One Sweet Day (A Happily Ever After Novella) Hope Falls Edition Read online

  Chapter Six

  The Dance Lesson

  Sam

  Sam nervously approached the front door of Karina's home. Her nerves stemmed from two different things.

  First of all, tonight was the night that Karina had brought Lily, a woman they had once all taken a Zumba class from, up to Hope Falls to give them a fun sexy dancing lesson. Sam remembered the Zumba class. She had assumed (because she was an athlete and Zumba was an athletic activity, right?) that she would dominate. That she would be fierce. That she would, in short, be The Best—capital T, capital B—which was the only thing she ever liked to be. You couldn't make it to the Olympics if being anything but The Best was okay with you on any level.

  However, that was not quite how it had worked out. Apparently, the sensual Latin dance moves that made up Zumba were simply not in Sam's wheelhouse.

  Of course, it wasn't for lack of having a good example. Lily, as the teacher, had moved almost as if by magic. Her body flowed so fluidly that there were many times that it had struck Sam as almost more like art than dancing, like a beautiful painting come to life before her eyes.

  No, the problem certainly was not with Lily's instruction. The problems had arisen when Sam tried to take the moves she was watching Lily do and translate them to her own uncooperative muscles. It just hadn't worked.

  To add insult to injury? The other girls seem to have no problem with it! Of course, none of them—not even Karina, with her years of dance training—was able to achieve quite the magic and mastery with Lily's choreography that Lily herself was, but the other ladies seemed quite comfortable with doing simplified, non-ornamented versions of the moves—and they seemed to be having an amazing time.

  Sam was neither able to do the moves or have an amazing time. She'd been 0 for 2.

  Now, Lily was here in Karina's house and about to give them small group instruction. There would be nowhere for Sam to hide her awkwardness. No lines of women to duck behind. Just the bridal party—Amanda, Karina, Lauren, Amy, Nikki, and Sam herself.

  Gulp.

  But when it came down to it, the dancing was actually the least of her worries. The majority of her anxiety sprang from another big thing that was going to happen tonight.

  Her plan was going to come to fruition.

  She had managed to solve the problem of the minister, and she had done it in a pretty spectacular way, if she did say so herself. The truth was, it had taken quite a bit of doing to get her plan to come together, and she was incredibly proud of herself for making it happen in such a short amount of time. But there was one final piece of the puzzle that needed to fall perfectly into place before she could consider her coup a success.

  And that piece was going to either fall or not fall into place tonight.

  Again…gulp.

  Sam stepped hesitantly through the doorway to Karina's spectacular home and her fears immediately faded away as she was greeted enthusiastically by all of her friends. It was especially nice to see Amy, who Sam had not seen since returning from her summer traveling, and her sister Nikki, who Sam had not seen for several months even before that. Nikki's job as a first-class international flight attendant kept her away from Hope Falls for months at a time—sometimes years.

  Sam hugged each girl tightly and then hugged each of her friends before finally greeting Lily warmly.

  I mean, hey, Sam thought. It really isn't her fault I can't dance!

  After all of the women had poured themselves drinks and taken seats on the couches, Karina stood up, clearly ready to make an announcement. The attention of everyone in the room turned toward her.

  “First of all,” Karina began warmly and graciously, “I would like to welcome everyone into my home. It's a real honor for me to host one of the events leading up to my bestie's wedding.” Karina stopped, a small and mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Even if it's not, shall we say, one of the more formal events, I think that, knowing me, hosting an event that is as unconventional and fun as this sexy dance lesson is actually pretty perfect.”

  Everyone in the room nodded and clinked their glasses in agreement.

  “I also want to make an announcement, one that involves the newest friend we have here tonight, Lily,” Karina continued, and all eyes turned toward Lily in curiosity. Sam noticed that Lily seemed to be fairly beaming with happiness and excitement, and she wondered what in world the announcement might be.

