Page 44 of Cupcake of the Month (Just Add Peaches #2)

Jordan tightened her seatbelt as the plane touched down in Atlanta’s airport, preparing for its rapid slowdown on the runway.

The rush of sound couldn’t drown out the echo of her heartbeat in her head.

It had been almost two months since she’d last seen Josh.

Brandi, Wendy, and Rob, too, but really Josh.

She had one more day to prepare before Rob’s book release party put Josh in her line of sight again.

The plane taxied to the gate, and she waited while other passengers grabbed their bags from the overhead bins. She was in no rush, letting those who possibly had connecting flights go ahead.

She had packed only a carryon, a far cry from the mounds of luggage she had brought with her to Fountenoy Hall at the beginning of the summer. Soon she was behind the wheel of the rental car, starting the journey that would bring her back to the place she had called home for a few months.

Even though it was after the new year, the temperatures were more like early autumn for her. The trees on the drive south still sported green leaves, though a few of them boasted yellow and red hues. Nothing like her New England feast of colors or now naked trees.

A few hours later, she pulled onto the three-quarter mile drive that led to Fountenoy Hall and parked.

She left the heavy coat she had needed when she boarded the plane on the front seat, and walked up one side of the bifurcated staircase, the metal bannister cool under her hand.

Bright holiday lights decorated the live oaks and magnolias that lined the drive to the house, set off by the dwindling light. Without snow, it just looked wrong.

But she better get used to it.

She entered the door code Wendy had sent to her and stepped into the lobby.

Mistletoe hung outside the threshold. Garland wrapped around the railing of the grand staircase and over the frames of the topographical maps and pictures of the Clayton ancestors in the lobby.

It managed to feel Christmassy, even if it wasn’t negative five degrees.

Aunt Eulalee and Mac were chatting in the library, their hands intertwined. It was nice to see their relationship still thriving after their trip to Paris. Eulalee gave Jordan a warm smile as she approached.

Jordan kissed them both. “Thank you for having me stay. Again. I know you guys must be busy after the holiday rush.”

“Oh, honey, of course.” Eulalee patted her cheek. “You’re family.”

And she was. Leaving Georgia after her extended summer vacation had been difficult, and not solely because of Josh. Hearing Eulalee confirm her place cemented Jordan’s decision.

“Besides, we’ll need your height to help take down the decorations,” Eulalee said. “We’ve been so busy preparin’ for Rob’s party that we haven’t had the time to put them all away. Isn’t this exciting! Someone I know, someone I live with, wrote a book and got it published.”

“That’s why I’m here. Any excuse to celebrate.”

“Wendy and them are in the parlor.” Eulalee shooed Jordan away with her hand. “You go on, now.”

Jordan smiled and exited the library. Wendy already stood in the wide parlor threshold and bounded up to her, engulfing her in a hug.

“I should have known you’d know I’d arrived,” Jordan said.

“I heard the door close and you chatting with Eulalee. Come on.” Wendy linked her arm through Jordan’s and led her into the room. “Ho ho ho, everybody! Our Chanukkah Elf has arrived!”

Jordan’s friends sat in the comfortable room around a crackling fire. In forty degree weather.

Southerners.

“Jordan!” Brandi sprang up to hug her. The moment she stepped aside, Sebastien enveloped her in his arms.

Jordan squealed. She hadn’t seen him since the end of summer. “I didn’t know you were going to be here!”

“I wasn’t sure myself until two days ago.

” He gave her a peck on the cheek and smiled, his eyes crinkling.

The fire made his red hair seem even brighter.

“But with one more person lengthening the line of succession between me and the crown coming early – and I have a new niece – the royal pomp and circumstance were finished in time for me to fly out for this soirée.”

She gave Sebastien another hug. “How wonderful.”

“Jordan, it’s good to see you again.” Rob smiled at her.

“And congratulations to you on your book being published!”

His grin grew wider. “Thank you.”

“You remember our special events genius Paul, and this is his boyfriend Alec,” Wendy said. “We wouldn’t have been able to plan Rob’s book release party without them.”

The two men stood up to shake her hand, and she gave herself a mental pat on the back for being right about filling that position at Fountenoy Hall. Wendy hated dealing with people who couldn’t make decisions, and Brandi was focusing on the distillery.

Brandi handed Jordan a drink of Belle’s Medicinal whiskey, and she took a healthy swallow as she collapsed into an empty chair by the fire. “You guys realize it’s like eighty degrees outside.”

