What if things don’t work out between us?
Taking Riley up on his offer would be easy at first, but would it be easy in the end? She pushed away her panicky feelings at the possibility that they might break up down the road. Heartbreak and business trouble at the same time? Melvina blew out a breath as she sorted out her thoughts. She’d been called in to cover for the new waitress, who hadn’t shown up. The lunch rush was almost over, and Darcey was back, taking the main brunt of the work.
The bell on the door pinged as Stan walked into the café. “Good afternoon, Stan.” Melvina waved him over to her booth in the corner. She’d arranged to meet with Stan again to review some of the figures before her meeting at the bank. She hadn’t made a decision yet, but part of making that decision was knowing what she could afford and how much of a loan she could get. She would see what the bank had to offer before making any decisions about Riley.
She had a busy day ahead of her—in addition to meeting with Stan and heading to the bank—she had plans to pop into the library and check on the progress of the registration for the next class.
If she launched her own bakery, she might not have as much time to teach the classes in the evening as she used to, at least, not starting out.
Her brain hurt from all the what ifs. Sometimes the decision-making process was worse than the actual ramifications of the decision.
Melvina had been sorting the morning checks and adding totals for the shift. She moved some of the paperwork aside to make room for Stan to sit. She motioned to Darcey to bring coffee for her guest.
“Hello, Melvina. I’ve got the papers from your taxes, and it looks like you will have a bit of those risky stocks to cash in if you need a down payment. All totaling about twenty thousand. I hope that helps.”
Melvina sighed. “I had hoped to put down more, but it is what it is.”
Sticking a pen behind her ear, she stood, excusing herself for a moment. She returned with a full glass of diet soda, an energy bar for her, and one of the morning’s cinnamon rolls for Stan.
Stan wore a broad smile. “Thank you. I skipped breakfast this morning, knowing I would be visiting you today. I didn’t want to ruin my appetite for whatever you might have. I see you are still dieting?”
Melvina nodded as she unwrapped the bar.
“It’s gotta be tough working here, with the way you bake and all.” Stan moaned with pleasure as he took his first bite of the roll. Sugar-rich icing dripped off one side of his mustache.
“It is, but I have to stay on top of things. I don’t want to let myself go again. It’s not about trying to be what society tells women we’re supposed to look like. It’s about feeling better than I have in a long time. I have more energy and my doctor tells me my bloodwork is perfect. I would like to dodge things like diabetes and heart disease if I can.”
“Well, good for you. You’re a strong gal, Melvina, and the best damn baker around. I personally hope that you get that loan. I’ll never stop coming to Pop’s, but you bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be a regular patron at your new place as well.” He took another bite, followed by another moan and then a napkin wipe.
Melvina smiled with pride. “Thanks, Stan. I appreciate the vote of confidence. By the way, how did things turn out for the Blossom tax situation?”
Stan raised his eyebrows and shook his head in exasperation. “That Celia almost got the Blossoms in a mess of trouble. There were so many receipts, it was hard to tell which were her own financial responsibility and which were purchases for the Blossoms’ operating costs. In the end, the IRS slapped us both with a fine. We had to settle or things would have gotten messy. They should have gone after Celia, but I think even the IRS is scared of her, or maybe her daddy stepped in to minimize the damage. Rumor has it the Blossoms will be voting her out on grounds of mismanagement of funds.”
Melvina frowned. “I’m sorry about this whole mess, Stan.”
He patted her hand. “It’s all water under the bridge now. No need to rehash it.”
“I guess the Blossoms will vote me out too, since I was the treasurer. But I had no idea she was altering the tax forms after I turned them in to her.”
“It’s all right, everyone knows you were on the up-and-up. I was able to verify that the forms had been amended after my filing. Ultimately, it was my responsibility because I’m the accountant for the Blossoms. If I had known what she was doing, I would have reported her myself.” Stan’s voice rose with indignation.
