Boo Who (51 page)

“It was perfect,” she said. “Melb thought it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. The food was amazing.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry I missed it. What did Alfred think? Did he get the shots he wanted?” He didn’t really want to know, but it was important to her, so he figured he’d better ask.

She took him by the arm and led him into the kitchen where they sat at the breakfast table. “I have a story for you too, but I want you to know something.” “What?”

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For … being selfish. I didn’t see what all this was doing to me. To us. All I could see was success.”

He took her hand. “Ainsley, there’s nothing wrong with having stars in your eyes. For dreaming big. For following your heart.”

“But I put our relationship in jeopardy, and I’m sorry for that. I realized the only thing I want is to be your wife. I don’t want the kind of lifestyle where every part of you is scrutinized and if you make a mistake the whole world knows and judges you for it.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I’m done becoming the next Martha Stewart. It’s not what I want.”

He frowned. “But last night … I saw you at the reception … acting …”

“Good grief, that was just an act! I was trying to act so horrible Alfred would just fire me, but instead he grew more insistent. But it didn’t matter anyway, because it all worked out. It’s over. Believe me, it’s really over.” And then she burst into tears. He quickly moved to her side and held her until she was able to talk. “Wolfe,” she said, “I’ve really messed up. We’re to be married in a week, and I don’t have anything done for the wedding. And I don’t think I will have anything done. I don’t think I can pull it off. I’ve ruined our wedding day!”

“No, no, sweetheart, no …” he said, trying to comfort her. He lifted her chin. “The only thing that will ruin our wedding day is if you are not there.” He wiped her tears. “Let’s have a small wedding, just family
and close friends, and do it at the church with the reverend. Let’s make it simple … simply about our love.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No, Ainsley. I love you no matter what.”

Thankfully, though, he didn’t have to love the woman he thought he saw at Melb’s wedding!

Jack sat in his jail cell, lonely but at peace. He’d spent the last several days contemplating what he might do with his life when—if—he got out of jail, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t know. He didn’t have an answer. And for some odd reason, it felt good. For all his life, he’d planned ahead like every day was guaranteed to him. But last night he realized every day is a gift. Every day has its own purpose. He’d lived so far in advance of himself, afraid he wouldn’t have enough money, he’d missed the very essence of life.

Keys rattling a few feet away made him look up. The sheriff was coming toward his cell. He stood up and went to the bars.

“Good morning, Jack,” the sheriff said. His eyes looked tired.

“Good morning.”

“You’re free today.”

“Free? On bail?”

“No. Just free.”

“Really?

“The truth of the matter is that we don’t have the money to prosecute you. So we’re just going to have to let you go.”

“Oh. Wow.” And he had been so hard on small towns. This was actually going to work out well.

The sheriff said, “But sir, I hope you know this kind of behavior will not be tolerated in this town. Get your act together. Become a productive citizen.”

“You’re not making me get outta town? I thought that was the standard line for somebody like me.”

The sheriff smiled. “You have a lot of misconceptions, don’t you?”

“I guess so.”

He unlocked the door and opened it. “Can I give you a ride home?”

“Really? Yeah … that’d be great. I was just going to ask someone if they could go by and feed my cat.”

The sheriff led him outside. “You have a cat?”

“Yeah. Her name’s Blot. I adopted her. But ever since I’ve had her, she’s just gotten lazy and fat.”

The sheriff smiled as they got in his car. “Cats do that sometimes. You haven’t spoiled her have you?”

He laughed. “I don’t think so.”

A few minutes later, they arrived at Jack’s house. Jack said, “Sheriff, won’t you come in?” When the sheriff hesitated, he said, “Please. I just … I’d like some company. Just for a few minutes.”

“Sure. Why not?”

Jack walked up the front porch stairs and the sheriff followed. As he unlocked his door, the sheriff said, “Nice cat door. Was thinking of getting one installed myself. Except my cat has gone missing now.”

“Oh no. That’s too bad. The one at the jail?”

“Yeah. Thief. I can’t imagine where he’d be.”

Jack opened the door and let the sheriff in. They walked through the house and Jack called for Blot. “Here, kitty. Here! Here, kitty!”

But there was no cat. Jack stood in the middle of the living room, perplexed. “Where could she be?”

“Maybe she went out for some food,” the sheriff said.

“I left enough for five days.”

And then they heard it. A faint meow. Coming from the bedroom. Jack hurried toward the sound, and the sheriff followed. He opened the closet door.

“Blot!” Surrounding the cat were seven little kittens, only a day or two old.

“Thief!” the sheriff cried, as his cat ducked under some clothes and disappeared. “Why, you scoundrel! Is this your woman?”

Thief meowed and reappeared to settle next to Blot. The sheriff said, “This must’ve been his last hurrah before the surgery.” He looked at Thief. “So you’re settling down, are you? Decided to stay with just one lady cat?”

