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  Sam came through the kitchen doors, minus his okra outfit, and poured a cup of coffee. “Well that was embarrassing as hell,” he said. “Next year I’m going to pay someone to break both of my legs so I can’t walk, and then, just maybe, I won’t have to participate in that stupid parade and make a damn fool of myself.”

  “Now Sam, you don’t mean that,” Darla said. “If you quit, all the other okras will quit, and then we won’t have an Okra Festival, and this poor town will shrivel up and die. Bad enough there aren’t enough jobs to keep the young people here. We need those tourists because they go home and tell their friends about our town, and that’s how we get vacationers all year. But if you’re determined to ruin it and turn this into a ghost town, then I’ll ask Bo if he’ll break your legs. First, though, I need to know how much you’re willing to pay.”

  “Very funny, Darla,” Sam said. “Next year, you can wear the okra suit.”

  An amused Annie was standing a few feet away sipping a soft drink and listening to Sam go on and on, when, all of a sudden, several young men came through the front door. Annie did a double-take at the sight of Nelson, and she almost choked on her drink as she tried to swallow a mouthful.

  Nelson grinned and fixed his gaze on her. “We heard this place has the prettiest waitresses in town,” he said, slurring his words. “Hey, gorgeous,” he added. “I hope you’re on the menu.”

  Annie wished she could disappear in a puff of smoke.

  “Well, isn’t this grand,” Sam muttered to Darla. “Just when I thought the day couldn’t get worse, in walks a group of drunk strippers.”

  “Hey, Darla,” Nelson said. “You’re looking real pretty in that uniform. Oh, look, it is Annie’s uncle,” he added.

  Annie shot Darla a look of pure panic. Darla grabbed several menus. “Annie, why don’t you give Sam a refill of coffee so he can take it to his office and relax, and I’ll wait on these gentlemen.”

  Annie grabbed the coffee pot and offered Sam another cup.

  “I don’t want any more coffee,” Sam said, “but I’ll tell you what I do want.” He took the coffee pot from Annie and set it down, then, without warning, pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. When he raised his head, Annie saw they had an audience. She stood there, frozen in place, as Darla and Wayne stared at her, and Flo and Patricia gaped from the other side of the food window.

  “Now then,” Sam said. “My day just got better.” He looked at Darla. “I trust you can keep those kids under control. Please don’t let them dance on any of the tables or take their clothes off.” He took one last look at Annie and pushed through the doors to the kitchen.

  “Oh, my Lord!” Darla said. “I never thought I would see the day. Sam Ballard is in love!” She grinned at Annie.

  Annie did not think it was funny. In fact, she was both embarrassed and humiliated. “Would you please excuse me,” she said and pushed through the doors just as Sam had a moment before. She found him sitting in his office filling out a deposit slip. He looked up.

  Annie stepped inside, closed the door, and crossed her arms. She was as furious as the look on her face. “You listen to me, Sam Ballard, and you listen good,” she added. “If you ever do that again, I’m going to walk out the back door, and that will be the last you see of me.”

  He looked surprised. “Are you really angry?” he asked.

  “I’m so mad I feel like hitting you over the head with Flo’s skillet,” she said. “You do not have the right to embarrass me in front of the other employees or our customers. I’m sorry that you are annoyed because you had to be in a parade. Gee, what a terrible, horrifying, miserable experience that must’ve been. My advice to you is get over it.” She opened the door and walked out without another word.

  #

  For the next few days, everyone raced about the Dixieland Cafe, trying to keep up with the crowds. Between studying and keeping the mad pace at work, not to mention constantly sorting through her feelings for Sam whose apology she’d finally accepted, Annie felt scrambled much of the time.

  She was thankful when Sunday finally arrived. She knew Sam was taking a financial hit by closing the restaurant for the day, even more so since he’d promised everyone would still be paid for the day, but Annie figured Darla deserved it after all the years she had worked for Sam.