Melvina patted his hand. “Well, it’s over now. The chief has removed her from emceeing the pageant tonight, and the whole town is talking about the shenanigans she started with the last contest. I think Celia’s britches have grown too big for this small town, but maybe she’s learned a lesson. Anyway, I already put in my resignation for the treasury position, so it doesn’t really matter.”
“Sorry to hear it, Melvina. The ladies won’t be happy.”
Melvina gathered the papers Stan had brought her and cleared the table of the tickets she had finished. “I guess I better go see what the bank has to say about the loan and then I need to get ready for tonight. Thanks for your help, Stan.”
Stan tipped his imaginary hat, “Any time, Melvina.”
The library parking lot was mostly empty. Melvina supposed most of Magnolia would be at Bubbles for the final contest tonight. She should be home getting ready herself. Her pot of chili had been slow cooking at the café all morning and she needed to swing back and pick it up before heading to the lounge.
Melvina took a few minutes to chat with the librarian about the last fundraiser, and how Riley had generously donated to the literacy program on her behalf.
“I don’t know what we would do without your help, Melvina. The class is on an overflow list, and we are trying to find another volunteer. Five adult students from the last class have found work, and I think they have told their friends. Now it’s brimming with immigrants who need to learn English fast to get jobs.”
It was a familiar story—one she’d heard before—and it pleased her that the little class had helped both young and adult students. Unfortunately, the library needed more help than she would be able to give. Maybe she needed to campaign with the school for some after-hour space and recruit a few local teachers. She would bring it up at the next Blossom meeting. It was just another reminder of how much the women’s organization helped Magnolia’s families. She knew she couldn’t give up that part of her life.
The community she lived in included everyone, and raising awareness as well as funds to tackle those obstacles was as important as breathing. Melvina wanted their town to grow and all the families who lived in it to prosper. She signed the papers for the class and looked over the names of the prospective students. She recognized the name Jose Salas and wondered if there was any relationship to Maurice’s family. Since his father had left, maybe there was an extended family member who traveled in to help the young mother. She sure could use the help. Maurice and his little sister were good kids, but Melvina wondered how the Spanish-speaking woman managed to pay the rent and keep food on the table.
As she headed for her car, Melvina heard a familiar voice behind her. She turned just in time to catch Maurice in a hug before he toppled them both over with his excitement.
“He’s back! He’s back!” Maurice exclaimed.
“Slow down, Maurice. Who’s back? What’s all the excitement for?” Melvina caught the shy gaze of a Hispanic man standing in the distance. He barely looked twenty with his tight cotton t-shirt, pressed jeans and Nike shoes. He was handsome and bore a striking resemblance to Maurice. An uncle perhaps?
“Miss Melvina, that’s my dad,” Maurice gushed with pride.
Melvina was surprised. The man looked barely out of high school and Maurice was half-grown. “That’s….” Melvina paused, looking from the boy to his father. “That’s great.”
“He came home to sign up for your class. He wants to learn English.”
Melvina smiled. “Wonderful. I’m so excited for you both. How’s your mom?”
Maurice didn’t miss a beat. “She’s so happy. We all are. We’re going to be a family again, and when dad learns to speak English, like me, he will get the best job ever and we’ll be rich.”
Melvina chuckled at his exuberance. “I hope so, but first things first.” She waved to the man, who still stood a few car lengths away, waiting for his boy. “Tell your dad I’ll see him in class. I gotta run. Chili cookoff’s tonight.” She squeezed Maurice’s shoulder before ducking into her car. The sound of the sports car engine revving was music to her ears. The guys at the shop had the Mustang running like a top. It seemed there was plenty of good news for today. Now it was time to win that cookoff.
Melvina was glad the finals for the calendar contest were being held at Bubbles. It had become her favorite watering hole. Celia was nowhere in sight, a welcome relief that put Melvina more at ease. The hot pots of chili were being set out on the tables with the grease pens and eraser boards as the chief had promised. Mona had volunteered to emcee. The flare of the orange and pink sequins she wore sparkled like a live flame as Mona twirled across the makeshift stage announcing the selected firemen.
