CHAPTER 21
Darby
All weddings should be done this way. I’ve never seen such a fun, joyous atmosphere that is both magical and laid-back at the same time. Della and Jason chose to do a very short, simple civil ceremony and rented out the old train depot that sits on the eastern side of Whynot for a huge party after.
Although trains still rumble through town carrying God knows what freight, Colt told me the depot hasn’t been open for as long as he can remember. I guess once upon a time, passenger trains would stop here but not any longer. It has since been renovated and is nothing more than a long, rectangular hall that people can use for weddings or any other type of party or function.
Jason and Della chose to get married in jeans and cowboy boots. Jason chose a white Western-style shirt while Della went with a more flowing white gauzy blouse. She has autumn-colored flowers ringed around her head in orange, yellow, and red. All the tables are decorated with mums and fall leaves and they hired a band to play rock ’n roll from the seventies.
Mostly to my delight is the food. I get to experience a true Eastern North Carolina pig picking complete with chopped and pulled pork, coleslaw, and hushpuppies. I’ve eaten so much I swear I probably gained ten pounds tonight.
Larkin outdid herself on the cake. She didn’t do anything fancy, and Della hadn’t wanted the little plastic bride and groom on the top. Instead, they decided to go with just big fat roses done in white buttercream frosting all over the three-layered cake. Because there are so many guests, Larkin did matching cupcakes and there are six dozen of them surrounding the main cake on the table.
Best of all, Linnie is having a wonderful time. There are some kids from her school here as well as some kids she has just met, and they are all running around like they don’t have a care in the world. Linnie definitely seems to be gaining more confidence in this new life we’ve established here. Hopefully the way she’s making new friends will help erase the bad memories of bullies such as Caleb Rochelle.
Linnie and I have been welcomed into and absorbed by the large Mainer-Mancinkus clan. We commandeered two large round tables near each other and pulled them together. The entire family is here including those who have recently been drawn in by love or marriage.
I’m, of course, the exception to that rule since it’s neither love nor marriage that has me sitting here right now, but it definitely is something.
I definitely have something with Colt Mancinkus, although I have no clue where this is going. I find myself not overly bothered by this fact. I have no expectations, and I know enough about Colt to accept he’s not toying with me. But whatever this is, it’s so fresh and exciting and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced that I don’t want it to ever end.
I think Colt may be perhaps the finest man I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing outside of my own father.
I’m sitting next to Colt, having turned the chairs around to face the band, and I’m tapping my foot to Lynard Skynyrd. My parents used to listen to this music a lot.
A man steps into my line of sight, and I blink as I look up at him. He’s average height with nondescript brown hair and even more nondescript brown eyes. He looks at Colt, who nods at him in greeting before turning to me. He extends a hand out. “Darby, my name is Billy Crump.”
I shake his hand and smile up at him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Is that the same Crump as Crump’s grocery store?”
He nods. “My daddy owns it, and I guess I’ll own it one day. I run the butcher counter over there so if you ever need anything, you just give me a call.”
We release hands, and I say, “That’s very nice of you.”
Billy glances left and then right as if he’s expecting someone to overhear our conversation, which would be nearly impossible with the band playing music not too far away. As it stands, he’s had to raise his voice a few decibels to make the introduction.
But he squats down in front of me and leans in a little closer. I look over to Colt, who’s smirking at us before turning back to Billy.
“I’m sure you don’t know this because why would you, but you see… I have a little side business. It ain’t exactly legal, but it is profitable.”
I just blink in confusion as I stare at Billy.
He continues. “I make peach moonshine. Everyone around here drinks it, including Chief Sumwalt of the police department. I make all kinds of moonshine actually, but the peach is my specialty and I heard you were starting a peach orchard. I thought perhaps you and I could come to some type of arrangement whereby you provide me peaches and I would pay you in kind with some moonshine.”
I continue to just blink at Billy Crump as his proposition is unlike anything that’s ever been offered to me before. I can’t even open my mouth to form words to come out because I wouldn’t even know what to say to him.
Colt saves the day when he leans over and claps Billy on the shoulder. “Darby will take your offer into consideration, but she’s probably going to be selling wholesale to major buyers, Billy.”
“Oh yeah… right,” Billy says, nodding his head vigorously. He then winks down at me. “But if you got a few extra peaches laying around, I’d be glad to take them off your hands.”
I can’t help but laugh. “You got it.”
Billy meanders off, and Colt scoots his chair in closer to me. He loops an arm casually over the back of my chair and lets his fingers trail along my upper arm. So far, this is the closest Colt has gotten to me all evening, and I know this is in deference to Linnie. We had talked about it some at lunch this week—how we could continue to get to know each other and make it comfortable for Linnie as well.
The band finishes a song. Before they start the next, the lead singer puts his mouth up to the microphone. “Come on, Colt. Get your butt up here and do a song with us.”
Several people in the crowd whistle and others chant Colt’s name. The man beside me grins and shakes his head, making a dismissive wave of his hand at the band.
“Come on, Colt,” the lead singer cajoles into the microphone. “Bet that pretty girl next to you would like to hear you sing.”