  Annie straightened her place, took a hot shower, and spent a long time on her makeup. Once her hair dried, she sprayed it and finger-combed the waves and curls so that it came out fuller. She did her nails and waited till they were dry to begin dressing. Checking her reflection in the mirror, she was pleased with the finished product. The only thing missing was perfume. She thought of her perfume tray back home that held her favorite scents and shook her head.

  She opened the door to the linen closet and looked among the shelves for perfume or body spray. She smiled when she found what she was looking for, simple lavender water, the same brand Vera had spritzed on her bed pillows for years. Annie had a sudden yearning to see the woman and decided she was going to insist that Vera visit her once the Okra Festival was over. It made no sense that Vera had not tried to reach her, but Annie couldn’t think about it at the moment. She was putting on lipstick when Sam arrived. He whistled when he caught sight of Annie. “Don’t you know it’s not nice to outshine the bride,” he said.

  “That’s not likely to happen,” Annie said, giving a chuckle. “The bride has spent hours at the hair and nail salon, and her gown is worth umpteen-thousand-dollars. Fortunately, she will only be wearing about half as many crinolines so she’ll have an easier time getting around.”

  “Did I tell you that Bo had to climb that tree for the tiara and veil?” Sam asked. “Darla had given up on it, said they could probably find something just as nice at the mall, but Bo knew she wanted it.”

  Annie smiled. “I’m glad because that’s actually my wedding gift to them.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The diamonds in that tiara are real, Sam. Twenty karats of perfectly flawless stones, straight from Tiffany’s.”

  “And that would be worth, um?”

  “Well . . .” Annie paused. “Darla and Bo could each buy a new vehicle for starters. And they could put a huge down payment on a nice house.”

  “Hold it,” Sam said. “You’re telling me you let that tiara dangle in a tree all this time, knowing what it was worth?”

  “Yep.”

  “How could you sleep at night?”

  Annie smiled. “Silly boy,” she said. “The tiara is insured.”

  #

  As planned, Sam and Annie arrived before the bride and groom. They stood apart from the crowd while the band played soft music. The band had been moved to a grassy area nearby so the wedding would take place on the raised gazebo where everyone could see. People stood or sat in lawn chairs, patiently awaiting the couple. Lillian, Kazue, and the others stood a short distance away, waving and throwing kisses.

  “I only have two requests,” Sam whispered to Annie.

  “Anything for you handsome.”

  “This is not your wedding. Please do not steal anybody’s car and take off.”

  She grinned. “And your second request?”

  “Do not tell Darla about the tiara until Bo and I are in position to catch her before she hits the ground.”

  People began clapping when a white carriage and two white horses made their way down the cobblestone street that surrounded the courthouse.

  The crowd went wild when Bo helped Darla from the carriage, and they saw her dress. The band began playing the “Wedding March.” Sam and Annie led the way to the gazebo and waited for the bride and groom. Annie felt a huge lump in her throat at the sight of Darla in the gown. She looked at Sam and found him watching her. He winked.

  When the music died down, the minister stepped forward, and a hush fell over the crowd, except for the sound of cameras clicking. Darla’s wedding would no doubt end up on the front page of the Pinckney Gazette.

&nbs
p; The minister stepped forward. “Dearly beloved . . .” he began.

  Annie tried to concentrate on the minister’s words, but it was all she could do to keep from staring at Sam. She wondered what he was thinking, wondered if he knew how devastatingly handsome he looked. Most of all, she wondered if he suspected she’d fallen in love with him.

  “. . . The ring please.”

  Sam handed Bo the ring. Annie felt a giant lump in her throat as Bo, all six-foot-six, tenderly promised to love and cherish Darla for as long as they both lived. Annie’s hand shook, and she felt tears gathering in her eyes when she passed the ring to Darla who repeated the same vow.

  The minister pronounced them husband and wife, and the two kissed as shouts and whistles rang out from the crowd below, and the band played a lively tune.

  Darla hugged Annie, both of them crying. “Thank you for the dress, honey. And thank you for helping to make this the best day of my life.” Bo and Sam shook hands, and Sam kissed Darla, slipping her an envelope.

