Chapter One
Friday night in Petal. Half the town—that is, those citizens sixty and under—were gathered inside The Pumphouse seeking refuge from the rain and enjoying three-dollar pitchers of beer and burgers. The crowd noise was so loud, whatever song playing on the jukebox was indistinguishable. Still, Maggie, Dee and Liv sat at their usual table—the one by the window—so they could watch the goings-on. They’d sat there, every Friday night, for the last four years. It should have seemed mundane, boring, but it was the time when each of the friends got to reconnect after a long week and it was a bright spot instead.
But the usually happy Maggie sighed into her beer before taking the last drink and setting her empty glass down on the table.
“So, I finally broke up with Sam. It’s definitely over.”
With an inelegant snort, Liv tried to catch the server’s eye to order another pitcher. “Maggie, honey, it’s been over for at least a month now. You just haven’t been willing to admit it to yourself. And heaven knows our manners were too good to break it to you.” It was Maggie’s turn to snort at that.
Stifling a grin, Liv continued. “Anyway, he’s an ass. He’s been an ass since the fifth grade. You’re too good for him.”
“Way too good for him. He needs a momma, not a girlfriend.” Dee’s nose wrinkled in disgust.
“Well, the problem is this town is just too damned small! Who’ve I got to choose from? And let’s keep it men between twenty-two and fifty who aren’t married, living with his mother or gay.” Maggie handed a five over to Patrick for the beer and began to pour out for everyone. “Keep the change, sugar.” She winked, getting a cheeky grin in return before he turned and headed back through the crowd to the bar.
“It really is a shame he’s gay. He looks as good going as he does coming.” Dee’s voice trailed off as she watched him disappear into the crowd.
“Yeah, a shame for our team.” Liv sighed. “But you know, you’re failing to mention the hottest real estate in town. How about one of the Chase brothers?”
Maggie snorted. Yeah right. Those boys were mouthwateringly handsome. Tall, broad, boy-next-door gorgeous. The women of Petal had been lusting after them since preschool.
“Sure, why not! But no. I’d rather have Brad Pitt, he’s about as available, although I suppose I’d have to fight Angelina for him.” Maggie rolled her eyes. “Liv, everyone wants those boys. Even if a girl like me could catch their attention—I have no desire to be a notch on someone’s bedpost. Maybe I just need to lower my standards. Roger Petrie has been asking me out for years. Maybe I should say yes. After all, he has a job, lives in his own home and has all of his teeth.”
Liv and Dee burst out laughing. “Yeah but he’s creepy! I mean, he’s got like, what, fifty cats and a goat living in his house?”
“On the other hand,” Liv said, breathless from laughing, “an animal lover can’t be all that bad.”
“Question is, how much of a lover is he? I mean, he sleeps with the goat!” Maggie’s words dissolved into laughter.
“Eww! Time to change the subject. You don’t need to lower your standards, Margaret Elizabeth Wright! There are plenty of decent men in Petal. You just have to be patient.” Sweet as she was, Dee didn’t know she said it in that way women do when they have a boyfriend.
“And what do you mean, a girl like you? Are you suggesting that those Chase boys are too good for you? Because you are dead wrong. My God, Maggie, you’re beautiful! It pisses me off that you can’t see it. I blame your mother.” Liv shook her head as she looked at her oldest friend.
Petite and blessed with fine, almost delicate features, Maggie had a head of gorgeous strawberry blonde hair. She usually wore it in a tight knot at the back of her head but when she let it free, it hung past her waist. Tortoiseshell glasses often hid the big amber-brown eyes fringed with long lashes. Hell, Maggie was pretty when she looked like a buttoned-up schoolteacher. But Liv knew Maggie had a knockout figure lurking under those clothes and itched to cut and style the hair, get rid of the glasses and show a bit of skin.
“Liv, those Chase boys are out of my league. Men that handsome and, well—manly—don’t notice high school history teachers.” And she had to admit that they were all so powerfully vital and masculine that it intimidated her.
“Speak of the devils...” Liv nodded her head and the three turned to watch the Chase brothers stroll into the bar. In fact, every single woman—and even the not-so-single ones—noticed the four impossibly handsome brothers.
“My, my, my. Those boys sure are fine.” Maggie’s gut tightened at the sight.
“Yepper.” Liv fanned her face with a napkin.
“Mm-hmm.” Dee nodded.
Once they’d disappeared into the back where the pool tables were, the women turned back to their conversation.
“Go on, Dee, tell us about Arthur. We know you want to.” Every Friday night Dee did a weekly “Arthur is so wonderful” update.
