Page 4 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)
Chapter
Two
HAWTHORNE
“ I think it’s perfect,” Darby told Autumn, looking at the wedding dress her cousin now modeled.
“With it being my second wedding, I didn’t want to go all-out bride,” Autumn said.
“This hits the mark,” Summer told her twin.
“You can wear it for tomorrow’s wedding, but you can also wear it for other occasions.
Personally, I’m all about versatility in clothing these days.
My place in New York is so tiny, every piece of clothing needs to double or triple its value in order for it to be a part of my wardrobe.
” She sighed. “Oh, for the days of living in Texas and having a walk-in closet.”
Autumn smoothed the skirt of the tea-length dress.
“It seems so odd to be wearing civilian clothes all the time now. For years, I lived in scrubs, both at work and at home. On my days off, it was just easier to toss on a pair of scrubs and do housework or run errands. I’ve actually had to go out and buy a lot of clothes so I’m dressed appropriately for my job. ”
“I’m glad you are settling in nicely to your new role at Triple H,” Darby said, using the nickname for Hogan Health Hawthorne. “Overseeing the entire nursing staff is a big career step up for you.”
“It has been,” Autumn agreed. “I’m glad that Eli had faith in me professionally—and now personally. Oh, I’m so happy, I could burst!” She twirled in a circle, her joy obvious.
Summer leaped to her feet and hugged her sister, and Darby joined in, making it a group hug.
“I need to get going,” she told the twins. “I’m going over to Kelby’s to see her new house. She said she has a Hawks shirt for me to wear to the game tonight.”
“You’ll meet us at the tailgate?” Summer asked.
“Yes. And I assume we’ll all sit together at the game.”
“Right along with Mom and Dad on the fifty-yard line,” Autumn said, laughing. “Dad staked out their seats years ago, same as he did his pew at church on Sunday mornings. Now that he’s the superintendent of Hawthorne’s schools, no one would dare sit in Joe Sutherland’s place.”
“See you soon,” Darby said, fetching the keys to the rental car and her purse.
She drove to Kelby and West’s new house, which had only been finished last month.
The couple had bought five acres located just outside of Hawthorne so they would have plenty of room to raise their family.
For a moment, a pang of jealousy sparked within her at that thought.
Kelby had been her best friend since kindergarten, and she was happy that Kelby and West had found one another after so many years apart.
As she pulled up to the sprawling ranch house, she admired the color of the brick and outside design, as well as its landscaping. Kelby answered the door, pulling Darby in for a long hug.
“I’m so glad to see you,” her friend said. “Come on. Let me give you a quick tour of the place.”
They moved through the house, with Kelby pointing out features she liked about it, including the large outdoor kitchen and firepit in the backyard.
“You have plenty of room here,” she said. “It looks as if you’ll be hosting family gatherings in the future.”
“We’re happy to do that.” Kelby took Darby’s hands in hers. “Oh, I can’t tell you how happy I am to be married to West and back in Hawthorne. Remember when we thought this place was boring and couldn’t wait to leave?”
“Going to college in Austin together was exciting,” she agreed. “And cheering for the Longhorns with you made my college years a dream come true.”
She turned away, but her friend pressed, “What is it? You seem off.”
“I had lunch with Sawyer today and talked to him a little bit about this. I’m in a quandary, Kelby. I feel as if I’m at a crossroads in my life.”
“Is it work? Mitch? Both?”
“Mitch and I are done. He got back together with his former girlfriend. They were a case of being at the right place at the wrong time. I’m happy for him. I think we’ll even stay friends.” She hesitated. “This is more of a work and life dilemma. If I were older, I’d call it my midlife crisis.”
“I thought you enjoyed what you do at Cheer USA,” Kelby protested. “You’ve never led me to believe otherwise. You also got that promotion not too long ago, so that means you won’t be traveling as much in the future.”
“I don’t feel challenged anymore. I feel like I’m simply going through the motions at work,” she admitted.
Kelby squeezed Darby’s hands. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s been eye-opening to start my own business, but I’ve never been happier taking the risk. Maybe you’d like to come to work with me at Social Synergy Creations.”
“No, that’s your thing. Not mine.”
“Then what are you thinking about doing? Teach?”
She nodded. “I’m toying with that idea. Of course, school just started a few weeks ago in Texas. It’s not as if I could find a full-time position at this point. I’ve thought about how much I’ve loved working with cheer campers all these years, and I’d like to put my teaching degree to good use.”