  “This is for your honeymoon,” Sam said. “I know Bo just started a new job, but hang on to this, maybe in a few months he can get some time off.”

  “Oh, Sam, you’re the best,” Darla said, hugging him.

  He grinned. “Yeah, well wait till you find out what Annie is giving you.”

  Darla gave Annie an odd look. “I don’t expect a gift from you,” she said. “You gave me this bridal gown.”

  Annie shrugged. “Yes, well, I’d like to add a little something, but I would rather wait until later to give it to you.”

  Sam’s eyes were soft as his gaze landed on Annie. He offered her his arm. “May I escort you to the reception, Miss Hartford?” he asked. She smiled and took his arm.

  #

  They were the first to arrive at Sam’s house. A catering service was on standby, and they went to work immediately, pouring champagne and bringing out trays of food. There was a small table holding a wedding cake, and numerous white and gold balloons hovered overhead. “It’s beautiful,” Annie said.

  “I was up all night baking this cake and making hors d’oeuvres and blowing up balloons,” Sam told her. Nearby, the lady who owned the catering service chuckled. “Don’t give me away,” Sam said. “I’m trying to impress this pretty lady.”

  Annie laughed. “I’m already impressed,” she said, patting his hand.

  “You probably just came ‘cause you heard there was going to be food and champagne. I hope you’re not disappointed that I didn’t hire a male stripper.”

  They kept up the lively banter until the guests arrived. Someone had helped Darla remove her train, and as she squeezed through the front door in the gown, Annie thought she looked radiant. The two women hugged again as Sam told Bo the secrets of a happy marriage. “Don’t wait for your wife to ask you to take out the trash,” he said. “Just do it.”

  “What do you know about marriage, Sam Ballard?” Lillian said, coming through the door. “You’ve been single all your life. Don’t you think it’s about time you found a good woman and tied the knot?”

  Sam’s gaze automatically landed on Annie, who in turn blushed and caused them to laugh. She was relieved when the caterer opened the bottles of champagne and it was time to make a toast.

  “Darla,” Annie began, holding an envelope with information she hoped would make life a little easier for her and Bo. “There is something you should know.” She saw Sam nudge Bo, and they stepped closer to the woman. “I think you mistook the stones in the tiara as rhinestones, probably because I didn’t get upset when it ended up in a tree, but that’s neither here nor there. The truth is, there are twenty karats of flawless diamonds in the tiara that I purchased from Tiffany’s in New York.”

  Darla’s jaw dropped. “Does that mean I can buy a new car?”

  “Yes, you can definitely buy a new car. As a matter of fact, I have the Appraisal, and the Certificate of Insurance that you might want to put in a safety deposit box, along with the tiara until you decide what to do.” She handed it to Darla who gasped at the amount. She turned to Bo. “We’re rich,” she said and showed it to him.

  Bo looked at Annie. “Is this for real?”

  Annie nodded. “Absolutely.”

  All at once, his eyes rolled around in his head, and he staggered forward. “Oh, no!” Darla said. “He’s going down!”

  “Help me!” Sam said. Fortunately, two men who stood nearby joined Sam in his effort. It took all three to catch Bo, only seconds before he hit the floor.

  #

  Once everyone had eaten their fill, Bo and Darla bid their farewells and hurried to her car. Annie knew they were going back to their mobile home, and she wondered if Darla would be able to get through the door in her gown or if she’d have to take it off the way she had. When she looked up at Sam, he was smiling, and she wondered if he was thinking the same thing.

  The guests left, and the caterers, who’d been cleaning up all along, took only a few minutes to get their things together. Martha and her sister were headed back to the festival to see if there were any last minute deals before the venders closed and planned to stay for the fireworks that would start at eight p.m. Annie got the feeling that Martha was trying to make herself scarce so she and Sam could be alone.

  The two were sitting on the sofa when Sam pulled Annie onto his lap. He kissed her hard. “I thought they’d never leave.”

  She smiled. “It was a wonderful reception. The food was excellent and everybody had a great time.”

