Granting Wishes Read online

  For the summer, she decided to stay in Sugar Creek with her parents. Not that she was planning on spending much time with them though. She had her sights on other things. Well, one thing in particular. Her old flame, Jake Kringle. Deep down, she felt a little guilty for leaving him the way she did back then. It was easy for her to make the decision of turning custody over to Jake when their daughter was born. He’d always been so responsible and trustworthy. Ready for the family life. Truth be known, that had scared the living hell out of Alana. It was as if her youth was disappearing before her eyes. She found out she was pregnant and the man that knocked her up wanted to marry her and raise a family. Barefoot and pregnant was not how she saw her life. Back then she wanted to stay carefree without serious commitments.

  Now, after many failed relationships and never finding a man that treated her as well as Jake had, Alana decided to come home for the summer and see if there was still a chance to fix things with the one man that loved her unconditionally. Jake was now in charge of Kringle Farms because his father had retired. Through the grape vine she’d heard restorations were going on and it was now better than ever. Apparently he’d done quite well with the place and was now in the process of expanding the children’s organization now that it was more accommodating. Jake always did have such a big heart. That was something she loved about him.

  Her parents never got visitation with Roxy, not because Jake forbade it, but because they didn’t feel like they had the right since she had signed over custody after Roxy was born. But from time to time, they saw Jake and Roxy around town and said she was a beautiful little girl. A small part of her wanted to meet her daughter and see what she might have missed out on. But in her heart, Alana knew she wasn’t exactly the mothering type. The one person that made her want to test out that theory was Jake.

  Alana walked into Ms. Lola’s Diner and saw her parents sitting in the corner booth by the window. They smiled and waved her over. She felt all the stares from the regulars that recognized her. None of them greeted her with as much as a smile or wave. It was as if the temperature in the room dropped to near freezing despite the muggy heat outside. It appeared that no one had forgotten the spoiled college girl that ran out on her boyfriend and newborn nearly four years ago. Despite that, Alana pulled her shoulders back and strutted in her gold Louboutins and white halter top gypsy dress that showed off her bronzed tan she had freshly sprayed on before she left Atlanta. It made her feel better to know her clutch purse cost more than what the local farmers and mill workers that were looking down their noses at her could make in a month. Let them stare.

  Chapter 15

  “Mommy, Daddy,” Alana cheek kissed them both coolly before sitting next to her mom and crossing her long legs, letting her dress purposely slip up her thigh. It made her smile when she saw several of the men staring at her like they had never seen a beautiful woman before.

  “Sweetheart, we are so pleased you’ve decided to spend the summer here. We’ve missed you terribly,” her mother exclaimed.

  “I figured it was high time I came to spend time with my family instead of y’all always coming up to see me all the time.”

  Her father cleared his throat, looking disgruntled. “Are you sure it’s us you’ve come to see? You don’t need to be going round causing problems, Alana. You stay away from that Kringle place. You hear me?”

  “Oh, Daddy, stop it. I’m a grown woman now. I don’t need you trying to run interference.”

  He muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

  A pretty redheaded, buxom waitress came up to take their orders, smiling as she finished writing down the previous tables order. “What can I get y’all?” When she looked up and recognition registered, she gasped, her smile quickly fading. “Well I’ll be, if it ain’t Alana McAllister. Long time since we’ve seen you around these parts.”

  “Imagine that, Darlene Davies, still working at Ms. Lola’s like you always did. Are you still married to Bucky? I bet he’s still the barkeep at the Rolling Stone, huh?” Alana’s voice sounded sweet as good ole southern iced tea, but the smirk on her face made it obvious she was being snide.

  “Yes, ma’am. Happily married with two children now. One big ole happy family,” Darlene emphasized the words children and family with a smile on her face. After all, her husband Bucky was good friends with Jake. Of course she was going to poke the fire where she could.

  “Aw that’s right. I remember now. Y’all have Lyle, isn’t that his name? Isn’t he some kind a special or somethin’?” Alana patted Darlene’s hand but she quickly jerked it away when Darlene snapped at her.