“I really would,” I add, and Colt’s hazel eyes come to mine.
“If that’s the case, I guess I need to go sing,” is all he says as he pushes from his chair.
He’s going to sing because I asked him to. Thank God I’m sitting down, or I would be in danger of swooning.
Everyone whistles louder as Colt saunters up to the makeshift stage and hops up on it. I look around at everyone clapping, and still others stopping conversations to watch Colt. It’s clear he’s beloved in this community, and I’m betting not just because of his singing voice.
The lead singer hands over his guitar to Colt, who puts it on as if he was born to wear it. He tests a few strings and then says something to the band.
“Wish he wouldn’t have quit that band,” Larkin says with a huff as she sits down in Colt’s abandoned chair.
I blink in surprise. “Colt played in that band?”
She nods with a smile. “For several years. It was nothing major. You know, they do weddings and stuff, but at least it let Colt pursue his love of music somewhat.”
“Why did he quit?” I ask.
“He just got busier with the farm. Didn’t have time to practice and soon after, he didn’t have time to do events.”
I look back up at Colt, who looks so natural standing up there—as well as sexy as all get out—and it makes me sad all the things he’s sacrificed for his farm and his family. It’s just another reason why I like him so much.
To my surprise, the music starts as a slow ballad, which is a startling contrast to the upbeat rock music that’s been playing. I recognize it immediately as an old George Strait song, I Cross My Heart.
And oh, wow… can he sing some country music. He sounds even better doing the classics. His eyes sweep out over the crowd, many stepping onto the dance floor to take advantage of a beautiful love song. Jason and Della take the center, and everyone watches them for a few moments before they start dancing themselves.
Occasionally, Colt’s eyes come to me and he smiles as he sings. I feel the heat in my face and the mad thump of my heart. It would be beyond romantic to be dancing to this song with Colt, but just listening to him croon about dreams and promises is almost too much to bear.
As we look into the future.
It’s as far as we can see.
Our eyes lock, and he doesn’t look away for the rest of the song. My skin prickles as I realize he’s making a very public proclamation that he’s interested in me. I would guess by the way I’m staring back at him, I’m doing the same.
The song winds down… ends with Colt belting out the last deep note so it practically vibrates in my bones. Everyone goes crazy, cheering, whistling, and stamping their feet. Colt gives a dismissive wave of his hand, and says into the microphone, “Thank you.”
After he removes the guitar, he hands it back to the lead singer, who says they’re going to take a fifteen-minute break. He hops off the stage and walks with a natural swagger that’s not put on, but every bit earned by his charisma and confidence.
“That was unbelievable,” I tell him as he approaches. I stand just as he reaches me, and it would be the perfect moment to kiss.
You know, if the entire Mancinkus clan weren’t sitting at the table watching and my seven-year-old daughter wasn’t playing with the other kids fifteen feet away.
“Glad you liked it,” he says as he chucks me under the chin with his fingers.
“Okay, I’ve got an announcement to make everyone,” Mely says from the opposite side of the table. Colt, Larkin, and I both turn that way. The rest of the family is all present with empty plates of food and drink glasses in front of them.
Mely stands up and places her fingertips on the edge of the table. Lowe reaches a hand up from where he sits beside her to give her butt a little pat of encouragement. She grins at him.
When she looks back, she gives a little cough to clear her throat and says without any fanfare, “You’re looking at the proud new owner of Millie’s B&B.”
Lowe gives a coughing sound. “Ahem.”
Mely laughs and adds, “I mean owners. As in plural. Lowe and I bought it, and we’re going to be opening it next month.”
For a brutally painful moment, there’s utter silence around the table. My heart hurts for Mely and Lowe that they’re not getting family support, but then a dull roar rises as everyone starts exclaiming in excited surprise at once.
“Oh, my God,” Larkin says as she runs around the table to practically tackle Mely in a hug. “I’m so thrilled.”
After that, the family members—original and newly added—all swarm around Mely and Lowe for hugs and back claps of congratulations. I move my way around the table to do the same, content to wait my turn. Just as Colt steps up to his brother, Pap sidles in beside me. He puts his arm around my shoulder and gives me a squeeze.
“Does my heart good,” he says as we watch Colt talking to Mely and Lowe.
“Seeing your brood succeed?” I hazard a guess.
“Well, that,” he replies agreeably, but then turns his gaze to me. “But I enjoy seeing this community grow from the outside in. First Ry from Boston, then Mely from New York, and finally Jake from Chicago… all finding a new home here in Whynot. Just like I did all those years ago.”
“It’s a lovely sentiment,” I tell Pap.
“You stick around here, and that would be another fine addition to our community,” he points out.
Sly old dog. I know where you’re going with this.
“That’s sweet of you to say,” I reply noncommittally, not because I’m unwilling to consider a permanent move here. On the contrary, this would be an amazing place to raise Linnie, but I don’t engage in “what-ifs” with Pap because this thing with Colt is newly forming and I don’t want to jinx it.
Pap grunts in frustration that I won’t give him any clue as to my thoughts, but I just give him a polite smile back. Then I step up beside Colt and join him in congratulating his brother and sister-in-law.