that’s been going on, I didn’t get there this week.”
“So you’re single-handedly responsible for solving your Uncle Chuck’s murder and getting me completely off the hook,” Tommy said.
“That must make you feel good.” Holly patted Benny on the shoulder.
“Honestly, I have what you call mixed demotions.” Benny’s expression turned glum. “I’m glad we know who did it and we don’t have to worry there’s some crazed killer out there. But I do feel a little bad about Aunt Flo. Maybe if things had worked out for her and Bascom, she’d have had a better life.”
“What!” Kate exclaimed. “She and the sheriff had a thing?”
“Oh, boy,” Benny muttered. “There I go again. Telling secrets.”
“I knew there had to be a connection between those two.,” Kate lightly pounded the table with her fist. “Dish, Benny!”
Benny grimaced. “I thought everyone knew. They were king and queen of the prom in high school.”
“Wow,” Ivy gasped. “I can’t picture Flo as prom queen.”
“Oh, yeah,” Benny said. “She was a real looker. My mom has pictures.”
“What happened between them?” Tommy asked.
“From what my mother says, Aunt Flo had a temper even back then. One night she and Bascom had a big fight out in the parking lot at a bar. He slapped her around, and Uncle Chuck stopped him. The rest is history.”
“You’re kidding?” Kate said.
Benny shook his head. “Nope. And I always felt like Bascom still had a thing for Aunt Flo. It’s really kind of sad. And now she’s going to jail and it’s all my fault.”
Nick put his hand on Benny’s shoulder. “No, it’s not your fault. She murdered her husband. You’re not responsible. Besides, you should be looking on the bright side. After everything that’s happened, you could have a future in law enforcement.”
“Aw, go on.” Benny blushed.
“Yeah,” Kate said. “We are going to need a new sheriff now that Bascom’s in jail.”
“No, no.” Benny shook his whole body. “That ain’t the life for me.”
“Seriously. What about private detective work?” Ivy asked.
The kitchen door opened again and Razor walked in. “I heard what you said, little sister. Mr. Loose Lips here could never be a private eye.”
“Razor’s right.” Benny nodded in agreement. “We got our own odd job business and that’s good enough for me.”
Kate turned to Nick and Holly. “So how’d it go in Liberty?”
“I picked Roxy Barnett out of the line-up and as soon as she read a sentence, I knew she was the woman in the witch’s mask.”
“Aren’t you going to tell them?” Nick looked at Holly.
“I’ll let you tell them,” Holly replied smiling.
“Well, tell us already,” Kate said waving her hands impatiently.
“We stopped at the county clerk’s office and got a marriage license.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” Ivy jumped out of her chair and ran over to hug Holly.
“About time,” Kate said, walking over to the refrigerator. Pulling out a bottle of Perrier-Jouet, she said, “Tommy, could you get the champagne flutes out of the cabinet in the dining room.” She handed the bottle to Nick. “You know how long I’ve been waiting for this?”
“Not as long as me,” he laughed, pulling the paper off the bottle top and popping the cork.
Tommy placed the glasses on the counter as Kate poured. When everyone had a glass in hand, Kate raised hers. “To Holly and Nick. May you live happily ever after.”
“To Holly and Nick,” everyone repeated.
“Oh, this is going to be great,” Ivy gushed. “Maybe I can stay a few more days when we get back to New Jersey and help you start planning the wedding.”
Holly grimaced. “Well, we don’t really want a wedding.”
“Yeah,” Nick said. “If the Justice of the Peace weren’t in Binghamton today, we’d already be married.”
“What!” Ivy put her glass down. “No, no! You have to have a wedding.”
“Oh, yeah,” Kate said. “You’re not depriving me of this.”
“Well, if you want a wedding, you’re going to have to plan it in the next twenty-four hours,” Nick said. “I left my number for the Justice of the Peace and told him to call me about marrying us tomorrow.”
Kate and Ivy made eye contact. “We can do that.”
67 BACK STORY
On the porch, Holly, Ivy and Kate all stopped and stared at one another as the theme song from Rocky poured out of Holly’s cellphone. Ivy held up crossed fingers on both hands as Holly answered.
“Yeah. Uh-huh. Okay. I love you.” She broke into a smile as she looked at her sister and her friend. “Looks like it’s a go. Nick says the Justice of the Peace can make it here tomorrow at two o’clock.”
Kate and Ivy squealed as they gave each other high fives.
“Okay, we can cross that off the list.” Kate picked up her pen and made a mark on her legal pad as the red Honda pulled into the driveway.
They heard the sound of the trunk pop before Raquelle opened her door.
“Oh, let’s see what she’s got.” Ivy rushed down the steps and across the yard.
