Beauty's Kiss(15)

“Are you talking about Mom or the hotel?”

“Maybe both.”





Chapter Four





Taylor was rattled by Louise’s news that Troy would be attending the Wedding Giveaway meeting tonight. She opened the heavy door to the masculine Crawford Room, the private board room off the library’s main reading room, wondering why Jane hadn’t bothered to tell her that Troy would be coming.

Jane was supposed to be her friend. Her best friend in Marietta. And friends did not set friends up, much less with one’s gorgeous, popular, ridiculously successful ex.

Most of the committee had already taken a seat at the board room table. Taylor’s gaze swept the room, seeing all the usual committee members: Paige Joffee from Main Street Diner, Sage Carrigan from Copper Mountain Chocolates, Risa Grant from SweetPeas florist, Tricia Thorpe from Marietta Travel, Jenny Thorpe, Tricia’s new sister-in-law, and McKenna Douglas from Big Sky Photography.

McKenna lifted a hand, gesturing to Taylor.

Taylor moved towards her, seeing McKenna in a new light. Taylor had known that beautiful McKenna Douglas was a single mom, and a talented photographer specializing in wedding photography, but until tonight Taylor had not known that the father of her little boy was Trey Sheenan, Troy’s twin. McKenna had never said anything, nor had anyone else. Maybe everyone else just knew. Or maybe folks here didn’t think it was important to share.

Probably the latter.

Just as no one else had ever mentioned to Taylor about the massacre on the Douglas Ranch seventeen years ago. McKenna’s parents and three of her brothers and sisters died in the home invasion.

Taylor only found this out by chance, reading through old newspapers and magazines saved in the library’s vault. Taylor, a history buff, had been the one to discover that back in 1914 Marietta had sponsored a big Wedding Giveaway to draw attention to the re-opening of the Graff Hotel following the 1912 fire. She’d shared the news with Jane, who then came up with the idea of a one hundred year anniversary Wedding Giveaway, again highlighting the beautifully restored Graff, and all the merchants in town.

The 1914 Wedding Giveaway had been a fun surprise. The discovery of the Douglas home invasion had been the exact opposite.

Horrified, Taylor had gone to Louise with the news. Louise told her the crime had never been solved, and for years locals were jumpy and fearful. Folks wondered if maybe the assault had been by one of the Douglas’ hired hands. Lots of people felt it had to have been someone who knew the property, the layout of the house, and were familiar to the family, because wouldn’t the Douglas’ dogs have barked up a storm and alerted the family so they would have had a chance to defend themselves?

Taylor shook her head, chasing away grim memories, and approached McKenna. “Hi.”

“Did you see my wild child with Louise?” McKenna asked.

Taylor smiled. “I did. He’s found two little girls to chase which is making him very happy.”

“And Louise? She’s managing okay?”

“She’s great. She loves kids.”

“She always has. It’s going to be awful when she retires. She’s been part of the library since I was born.”

“She does love her work,” Taylor agreed. “And I’m going to miss her, too. She’s a sweetheart and has been so helpful since I arrived.”

“And Margaret? Has she been as helpful?” McKenna asked sweetly, fully aware that Margaret Houghton, the head librarian, did not believe in new-fangled things like computers and the internet and had resisted adding e-books to the library’s collection.

Taylor grimaced. “Not as helpful, no.”

McKenna laughed. “Didn’t think so.” She hesitated. “Actually, I was hoping I could ask a favor.... maybe impose on you tomorrow night?”

“You need a sitter?”

“No. Well, yes and no.” McKenna pushed a long dark auburn strand of hair back from her cheek, securing it behind her ear. “I need a dress for the Ball, and I hoped you’d go with me to Married in Marietta and give me your opinion. I practically live in jeans and am useless when it comes to formal attire.”

“Of course,” Taylor said quickly, pleased and flattered that McKenna wanted to do something with her. “I’d love to.”

“You’re sure? Dress shopping isn’t fun—”

“I would enjoy it. I don’t want to go to the Ball, but I’d love to help you find a dress for Friday night. That sounds great.”

“Wonderful! I’ve lined up a sitter so maybe we can make it a girls night out? Shopping and dinner, or shopping and then drinks after?”