Second-Chance Sweethearts Read online

It felt good to Corinne. She’d lived close to her sister and her nieces while they were growing up, and Tamlyn had taken an interest in sewing when she was really young. Corinne had taught her everything she knew, and Tamlyn had taken it a step further, now a professional wardrobe supervisor for a TV show. But now, they worked like they used to...just on instinct, each knowing what the other was thinking.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Corinne asked, although she really didn’t need to.

  They both glanced at Opal, who was holding her breath with wide eyes as they worked around her. Her arms were outstretched, and Corinne had seen the hopeful glances she’d made to her father. And she’d also noticed the calm and comforting glances he’d returned.

  “Yep. I think we can make this work. Well, maybe Aunt Corinne can. I have to stay on track with these costumes.”

  “I certainly can. I’m sure with Tamlyn’s help we can make this dress perfect for you.”

  Opal let out a sigh of relief, her arms falling to her side.

  “Oh, wow. Thank you so much,” she said as she hugged Corinne. “I really had my heart set on it and couldn’t figure out how to make it work without losing half my body weight.”

  They all laughed, and Allen hugged his daughter.

  “I’m glad it’s going to work out, sweetheart.”

  “Me, too. I never would have come here in a million years if Jaclyn hadn’t insisted,” Opal said as she turned back toward the fitting room.

  “Jaclyn?” Tamlyn asked, her eyes wide as she looked from her aunt to Allen.

  “Yeah, Jaclyn,” Opal said, but she stopped in mid-stride, turning slowly. She looked at her father, and Corinne couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking—just that she wasn’t exactly happy. She couldn’t quite get a read on her, but when she looked at Tamlyn, it was quite evident that she was thrilled.

  “Who’s Jaclyn?” Corinne asked, quite confused by all the unsaid words hanging in the studio.

  Allen shrugged and tucked his thumbs in his pockets. “She’s an older lady that lives by the RV park. With lots of rabbits.”

  “Right. Rabbits. And fairies,” Opal said, her smile not returning quite yet. She glanced at Tamlyn and again at her father, then took a long, slow look at Corinne—long enough that Corinne flushed again.

  Opal sighed and squared her shoulders before she turned toward the fitting room. She came out quickly and smiled at her father, looping her arm through his.

  “Thank you for all your help, ladies. I don’t know what I’d have done without you. It’s a few weeks until the wedding. Do you think that’ll be enough time?”

  Corinne smiled with relief that this lovely young lady had regained her footing and found her smile, still unsure what had caused the momentary lapse. Maybe she was just nostalgic and missing her mother, which would make perfect sense under the circumstances. Everyone hoped their mother would be at their wedding.

  They said their goodbyes and Corinne closed the door as they left so that Tamlyn could stay off her foot.

  “What do you think that was about? And really, who is Jaclyn?” Corinne asked as Allen and Opal headed down the boardwalk toward the gallery.

  Tamlyn laughed and shook her head. “I’m not sure, really. I haven’t met her myself, just heard a lot about her from my old roommate, Alicia. Let’s pack up and I’ll explain what I do know on the way to my doctor’s appointment.”

  Corinne straightened up her sewing area and reached for the garment bag, hoping she could work on the wedding dress a little later this evening, maybe after Tamlyn was settled and they’d had supper. And after she’d learned a little more about this interesting place she’d landed in. And all the interesting people.

  Chapter 5

  The difference in time zones had Corinne up before the sun, and she’d already let out the wedding dress in the places it needed to be. She and Tamlyn had talked over the kinds of fabrics they might use to make it as natural-looking as possible. It wasn’t a terribly difficult job, and quite exciting to be helping a future bride be able to wear her mother’s dress.

  Tamlyn was moving around better without her boot, and thrilled it was gone. Corinne had had to stop her from doing too much, actually, and she’d realized that keeping Tamlyn off of it might be her biggest chore. But she was an adult—and had reminded her aunt of that several times the evening prior.