Arthur Jones was Dee’s boyfriend. One of the good guys. They were planning a wedding for Valentine’s Day.
“He planted a magnolia tree in the backyard earlier this week and put in an arbor with yellow climbing roses. Three of them because you know, we’ve been together three years. He’s so sweet.”
Smiling through the sudden lump in her throat, Maggie stood and patted Dee’s shoulder. “Yeah, he is.” She stood up. “I’ll be back. I have to make a pit stop.”
It didn’t used to bother her so much that she didn’t have someone. Dating around was fine. Fun even. But lately, Maggie had begun to want the kind of love and connection that Dee had with Arthur. She wanted someone to make breakfast for. Someone to plant flowers with and take long walks hand in hand at the lake with. She now knew she was missing something and she wanted it.
On her way back from the ladies’ room, she heard Patrick call out that their order of chili cheese fries was done. With a wave to thank him, she moved to grab them and save him a trip. Three steps from the kitchen window area someone slammed into her. Knocked sideways, the platter of gooey fries flipped over, dropping with a splat on the side of her blouse and down the leg of her pants.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”
Maggie spun around, astounded at the tone. “Me? Did you just bark at me? You’re the one who bumped into me! You made me drop this food all over my clothes and the floor. Last time I checked, it’s the person walking backward’s job to watch out.” Looking up, and then up some more, she came to the insanely gorgeous face of none other than Shane Chase.
“You were in the middle of the aisle,” he growled at her, arms crossed over his chest.
“It’s the walkway, dumbass! It’s called that because it’s where people walk.” Unable to stop herself, she used a very slow voice and her heart sped a bit as his jaw clenched at her tone. And then her inner bitch wanted to snicker. Instead she couldn’t resist. “Facing forward, I might add.” This guy took the cake! A little bit of good looks turned him into a self-righteous jerk.
Narrowing his eyes, he leaned into her personal space to intimidate her. But she refused to step back. She did work with teenagers every day after all. And the man was acting like a big baby. “Did you just call the sheriff a dumbass?”
“No, I called you a dumbass. The dumbass who wasn’t watching where he was going and slammed into me and then yelled at me, the dumbass who has no manners—I’m calling that guy a dumbass. That you happen to be a cop is not relevant. Although one might expect a cop to actually act with civility and basic manners!” She huffed. But the impact was not as impressive as she’d hoped given that he was nearly a foot taller than she was. And all that distracting hard muscle and really nice smell. Why did a jerk like him have to smell so good she wanted to lean in and take a bite? It’d serve him right if she did. Shaking her head to dislodge the question about what he may taste like, the fog cleared a bit and she found her mad again.
“She’s got you there, Shane.” Kyle Chase approached, smiling at her apologetically. “Are you all right? That cheese stuff is pretty hot. Did you get burned?” He handed her some napkins but she just looked down at herself. If she tried to wipe it with the napkins the gooey mess would just get worse.
At least one of them had manners. He probably tasted good too. Stifling a smile she unclenched her fists and stepped back. “Thanks. It just stung a bit but my pants took the brunt. But I’ve got to go and get out of these clothes.” Swinging her head to glare at Shane, she noted he was still glowering, only this time at his brother. “And you! I have sixteen-year-old boys in my class who have more manners. Take a civility training class or something.” She harrumphed and spun around to stalk back to their table.
“Oh my God! What was that all about?” Liv handed Maggie her purse and raincoat.
“That moron Shane Chase slammed his gargantuan body into me and made me spill chili cheese fries all over myself! And then had the nerve to yell at me like it was my fault! Dumbass! I have to go. I’ll talk to you two later.” She tossed some money on the table.
“Now who’s the dumbass? We’re coming with you. I have plenty of takeout menus at home. Let’s go.” Liv got up and Dee followed.
The three women headed out together into the evening, grousing about Shane Chase and his abominable manners.
* * *
“Well, that was really special, Shane. You were awful to that little woman. Happy now? Or do we need to go and search out some old ladies we can knock over or steal some candy from toddlers?” Kyle egged his brother on as they played pool in the back of the bar.
“She called me a dumbass!”
Kyle smirked when Shane missed the shot.
“That’s because you are one. You rammed into her, made her spill food all over herself and then instead of apologizing, you yelled at her. You’re lucky all she did was call you a dumbass. She had quite the vicious gleam in her eye.” Kyle lined up his shot and missed.
“She’s cute for someone so small. I don’t think I ever noticed that spark behind those glasses and those stuffy shirts. I’ve seen her around town but who is she?”
“Maggie Wright. She was in my year in school.” Matt looked up mildly before leaning back down to take his shot. “She’s a teacher at the high school now. History I think. Clearly a real menace to society.” He rolled his eyes as he straightened and grabbed his glass.