Happiness washed over Melvina in a great wave of relief. Mona looked fabulous and the chief’s beaming smile boasted pride in the woman he’d arrived with. There very well could be wedding bells in Mona’s future. Melvina hadn’t seen Mona this keyed up over a guy since Bran Wilson in high school, and that had only lasted a week. Mona and the chief were becoming an item, and Melvina was truly ecstatic for both of her friends. They deserved to find love.
Two strong masculine hands snaked around her waist, and she wasn’t surprised to be pulled back into Riley’s hard body. His warm breath on her ear made her knees weak. “Penny for your thoughts.”
Melvina turned in his arms, snaking her own around his trim middle. “Oh, they’re worth a lot more than a penny, Riley James Nash.”
His mouth opened in mock surprise. “I love it when you use my full name. Turns me on.” He growled softly. “I think I got enough to pay. ’Fess up.”
Melvina laughed, batting him on the chest playfully. “Shameless. Don’t you know that the best things in life are free, or that money can’t buy everything? I really need to have a sit-down with your momma.” Her eyes sparkled with her teasing words.
“Don’t bring my momma into this. It’s not her fault that I’ve fallen for the most beautiful gal in town or that you keep me in bed most of my free hours in the day. Come to think about it, my momma may just want to give you a dressing down. She’s still upset we missed the last family dinner.”
“That’s not fair. I had to work that night, and I missed it because of your dressing down.”
Riley kissed her softly, stealing any other words of complaint from her. “Now about those thoughts.”
Melvina opened her eyes slowly, half hypnotized from his sultry gaze. Her voice was husky as her words slowly dripped from her cherry painted lips. “I was thinking of how you were going to feel when you lose tonight, and if I could console your wounded pride the way you massaged mine.”
Riley groaned. “Oh God, Melvina. You make me want to lose in the worst way.”
Melvina’s pulse raced as she envisioned what they would be doing later that night. Her head turned as Mona’s voice boomed across the speakers and the microphone squealed in protest. She was calling them to the center table where the chili was set up and ready to be tasted. Spinning her around, Riley gave her a sexy smack on her backside and urged her forward. “May the best chef win.”
Mona called names from randomly selected tickets in a bowl. People congregated around the table and each were given two small bowls of chili and a grease pen with an eraser board. Mona made a show of talking to each judge and getting their responses over the mic. Obviously, she’d seen too many episodes of Dancing with the Stars. Melvina almost expected a commercial break in-between and was not surprised when Mona asked the finalists of the calendar contest to do another walk-through to get the audience riled up for the cookoff finale. Cheers from both men and women went up as the hometown firemen passed through. The women put in the extra efforts to catcall, clap, and make high-pitched wolf-whistles.
Riley’s brother hit the catwalk with dance moves from a male review. He set the bar high for the men who followed. Mona dubbed him Five Alarm, followed by Pants on Fire, Pole Slider and Engine Revver. One heavyset fireman wearing nothing but his skivvies and a pair of suspenders was dubbed Fastest In and Out. The chief took over the microphone before Mona could explain why to the ladies.
Shrugging her shoulders, Mona followed the firemen until they lined up on the other side of the chili table. Taking center stage, she raised one arm motioning to the chief to bring back the microphone with the other. She held the mic to her mouth and in a sultry, very Mona-like way, she called out to the judges. “Okay, let’s see those chili scores!”
The crowd hooted and hollered. The judges turned over the dry-erase boards and the totals were nearly the same. Only one judge had used decimal points, giving one of the bowls a nine point five and the other a ten. One of the bowls had won by a half a point. The name would be revealed by lifting the bowl and looking on the bottom for hers or Riley’s initials. Mona walked over to the bowl with the perfect ten and lifted it skyward to see. The chief hurried behind her to steady the bowl so that Mona didn’t add chili to her flame-colored ensemble.