By the time Holly and Ivy got to the car, Raquelle was handing bags to Ivy.
“I got dinner rolls, plastic plates, silverware, cups and napkins. The restaurant said they can have the food and cake delivered by one-thirty tomorrow. If that’s good, I’ll call and confirm the order right now.”
“Make the call,” Kate said. “We just got word that the Justice of the Peace will be here at two.”
“This is so exciting,” Ivy said as they carried the bags inside. “Everything is just coming together perfectly.”
After Raquelle completed the call, she said, “Okay. Anything else you want me to do?”
Kate looked down at her legal pad, and then back up grinning. “I think you can relax, now. You’ve helped whittle our to-do list down considerably.”
“We can’t thank you enough,” Ivy said.
“Okay, then.” Raquelle smiled. “I’m going home.”
She headed out the door and Kate quickly followed.
“Wait, Raquelle. Why don’t you sit down. I’ll get you some iced tea. Are you hungry?”
As Holly and Ivy stepped out on the porch, Raquelle gave Kate a wary look. “You just want to know what happened with me and Jason last night.”
Kate filled her cheeks with air, then exhaled loudly. “Guilty as charged.”
“Not just Kate,” Ivy added. “I’m curious, too.”
“You might as well sit down and tell us,” Holly said as she sat down on the chaise. “They won’t stop hounding you until you do. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about. And you don’t want to have this conversation tomorrow during the wedding reception.”
Raquelle dropped into a chair. “Okay, here’s the back story. Jason and I had a brief fling the summer after graduation. Then, one day, I find out he’s left for Europe without even saying good-bye. After that he went off to college without ever coming home.” She looked out across the yard. “He broke my heart.”
Ivy sat in the chair next to Raquelle and patted her forearm. “And Tommy?”
Raquelle lowered her eyes to the floor. After a moment, she looked up. “Oh, what the hell! After last night it doesn’t matter anymore. Damn Benny! Yes, Jason is Tommy’s father.”
“He never knew?” Holly asked.
“No.”
“And you never tried to contact him?” Kate said.
“Oh, I went by his house once that summer. His mother called me a tramp and said I had a lot of nerve coming to her front door -- that Jason was out of my league and if I knew what was good for me, I’d never come around again.”
“The whole Bascom family sounds just darling,” Holly scoffed.
“What did Jason have to say for himself?” Ivy asked.
“He said one morning he woke up, his bags were packed and his Uncle Cyrus said the trip to Europe was his surprise graduation present. When he flew back, Cyrus picked him up at the airport and drove him straight to his college dorm at the University of South Carolina. He claims he looked for me when he came home at Christmas, but by then I was gone.”
“Where’d you go?” Kate asked.
“When I told my mother I was pregnant, she threw me out. I went and stayed with my aunt in Binghamton until Tommy was born. I was going to stay there, but then my mother died and I inherited the house, so I came back here. I should have sold the damn place and stayed with my aunt, but no. Not me. I had to prove something.” Raquelle lowered her head.
“I get that,” Holly sat forward in her chair. “Don’t beat yourself up.”
“Did you hope Jason would maybe come around?” Ivy asked.
“At first.” Raquelle’s expression hardened. “But that got old fast. I had a son to take care of. I’m not proud of everything I did back then, but I made sure Tommy was fed and healthy. I slept with anyone who could help me keep the roof over our heads. That’s when Cyrus came sniffing around.”
“Oh, gosh.” Kate’s eyes widened. “I forgot you told us Cyrus Bascom pressured you to have sex with him.”
“I think he suspected Tommy was Jason’s. I guess he just wanted to drive me out of town. When I turned him down, he started to harass the men I was involved with -- threatening to arrest them on some trumped up charge.” Raquelle’s angry face transformed into a wicked smile. “That’s when I finally smartened up.”
“What did you do?” Ivy asked.
“I had an affair with then Mayor Bobby Crenshaw.”
“You didn’t!” Kate giggled.
“I told you I’m not proud of everything I did back then, but Crenshaw got me the job with the parks commission and got Cyrus Bascom off my back. Life was real good until Bobby died two years ago.” The clouds returned to Raquelle’s brow. “That’s when Cyrus started harassing Tommy.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Holly said. “From what Nick told me, they’ve got him on everything from drug-running to coercion and evidence tampering.”
Ivy looked wistful. “What’s Jason’s side of this? He never suspected Tommy was his son?”
Raquelle sighed. “After college he got married to Ashley Brenner -- the Brenners own half of Reddington Manor. She was his mother’s dream choice for her son.” Raquelle rolled her eyes. “By then, my reputation was pretty well shot. He said he heard I’d sleep with anybody who’d pay the electric bill, so he never thought Tommy was his son. He said whenever he tried to approach me, I treated him like dirt. That part is true.”