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Matt. You’re too pretty. Anyway, she’s a rude little woman.” But Shane’s voice didn’t sound so sure anymore.
“You’re rude, Shane. Mom’s gonna kick your ass when she hears about this—and you know she will. Petal being Petal, I bet the story is weaving its way across town right this very moment,” Marc taunted. “I don’t envy you Momma’s wrath but I can’t wait to see it.”
* * *
Maggie was up to her elbows in dirt, planting primroses when Polly Chase rolled up and got out of her car.
“Maggie? Honey, is that you?” Polly click-clacked up the front walk. The woman was a sight to see. She was not even five feet tall but that was the only thing small about her. A head of heavily lacquered hair stood several inches high, matched only by the spiked heels on her feet and a handbag bigger than a small country. All of this fit in the late 1970s Caddy she drove around town like a menace.
And her presence was big too. Polly Chase was the town matriarch. Her family was one of the oldest in Petal and her husband’s just as old. Both the Chandlers and the Chases had a hand in the building and governance of Petal for five generations. When Polly married Edward Chase thirty-five years before, it had been the ultimate marriage.
Still, Maggie had always thought Polly, who sat with her on the Historical Society, and Edward, an attorney in Petal, were very nice people. However, seeing how rude her oldest was, she began to wonder.
Standing up, Maggie took off her gardening gloves and tossed them on the walk. “Yes, Mrs. Chase, it is. What can I do for you?” As if she didn’t know. “Why don’t you come on in? I was just going to get myself some hot tea. Would you like a cup?”
“Oh that would be perfect, shug. Thank you.” Polly followed Maggie into the large house that belonged to her parents at one time and now was hers.
“Please, sit down and I’ll get the water on.” Maggie swept into the large kitchen and lit the burner under the teakettle. While she waited, she prepared the teapot, measuring the loose tea, spooning it into the mesh ball. Hanging it into the pot she turned and put a few oatmeal cookies on a pretty plate.
Steeling herself, she took a deep breath before going back into the living room a few minutes later. She put the tray down on the coffee table and sat across from Polly.
“It’ll need steeping for another three minutes or so. Would you like a cookie? They’re fresh-baked.”
When Polly had taken a few bites of the cookie, Maggie poured her a steaming cup of green tea. “What can I do for you today, Mrs. Chase?”
“Honey, I heard what my boy did to you last night at The Pumphouse. I’m just mortified! So naturally I wanted to come by and apologize. Because it also came to my attention that he failed to do that on top of everything else.”
Softening at the sight of Polly’s distress, Maggie leaned across the space separating them. Reaching out, she squeezed the other woman’s hand. “Mrs. Chase, please don’t be upset. Whatever Shane did, he did on his own. You have nothing to do with it. I’d never think that.”
“Honey, you’re too nice. Now I’m just embarrassed. They weren’t raised to talk to anyone that way, much less a woman! Don’t think I haven’t been on his tail all morning. He’s managed to avoid me so far, but mark my words I’ll find him before the day is through. And when I corner that rat, you can be assured I’m gonna tan his hide!”
Maggie stifled a laugh at the picture of Polly spanking her nearly thirty-year-old giant of a son, badge and all. “Well if it’s any consolation to you, Kyle did come over with some napkins and asked me if I was all right.”
“Oh he sang like a bird when I got out to his work site this morning. He’s a good boy, Kyle. Always treats people with kindness.” Polly smiled with pride. “They might be big, giant boys but they’re my boys and I’m still their momma. I heard you called Shane a dumbass.”
Maggie blushed fiercely. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have, it wasn’t nice but he was just really obnoxious and I lost my temper.”
Polly burst out laughing. “Honey, it sounds to me like he was being a dumbass. You don’t have to apologize to me. They get it from their daddy you know.” She gave Maggie a wink.
After tea and cookies and a discussion on the next historical society function, Polly excused herself. “I have to run now, Maggie honey. Rest assured I’ll wrangle that boy into doing the right thing. Thank you for the tea and cookies.” She gave Maggie a big hug and teetered on her spiky heels back down the front walk, giant handbag in tow, and sped off.
* * *
“You and I have a double date.” Liv stood on Maggie’s doorstep several hours later.
Automatically, Maggie opened the door to let her in. “What?” Maggie took in the garment bag and the big train case in Liv’s arms and tried not to panic. God only knew what her best friend was up to.