  Pins in her mouth, she tugged at the sleeve of the wedding dress and cocked her head. She reached for the paper they’d written Opal’s measurements on and scanned it, looking for the one she needed.

  She shook her head as she realized they had missed that one. She had been a little distracted, after all, with the man—Allen—who’d been so embarrassed. And who she’d embarrassed herself in front of as well.

  “Morning, Aunt Corinne,” Tamlyn called from the kitchen of the apartment. “You want some breakfast?”

  “I already had a muffin,” she said as she put the pins in her mouth back in the pin cushion and headed toward the kitchen.

  “Muffin? Where’d you get a muffin?” Tamlyn asked as she looked around.

  Corinne laughed. “You must have been dead to the world. I made some. Thought you might smell them. You must have been beat.”

  Tamlyn shook her head and reached out for the muffin Corinne offered her from the Tupperware container on the counter.

  “Thank you. I sure was. I don’t think people realize how much harder it is to get around in one of those boots. All night long, I just wanted to stretch and stretch. And I even gladly got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, too.” Tamlyn smiled as she reached into the refrigerator for some butter.

  “I can’t ever imagine being excited about that,” Corinne said. She sat beside Tamlyn on one of the stools at the kitchen counter.

  “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

  “I have to go to work,” Tamlyn said as she finished her muffin. “I’m really sorry. I know you came all this way to see me, but the pilot is shooting soon and I’ve got a lot to do.”

  “Enough for me to help with?” Corinne asked as she pushed the lid back on the container.

  “No, not really. I appreciate what you did yesterday, but it’s more just kind of fiddling with things. You can go ahead and work on the wedding dress. Would you like to come there to do it? Either that or I can bring a machine home for you.”

  “Oh, no,” Corinne said. She wiped some crumbs from the counter and set the sponge back in the sink. “I’d love to come with you. Anywhere to get a good cup of coffee? Maybe even Kona coffee?” she asked.

  “Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t drink coffee and I forgot you do. There’s a great coffee place at the ranch. Sadie’s Saloon. Coffee and ice cream.”

  “Mm, what a delightful combination,” Corinne said as she laughed. “And please, don’t feel like you have to entertain me. I’m fine going about my business. And I’ve got a project with the wedding dress. In fact, I missed a measurement so if you can point me to where she works, I can go do that, too.”

  “Sure,” Tamlyn said. “You know, she works with her dad. The one you met yesterday. The one Jaclyn sent over.”

  “Yes, I remember.” Corinne busied herself fluffing the cushions on the couch. “What was all that about Jaclyn, anyway? Wasn’t she the one we saw in the cafe earlier? I felt like she was staring at me.”

  Tamlyn laughed. “It would appear she was, now that I think about it. She’s the resident—um, well, matchmaker here at the ranch. Has been for years, so they say.”

  Corinne’s hand flew to her chest and she spun around.

  “Matchmaker?”

  Tamlyn folded her arms over her chest. “Yes. And it seems she may have set her sights on you. I hear that fairies tell her when there’s a good match.”

  Corinne’s jaw dropped as she stared at her niece.

  “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Matchmaker. Fairies. Silly.”

  “Well, I can name at least five couples I know t
hat she had a hand in. And I haven’t even been here that long.”

  “Absurd. I’ve been single my entire life. I have no interest in or expectation of any kind of relationship at my age. I had my chance, and I’m not interested in another one.”

  “Hm,” Tamlyn said as she eyed her aunt. “Well, from what I’ve heard, if it’s supposed to be, you won’t have a choice.”

  Corinne stared at her again, her mouth agape.

  “There’s always choice, and I’m not remotely interested,” Corinne said.

  Tamlyn raised her eyebrows at her aunt and shook her head. She stood, resting gently on her injured foot but broke into a smile as she firmly placed her weight on it. “I don’t want to get too excited, but I think maybe I’m out of the woods.”

  “Well, be careful,” Corinne said. “I’ve known people who’ve had to go back into the boot because they did too much too soon.”

  Tamlyn sighed. “Okay. I promise I’ll stay sitting as much as I can today.”

