“You do know I meantyou’rethe dessert?”
Melanie pulled away, laughed.“Of course, I know that, but why deprive ourselves of pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake when we can have them in bed?Naked?”Her voice dipped, her smile spread.“Feeding each other?”
Harry Blacksworth’sname and his good deeds swirled through town, filling people with hope and wonder.Who would have ever thought all those years ago when his brother landed in their town loved by some, despised by others, that one day the younger Blacksworth brother, the one no one had ever depended upon, would become a respected citizen of the community?
Of course, Harry refused to admit to any of it other than to say hehelped someone reason his way out of a predicament.
Orthey just needed time and a little distance and maybe a possibility or two to find their way.
But the charity?The time and patience?The caring and love?That was all Harry.He’d become the new Godfather of Magdalena, a kind soul with a generous spirit, buckets of compassion, and a hearty laugh, all wrapped up in his designer duds.
Will and Melanie would be forever grateful for Harry’s “intervention.”And while Harry insisted the couple would have eventually come around and found their way back to each other, they weren’t so certain how long it would have taken, orifthat would have really happened.
If not for Harry.
How did a person thank the man who’d helped them open their eyes and hearts to each other?Pop said it was all about paying it forward, and that’s exactly what they intended to do.They’d already signed up to help kids make ornaments at the Christmas workshop in early December, and Melanie had joined the Bleeding Hearts Society and was organizing the bake sale.Will offered to wrap presents for the Christmas drive and they’d also donated quite a few items on the “wish lists.”Paying it forward and giving back… She and Will continued to add to that list…
In two more weeks, Grandma Esther’s house would officially belong to them, but they’d already begun making plans to remodel and expand it.Finally, they weren’t afraid to hope and dream and say the words that had lived in their hearts for so long—I love you.Life was good.Almost perfect.And when they exchanged vows in Harry and Greta’s living room three days after Christmas, it would indeed be perfect.
Will clasped her hand as they headed up Harry’s driveway.The forecast predicted seven inches of snow tonight.“Careful.”He smiled and squeezed her hand, oblivious to the snowflakes landing on his hair and shoulders.Melanie clutched the gift bag in her right hand, made her way up the steps and rang the doorbell.Some referred to the Blacksworth residence as a mini mansion, but Harry called it home.When he opened the door, ketchup stain on his silk tie, yellow mustard smearing the right cuff of his dress shirt, he laughed, muttered something aboutthe best hot dogs are the messiest.
“How is the engaged couple?Good to see you!Come on in.”He welcomed them with a big hug, careful to avoid the areas of his clothing that contained food stains, laughed again.“Just wait until you have a kid or two; you’ll never take yourself seriously again.”
Melanie darted a glance at Will, caught him watching her, his blue eyes bright with emotion.Children.Their children.She smiled at him, glanced at Harry, “Thanks for the warning.”
“Best job in the whole world.Best place to be in the whole world is with the kids.And I say that as someone who’s been everywhere.”He took their coats, hung them over his arm and pointed toward the living room.“Come on in while Greta fixes a few goodies.”He winked at them.“I’ll tell you, Will, your mother sure is shining.That pumpkin roll she made is going to give Ramona some serious competition, and speaking of your mother and Ramona?I thought they’d fight like two alley cats, but your mother’s calmed down quite a bit, said she’s excited to work with Ramona.Who would have ever thought she’d say that?But I guess when you find happiness in your life, you settle down.”
Will nodded, his voice shifted.“I can attest to that.”
Harry eyed them, nodded his approval.“I’m sure you can.”He leaned in, whispered in a not-so-quiet voice, “Did you hear your mother went to dinner with the guy who owns Carmelo’s Bakery in Renova?She said they were going to talk about cinnamon rolls and yeast breads.”His laughter spun through the room.“Sure, I’ll buy that.At least for the first meeting, but after that...”He blew out a sigh, shook his head.“I’ll bet those two will have a lot more in common than their cinnamon rolls and yeast breads.”
Melanie had seen Will’s mother twice since Thanksgiving evening—the night she and Will recommitted to each other.The woman had apologized three times, commented on how happy Melanie had made her son, and she even sent her home with a container of beef vegetable soup and a dozen lemon squares—one of Melanie’s favorites.“Harry, thank you again for letting us have our wedding in your home.We’re truly grateful.”
“Sure, who doesn’t love a happily-ever-after?”He pointed to his chest.“This guy sure does, so does Pop and don’t kid yourself, but Cash does as well.You go ahead and get all squared away with Mimi, figure out the vows and whatnot, and I’ll take care of the food.”
“Harry, that’s not necessary.”
“Listen, Will, Pop had his way of doing things and I have my way.This is my gift to both of you.You just decide what kind of cake you want or if you want those fancy cupcakes, or…whatever, because…” He lowered his voice and this time it was whisper-soft.“Your mother wants to do the baking for that.”
Who would have thought that a few months after Melanie returned to Magdalena, Marjorie Callahan would be making her wedding cake?“Thank you so much, Harry.”Melanie hugged him, not caring if she got ketchupormustard on her sweater.
“Of course.Now, what’s in the bag?”His gaze narrowed on the red-and-white-striped gift bag.“Something for my wife?”
“Actually, it’s for you.”She offered him the gift bag, watched as he unwrapped the gift from the tissue paper.“What the…” He held up the wooden ornament engraved withHarry Blacksworth, Godfather of Magdalena.He sniffed, cleared his throat and swiped his eyes.“Godfather of Magdalena,” he murmured.“This is one of the finest gifts I’ve ever received.”
Will eased an arm around Melanie, pulled her close.“And you, Harry Blacksworth, have given us the best gift ever.”Will turned to Melanie, placed a soft kiss on her mouth.“Thank you for never giving up on me.I love you.”
She stroked his cheek, whispered, “I love you, William Callahan.Today and always.”One more kiss and then a loud voice broke through the kiss.
“You’ve got all night for that.Let’s go find Greta and see about that food.She’s going to want to hear about the wedding, the house you’re renovating, and how many kids you plan to have… Okay, she’ll never ask that last question, but I will!”He winked at them.“And the dog?What kind and when?That, I definitely want to know.”
As they followed Harry toward the kitchen, Melanie realized that life was about a series of choices and a journey that led a person down some very difficult paths… But for her and Will, no matter how far apart they’d grown or how many miles had separated them…they were always meant to come back to each other…to share a life of hope, love, and joy.