“And the winner is MB, Melvina Banks!” Mona set the bowl down with a thump, sloshing the chili over the rim of the bowl and onto the judge that had favored Melvina’s chili. “Woo-hoo!” Mona called out, piercing the room with her cheer. Melvina hopped up and down as she turned around to hug Riley with delight. His lighthearted laugh and heartfelt squeeze told her that he didn’t mind the loss. The consolation prize would give them both a night to remember.
Mona handed Melvina a large, golden trophy that boasted a bowl and a spoon on top. It read, “Magnolia’s finest bowl of chili, first prize.”
Riley laughed. “What’s second prize?”
The chief took the microphone from Mona as she leaned over to embrace Melvina, trophy and all. “Second place gets the back page of the calendar, of course, and a free copy once it’s published.” The chief winked at Riley with a light chuckle.
“Hey, I think this is rigged. That sounds like something for the first-place winner, not the second.” Laughter rumbled through the audience.
“I think the ladies of Magnolia will be more inclined to buy the calendar if you’re on it. It’s a win-win. Great advertising for Braised and the fire department.”
Melvina smiled at him with mischief. “You can’t argue with that kind of publicity, besides, my chili won by half a point because I used the brisket from your restaurant.”
Riley looked at her, beaming with pride. “You did?”
“It’s the best brisket anywhere to be found and my recipe calls for the best.”
He handed the trophy to the nearest fireman and scooped her up in his arms, spinning her around. “You’re the best, Melvina. Best thing that ever happened to me.” Setting her down, he got down on one knee and pulled a small box from his pocket. The crowd immediately hushed.
Melvina covered her mouth with both hands. “Oh my God, Riley. What are you doing?” She guessed she could throw that talk about public displays of affection out the window.
Was he really going to propose? Here? Now? Over chili?
He gazed up at her, his eyes reflecting all the love that filled her own heart. “Melvina Banks, I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but I’ve never met a woman like you. I want to spend every day of my life cooking great food with you, laughing with you and loving you.” Riley flipped the ring box open with a snap. The overhead stage lights caught the facets of the perfect, emerald-cut diamond. “Melvina, will you be my wife and make me the happiest man in the world?”
The wave of emotion hit her full-force, stopping any word she was about to utter. In fear of bursting into tears from immense happiness, her hand clutched at her throat as she choked back the emotions threatening to spill over in front of the massive crowd.
“Say yes!” she felt Mona smack her in the rear with her evening bag. Looking up, she saw Pop and Eli give her the thumbs up.
Riley shifted in discomfort from the hardwood floor beneath his knee.
Melvina finally found her voice. “Yes. It would make me the happiest woman in the world.”
Riley stood and kissed her, pulling her against him. His body vibrated with emotion. She snuggled even closer to him, but something hard jabbed her in the chest.
Melvina leaned back, pointing at the lump in his shirt pocket. “Ouch, what’s that?”
Riley pulled out another box and offered it to her. “It’s also for you. Consider it a wedding present.”
Melvina looked at him with elated surprise. “Don’t you think the ring was enough?” She lifted her hand, wiggling her fingers. The light danced across the diamond in its platinum setting. “Riley, all I really want is you.”
He smiled as he placed the box on her palm and folded her fingers over it, giving her hand a warm squeeze. “I think you might like this gift just as much.”
Melvina opened the box with care, looking at the papers rolled up inside with confusion. Before she could ask, Riley supplied, “It’s the deed to the lot next to Pop’s. It’s yours to do whatever you want with. If you want your own bakery, Melvina, it’s yours. If you want to stay at Pop’s and use it as a parking lot, it doesn’t matter. Whatever you want to do, I’ll be there to help. It’s yours—I’m yours.”
“But the bank gave me the loan.”
“Give it back. Once we’re married, you won’t need to worry about finances or anything else, sweetheart. Everything I have is yours. I want us to be a team. I want to wake up knowing that every day of my life will be filled with loving you. ’Til death do us part.”