“Jeezus, Maggie, get the freaked-out look off your face. I’m not going to kill you. Our dates are Shaun Stadey and Alex Parsons. I was shopping at the Piggly Wiggly earlier today and they asked if you and I had a date for the Homecoming Picnic tonight. Of course I told them they’d be filling the bill. And now you’re getting a makeover. No argument. I brought some clothes by, too.”
“A makeover?” Maggie’s eyes moved to the train case and big garment bag. “No way! Liv, do you remember what Toots looked like when you got finished with her? I’d give you one of my kidneys but you don’t have the best record with makeovers. Anyway, I have to get out to the car wash with the kids, I just came home on a break.”
Unmoved, Liv stared for a long moment. “Okay, but Maggie, Toots was a dog and we were eight. So shaddup. And no, you don’t need to get back to the car wash. It is pointless to try and think of ways out of this. Dee and Arthur are over there now and doing just fine. You know how much that freaking precious Arthur loves kids. Honestly, sometimes don’t you think he’s got to be a pod person or something because he’s so perfect?” Liv hustled Maggie up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Maggie couldn’t deny herself a guilty snicker and then sobered up. Well, she tried anyway. “Aww, leave poor Arthur alone. He’s a nice guy in a sea of asshats. And Dee, being a pod person herself, deserves someone equally as nice. Plus, he’s kinda hot in a very nerdy way, dontcha think?”
One perfectly manicured eyebrow rose along with the corner of one side of Liv’s mouth. “Whatever. In any case, there is no excuse for you not to let me do this.” Liv laid the bags on Maggie’s bed, unzipping them with military precision.
Stepping back, she glanced from the clothing to Maggie and back again several times. “Okay, clothes for tonight. Alice let me have a few things from her store to bring over here for you. They’re all really cute and it would only be a couple hundred bucks and I think you should buy them all. But, I’m willing to leave you alone for a week if you buy at least one outfit. Come on, I know they’ll all look great on you.”
Despite her amusement at Liv’s hard sell, Maggie broke out in a nervous sweat. “Didn’t you just tell me how beautiful I was on Friday? Why do I need a makeover?”
“You are beautiful, Maggie. But these clothes will fit you. You’ve got a great body but you never let anyone see it because your clothes are all at least a size too big. This stuff isn’t tight or slutty, it’s just modern and it’ll flatter your figure.
“A trim and style of your hair will frame your face. You don’t need those glasses tonight because I’m driving anyway. Oh, and by the way, I made you an appointment at the eye doctor for Tuesday. I’ll meet you there. You need new frames that better fit your face. Contacts would be nice too, don’t you think?”
Cripes, the woman was a steamroller! Maggie eyed the door, considering her chances for escape. Liv caught it and shook her head as she stepped in front of it, blocking Maggie’s way.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Maggie knew by the set of Liv’s face that she wouldn’t win this one. She sighed and Liv grinned, sensing imminent victory. Still she added a few things to sweeten the offer. “Sam will be there. Probably with some skanky date. You know you want him to see what he’s missing. Better yet, Shane Chase will be there too. Let’s show that dumbass what’s what.”
Unable to hold it back, Maggie let her grin spread over her face. “You play so dirty!” But she was already looking through the stack of clothes on her bed. She had to admit the stuff was really cute. Liv did have good taste for a girl who used grape Kool-Aid to dye a dog’s fur back when they were kids.
Liv’s eyes sparkled as she pulled out a dark blue scoop-necked blouse and a denim skirt. “I like these the best. You have great legs. Not that anyone would know since you always wear those long teacher skirts. And ugh, worse, the mom-waisted pleated khaki pants. Pleats! Oh the agony of watching any woman under eighty wear pleats!”
Maggie burst out laughing at the look of disgust on Liv’s face.
“To go with it, those cute boots we saw in the window of Radison’s last week.”
“But I didn’t buy those boots, remember?”
“Yes you did. You can pay me back later.” Not bothering to look up, Liv pulled them out of the bottom of one of the garment bags and put them on the floor. “It’ll be perfect. The skirt is the perfect length and the boots will come to the top of your calf. Well, what are you waiting for? Try on the whole outfit.”
“If I do this will you stop setting me up and trying to make me over?”
“Well, I hate to point out that if I do this, I will be making you over. But I promise to not try again for the next six months.”
“I’ll take whatever I can get. Fine, hand me the clothes. But I’m wearing my glasses. I’m not gonna be blind just to look cuter.”
Liv grinned and handed the outfit over to Maggie. Once Maggie had undressed, Liv shook her head in amazement when she saw Maggie’s underwear. “Girl, you’re something else. Look at those undies! I always forget that you’re wild beneath the clothes.”