Thief nuzzled Blot, and she meowed softly. The sheriff laughed. “Goodness, gracious me! The way things turn out sometimes! I’m glad you’re okay, fellow. I’ve been worried about you.”

Jack smiled. “Thief can stay here as long as he wants.”

The sheriff stuck out his hand. “Welcome to Skary.”

“Thank you, sir.” He smiled, looking at the litter. “A new place to call home.”

Mayor Wullisworth, in long, khaki pants, a white, button-down shirt, and a striking red and gray tie, followed Martin down the long, stale hallway of the hospital. Martin stopped outside Miss Peeple’s room, glancing in the window to make sure she was still there.

“She looks bad,” Martin said.

The mayor straightened up his tie. “How do I look?”

“Like the fabulous mayor of Skary that you are,” Martin smiled.

“I feel good,” said the mayor. “I feel strong.”

“You don’t even look tired, and we stayed up really late last night.”

“Martin, you are quite a friend. I want you to know that. You never gave up on me or this town. You should be mayor.”

“No sir. It’s your calling.”

Mayor Wullisworth tugged on the cuffs of his sleeves. “I think you are right, Martin. This town needs to know its roots. It needs to understand why we were founded, what our purpose was for being created. I think when they understand that, a passion will be birthed in them that will be unstoppable.”

“You ready to go in there?”

“Alone, if that’s okay.”

“Most certainly,” Martin said. “I will be in the waiting area.”

Mayor Wullisworth walked into the room. It smelled septic. Miss Peeple stirred, barely opening her eyes. The mayor went over to her bedside.

“Miss Peeple, it’s Mayor Wullisworth.”

Her eyes flittered open, and she turned her head. “Mayor …”

He pulled over a stool and sat down beside her. “I want you to know that I will be forever indebted to you. Martin Blarty told me everything you did for this town. You risked your reputation for the good of this town. That is a tremendous sacrifice.”

Missy seemed to try to speak, but then she simply watched him.

“I also understand that you spent your entire life savings for an ad trying to garner business for Skary. I can’t tell you how amazed I am.” He took her cold, bony hand. Tears reflected in her eyes. “Missy, I think everyone underestimated how much you love this town and why. This town saved your mother’s life, and therefore gave you life. I know it is a hard thing to admit your grandmother was a prostitute, but in doing so, you have allowed this town an opportunity to find itself and to thrive.” He squeezed her hand. “I believe with all my heart that this town will live, and that it will become a flourishing community again. Every town has its flaws. We certainly have our share. But we have a purpose, too. And we have that because of you.”

And then Mayor Wullisworth stood and bent down, kissing Missy first on the forehead and then on the cheek. She looked up at him, tears trickling down her face. “You dog,” she said in barely a whisper. “After all this time, now that I’m about to die, you decide to fall in love with me.”

Mayor Wullisworth smiled. Her hand slipped from his, and he bent down one more time and kissed her forehead, smoothing out her long gray hair. A large smile formed on her lips. She looked into his eyes one last time before hers closed gently. She took a final breath and then died.

CHAPTER 39

“Y
OU LOOK BEAUTIFUL
,” her father said, standing behind her and staring at her in the mirror before them.

Ainsley smoothed out the wrinkles of her slim wedding dress. The train was four feet long behind her, swirled in a perfect circle. Her veil, high on her head, fell down her back like a waterfall.

“The makeup is perfect,” she told Marlee, who stood in the corner of the room doing her own makeup. “And the hair is too.”

“Honey, you could be bald and barefaced, and you’d still be the prettiest woman I know,” Marlee replied.

“How are you feeling?” her dad asked.

“Great, actually.” She laughed. “It’s nice to not have to worry about anything other than kissing the man of my dreams and saying, ‘I do’!”

“Yeah, not too much can go wrong there,” Marlee said. “I once was at a wedding where the bride knocked over one of the candles, and it caught the back of her dress on fire! The groom had to stomp on it to put it out.”

“Won’t have to worry about any of that,” Ainsley said, facing the mirror. “Or the flowers wilting. Or the cake falling.” She swallowed down that last bit of regret and held her chin high. “None of it matters except the man at the altar.”

“Speaking of that, it’s time, my child.” Her father hugged her and swept his hand across her cheek.

Her heart leapt at the prospect of seeing Wolfe on their wedding day. “Let’s go!”

Her father and Marlee drove her to the church, pulling the car up
right in front of the church steps. Her father got out and quickly went to the other side to help her out of the car. Marlee said, “You still don’t have any idea where he’s taking you on your honeymoon?”

“Not a clue!” Ainsley gushed. “He’s kept it a perfect secret!”

Outside the car, the air was cool and calm. The day was brilliantly sunny despite the cold. She could even feel the sun’s warm rays on her bare shoulders. Her father and Marlee helped her up the steps.

“Break a leg, kid,” Marlee said, and rushed inside to find a seat. Her father took her arm and they walked to the front door together.

“This is it,” she smiled.

“This is it!” her father said. “You are marrying a wonderful man today. You two will be happy beyond belief.”