Page 28 of Handling Skylar (Hope Parish #5)

SKY

I couldn’t seem to get the smile off my face all the next day and even into Tuesday.

When I walked in, Jordan took one look at me and gave me a knowing smile to match the one on my face.

I had wanted to make Jake happy. But he’d returned the favor ten-fold.

The way he’d held me, the way we had made love was all so wonderful.

As the morning progressed, busy as all get-out, I spied Adam crossing the street and I grimaced.

We’d had dinner at Outlaws and he’d been over enthusiastic about us.

It had been a bit unnerving to hear him talk about our relationship in high school as if we’d been closer.

I barely remembered him. I was dating Seth Matthews, a drop-dead boy with a shock of dark hair and killer blue eyes.

We’d been going out for two years and he lived with his grandpa.

He was planning on getting a job as a ranch hand when he graduated from high school.

Seth hadn’t been happy that my parents were pushing me so hard to go to school far away from him.

I had fought against it, but then Seth had up and disappeared shortly after his grandpa had passed away in his sleep.

The only communication I’d had with him was a text message telling me it wasn’t going to work out and it was best to make a clean break.

I’d answered, heartbroken, but I’d never heard from him again.

Adam came in the front door, and Jordan, who could read me like a book, intercepted him. I was with a client, but Adam just went around her and came over to me.

“Hi, Sky. I was wondering if you’d like to get some lunch.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t. I’ve got people booked almost all day.”

He didn’t look happy. “Can’t someone cover for you. Just this once. I’m only in town for a short period of time,” he snapped. Then his face smoothed out when I just stared at him. He softened his voice. “Please, it would make my day.”

“I really can’t. But, it was great seeing you again. Have a great day.”

He stood there for a moment, something flashed in his eyes, and I tensed. But he smiled and nodded. “Okay. You take care,” he said affably, turned and left.

Jordan breathed a sigh of relief and rolled her eyes. I got totally distracted as Amy Sutton, Jake’s momma walked into the shop.

“Jordan’s going to finish up your blow dry, Mrs. Patterson. Don’t forget your hand salve. I have it at the counter for you.”

“Thank you, dear.”

“Mrs. Sutton,” I said as I approached her.

Even at her age, she looked stunning, cool and elegant with alabaster skin, and the trademark silver blue eyes so like Jake’s.

Only a hint of lines beside her eyes, none near the soft mouth that was painted a rich coral.

Her body was slender and toned, draped to perfection in a becoming silky brown chiffon top, cream pants tucked into a pair of knee-high brown boots, a light brown scarf curled around her neck.

“Skylar, I know this is such short notice, but could I get a cut?”

“Of course,” I said, not about to turn Jake’s momma away. I led her over to the shampoo area and started washing her hair.

“How is Jake?” she asked. Caught off-guard, I stopped washing for a moment, then started up again. “He told us he was staying with you. I have to admit, I’m so glad he came to his senses about that odious and mannerless girl.”

“He’s doing well. Struggling a bit, but making changes is difficult.”

I snapped off the damp cape for a dry one and drew her over to my chair. She settled in as Jordan gave me a holy cow look.

“We’re having a special meeting of the Belles and you’re invited. River has already mentioned to me that she’s sponsoring you. I think that is a splendid idea. It’s going to be this afternoon at three. Can you come?”

“I’m not exactly the right kind of person to be joining.”

“Right kind of person? Are you a snob, Sky?”

“What? No,” I said quickly. It’s just that I don’t exactly run in the country club circle.”

“The Belles aren’t about society, they’re about community.” She met my eyes in the mirror. Her matter-of-fact gaze filled with her warmth put me at ease. She wasn’t my mom, but she had qualities that I admired. “You’re part of the community, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you intimidated by Anna Kate?”

I stiffened. “No rooting tooting way. I don’t want to disturb your meeting with drama.”

“Sky, darlin’, you have more class in your little finger than Anna Kate Montgomery has in her whole body. If there is going to be drama, it will come from her. Believe me. Neither I, nor any of the other Belles will sit still for those kind of attacks. You’re as welcome as she is.”

I clipped away at her ash blonde hair. After a moment, feeling it was important I mention what happened between us Saturday night at Outlaws, I said, “Mrs. Sutton—”

“Amy, please.”