  “As you all know, I am going out on a winter tour in a few months, and the prep work for that tour is already starting. Including the choreography—which I have hired Lily to do. I have convinced her to move up here to Hope Falls for the duration, so that's actually two pieces of good news. Not only do I have a fabulous new choreographer, but we also have gained a pretty cool chick to hang out with here in Hope Falls.”

  The girls burst out in thunderous applause as well as whoops and whistles, and Lily seemed to be almost overcome with emotion. She wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes and said, “Thank you all so much for the welcome. I honestly feel like this town is home already, and I've only been here for a few hours!”

  “It can have that effect on people,” Nikki said affectionately. “Although it is my hometown, I do kind of know what you mean. I can walk back into it after having been gone for two years and feel like I was just here yesterday.”

  “Yes,” Lauren agreed. “And I think I can also speak for Sam and Karina when I say that we had a similar experience after returning home for the first time in ten years last fall.”

  Amy pushed her ever-present eyeglasses farther up her nose and said, “Well, I can't strictly relate. I've lived here all my life with a short break for college. I grew up here, went to college in Reno, as close as I could manage, and now I teach school here. This place has felt like home to me so much that I never wanted to leave!”

  “I'm with you, Ames,” Amanda chimed in, getting misty as she waxed nostalgic. “Even though I've traveled, no other place has ever been home, and I've never had any desire for it to be. East, west… Hope Falls is best!” she declared happily.

  The girls were just winding down another round of 'Hometown Pride' applause when the doorbell rang.

  “Who could that be?” Karina asked, puzzled, as she moved toward the door. “Everyone's here.”

  Sam popped up, looking like a spring-loaded Jack in the Box.

  “That's for me!” she cried, rushing ahead of Karina. “I'll get it!”

  “It's for you?” Karina queried as Sam rushed by her, her face pursing in even deeper confusion, “At my house?”

  Sam knew all of her friends were dying of curiosity, but “I've solved the pastor problem,” is all she said as she sprinted out to the entryway.

  She opened the door and grinned broadly as she greeted her guest. “Come on in,” she said. Then she quietly added, “They're not gonna believe it.”

  Sam walked back into the living room, leading her guest by the hand, and was greeted with stunned silence.

  Nikki’s and Lily’s jaws dropped. Sam realized that they were the only people here who had never met him.

  Nikki's eyes were wide as she stammered, “Oh my God! It's…it's…”

  “Kyle Austen Reed,” Karina finished flatly. Then, seemingly as an afterthought, she turned to Sam, asking, “Really?”

  “At your service!” Kyle Austen Reed said with a flourish.

  Sam totally understood why the two girls would be flustered by Kyle's sudden appearance. He was the highest paid movie star in the world, fresh off the cover of People as their Sexiest Man Alive—only the most recent of that designation in a string of them—and was, in short, one of the most handsome and famous men the world had ever known.

  He was also Karina's ex.

  Not ex-husband or ex-boyfriend. Nothing so serious or committed. Just ex-hookup partner.

  He had shown up last year when Karina had moved home. She’d already been falling for Ryan so Kyle never stood a chance. Still, during his stay in Hope Falls, he had b
ecome friendly with Karina's gang of friends, all of whom (especially Sam) were fascinated by his wide range of interests and talents, which were all gathered over the course of studying for his various roles.

  As most of the roomful of women continued to stare in stunned silence, Lauren was the first to speak.

  “Sam,” she said hesitantly. “This solves the dilemma of needing a minister…how, exactly?”

  Sam beamed. “I thought you'd never ask. Kyle and I have kept in touch, so I knew that, being the impeccable method actor he is, he had become ordained last year as part of the preparation for his role in The Priest Confesses—”

  “Coming out Christmas Day!” Kyle Austen Reed interjected happily.

  “And so, as an officially ordained minister in the state of California, he can definitely marry Amanda and Justin!”

  “Kyle! Thank you!” Amanda exclaimed happily, running over and giving him a grateful hug.

  “Of course, of course,” Kyle said expansively. “Anything for my dear friends.”