  “You bitch! You haven’t changed one bit.” Darlene snorted, clenching her fist.

  Ms. Lola chose that moment to step in between the two and took Darlene’s order pad and pen. “Darlene, you have a call, go on and take your break now. I’ll take care of this table, sugar pie.”

  Then she turned to Alana and nodded her head. “Honey child, ya dress is hiked up under ya behind and you’re showing ya ass to everybody up in here. Could ya kindly adjust ya business fo’ me so’s none a these old farts have an attack of the heart?” Ms. Lola turned from her and smiled sweetly at her parents who both looked mortified by their daughter’s behavior. “Now then, today’s special is the meatloaf, smashed sweet potatoes and sugar snap peas with fresh baked bread. I know that’s your favorite, bein’s you come here every Wednesday, Mr. McAllister.”

  “Uh, yes ma’am, Ms. Lola. That’s what my wife and I want,” he stuttered. His puffy cheeks were flaming red from being embarrassed by his daughter. His wife merely nodded her head and made herself busy with squeezing lemon in her tea while her daughter adjusted her dress.

  “Now then, do you want Ms. Lola’s meatloaf special too?” she looked at Alana with a forced grin on her face.

  “Gods no, I wouldn’t dare eat that. I want a garden salad with vinegar dressing on the side and a wedge of lemon,” Alana snapped at her.

  Ms. Lola shook her head, mumbling as she walked away. “Cain’t trust nobody that don’t eat no meat. That just ain’t right, no siree.”

  ***

  In the meantime, Darlene made quick work of calling her husband Bucky over at the Rolling Stone, warning him of who just came into town. That’s the way things go in a small town like Sugar Creek. Word spread like wildfire on a hot and windy day. Before the McAllister’s left Ms. Lola’s, Bucky had called Jake, and then proceeded to tell his lunchtime regulars the latest gossip. And wouldn’t you know it, one of those regulars just so happened to be old man Pete who was married to Betsy who ran the local beauty shop. Well, you know how women get to talking when they’re getting their hair and nails done. As luck would have it, Josie was there on her lunch break getting a broken nail repaired before she headed back to her new job at A Million Wishes. Her jaw nearly hit the floor when she heard that no good Alana McAllister was in town for the entire summer. She passed on getting her nails freshly polished. This news was in dire need of sharing with her new boss, Delilah Cane. Shoot, she might even get a raise or a promotion or something for warning her.

  Josie was in an all-out run as soon as she stepped out of her car when she pulled in at work. The revolving glass door slowed her down but as fast as she could slip through it, she was high-tailing down the hallway to the elevator so quick, her high heels made it sound like she was galloping. She was repeatedly punching the “up” button like it would bring the elevator down faster when Dakota Cane came walking around the corner with his friend and patient, Keegan Kringle.

  “You okay, Josie?” Dakota asked, looking concerned at her frantic behavior.

  “Oh my God, oh my God, Dakota!” she was practically bouncing now as she flailed her arms in the air. “You’ll never guess who just rolled into town, for the entire summer none the less!” The elevator dinged and she jumped in, “Get in. Get in! I have to tell Lilah before she hears it from someone else. You too, Keegan.” She punched the button for the fourth floor where the office w
as. By this time she had broken out into a sweat so she was frantically fanning herself. Her bleach blond hair was clinging to the back of her neck and her black rimmed glasses kept slipping down her sweaty nose. The guys looked at each other with worried faces and followed her into the elevator.

  “Who is it, and why would my baby sister care?” Dakota questioned.

  “And why do I need to know?” Keegan followed.

  “Just wait a cotton pickin’ minute. I’ll tell all y’all at once.”

  As soon as the elevator dinged signaling they had arrived on the fourth floor, Josie shot out of there like her tail end was on fire. Once they all reached the office where Lilah, Angel, and Chelsea were in the stages of planning out the months activities, Josie tossed her purse on her desk and ran over to Lilah, taking her hand and patting it gently.

