Granting Wishes (8 page)

“So I guess your brother isn’t a fan of mine,” Jake crossed his arms over his wide chest and sighed. He looked worn out
, like he hadn’t been sleeping well.

“Well you haven’t exactly been a stand-up guy to me lately ya know.”

He winced, but didn’t deny it. “You’re right, but to be fair, you’re the one that disappeared on me after we made love, Lilah. I admit it was a blow to my ego and felt like it was like history repeating itself. Women I care about leaving me when things get serious.”

Lilah snorted and braced her hands on her hips. “You’re ego? Do you want me to go there, Jake? Because I think I’ve got you beat on getting ego’s crushed.”

She watched as his brow furrowed and he pushed off her desk, stalking towards her. “What the hell are you talking about? I’ve done nothing to hurt your ego that I know of, that would cause you to take off on me like that! Don’t blame me for you turning tail and running away from me.”

Lilah was fuming. Without another thought or
moment’s hesitation she let him have it with every hurt bit of her heart. “Oh really? You did nothing wrong huh? I suppose that means you think the fact that I woke up to you crying out for
Alana
of all people, saying you loved her and begging her not to leave you is nothing then. I should be grateful to wake up in your arms while you’re dreaming about another woman. And not just
any
woman but, the one that turned you into a cold-hearted bastard!”

Jake looked like he’d been slapped. The incredulous expression on his face almost made her feel bad for shouting it out like that.

“Lilah, no…” his shoulders slumped and he gorgeous blue eyes were filled with unshed tears. He reached out and rubbed his thumb down her cheek. She didn’t realize she was crying until that moment. Her heart was breaking in two.

“Yes, Jake. You did. I felt so cheap and used. How could you make love to me when you’re still so in love with her? How could you?”

“No, Lilah. I don’t love Alana. I’ve had nightmares about her for a while now. I’m so sorry you saw and heard that. I swear I have no love at all for my ex. I despise her.”

“You sure have a funny way of ‘not loving her’. I don’t cry over people I despise.” She stepped back away from him and his hand dropped to his side. He looked even more haggard now.

“Please, we have to talk about this. We can work it out. I can prove to you how I feel about you. I love you, Lilah. I’m miserable without you in my life.”

He loved her? The ice around her heart started to melt. But she couldn’t allow herself to bend even a little or she might break
, and she refused to break in front of him any more than she already had. Not after he’d hurt her so badly, and then ignored her for over a week. “You need to leave, Jake.” It would be best to end it now before she fell any deeper in love with him. He was still in love with his past and he wasn’t able to let go of it.

He jerked back, rubbing his hand over his face. “Darlin’, don’t do this.” His voice choked and it nearly ripped her apart.

“You heard her, Jake. Leave or it will be my pleasure to help you out. You’re lucky we’re in a place of business or I’d wipe the floor with your face.” Noah Cane had his fists clenched as his large frame filled the doorway. Lilah was both glad and worried that her daddy had showed up at such an inconvenient time. Behind him she saw her momma holding a pizza box in one hand and his belt loop in the other as if that would really keep him from hauling off and hitting Jake.

“Lilah, we need to finish this conversation,” Jake tried to convince her.

She was surprise he hadn’t gone running out the door at the first sight of her father all bowed up and ready for a fight. “Just go, Jake.” The tension in the air was explosive and she knew her daddy was on the verge of kicking Jake’s ass.

“This is far from over. I’m not giving up on us. I don’t care what anyone else thinks about it. I love you, Lilah.” He stepped towards her and she backed away again. With a sigh and a shake to his head, he turned on his heel and walked towards the door that her dad still guarded. Jake nodded to her parents respectfully, “Sir, Ma’am,” and as soon as they stood to the side, he slipped out the door without another word.

Lilah dropped to her knees and cried her heart out. Someone must have shut the office door and drew the shades so she would have privacy. All she knew was, she was grateful to feel her momma wrap her arms around her, holding her while she cried until her throat was raw and she had no tears left. No pain, nothing.
She felt absolutely nothing
.

***

Jake made it to his truck before he lost control. Slamming his fists down on the steering wheel, he caved in and cried. Would Alana never stop coming back to haunt him? Hadn’t he suffered enough misery because she never got out of his head? Now he risked losing the one woman that loved him as much as he loved her. What was he going to do now to fix it? He wasn’t even sure it was possible.