Kate’s brow creased. “Didn’t I hear he got divorced?”
Raquelle just nodded.
“Any chance you two might have a future together?” Ivy asked.
“Stop.” Holly snapped, turning to Raquelle. “Don’t let them make you crazy.”
“Ignore her.” Kate gave Holly a dismissive wave. “How’s Tommy dealing with all this?”
Raquelle shook her head, a half-frown, half-smile on her face. “Well, that’s just it. He and Jason seem to have bonded instantly. Tonight, they’re meeting for pizza downtown and they’re planning a fishing trip next weekend. Jason has two daughters, so he seems just thrilled to have a son to do guy things with.”
“Aw, that’s great.” Ivy smiled.
Holly’s left eyebrow popped upward. “Looks like you’re going to have some kind of relationship with Jason, like it or not.”
“Looks like,” Raquelle nodded.
“Well, if you need help planning a wedding…”
68 AT LAST
“You look beautiful.” Ivy beamed at Holly.
Holly looked in the mirror. “Not bad. Can you believe Kate actually bought this dress for herself? I’m two sizes bigger than her and it fits me perfectly.”
Over Holly’s shoulder, Ivy admired her sister’s reflection in the mirror. The champagne pink dress flattered Holly’s curves.
“It’s not really her style either.”
“Okay,” Kate rushed into the room carrying a bouquet of flowers. Stopping as Holly turned to face her, she said, “Oh, the dress is perfect. It fits as if it was made for you.”
“Yes,” Ivy said. “We were wondering whatever possessed you to buy this dress. It’s not your size or your style.”
Kate tilted her head, a Mona Lisa smile on her face. “You know, I’m not sure. I didn’t even try it on. I just remember feeling that I had to buy it.”
“Do you think your grandmother had something to do with that?” Holly asked.
Kate laughed. “Possibly, but you know this wouldn’t be the first time I bought something not knowing why and then months later found a use for it.”
“You’re a little scary.” Ivy walked over and hugged Kate. “But I’ve grown to love you as much as Holly does.”
“Stop,” Holly said, “before I get misty-eyed and ruin my make-up. Let me see that bouquet.”
“You like?” Kate held the bouquet out for the sisters to examine.
“Magnificent!” Holly said. “Now I know, everything in this bouquet has to have a meaning. Of course, I know the red roses symbolize love.”
“The arbor is so loaded with roses, you can’t even notice I removed these. The best part is they’re in full bloom today.”
“That’s a good omen,” Ivy nodded.
“Oh, look, Ivy!” Holly exclaimed. “She put in some holly branches and ivy vines.”
“But, of course,” Kate grinned. “Holly is for domestic happiness and ivy is for wedded love and fidelity. I also threw in some lavender for devotion, parsley for festivity and I couldn’t leave out baby’s breath.”
“I know that one,” Ivy said. “That’s for everlasting love.”
“Thank you, Kate.” Holly took the bouquet in her arms. “You, too, Ivy. I didn’t want a wedding, but what you’ve managed to accomplish in twenty-four hours is just amazing. And I love everything you’ve done.”
“Yes, I’m pretty proud of us.” Kate nodded.
A car horn caused Kate to go to the window. “The food is here. I better go downstairs.”
“I’ll go,” Ivy volunteered. “Don’t you think you should get dressed?”
Kate looked down at her grass-stained jeans. “Oh, yeah.”
***************
Centered under the arbor, the Justice of the Peace closed his book and smiled. “I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Nick met no resistance as he pulled Holly close and kissed her. As everyone applauded, he whispered in her ear. “I love you.”
“I love you more,” she whispered back.
The newlyweds turned to the group patiently waiting to congratulate them.
Kate hugged Holly. “Now, don’t screw this up.”
Holly looked at her friend with a droll smile. “You couldn’t just say congratulations?”
“Aw, you don’t want me to get sappy, do you?” Kate squeezed Holly’s arms and released her. “I’ve got to go help Raquelle and Tommy pour the champagne,” she said as she scurried off in the direction of the porch.
As Ivy hugged Holly, Benny shook Nick’s hand. “Way to go, Nick.”
“Good luck, man,” Razor smiled as he congratulated the groom. “You got your hands full now.”
“Champagne is now being served,” Kate called from the porch.
Razor and Benny immediately headed in that direction.
Jason shook Nick’s hand last.
“Congratulations.”
“You next?” Nick grinned.
Jason smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.” As the two men turned and started slowly towards the house, he added. “I want to thank you.”
“For what?” Nick asked
“For everything. I’ve been reinstated. Major Hodges told me your endorsement was a big part of their decision to repeal my suspension.”