Fighting a blush, Maggie smiled. “What? A girl needs pretty undies.” She looked down at the forest green, lacy, high-cut panties and the matching demi-bra. Pretty panties and bras were somewhat of a weakness for her. She had drawers full of the stuff.
“Girl, you’re a mess of contradictions. Now, get those clothes on.”
Once changed, Maggie looked down at the outfit and back at her reflection in the mirror. Liv had been right. The clothes weren’t tight but they showed her figure. She looked pretty. The skirt came to just below her knees and the boots weren’t too high-heeled that her feet would be dying in half an hour. She tugged the bodice of the blouse up a bit, it showed more boobs than she normally did. “Liv, jeez, you can see my boobs.”
Rolling her eyes, Liv clucked her tongue. “Now, shug, don’t exaggerate. You can see your cleavage, big difference. Even at that, it’s just the very top of your cleavage. I promise you it doesn’t look slutty or even daring. Wow, I’d forgotten that you had breasts with all those buttoned-to-the-chin shirts you wear beneath the bulky sweaters.”
“Janie is the sweater girl. She’s the one with the great figure.”
Startled, Liv gave Maggie an appraising look up and down. There were moments when Maggie revealed another small, but bone-deep wound her mother and sister had laid on her and it broke Liv’s heart.
“Mags, you’ve hidden your light under a bushel for far too long. You look so pretty dressed up like this. Jane Marie is not the only pretty sister. Stop letting her mess with your head.” She motioned to the chair. “Come on now, let’s get the rest of you done.”
Putting a drape around Maggie’s shoulders, Liv loosed Maggie’s hair and wet it down. Quickly and efficiently, she trimmed about four inches, layered it to free the curls and cut the front to frame Maggie’s face. The weight gone, the pretty strawberry-blonde hair was a riot of curls.
After the application of some goop to hold the curl and wall out the frizz-inducing humidity, Liv opened up the train case.
With artful application of subtle colors, Liv emphasized Maggie’s giant amber eyes and put a shine on her full lower lip. Maggie didn’t need a lot of makeup and would have been uncomfortable in it anyway. Finished, Liv stood back and surveyed her work. Impressive. The mousy schoolteacher was gone. In her place, a pretty, fey-looking woman with long legs and a nice bosom. Not bad for a few hours’ work.
Cocking her head, Liv met Maggie’s eyes in the mirror. “Look at yourself, Maggie.” Moving away, Liv changed her clothes and finished getting ready while Maggie just stared at herself in the mirror.
For so very long she’d only looked at herself in the mirror long enough to put her hair back. That wasn’t her place in her family. The shock that she could be something else, someone other than the smart one in the Wright family, hit her. Tears burned her eyes for a moment until she blinked them back. “Wow, Liv.”
If Liv saw the tears she ignored them. Just one of the million reasons Maggie loved her. “Instead of saying, I told you so, I’ll just say that you look fabulous. In fact, we need to go clothes shopping! Or you could just keep the outfits I brought over and we could go shopping. You can show me where you get all those fancy panties.” Liv winked.
Maggie fingered the colorful clothing in the bags. “Well, maybe. I mean, looking at myself right now... I think that I much prefer this me.”
“Hon, you’re the same you. Clothes and a haircut don’t make you into a different person. But these clothes do allow the world to see more of how gorgeous you are on the outside. Everyone already knows how beautiful you are on the inside.” Liv paused a moment. “I don’t want you to feel I didn’t already think you were beautiful. Inside and out, even with those ugly-assed schoolmarm clothes. You’re the most beautiful woman I know.”
Maggie stayed silent for long moments as she swallowed past the tears in her throat. Her emotions seemed to have chosen that moment to run riot. “It’s just that you’ve always been the gorgeous, glamorous one. Dee’s the sweet, pretty one and I was the smart one. It feels weird to see that I can be the pretty one, too. Heck, sexy even.”
Arms encircled her from behind as Liv hugged her. “Aw, shug, your mom sure did a number on you. Yes, your sister is a beauty but she’s not the only stunner in the family and on the inside, she’s a troll.”
“Janie’s tall, blonde and married with two perfectly gorgeous children. She never looks unkempt. Her house is a freaking showplace and her husband adores her. She’s perfect.”
“Bleah! You want to be blonde like Janie? We’ll get you some of the same blonde she has, it’s out of a bottle. And beyond her looks what does she have? You’re good and kind and smart and funny. You give back to this town and those kids. Honestly, sometimes I want to smack your momma for making you think that just because your sister was in pageants that you’re not as good. Well, I’d like to smack her for a whole host of reasons but that’s neither here nor there now. Now, we have a picnic to get to, let’s go.”