***

Alana McAllister pulled into Ms. Lola’s diner in her sporty BMW with the top down. It had been almost four years since she had left this place and transferred to Georgia State University in Atlanta. In the fall she would be starting her fourth year at John Marshall Law School of Atlanta. One year of school was all she needed to finish and take her bar exam.

For the summer, she decided to stay in Sugar Creek with her parents. Not that she was planning on spending much time with them though. She had her sights on other things. Well, one thing in particular. Her old flame, Jake Kringle. Deep down, she felt a little guilty for leaving him the way she did back then. It was easy for her to make the decision of turning custody over to Jake when their daughter was born. He’d always been so responsible and trustworthy. Ready for the family life. Truth be known, that had scared the living hell out of Alana. It was as if her youth was disappearing before her eyes
. She found out she was pregnant and the man that knocked her up wanted to marry her and raise a family. Barefoot and pregnant was not how she saw her life. Back then she wanted to stay carefree without serious commitments.

Now, after many failed relationships and never finding a man that treated her as well as Jake had, Alana decided to come home for the summer and see if there was still a chance to fix things with the one man that loved her unconditionally. Jake was now in charge of Kringle Farms because his father had retired. Through the grape vine she’d heard restorations were going on and it was now better than ever. Apparently he’d done quite well with the place and was now in the process of expanding the children
’s organization now that it was more accommodating. Jake always did have such a big heart. That was something she loved about him.

Her parents never got visitation with Roxy, not because Jake forbade it, but because they didn’t feel like they had the right since she had signed over custody after Roxy was born. But from time to time, they saw Jake and Roxy around town and said she was a beautiful little girl. A small part of her wanted to meet her daughter and see what she might have missed out on. But in her heart, Alana knew she wasn’t exactly the mothering type. The one person that made her want to test out that theory was Jake.

Alana walked into Ms. Lola’s Diner and saw her parents sitting in the corner booth by the window. They smiled and waved her over. She felt all the stares from the regulars that recognized her. None of them greeted her with as much as a smile or wave. It was as if the temperature in the room dropped to near freezing despite the muggy heat outside. It appeared that no one had forgotten the spoiled college girl that ran out on her boyfriend and newborn nearly four years ago. Despite that, Alana pulled her shoulders back and strutted in her gold Louboutins and white halter top gypsy dress that showed off her bronzed tan she had freshly sprayed on before she left Atlanta. It made her feel better to know her clutch purse cost more than what the local farmers and mill workers that were looking down their noses at her could make in a month. Let them stare.

“Mommy, Daddy,” Alana cheek kissed them both coolly before sitting next to her mom and crossing her long legs, letting her dress purposely slip up her thigh. It made her smile when she saw several of the men staring at her like they had never seen a beautiful woman before.

“Sweetheart
, we are so pleased you’ve decided to spend the summer here. We’ve missed you terribly,” her mother exclaimed.

“I figured it was high time I came to spend time with my family instead of y’all always coming up to see me all the time.”

Her father cleared his throat, looking disgruntled. “Are you sure it’s us you’ve come to see? You don’t need to be going round causing problems, Alana. You stay away from that Kringle place. You hear me?”

“Oh, Daddy, stop it. I’m a grown woman now. I don’t need you trying to run interference.”

He muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

A pretty redheaded, buxom waitress came up to take their orders, smiling as she finished writing down the previous tables order. “What can I get y’all?” When she looked up and recognition registered, she gasped, her smile quickly fading. “Well I’ll be, if it ain’t Alana McAllister. Long time since we’ve seen you around these parts.”

“Imagine that, Darlene Davies, still working at Ms. Lola’s like you always did. Are you still married to Bucky? I bet he’s still the barkeep at the Rolling Stone, huh?” Alana’s voice sounded sweet as good ole southern iced tea, but the smirk on her face made it obvious she was being snide.

“Yes
, ma’am. Happily married with two
children
now. One big ole happy
family
,” Darlene emphasized the words children and family with a smile on her face. After all, her husband Bucky was good friends with Jake. Of course she was going to poke the fire where she could.