“I know you’re certified here in Texas. Would you consider moving back to Hawthorne?”
“I think this is where I’m supposed to be,” Darby said quietly.
“Sawyer’s come back. As much as he enjoyed working and living in Dallas, he said he really likes the slower pace and the friendliness of the people here in Hawthorne.
I’m thinking about talking to Uncle Joe about it.
Going on and putting my application in so that it’s on file.
That way, when next spring comes and hopefully a few openings pop up, I could already be in line. ”
“You know you have my support in whatever you decide to do,” Kelby assured her. “Even if you want to quit Cheer USA now. You could move in with West and me. You see how big the house is. You could sub. Get your feet wet that way. See if teaching is really what you want to do.”
“That’s a kind offer, but I don’t know if I could give up a full-time salary in order to sub.”
“Well, the offer is out there if you want to take us up on it. Rent-free, to sweeten the pot.”
“Shouldn’t you run that by West first?”
“West adores you. You’re his cousin and friend. Family to both of us. He’d be happy to have you here.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, let’s go find something for you to wear. As the new football coach’s wife, I already have an extensive wardrobe of Hawthorne Hawks game wear. T-shirts. Hats. Necklaces and earrings. We’ll get you decked out.”
After Darby changed into a Hawks T-shirt and donned a button and pair of earrings, Kelby said it was time to leave for the tailgate. They arrived and found Uncle Joe and Aunt Meg.
“Hamburger or hot dog?” her uncle asked, turning a hamburger patty.
“Whichever is ready to come off the grill first,” Darby said, Kelby echoing the same.
They each took hot dogs and dressed them with mustard and pickle relish. A huge pot of queso caught her attention and she placed tortilla chips on her plate, ladling the queso on top of the pile.
Eli came up to them, introducing himself. “It’s nice to meet you in person, Darby,” the handsome doctor said. “We’re really glad you’re in town this weekend for our wedding.”
“If I hadn’t already been here, I would’ve flown down in a heartbeat,” she assured him. “Autumn has always been more like a sister than a cousin to me. I wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world.”
Autumn waved them over, holding up bottled waters. They joined her. Conversation turned to Triple H and its impact on the community.
“I drove by it when I came into Hawthorne. It’s really large and a beautiful building.”
“Come see it inside,” Eli said. “We’ll give you a tour.”
“I’d like that,” Darby told him.
“How long will you be town?” Summer asked her.
Darby explained that she had meetings Tuesday and Wednesday at the downtown Dallas facility which would be hosting Cheer USA’s national competition in early February.
“It’s never been held in Dallas before, but part of my job has been scouting locations for future competitions. I believe this arena will be the perfect place to hold next year’s competition. I also hope Hawthorne’s cheerleaders will enter it.”
“I’ll introduce you to Kay Timmons,” Kelby said. “She’s the cheer coach at HHS.”
Eli told them he needed to report to the field since he was the physician on duty for the game and that he’d see them later. Darby finished her food and when Kelby had done the same, they said they’d meet the others in the stands.
As they approached the stadium, memories flooded Darby.
She had grown up going to games here at Hawks Field, and then she and Kelby had cheered for the Hawks during their high school years.
This was her first time attending a game since she herself had been a cheerleader as a teen.
She could hear the band warming up and knew the cheerleaders were doing the same, stretching their muscles and turning flips and cartwheels.
“I briefly met Kay at a cheer camp this summer held at SMU,” Darby said, as they moved down the concrete stairs to the track which surrounded the field.
Just as she suspected, the cheerleaders were already on the track, their megaphones and pompoms placed at equal distance from one another as the girls went through their warmup routines. She spied Kay in conversation with a man Darby didn’t recognize.
Touching Kelby’s arm, she said, “Let’s wait a minute. Looks like they’re having a serious conversation.”
“That’s Kay’s husband. Todd. I wonder what’s going on. Kay looks upset.”
“Maybe this isn’t a good time to chat with her,” Darby said, hesitant to approach the cheer sponsor.
Todd Timmons kissed his wife’s cheek and walked away. By now, a couple of the girls had seen Kelby and Darby and greeted them. They talked to the cheerleaders for a few minutes and then excused themselves, moving in Kay’s direction.
“Is everything all right, Kay?” Kelby asked. “This is my best friend and former Hawks cheerleader, Darby Montgomery.”