“We wanted you to feel at home,” Brandi said.

It was home. It wasn’t the walls or land, but the people in her heart. Including the person who wasn’t in the room. The one whose absence made her restless.

“So,” Jordan raised her glass to Rob to cover her distraction. “ Mazel tov . I didn’t know books could get published that fast.”

“Apparently it helps when another author misses a deadline,” Rob said.

“My editor was impressed with how clean the copy was when he read it, so the publishing house got right to work with the cover and marketing plan. Not that I wouldn’t have liked another twelve months with it, but that’s how it goes.

The bookstore called about an hour ago saying it received copies of the book for the party. Now the fun really begins.”

“It will be great.” Wendy planted herself in the chair next to him and nestled against him. “You managed to put the story of our ancestors together in such a beautiful way.”

“Your great-great-aunt’s diaries helped. The book practically wrote itself,” Rob said.

“Don’t be so modest,” Wendy said. “All your years of researching for other people combined with your talent for the written word? You have a best seller on your hands.”

Jordan let the murmurs of conversation flow over her as she basked in the rightness of being back with her friends. And telling them she was going to make it permanent. Make moving back permanent. She’d deal with the logistics of it all later.

A small part of her was missing, but she ignored it. It wouldn’t do her any good to dwell on it.

Eulalee popped her head in to say goodnight, followed by Paul and Alec leaving. Wendy and Rob stayed ensconced by the window. The fire was blazing hot, and Jordan was lulled by the cracking sounds and the whispers of conversation.

She startled awake when Brandi mentioned Josh. “What was that, now?” she asked.

“Barb’s company is doing the catering,” Brandi said.

“For Rob’s party?” Jordan asked. A thrill ran over her skin, followed quickly by an ache in her heart. She rubbed at her chest. Would she still get that rush of excitement seeing him? Would he get a rush of excitement seeing her?

If only to settle the goodbye, to make it final.

“I have to admit Rob probably would’ve invited Josh even if we hadn’t hired Barb. He invited everyone we knew,” Wendy said. “The package delivery guy, Paul’s little sister, the person whose mail we keep getting. Everyone.”

“You have a plus one?” Rob asked.

“My friend Lana. And her boyfriend, if that’s okay,” Jordan added.

“As many as the bookstore will fit, I’m willing to host,” Rob said. “Are you sure we shouldn’t have had it here, Jordan? The place where the story started?” He placed a kiss on the back of Wendy’s hand. “If it hadn’t been for our ancestors a hundred years ago, we might’ve never met.”

“Yes, it’s all very romantic. But a better subject is you daring to question my expertise.” She raised her eyebrow. “What did I already tell you?”

“Macon is bigger and will attract more people.”

“And?”

“And having the party here would mean Wendy, Brandi, and Paul can’t enjoy it.”

“Damn straight,” Wendy muttered.

“And?”

“And we can do here it later, once news of the book has spread.”

“I think the story of a moonshiner being hunted by a government man on these very grounds is compelling enough, but adding falling in love and lost treasures?” Jordan said. “The Claremont Chamber of Commerce is going to name a day after your ancestors.”

“I hope so.” Rob took a deep breath and shook his head. “I have to head up to bed. My family is coming in early tomorrow and I’m picking them up at the airport.”

“Mom sends her congratulations and apologizes again for not being able to come,” Wendy said.

“My parents can’t come either,” Sebastien said. “They’re not on this continent. And are, you know, busy running a country.”

“My mom’s probably on this continent, but I don’t know for sure,” Brandi added.

“Mine are in Connecticut,” Jordan said. “You want I should give them a call?”

“I don’t think they can get here in time. But thanks for the offer,” Rob said. He tipped Wendy’s chin up with a finger and gave her soft kiss on the lips. “Good night, my love.”

He nodded to the rest of the group and left the parlor.

“Hey.” Brandi nudged Jordan’s foot with her own. “You’re all right with Josh being there, right?”

Hearing his name brought a flutter to her belly. “Yeah, it’s fine. Especially if he makes those meatballs.”

“Oh, and brings cupcakes,” Brandi added.

Jordan flinched at the inadvertent reference and dread filled her stomach. Would she have to spend the night watching a batch of bakers trying to get Josh into their ovens?

***

Rows and rows of books lined the dark wood shelves in Red’s Pages. Light in the space was dimmed, just enough to create a cozy atmosphere without causing accidental crashes into chairs or tables.