Boo Who

  “No, no, sweetheart, no …” he said, trying to comfort her. He lifted her chin. “The only thing that will ruin our wedding day is if you are not there.” He wiped her tears. “Let’s have a small wedding, just family and close friends, and do it at the church with the reverend. Let’s make it simple … simply about our love.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  “No, Ainsley. I love you no matter what.”

  Thankfully, though, he didn’t have to love the woman he thought he saw at Melb’s wedding!

  Jack sat in his jail cell, lonely but at peace. He’d spent the last several days contemplating what he might do with his life when—if—he got out of jail, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t know. He didn’t have an answer. And for some odd reason, it felt good. For all his life, he’d planned ahead like every day was guaranteed to him. But last night he realized every day is a gift. Every day has its own purpose. He’d lived so far in advance of himself, afraid he wouldn’t have enough money, he’d missed the very essence of life.

  Keys rattling a few feet away made him look up. The sheriff was coming toward his cell. He stood up and went to the bars.

  “Good morning, Jack,” the sheriff said. His eyes looked tired.

  “Good morning.”

  “You’re free today.”

  “Free? On bail?”

  “No. Just free.”

  “Really?

  “The truth of the matter is that we don’t have the money to prosecute you. So we’re just going to have to let you go.”

  “Oh. Wow.” And he had been so hard on small towns. This was actually going to work out well.

  The sheriff said, “But sir, I hope you know this kind of behavior will not be tolerated in this town. Get your act together. Become a productive citizen.”

  “You’re not making me get outta town? I thought that was the standard line for somebody like me.”

  The sheriff smiled. “You have a lot of misconceptions, don’t you?”

  “I guess so.”

  He unlocked the door and opened it. “Can I give you a ride home?”

  “Really? Yeah … that’d be great. I was just going to ask someone if they could go by and feed my cat.”

  The sheriff led him outside. “You have a cat?”

  “Yeah. Her name’s Blot. I adopted her. But ever since I’ve had her, she’s just gotten lazy and fat.”

  The sheriff smiled as they got in his car. “Cats do that sometimes. You haven’t spoiled her have you?”

  He laughed. “I don’t think so.”

  A few minutes later, they arrived at Jack’s house. Jack said, “Sheriff, won’t you come in?” When the sheriff hesitated, he said, “Please. I just … I’d like some company. Just for a few minutes.”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  Jack walked up the front porch stairs and the sheriff followed. As he unlocked his door, the sheriff said, “Nice cat door. Was thinking of getting one installed myself. Except my cat has gone missing now.”

  “Oh no. That’s too bad. The one at the jail?”

  “Yeah. Thief. I can’t imagine where he’d be.”

  Jack opened the door and let the sheriff in. They walked through the house and Jack called for Blot. “Here, kitty. Here! Here, kitty!”

  But there was no cat. Jack stood in the middle of the living room, perplexed. “Where could she be?”

  “Maybe she went out for some food,” the sheriff said.

  “I left enough for five days.”

  And then they heard it. A faint meow. Coming from the bedroom. Jack hurried toward the sound, and the sheriff followed. He opened the closet door.

  “Blot!” Surrounding the cat were seven little kittens, only a day or two old.

  “Thief!” the sheriff cried, as his cat ducked under some clothes and disappeared. “Why, you scoundrel! Is this your woman?”

  Thief meowed and reappeared to settle next to Blot. The sheriff said, “This must’ve been his last hurrah before the surgery.” He looked at Thief. “So you’re settling down, are you? Decided to stay with just one lady cat?”

  Thief nuzzled Blot, and she meowed softly. The sheriff laughed. “Goodness, gracious me! The way things turn out sometimes! I’m glad you’re okay, fellow. I’ve been worried about you.”

  Jack smiled. “Thief can stay here as long as he wants.”

  The sheriff stuck out his hand. “Welcome to Skary.”

  “Thank you, sir.” He smiled, looking at the litter. “A new place to call home.”

  Mayor Wullisworth, in long, khaki pants, a white, button-down shirt, and a striking red and gray tie, followed Martin down the long, stale hallway of the hospital. Martin stopped outside Miss Peeple’s room, glancing in the window to make sure she was still there.

  “She looks bad,” Martin said.

  The mayor straightened up his tie. “How do I look?”

  “Like the fabulous mayor of Skary that you are,” Martin smiled.

  “I feel good,” said the mayor. “I feel strong.”

  “You don’t even look tired, and we stayed up really late last night.”

  “Martin, you are quite a friend. I want you to know that. You never gave up on me or this town. You should be mayor.”

  “No sir. It’s your calling.”

  Mayor Wullisworth tugged on the cuffs of his sleeves. “I think you are right, Martin. This town needs to know its roots. It needs to understand why we were founded, what our purpose was for being created. I think when they understand that, a passion will be birthed in them that will be unstoppable.”

  “You ready to go in there?”

  “Alone, if that’s okay.”

  “Most certainly,” Martin said. “I will be in the waiting area.”

  Mayor Wullisworth walked into the room. It smelled septic. Miss Peeple stirred, barely opening her eyes. The mayor went over to her bedside.