  “Umm…guys?” Amy said timidly. “I, um, think we may not be getting sexy dance lessons tonight…”

  Sam followed her gaze and saw that Lily had passed out cold on the living room floor.

  “Never fear!” Kyle Austen Reed exclaimed, springing into action. “I was trained as an EMT for my role in Rescue My Heart. I can give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”

  “Yeah, Kyle,” Karina said dryly, her voice dripping with wry sarcasm. “She passed out just from seeing you in the room. What do you think it would do to the poor girl if she woke up and found your lips pressed to hers? Give her a heart attack?”

  “Too true,” responded Kyle Austen Reed gravely, taking Karina completely seriously. “I will have to take a different course. Luckily this is not an unknown occurrence. I do carry smelling salts with me for just such an occasion.”

  Karina shook her head. Sam walked over to her and, while Kyle was busy reviving Lily, said in a low voice meant only for the two of them, “Sorry Kar, I would’ve told you my idea earlier, but I was afraid you would put the kibosh on it, and it was the only thing I could think of. Besides, even if it's awkward for you, you have to admit, it's going to be pretty cool for Amanda and Justin. Right?”

  Karina smiled, although it was a small smile and seemingly given against her will. She gave Sam a hug.

  “Even if I was mad at you, Sammy, I could never stay mad at you. Your heart was in the right place. And you're right—it’s not about me. The most important thing is that Amanda and Justin have an amazing day. And I have to admit, as ridiculous as Kyle seems to me a lot of the time, I don't deny that he has a certain charm. Especially in a public forum like officiating a wedding. He is absolutely perfect for performances like that. I actually think it was an amazing idea, and you are pretty brilliant for thinking of it.”

  Sam glowed with the approval from Karina. It really seemed like everything was coming together.

  Hey, she thought with amusement, even Lily is coming out of her stupor. Things are looking up all around.

  As the girls sat Lily on the couch and fetched her a drink of water, making sure that she was okay, Lauren remarked in an offhand way, “Now we have almost everything taken care of. If we could just nail down the venue, we would be golden.”

  Kyle looked up, his interest piqued. “The venue? How can I help?”

  Lauren waved her hand, dismissing the question. “Oh, it's nice of you to ask, but I really don't think you can. We're just in a bind with finding a venue. The only places here in town big enough to hold the amount of people we need to accommodate are the Community Center theater for the ceremony and the high school gym for the reception. But they are certainly not formal or elegant enough to warrant being used for such an occasion.

  “Initially, Amanda had the idea to hold the ceremony outside, and she even had a place in mind. But she called me this afternoon to say that she'd checked out the location, and it wasn't going to work. So were back to square one on that front.”

  When Lauren mentioned Amanda's name, Sam's eyes naturally gravitated toward her. Hmmm, she thought. I wonder why Amanda is blushing at that…

  Kyle Austen Reed stood and walked over to Lauren, taking both of her hands in his and looking intently into her eyes. It was all Sam could do to suppress the smile that desperately wanted to spread across her face at the extremely uncomfortable expression Lauren was wearing at this invasion of her personal space—even by a mega movie star.

  “My dear, I am the answer to your prayers,” Kyle Austen Reed said with gravitas.

  “I, um… I have a boyfriend…” Lauren stammered, and Sam was shocked to see the normally fiercely controlled Lauren so completely knocked off-kilter.

  “And he is certainly a very lucky man,” Kyle Austen Reed continued smoothly. “But that is not what I meant. I was referring to your venue dilemma. Book the theater and the gymnasium immediately. I have access to the very best set dressers and designers in the business. I will have them here and beginning work tomorrow. By the time they are finished, both of these spaces will resemble nothing so much as a wedding wonderland.”

  Sam felt completely and utterly happy. Not only had her plan to solve the pastor problem come off without a hitch, she had unwittingly solved the venue dilemma at the same time. Everything really was working out perfectly.

  But, if she were honest with herself, she had to admit that she was happy about none of the evening's developments quite so much as the fact that she had narrowly escaped sexy dance lessons.