“Aw that’s right. I remember now. Y’all have Lyle, isn’t that his name? Isn’t he some kind a special or somethin’?” Alana patted Darlene’s hand but she quickly jerked it away when Darlene snapped at her.

“You bitch! You haven’t changed one bit.” Darlene snorted, clenching her fist.

Ms. Lola chose that moment to step in between the two and took Darlene’s order pad and pen. “Darlene, you have a call, go on and take your break
now. I’ll take care of this table, sugar pie.”

Then she turned to Alana and nod
ded her head. “Honey child, ya dress is hiked up under ya behind and you’re showing ya ass to everybody up in here. Could ya kindly adjust ya business fo’ me so’s none a these old farts have an attack of the heart?” Ms. Lola turned from her and smiled sweetly at her parents who both looked mortified by their daughter’s behavior. “Now then, today’s special is the meatloaf, smashed sweet potatoes and sugar snap peas with fresh baked bread. I know that’s your favorite, bein’s you come here every Wednesday, Mr. McAllister.”

“Uh, yes ma’am, Ms. Lola. That’s what my wife and I want,” he stuttered. His puffy cheeks were flaming red from being embarrassed by his daughter. His wife merely nodded her head and made herself busy with squeezing lemon in her tea while her daughter adjusted her dress.

“Now then, do you want Ms. Lola’s meatloaf special too?” she looked at Alana with a forced grin on her face.

“God
s no, I wouldn’t dare eat that. I want a garden salad with vinegar dressing on the side and a wedge of lemon,” Alana snapped at her.

Ms. Lola shook her head, mumbling as she walked away. “Cain’t trust nobody that don’t eat no meat. That just ain’t right, no siree.”

***

In the meantime, Darlene made quick work of calling her husband Bucky over at the Rolling Stone
, warning him of who just came into town. That’s the way things go in a small town like Sugar Creek. Word spread like wildfire on a hot and windy day. Before the McAllister’s left Ms. Lola’s, Bucky had called Jake, and then proceeded to tell his lunchtime regulars the latest gossip. And wouldn’t you know it, one of those regulars just so happened to be old man Pete who was married to Betsy who ran the local beauty shop. Well, you know how women get to talking when they’re getting their hair and nails done. As luck would have it, Josie was there on her lunch break getting a broken nail repaired before she headed back to her new job at A Million Wishes. Her jaw nearly hit the floor when she heard that no good Alana McAllister was in town for the entire summer. She passed on getting her nails freshly polished. This news was in dire need of sharing with her new boss, Delilah Cane. Shoot, she might even get a raise or a promotion or something for warning her.

Josie was in an all-out run as soon as she stepped out of her car when she pulled in at work. The revolving glass door slowed her down but as
fast as she could slip through it, she was high-tailing down the hallway to the elevator so quick, her high heels made it sound like she was galloping. She was repeatedly punching the “up” button like it would bring the elevator down faster when Dakota Cane came walking around the corner with his friend and patient, Keegan Kringle.

“You okay, Josie?” Dakota asked, looking concerned at her frantic behavior.

“Oh my God, oh my God, Dakota!” she was practically bouncing now as she flailed her arms in the air. “You’ll never guess who just rolled into town, for the entire summer none the less!” The elevator dinged and she jumped in, “Get in. Get in! I have to tell Lilah before she hears it from someone else. You too, Keegan.” She punched the button for the fourth floor where the office was. By this time she had broken out into a sweat so she was frantically fanning herself. Her bleach blond hair was clinging to the back of her neck and her black rimmed glasses kept slipping down her sweaty nose. The guys looked at each other with worried faces and followed her into the elevator.

“Who is it, and why would my baby sister care?” Dakota questioned.

“And why do I need to know?” Keegan followed.

“Just wait a cotton pickin’ minute. I’ll tell all y’all at once.”

As soon as the elevator dinged signaling they had arrived on the fourth floor, Josie shot out of there like her tail end was on fire. Once they all reached the office where Lilah, Angel, and Chelsea were in the stages of planning out the months activities, Josie tossed her purse on her desk and ran over to Lilah, taking her hand and patting it gently.

“Oh, Lilah honey, I hate to have to tell you this but as your faithful employee and friend, I have bad…no, horrible news.” She gave a dramatic pause and Lilah tired of waiting. Looking around at everyone she asked, “What? What happened?”