  “Miss Peeple, it’s Mayor Wullisworth.”

  Her eyes flittered open, and she turned her head. “Mayor …”

  He pulled over a stool and sat down beside her. “I want you to know that I will be forever indebted to you. Martin Blarty told me everything you did for this town. You risked your reputation for the good of this town. That is a tremendous sacrifice.”

  Missy seemed to try to speak, but then she simply watched him.

  “I also understand that you spent your entire life savings for an ad trying to garner business for Skary. I can’t tell you how amazed I am.” He took her cold, bony hand. Tears reflected in her eyes. “Missy, I think everyone underestimated how much you love this town and why. This town saved your mother’s life, and therefore gave you life. I know it is a hard thing to admit your grandmother was a prostitute, but in doing so, you have allowed this town an opportunity to find itself and to thrive.” He squeezed her hand. “I believe with all my heart that this town will live, and that it will become a flourishing community again. Every town has its flaws. We certainly have our share. But we have a purpose, too. And we have that because of you.”

  And then Mayor Wullisworth stood and bent down, kissing Missy first on the forehead and then on the cheek. She looked up at him, tears trickling down her face. “You dog,” she said in barely a whisper. “After all this time, now that I’m about to die, you decide to fall in love with me.”

  Mayor Wullisworth smiled. Her hand slipped from his, and he bent down one more time and kissed her forehead, smoothing out her long gray hair. A large smile formed on her lips. She looked into his eyes one last time before hers closed gently. She took a final breath and then died.

  CHAPTER 39

  “YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL,” her father said, standing behind her and staring at her in the mirror before them.

  Ainsley smoothed out the wrinkles of her slim wedding dress. The train was four feet long behind her, swirled in a perfect circle. Her veil, high on her head, fell down her back like a waterfall.

  “The makeup is perfect,” she told Marlee, who stood in the corner of the room
doing her own makeup. “And the hair is too.”

  “Honey, you could be bald and barefaced, and you’d still be the prettiest woman I know,” Marlee replied.

  “How are you feeling?” her dad asked.

  “Great, actually.” She laughed. “It’s nice to not have to worry about anything other than kissing the man of my dreams and saying, ‘I do’!”

  “Yeah, not too much can go wrong there,” Marlee said. “I once was at a wedding where the bride knocked over one of the candles, and it caught the back of her dress on fire! The groom had to stomp on it to put it out.”

  “Won’t have to worry about any of that,” Ainsley said, facing the mirror. “Or the flowers wilting. Or the cake falling.” She swallowed down that last bit of regret and held her chin high. “None of it matters except the man at the altar.”

  “Speaking of that, it’s time, my child.” Her father hugged her and swept his hand across her cheek.

  Her heart leapt at the prospect of seeing Wolfe on their wedding day. “Let’s go!”

  Her father and Marlee drove her to the church, pulling the car up right in front of the church steps. Her father got out and quickly went to the other side to help her out of the car. Marlee said, “You still don’t have any idea where he’s taking you on your honeymoon?”

  “Not a clue!” Ainsley gushed. “He’s kept it a perfect secret!”

  Outside the car, the air was cool and calm. The day was brilliantly sunny despite the cold. She could even feel the sun’s warm rays on her bare shoulders. Her father and Marlee helped her up the steps.

  “Break a leg, kid,” Marlee said, and rushed inside to find a seat. Her father took her arm and they walked to the front door together.

  “This is it,” she smiled.

  “This is it!” her father said. “You are marrying a wonderful man today. You two will be happy beyond belief.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” she said, looking into his eyes. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “Me?” He laughed. “Sure! Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get you out of the house?”

  She giggled, suppressing a slight hysteria, then said, “Okay, let’s go.”

  She and her father went through the doors. She was looking down, trying to make sure she didn’t step on her dress. When she looked up, she gasped.

  She could hardly believe her eyes. “Daddy …,” she whispered.

  “Wolfe did this,” he whispered back.

  Before her was the most glorious sight she’d ever seen. The church had been transformed into a heavenly scene. Candles. Flowers. Red and white petals that had been scattered all over the floor. The front of the church looked like a flower garden. Sprays of flowers, arrangements that she could hardly believe, filled every corridor of the church.

  The entire crowd, everyone she’d ever wanted to come to her wedding, was turned to look at her, expectant and joyful expressions on each face. Ainsley’s shaking hand was covering her mouth. She finally looked at Wolfe, who was standing up front with the reverend. He grinned at her, the twinkle in his eye saying, This is all for you.

  The organ started, and she couldn’t help the tears that fell. Her father stepped forward, and she clung to him all the way down the aisle.

  When they got to the front, Reverend Peck said, “Who gives this woman to be with this man?”

  “I do,” her father said. He lifted her veil to kiss her and gave her hand to Wolfe. “I love you,” he whispered.

  Ainsley turned to Wolfe. She wanted to cry her eyes out, but the joy that bubbled up inside her seemed to dry the tears. She couldn’t say thank you, but she knew Wolfe knew. He looked down at her and read everything in her mind.

  Today was the best day of her whole life.

  “Wolfe!” she nearly screamed.

  “What do you think?” he smiled.