  “Oh, Lilah honey, I hate to have to tell you this but as your faithful employee and friend, I have bad…no, horrible news.” She gave a dramatic pause and Lilah tired of waiting. Looking around at everyone she asked, “What? What happened?”

  “Well, you know I am not one to gossip,” Josie nodded, still patting Lilah’s hand.

  “Josie, tell me,” Lilah pushed.

  “Well, you know I ran to get my nail fixed over at Betsy’s Salon? While I was there, she got a call from her drunk of a husband, old man Pete. Y’all all know he spends his lunch break at the Rolling Stone talkin’ and drinkin’. He told Betsy that Bucky got a call from his wife Darlene and y’all know she waitresses over at Ms. Lola’s,” she winced and snapped her fingers. “Oh shoot fire! I was in such a rush to get here and I forgot to pick up my lunch from Ms. Lola’s and its meatloaf special day. Gosh darn it, I love her meatloaf and she only makes it on Wednesdays. I can’t make a meatloaf to save my life so I always get it on Wednesdays.”

  Dakota snapped at her then, “Josie, finish your story and I’ll bring your lunch to you. That’s where Kee and I were heading when we saw you.”

  Josie resumed fanning herself, Lilah’s hand in hers forgotten for a moment. She gave Dakota her best smile, looking like a wilted flower. “You’re always so sweet to me, Dakota.” Josie turned to Angel, still smiling, “You really have the sweetest husband, Angel. You’re so lucky.”

  Lilah slapped her hand on her desk with a resounding clap that was loud enough to make everyone jump, turning to look at her. “Josie, I swear by all that’s holy if you don’t tell me what the hell is going on…”

  Chelsea stepped in then and gripped Lilah’s shoulders, obviously afraid her friend might reach out and strangle their newest employee. “Finish your story, Josie.”

  “Oh, okay. I’m sorry y’all. Um, shoot where was I?” she fretted.

  Keegan rolled his chair over next to them and turned on the fan sitting on Lilah’s desk, pointing it at the profusely sweating woman. “You said Darlene called Bucky, Josie. What did she call him for that’s got you all worked up?”

  Josie gave him a bright smile, “Thank you, Keegan. You’re so thoughtful.”

  Everyone groaned and Lilah started to stand up but Chelsea held her in place.

  Josie cleared her throat and sighed before starting again. “Darlene said Alana McAllister pulled up in her fancy convertible BMW looking like she stepped off a runway in Paris or somethin’. She met her parents for lunch and when she sat down she let her skirt ride up and she was showin’ everybody her business! Well, she talked down to Darlene like she was trash for still being a waitress, so Darlene smarted off to Alana about how at least she was a real mom to her two kids, and then that hateful witch of a woman called Darlene’s sweet boy Lyle, ‘special’ like she was makin’ fun of him. Can you believe that? Well Darlene was about to beat her ass, but Ms. Lola stepped in and told that trashy Alana snooty-tooty McAllister to cover her behind and sit like a lady, then took their meal order. Mr. and Mrs. McAllister had the meatloaf special but Alana said she would never eat that and ordered a salad with dressing on the side,” she took a deep breath. “Can you believe that? How can a normal person go to Ms. Lola’s and only eat a salad? I tell you what, I can’t trust someone that can’t eat good old fashioned southern food like Ms. Lola’s. Why, that’s a disgrace I tell ya!” When she saw the shocked look on Lilah’s face she started patting her hand again. “I’m so sorry, Lilah. I’m here for you, honey. I had to tell you before you saw her wandering about. Did I mention they heard she was here all summer long?”

  The room remained quiet other than Keegan saying, “Well, shit-fire and hogwash,” before flipping open his cell phone and rolling out into the hallway to make a call to his brother.

  ***

  Jake sat in stunned silence. The only noises around him were the occasional neigh of the horses, the steady whirring of the window air conditioning unit and the annoying ticking of the clock hanging in his office. After the last two phone calls he’d received, Jake was feeling sick to his stomach because they had ripped what little sense of peace he’d had away.

  Why was she here? What made her decide to spend her summer vacation in Sugar Creek?