  Chapter Seven

  The Fitting

  Amanda

  Amanda stood in Lauren's bedroom in her underwear, getting measured from top to bottom by two efficient and cheerful middle-aged women.

  It was one of the more bizarre experiences of her life.

  Lauren sat on the bed, returning emails on her smart phone.

  “Um...Lauren?” Amanda asked nervously, willing her friend to look up.

  The shaky tone of her voice must have gotten to Lauren, because—thank goodness—she put away her phone and said, “Sorry, Mand. I know that a first fitting can be stressful. I'm here now—really here.”

  Lauren turned her attention to the two stylists. “So, Barbara and Marlene, what do you think? Can you put my friend in something gorgeous for her wedding day?”

  “Absolutely!” they both chimed in, and then they threw their heads back and laughed at their stereo response.

  “Thank goodness!” Amanda exclaimed. “If you can somehow get me into a gorgeous gown on short notice, all of the standing-around-in-my-underwear uncomfortableness will have been so worth it!”

  “Oh, honey, we can get you in a gown,” Barbara assured her.

  “And gorgeous goes without saying,” Marlene added. “Gorgeous is our job.”

  “She's right about that,” Barbara agreed.

  Amanda smiled. When Lauren had found out about her wedding plight, she immediately called Barbara and Marlene, the wardrobe stylists from Home Sweet Vacation Home. When they had heard about Amanda's situation, they instantly agreed to fly out and help her—and bring some of the fabulous gowns they had in their warehouse.

  They were lifesavers.

  As the morning wore on and they put Amanda into gown after gown, she began to relax. They were all beautiful, and the majority of them fit her nearly perfectly already. It wouldn't matter which one she chose, the one thing that was certain was that she would have a gown for her wedding day—and it would be lovely.

  Then she tried on the very last gown, and all of those safe expectations were blown to bits. They were thankfully replaced with pure awe. Amanda looked at herself in the mirror and her jaw dropped. Even Lauren gasped.

  “Oh, God, this is it!” Amanda said, her voice tinged with wonderment. “This is the one!”

  “It's amazing!” Lauren concurred.

  Barbara and Marlene stood by, beaming proudly.

  “We knew it,” Marlene said confidently.

>   “Yep, that's why we saved it for last. The big finish,” Barbara agreed, clearly proud of their skill and accomplishment.

  Amanda studied the dress—and herself in it—in the mirror. The jewel-encrusted sweetheart neckline led down to a fitted bodice, which in turn flared out to a full, cloud-like skirt that reached the floor. Amanda felt like a fairy princess.

  “Oh, God,” she breathed in amazement. “This is the dress I am going to become Mrs. Justin Barnes in.”

  She couldn't imagine a more beautiful act or a more gorgeous dress to do it in.

  Chapter Eight

  The Bridal Shower

  Amanda

  Amanda sat in Sue Ann's cafe that afternoon surrounded by all of her best friends.

  Sue Ann had closed the café and was hosting Amanda's bridal shower, and Amanda was having more fun than she could remember in recent history. There was something about the atmosphere when women got together, she reflected. Something about the laughter, the camaraderie, and the way that no one could truly understand your experiences the way another woman could. It was just fun, for heaven’s sake, to hang out with a big bunch of girls sometimes!

  Well, Amanda thought, I am certainly getting my wish. I would bet there are at least fifty women crammed in here! She hoped for Sue Ann's sake that the Fire Marshal didn't pay a visit this afternoon.

  “Presents!” Amanda heard a voice call from within the crowd, and before too long, it had turned into a chant. “Pre-sents! Pre-sents! Pre-sents!”

  Amanda laughed, relenting quickly. “Okay, okay! I'll open presents!”

  She made her way to the front of the café, threading her way through the crush of bodies, and took a seat at the chair Sue Ann had set out for her next to the gift table. She felt a little overwhelmed by the volume of attention that was currently leveled at her, the sheer number of eyes that were laser-targeted on her visage.