“Well, you know I am not one to gossip,” Josie nodded, still patting Lilah’s hand.

“Josie, tell me,
” Lilah pushed.

“Well, you know I ran to get my nail fixed over at Betsy’s Salon? While I was there, she got a call from her drunk of a husband, old man Pete. Y’all all know he spends his lunch break at the Rolling Stone talkin’ and drinkin’. He told Betsy that Bucky got a call from his wife Darlene and y’all know she waitresses over at Ms. Lola’s,” she winced and snapped her fingers. “Oh shoot fire! I was in such a rush to get here and I forgot to pick up my lunch from Ms. Lola’s and
its meatloaf special day. Gosh darn it, I love her meatloaf and she only makes it on Wednesdays. I can’t make a meatloaf to save my life so I always get it on Wednesdays.”

Dakota snapped at her then, “Josie, finish your story and I’ll bring your lunch to you. That’s where Kee and I were heading when we saw you.”

Josie resumed fanning herself, Lilah’s hand in hers forgotten for a moment. She gave Dakota her best smile, looking like a wilted flower. “You’re always so sweet to me, Dakota.” Josie turned to Angel, still smiling, “You really have the sweetest husband, Angel. You’re so lucky.”

Lilah slapped her hand on her desk with a resounding clap that was loud enough to make everyone jump, turning to look at her. “Josie, I swear by all that’s holy if you don’t te
ll me what the hell is going on…”

Chelsea stepped in then and gripped Lilah’s shoulders, obviously afraid her friend might reach out and strangle their newest employee. “Finish your story, Josie.”

“Oh, okay. I’m sorry y’all. Um, shoot where was I?” she fretted.

Keegan rolled his chair over next
to them and turned on the fan sitting on Lilah’s desk, pointing it at the profusely sweating woman. “You said Darlene called Bucky, Josie. What did she call him for that’s got you all worked up?”

Josie gave him a bright smile, “Thank you, Keegan. You’re so thoughtful.”

Everyone groaned and Lilah started to stand up but Chelsea held her in place.

Josie cleared her throat and sighed before starting again. “Darlene said Alana McAllister pulled up in her fancy convertible BMW looking like she stepped off a runway in Paris or somethin’. She met her parents for lunch and when she sat down she let her skirt ride up and she was showin’ everybody her business! Well, she talked down to Darlene like she was trash for still being a waitress, so Darlene smarted off to Alana about how at least she was a real mom to her two kids
, and then that hateful witch of a woman called Darlene’s sweet boy Lyle, ‘special’ like she was makin’ fun of him. Can you believe that? Well Darlene was about to beat her ass, but Ms. Lola stepped in and told that trashy Alana snooty-tooty McAllister to cover her behind and sit like a lady, then took their meal order. Mr. and Mrs. McAllister had the meatloaf special but Alana said she would never eat that and ordered a salad with dressing on the side,” she took a deep breath. “Can you believe that? How can a normal person go to Ms. Lola’s and only eat a salad? I tell you what, I can’t trust someone that can’t eat good old fashioned southern food like Ms. Lola’s. Why, that’s a disgrace I tell ya!” When she saw the shocked look on Lilah’s face she started patting her hand again. “I’m so sorry, Lilah. I’m here for you, honey. I had to tell you before you saw her wandering about. Did I mention they heard she was here all summer long?”

The room remained quiet other than Keegan saying, “Well, shit-fire and hogwash,” before flipping open his cell phone and rolling out into the hallway to make a call to his brother.

***

Jake sat in stunned silence. The only noises around him were the occasional neigh of the horses, the steady whirring of the window air conditioning unit and the annoying ticking of the clock hanging in his office. After the last two phone calls he’d received, Jake was feeling sick to his stomach because they had ripped what little sense of peace he’d had away.

Why was she here? What made her decide to spend her summer vacation in Sugar Creek?

Now he really needed to hug his daughter. He felt
an unmistakable need to shelter and protect her from the likes of Alana McAllister. He pushed away from his desk and shut down his computer. He’d come back and finish up once Roxy was asleep tonight. This afternoon, he really just wanted to be with his little girl.