“Amy,” I started again. “Anna Kate will be there, I presume.”

“Yes, she will be running the meeting.”

“I’m sure you’ve already heard that she and I—”

“Wrestled a bit in a mud puddle?”

“Yes, that would be the incident I was going to mention. I don’t believe she’s going to be a great supporter of my joining the Belles.”

“I heard she started it and that you finished it.”

I laughed softly.

“I would have paid admission to see that nasty, egotistical, self-centered little snipe covered in dirt. As for not supporting you, she’ll be outnumbered, and if there’s one thing I know about Anna Kate, she won’t want to lose her position as head Belle, bless her heart. But, River can be very persuasive.”

Amused that Amy had just bestowed a “bless her heart” on Anna Kate, I groaned with dismay at having to deal with Anna Kate’s snottiness.

“I’ll attend,” I said with a smile. I would have to reschedule my client appointment, but I knew this kind of thing was important to not only Jake’s momma and sister, but to Jake, as well.

I wanted to participate in the community, especially the Harvest Festival since it was my idea, and make it the best it could be.

After a blow dry and a generous tip, she smiled warmly at me.

“Thank you for being kind to my boy and for making him the happiest I’ve ever seen him. We’ll see you at three. There will be light refreshments.”

“I’ll be there,” I promised.

As I left my shop and headed over to the town hall, I wasn’t sure how this meeting was going to go, but I would stand tough. I wouldn’t let Anna Kate intimidate me. I was the mud wrestling queen.

When I walked in, all the Belles were there, including Anna Kate who looked cool and collected at the front of the room. She gave me a smug look that put me immediately on guard. She had something planned. I could feel it in my gut.

When she turned her face, I could see the bruise I’d left on her chin. My eye was slightly discolored as she’d only gotten in a glancing blow.

I settled next to River Pearl and her momma, Verity on the other side of me, my flanking guards I thought with a smile.

“The meeting of the Suttontowne Belles will come to order,” Anna Kate, said and the murmur in the room quieted down.

“We have before us an application from Skylar Bransom for admission into the Belles.” She glanced at River Pearl, something akin to fear in her eyes.

River had always been kind-hearted to me, but I could imagine she could be a formidable foe if crossed.

“We have approved your application, Miss Bransom.” That gleam in her eyes was making me sweat. “Please rise.”

I stood up and River was watching Anna Kate closely. “As is written in our Bylaws, it’s my decision to levy an initiation to any Belle who cares to join our establishment. Good Southern stock, or as in your case, hearty Texas stock, will have to perform an initiation process.”

There was an eruption of conversation in the room when River rose and said, “Anna Kate…”

She pulled an innocent face. “It is my right as the head of the Belles. Is that correct?”

River looked at her momma, and I knew there was no disputing the Bylaws.

“It is,” River said between clenched teeth.

All right, then I have your challenge prepared. She picked up a large box on the table and with a triumphant look she handed it to me. You will find everything you need along with the directions. See that they’re carried out or you’ll be disqualified.”

At the end of the day, I took the box home with me. I hadn’t the heart to open it before I was in a safe place. I fully expected an explosion or, at the very least, jumpy worms to spring out.

But instead, inside was a wide brimmed straw hat, an authentic heavy Civil War era dress complete with a hoop skirt in a pale green with frilly sleeves and ribbons, gloves and parasol. I groaned softly and Jake who was working on his application to LSU looked over.

“You finally opened it?”

I groaned again, and he grinned. “What is the challenge?”

I picked up the book and a printed page.

“I have to stand in the square for an hour a day reciting passages from Gone With The Wind as Scarlett. I am to comport myself in the image of her to the letter so as to not dishonor her in the slightest. She does realize this book is one thousand and thirty-seven pages.”

“Sure she does. She’s trying to get you to quit.”

“Well, I won’t. I’ve read Gone With The Wind and loved it, so she can stick that parasol where the sun don’t shine.”

He rose and glanced in the box. Reaching down, he picked up the corset. “What is this?”

“It’s a torture device women wore back then,” I groused and when he looked at me, his eyes gleamed. Like some of the tops you wear—what are they called?”

“Bustiers? Oh, I see where this is going. You want me to model it for you?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“Men are so easy.”

“Pretty much. I like the whole boosting thing.”