  Corinne laughed. “I think it needs to be longer than only today, so good thing I’m here to watch you.”

  Tamlyn reached for her coat and Corinne did the same. It was a bit cooler here than it had been back home, and she was glad she’d grabbed some warmer clothes at the last minute.

  As Corinne drove from the quaint town of Riston back toward River’s End Ranch, she took a moment to peer up at the soaring mountains—some still topped with snow. All along the sides of the road, flowers seemed to be fighting their way up toward the sun, and some of the knolls were smattered with pink, white, red and yellow. A couple of patches of snow dotted the landscape, but it was mostly greening up with the coming of spring. It was beautiful.

  As they turned onto the ranch, gravel crunched under the tires as she pulled up to Tamlyn’s studio.

  “Are all of the people here who are going to be in the pilot?” she asked as they got out of the car.

  “Yep, we’re just about ready to get going. I had a meeting with Adiel, the show-runner, the other day and he says things look good for the pilot to be picked up, too. Fingers crossed,” Tamlyn said.

  “You’d like to stay?” Corinne asked, turning slowly as she looked around the ranch. The sky was so blue and the white puffy clouds partially covered the sun.

  “I don’t know if I’d want to stay forever, but it’s really comfortable for me for now. I love my job, and everybody at the ranch is really nice.”

  “I’ll say,” Corinne muttered under her breath, thinking of the few she’d met so far.

  Tamlyn laughed as she pushed her key into the lock of her studio. “I heard that. You wouldn’t happen to be referring to Mr. Hamilton, would you?”

  Corinne breezed right in behind Tamlyn.

  “Of course not. I’ve met several very nice people here. And I always like to meet new folks. You know that.”

  Tamlyn had spent a good amount of time traveling with Corinne through the years, always up for an adventure as well. They always met new people, wherever they visited, so she would have no reason to think this was any different.

  “Hm. Okay,” Tamlyn said slowly as she set down her things and eyed her aunt. “You know, didn’t you say you needed to see Opal and get another measurement? Her dad works with her at the gallery, right by the coffee place.”

  Corinne unzipped the garment bag and hung the wedding dress on the mannequin she’d modified for Opal’s figure. She glanced out the window and down the boardwalk, toward the sign that said Sadie’s Saloon.

  “I would like a cup of coffee,” she said before she turned back to Tamlyn. “What?”

  Tamlyn stood grinning at her.

  “Nothing. Would you get me a cup of tea while you’re over there? I’d go with you but—well, you know. My foot and all.”

  Corinne narrowed her eyes at Tamlyn and reached for her wallet.

  “Of course I will. I’ll be right back,” she said.

  “Take your time,” Tamlyn said as she closed the door.

  Corinne couldn’t help but think about what Tamlyn had said about Jaclyn. It was ridiculous, wasn’t it? She’d never even met this man before. How could she be so cavalier about people ending up together? Especially at their age. It wasn’t funny—certainly not something to joke around about.

  She walked especially slowly toward the saloon, and stopped completely before she passed the gallery. Tamlyn had said he’d be there, working with his daughter and part of her wanted to just rush right by, get coffee and head back to Tamlyn’s studio.

  But she did need the measurement from Opal, and something about this handsome man with gray at his temples and deep, kind blue eyes wouldn’t let her pass by. She wanted to know more.

  Chapter 6

  Allen stood behind the counter of the gallery and stretched. He tried to stop a yawn, but couldn’t. He blinked several times as he tried to shake his dreams from the night before, but when he couldn’t, he came out from behind the counter and leaned his forehead on the window that looked out to the center of Old Town.

  He hadn’t had coffee yet—Opal had offered to go next door to get some—and he reminded himself to go to the grocery store in Riston after work. They were pretty much out of everything in the cabin they shared. Opal had been spending most of her time with Bernard and Olivia, planning the wedding, and he’d been on his own most nights. They’d asked him to join them, but he just hadn’t felt like it. Weddings were kind of girl stuff anyway, and he once again found himself wishing Mary was there to help and just fill him in on the details.