  She could not believe what she was seeing. The Mansion Restaurant had been turned into a place she hardly recognized. Linen tablecloths covered every table. Candlelight flickered against the ceiling and walls. Soft music played in the background. Each table was set with brilliant white china. White roses were the centerpieces. She was speechless as the crowd turned to greet them.

  “Is this what you dreamed your reception would be like?” he asked her.

  She shook her head. “This is beyond my imagination!”

  He laughed.

  “How did you do this?”

  “I have a lot of connections, called in a few favors. Your dad had forewarned me that you hadn’t quite gotten the wedding together, so I paid some very well-known wedding planners a lot of money to make a miracle happen. I had a sneaking suspicion about it a while back, to tell you the truth, and had reserved the banquet hall just in case. But this place made more sense. It has roots. And this is the first place you ever spoke to me.”

  “Yeah, I remember,” she laughed. “You ordered meat ‘oaf.’”

  “I’ve come a long way since then.”

  She turned to him and kissed him full on the lips. “You are so amazing!” Then she said, “Hey! Now do I get to know where we’re going on our honeymoon?”

  “Yes, now you do.”

  “Where?”

  He smiled. “The Hamptons.”

  Ainsley squealed. “The Hamptons? Oh my gosh! I’ve always wanted to go to the Hamptons! That’s perfect! A vacation to the Hamptons! Wolfe, that’s so wonderful!”

  “Not a vacation, sweetheart.”

  “Not a vacation? What do you mean?.”

  “I didn’t buy you a vacation to the Hamptons.”

  “You didn’t?” She frowned.

  “I bought you a house in the Hamptons.”

  She gasped and felt dizzy. “A … a house?”

  “A house. A summer home. We can go there anytime you like. Bring your dad and your brother and your friends sometimes too. You’ll get to see it tomorrow.”

  This time she couldn’t hold back her tears. She wept into the collar of his tuxedo.

  “I am the happiest woman in the world.”

  Melb, though a little exhausted as they had driven straight through from their honeymoon at the Bass Pro Shop out east, was delighted for Ainsley and Wolfe. She and Oliver sat together with Garth, Ginger, and Butch as they all watched Ainsley and Wolfe cut their wedding cake.

  “Life doesn’t get any better than this, does it, dear?” Oliver said, touching her hand.

  “You got that right,” she said. “You know, though, there’s one thing that is just eating me alive.”

  “What’s that?” Oliver asked.

  “Well, I never did bond with that owl. I tried and tried, did everything the book said, but never did. And now he seems to have disappeared.”

  Garth leaned in. “You’re talking about that owl that was always making a racket with his who-who-ing?”

  “Yes,” Melb said. “He’s vanished.”

  “No. I found the owl after your wedding, right outside the community center, in fact. Broke its wing.”

  “Oh no!” Melb said. “Is he going to be okay?”

  “Yes. Patched up the wing, should be fine in a couple of weeks.”

  “Poor guy.”

  “Well, one thing you might want to know,” Garth said. “Your guy ain’t a guy.”

  “What?”

  “That owl is female.”

  In rapid succession, cocked eyebrows popped up all around the table. Melb blushed. “Oh … So the ‘he’ is a ‘she’.”

  Oliver laughed. “Well, I guess the mystery is solved as to why that owl never did take a liking to you.”

  Everyone else laughed, and Melb couldn’t help but chuckle herself. “Well, it’s not the mystery of the universe solved, but at least I can sleep at night!”

  Alfred found Reverend Peck at a table by himself finally. How that man could draw a crowd sometimes! He was sipping some punch and eating cake when Alfred sat down next to him.

  “Hi Alfred,” the reverend said with a smile.

  “You remember
me?” Alfred asked, astonished.

  “Of course. How are you?”

  “I’m … I’m good. Life has thrown me some curve balls, but I’m trying to make the best of it.”

  “That’s good to hear,” the reverend said.

  “But I wanted a moment to talk with you.”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m not going to confess a deep dark secret or anything like that, though I have a few more than I’d like to admit.”

  “It’d be fine if you did. I’m always available, Alfred.”

  “Um, well, thank you. But anyway, what I wanted to know is whether I could be of service to you.”

  “How so?”

  “Well, long before I was an editor, and long before I was agent, I majored in marketing.”

  “No kidding?”

  “I’m really quite good at it, to tell you the truth. I can sell sirloin to a vegetarian.”

  “Interesting.”

  “What I’m trying to say here is that I’d like to help you with your church. Try to get the word out about it, try to get some new bodies in the pews.”

  The reverend smiled. “That is so kind of you, Alfred. But I don’t have the money to pay for something like that.”

  “Consider it a gift. Just a chance for me to do something I’m good at, give back to the community.”

  “The community. Your community?” the reverend asked.

  Alfred smiled. “Yeah, I guess that’s what I’m calling it. My community.”

  The reverend set down his fork and thought for a moment. “Well, Alfred, this is very interesting. Just last night I told the Lord Jesus that if He wanted anything to happen with the little church, He was going to have to make it happen, because I no longer had the strength to do anything more than stand there and preach the Word. Sounds like He was listening.”