  “I wouldn’t know, Miss Hartford. My eyes were on you. You seem to have made a lot of friends here in very little time. In fact, I think my woman is quite popular with the townspeople.”

  She arched one eyebrow. “Your woman?”

  “That’s right. You got a problem with that?”

  She leaned against him. He’d loosened his tie and dispensed with his jacket. She could feel the heat of his body through his dress shirt. “Does that mean you’re my man?”

  “Baby, I was yours the moment I first laid eyes on you.”

  Annie closed her eyes, basking in the moment. She had never felt so close to him. He turned her face to his and kissed her deeply. They held hands as they made their way upstairs to his bedroom.

  Their lovemaking was slow and tender. Sam explored every inch of Annie’s body. When she reached out to him, he entered her, and their sighs of pleasure wafted upward. Annie climaxed, and Sam followed right behind her.

  Later they held on to each other as they waited for their breathing to return to normal. Finally, Sam looked into her eyes. “I love you, Annie Hartford.”

  Her insides fluttered. “I love you, too, Sam Ballard.”

  #

  Darla drove everybody crazy the following week, trying to decide what to do with the tiara which was presently sitting in a safety deposit box at the bank, along with the documents. Add to that the promotion and raise Sam had given her, and Darla could not seem to get her head on straight.

  “I can help you sell the tiara,” Annie said.

  “I hate to sell your wedding gift to me.”

  “That’s why I gave it to you.”

  Darla nodded. “Well, I definitely need a newer model car.”

  “You can afford something brand new,” Annie said. “You could make one heck of a down payment on a nice big house.”

  Darla shook her head. “I have something else in mind.” She paused. “Can you keep a secret?” When Annie nodded, she went on. “I want to buy Sam out,” she said. “I want to buy the Dixieland Café.”

  “Wow,” Annie said. “I hadn’t thought of that. Do you think he will sell it?”

  “I plan to offer a fair price.” She paused. “So I guess I’m going to need your help finding a buyer for the tiara.”

  Annie nodded. “I’ll call Sotheby’s in Atlanta. I’ve dealt with them before.”

  #

  Two days later, Annie and Darla were cleaning up after the lunch crowd when a silver Mercedes pulled to the curb out front.
Annie took one look at it, and her heart sank clear to her toes.

  “Would’ja get a load of those wheels,” Darla said. “Wonder whose driving it?”

  “I know who it is,” Annie said dully as a tall blond-haired man in expensive clothes climbed out. She felt a sense of dread as he made his way to the front door of the restaurant and opened it. He stepped inside and stared at Annie for a full minute before saying anything.

  “Hello, Annie. You’re looking good. That uniform becomes you.”

  Annie did not miss the sarcasm in his voice. She raised her hand, palm facing him. “Hold it right there, Eldon,” she said. “If you’re here to yell at me for skipping out on our wedding, you can turn your car around and head back to Atlanta because I’m not going to listen to it.”

  “In other words, you don’t feel you owe me an apology.”

  Annie ignored his remark. “How did you find me?”

  “I was forced to hire a private investigator.”

  “Forced?“ Annie said.

  “That’s right. You probably don’t give a damn, but your father suffered a massive heart attack shortly after you hit the road. I figured you’d want to know. Or not,” he added.

  It took a moment for Annie to grasp it, but the minute her brain registered the news she went weak-kneed. “Is he . . .?” She tried to form the word but could not.

  “He is still alive,” Eldon said. “The cardiologist hoped to perform a non-evasive procedure, but something went wrong, and they had to open his chest. Then, to make matters worse, your father suffered a stroke on the operating table. I don’t know the specifics. Nobody will talk to me or Vera because we’re not family. So, yeah, it was necessary that I find you.”

  Annie realized why she had not heard from Vera since she had arrived in Pinckney. She probably figured Annie would return home, despite all she had gone through to escape.

  “What’s the prognosis?” Annie asked, almost afraid to hear.

  “Not good. He is in CCU. He slipped into a coma several days ago.”