  Opal had been so excited about the dress last night when they’d left work that she’d run straight to Bernard’s to tell him. He’d peeked in the closet and shaken his head at the mess. Between his looking for Mary’s dish for the big announcement and Opal searching for her mother’s wedding dress, Mary’s things that they’d packed away were still strewn all over. He’d tried to pick some of them up, but had been a little overwhelmed. It was better for him just to have Mary’s handkerchief in his pocket, her beloved cookbook in the kitchen, a favorite dish or two and the pictures on the mantle. The rest really needed to just stay packed away, and he’d mentioned that to Opal.

  She’d stared at him for a few moments before she spoke.

  “Dad, Mom’s been gone for a long time.”

  “I know. And I probably should be able to just go through those things, but I don’t want to. I have your mother’s memory with me all the time anyway. And most of that stuff we kept for when you and Olivia have children. To pass along. I don’t need to be involved with it.”

  Opal was quiet for a moment before nodding, and agreeing to pack things up. She’d come and sat by him on the sofa, resting her hand on his knee. He looked at her, and saw a flash of something in her eye as she returned his gaze. Sadness? She didn’t look exactly happy.

  “Dad, have you ever thought about maybe getting back out there?”

  He leaned back in the sofa and folded his arms over his chest.

  “Back out where? I go to work every day like you.”

  Opal sighed. She seemed to be choosing her words carefully, but still wasn’t smiling.

  “No, Dad. I mean back out in the dating world, not the work world.”

  Allen laughed and stood, thrusting his hands in his pockets. He paced in front of the fireplace, trying not to look at the pictures on the mantle. It was almost as if she’d read his mind—but misunderstood it all. He was a bit envious about his whole family finding love, having relationships, but it wasn’t for him.

  “Sweetheart, your mother and I were very happy. You know that. I can’t imagine in a million years that anyone would take her place. No worries here.”

  He leaned on the mantle and looked away from the pictures, over toward his daughter. She was smiling, but it seemed like a sad smile to him. He’d never really thought about how the girls would feel if he ever met anyone, and was glad that it didn’t matter, as he never would.

  “Part of me was hoping you’d say that, Dad. B
ut the more I think about it, and about Jaclyn, the more I realize that you deserve what we have. All of us. You deserve someone to be with, too.”

  He certainly wasn’t expecting that. He tugged at his collar and folded his arms again over his heart.

  “Honey, that Jaclyn nonsense is just that—nonsense. There’s nobody around that I’d take a second look at, even if I were inclined. But I’m very happy for all of you and quite content on my own.”

  Opal stood and crossed the room resting her hand on her father’s arm.

  “Dad, just think about it. Be open?”

  Allen shook his head.

  “I’m fine, Opal. Very happy. All is well,” he said as he’d wrapped his arms around his daughter and given her a long hug.

  But as he tossed and turned all night, he couldn’t help but wonder if it wasn’t that conversation that had stolen his sleep. Thoughts of Mary had run in through his head, and memories of his little girls—both good and bad—had run close behind them.

  He’d been wide awake when the sun peeked through the curtains of the cabin, and he’d finally decided to get up. It hadn’t helped that the can of Kona coffee had been empty when he’d gotten dressed.

  He yawned again, and peered down the boardwalk, hoping that Opal would be back soon with his favorite coffee. That might shake the cobwebs out of his head.

  He turned back toward the counter, and the bells on the door jingled.

  “Just in time. Kona coffee to the rescue, I hope?”

  He stopped in his tracks at the vaguely familiar voice that wasn’t remotely his daughter.

  “I’d love some Kona coffee myself. It’s my favorite, but sadly I have none to offer you.”

  His face heated before he had even turned around, and he looked straight into the green eyes of the lovely woman he’d met the day before—Corinne.

  “Oh, my gosh, I’m sorry. I was expecting my daughter. She was heading next door to get coffee, and Kona is my favorite. I didn’t sleep well last night and I was hoping—” He knew he was rambling, but couldn’t stop himself. Just like the day before, his blush got the best of him.