If You Hold Me (A Sugar Maple Novel #4) - Ciara Knight Page 0,1

made with lavender and a hint of lemon would provide a brightness with a hint of calm. The perfect pick-me-up after working at her nursery in the drizzling rain all morning.

Fall brought all sorts of weather. Most people thought of it as the end of summer, but Mary-Beth always thought of it as the beginning of hot beverage season. Her favorite season.

The bell over the door jingled their arrival, and as if staged, they each snagged their drinks for a whiff, a sip, and a smile.

“Ah, the Coffee Whisperer strikes again. Perfection.” Felicia settled in, laying out leaves in the center of the table.

Jackie dropped the garland next to the pile of vibrant oranges and yellows and placed the bag on the floor by her side. “You are too southern, girl. Always ready to please with a beverage and a smile.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you all enjoy my drinks enough to want to meet here. I needed to be available when Andy had a break between school and football.” Mary-Beth settled between Carissa and Stella. “Let’s get started.”

“You know you’re the most amazing sister-turned-parent ever.” Sweet Carissa’s diamond ring flashed under the LED-lighted chandelier overhead. The girl beamed brighter than any piece of jewelry since her proposal to Drew Lancaster.

“I try, but raising a high school boy wasn’t part of my life plans. Still, I don’t mind. It allowed him to graduate here and not have to move with my father’s job transfer. It won’t be long before he’s off for college.”

“How’s it being back around the old football field? I mean, all those memories for you and all.” Jackie didn’t even try to hide her attempt at fishing into Mary-Beth’s romantic life, but Mary-Beth wouldn’t even nibble.

“Carissa, it won’t be long before we’re planning your wedding to Drew and Stella’s to Knox.” Mary-Beth elbowed Stella, ignoring her glower.

“No making a fuss over my wedding. Knox and I’ll go to the Justice of the Peace or maybe have you all come to the garage for a ceremony.”

“Please.” Jackie rolled her eyes. “Doesn’t Knox owe it to his fans to film the wedding? He’s the number-one internet sensation in the world now. How you two ever ended up together is beyond my imagination.”

Stella shoved an orange leaf into the garland next to another orange one, sending Jackie into a panic.

She flipped her auburn hair behind her shoulder and snagged the epic error away from Stella, who had no doubt done it on purpose just to annoy Jackie. It didn’t take much to make her mad these days, though. “Not like that. Didn’t you learn patterns in kindergarten?”

“I don’t know, did you learn how to share?” Stella shot back.

Negotiator Felicia jumped into the center of the not-so-friendly friendship circle. “I think Ms. Horton is going to love all our efforts. Especially since we’re a team again. Sweet Carissa is making the most delicious cake, Jackie did the dress, Stella is helping put together the decorations at the McCadden Farm, and Mary-Beth is organizing everything at the farm.”

“And you’re doing all the flowers.” Mary-Beth added to the list before everyone gave her the sorrowful glance of lost loves and hopeless romantic notions.

“How you dealing with being on the farm?” Stella asked.

The table jolted, telling Mary-Beth someone had kicked Stella into submission.

“Stop. All of you, that was forever ago. I’ve moved on.” Mary-Beth looked across the table. “Now Jackie, though…”

Jackie held up her hand, as if trying to win a fly-swatting competition. “No. I’m not on trial here. We’re not having Ms. Horton’s wedding on my ex-boyfriend’s farm.” Jackie adjusted the leaves that Carissa had added and made them even more beautiful. That was her gift. Making things pretty.

“Please, he won’t even be there.” Mary-Beth lifted her own cup to her lips. “He’s been gone forever and a month.” Even as the words left her lips, she wondered how she’d make it through watching someone else marry on the spot she’d thought would be her wedding venue one day.

“A farm you thought you’d be living at for the rest of your life,” Jackie shot back.

Mary-Beth felt her hackles rise. “Maybe you’d be less prickly if you were to try dating.”

“Maybe you should take your own advice.”

Felicia cleared her throat. “You know, Declan took me to a great place in Creekside a few weeks ago.”

Poor girl tried to keep the peace, but she was going to develop an ulcer if she wasn’t careful, always negotiating the Fabulous Five drama. “Sounds nice. Maybe I’ll ask my date