  Now he really needed to hug his daughter. He felt an unmistakable need to shelter and protect her from the likes of Alana McAllister. He pushed away from his desk and shut down his computer. He’d come back and finish up once Roxy was asleep tonight. This afternoon, he really just wanted to be with his little girl.

  Chapter 16

  Alana was mad as hell about how she was treated her first day back in that country bumpkin of a diner her parents loved so much. She’d rather have gone to the country club, but even though she was a daddy’s girl she didn’t always get her way. Thank God they were having dinner at the country club tonight. Alana was a very social person and the last few days being stuck in the house with only her parents to talk to was enough to drive anyone crazy. Since her father had poker night and her mother would be playing bridge, she was free to do whatever she wished without them breathing down her neck. Of course, she was dressing to the nine’s and heading to the Rolling Stone as soon as dinner was over.

  Normally she would go to a fancy club where the men wore Italian suites and drank expensive scotch, but there wasn’t much variety when it came to Sugar Creek. There were bars around the college, but she wasn’t in the mood for hip hop or techno music with a bunch of boys with hairless chests and tribal tattoos. Those kind of guys thought they were somebody because they attended a community college and spent their weekends chugging from keg stands and laying with whatever girl spread their legs for them. No, she had much more class than that. Well on her way to being a lawyer like her father, Alana expected any man she was with to have a good family background, money in the bank, and social status. Someone that looked as good on the outside as on the inside, like Jake. His family history was rich with this town. It was filled with charity work, military vets, and he came with over a thousand acres of ranch and farmland. It was icing on the cake that he happened to be gorgeous too.

  Within a year she would be taking the bar exam and moving back here to take over her father’s firm. Things would look better for her if she smoothed things over with Jake and took on a motherly role instead of giving people something else to talk about when it came to her personal life and youthful indiscretions. One day she would be running for political office and her mentor pointed out how bad it would look for her to be a failure at motherhood that never even saw her daughter’s face. That wouldn’t do. She needed to win Jake back and have that appearance of having a charitable family background to make her look more appealing. And it’s not like it would be hard being married to Jake. Their sex life had been great. That’s how she’d come up pregnant after all. He’d loved her like crazy back then, had begged her not to leave. It should be easy to draw him back in if she played nice with the kid and made it look good like she really wanted to be a mom. It would probably look even better if she popped out another one of his kids. She could sacrifice nine months of her time if it meant getting him back. She sure wouldn’t mind the act of g
etting pregnant. In the last four years she hadn’t found another that was as good a lover as Jake was. They had been perfectly matched in that area.

  Alana took her time getting ready. She wanted to look perfect. Jake use to frequent the Rolling Stone back in the day, another reason she chose that to be the place she went for drinks tonight. Hopefully they would run into each other. Otherwise, tomorrow she was going to drive out to Kringle Farms and talk to her ex. Maybe even see the kid.

  Leaving her long, auburn dyed hair hanging straight and smooth down her back, she fastened a diamond clip on one side. It accentuated the slender slope of her neck. She liked the way her cleavage looked with her favorite diamond necklace hanging in a teardrop right above the swells of her breasts. Her dress was a spaghetti strapped black A-line that reached well above her knees. There was a silver chain that wrapped her waist, showing off her slender figure. Her black Swarovski crystal encrusted point-toe Manolo Blahnik’s were her favorite dressy pump because the five inch heel was so high it made her calves pop out. Her legs were one of her best features. One day soon, maybe even tonight, she planned to have them wrapped around Jake’s waist again. She smiled as she lined her exotic eyes with kohl black liner, blending it out so it made her eyes look even smokier. Finishing off her look with a bronzing blush and a matte red lipstick, Alana was ready to go. A quick spritzing of her floral perfume and she was grabbing her clutch purse and heading out the door to put the top up on her convertible. It was too damn hot outside in the miserable Georgia heat and the last thing she wanted was to sweat off her makeup, or arrive with her sleek hair in a tangled mess. Time to meet her parents for a quick dinner, then she’d be off on the hunt for her man.