Category: Fiction Friday

The Bandbox Hat

Previously: SarahJane had an epiphany about the men in her life and left the Date My Son! house and called Jesse. They agreed they belong together in Rosedale.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

It didn’t take long to pack up my tiny furnished apartment. I had my clothes and a few tchotchkes. By noon the next day, I’d given notice at the school and to my landlord, and April and I were chugging up I-5 toward the Valley and home.

I’d even managed a quick call to Nathan, still at the Date My Son! set. He confessed his feelings for Cassie and I told him I was thrilled for him. I really was and it didn’t have anything to do with my own light-hearted feelings for Jesse.

April kept herself occupied with her iPod and my thoughts continued to whirl like a tornado, touching down on various thoughts about where I’d live, work, and love in the future.

Jesse and I talked all night. The job he applied for was a good one. He could afford a place of his own while we got re-acquainted. I would insist that Jake and Daniel and Abel finish my garage apartment. I needed a place of my own, out of the main house. The clapboard farmhouse was Anna’s nest now and I had been kidding myself to think I had any say in how she ran it.

I shouldn’t have a problem getting my old job back at Rosedale Elementary. But even if Principal Reardon had replaced me, it wasn’t the end of the world. I could drive a tractor as well as my brothers.

By the time we pulled off 99 and into Rosedale, I was just the teensiest bit apprehensive about seeing my brothers and Anna. Would I be strong enough to stand up for myself? I never could before.

I stopped in front of Enns Dry Goods, put the car in park, and sagged against the seat back.

“Can I get an ice-cream?” April asked, pointing to the lunch counter.

“Sure.” It seemed like a good idea and would give me a chance to catch up with Emma.

The black stiletto heels, the ones I saw on the day Jesse and Rachael had returned to town, still held a place of honor in the front window. Along with a traditional Mennonite kappe. Our order didn’t wear them, but the tourists didn’t know that.

The juxtaposition of the chic heels and plain bonnet made me smile.

Inside, April slid onto a stool at the counter and placed her order. I kept looking over my shoulder at the front window.

“SarahJane!” Emma hugged me then stepped back. “Oh, I’ve missed you!”

I grinned at her. “I have so much to tell you. But first, I have to buy those shoes and that kappe.”

She grabbed my elbow and pulled me toward the window. “I can’t believe neither has sold yet. They’ve been in the window for weeks.” She reached over the waist-high back and snagged first the heels then the bonnet. “It’s like they were waiting for you.”

I laughed out loud at that. “You know, I think they were.”

At the register, Emma rang me up. Instead of a paper or plastic bag though, she pulled out a box from under the counter. “These deserve something extra special.”

The box was more than an ordinary shoebox. It was round, like a hatbox. Cream-colored with a black band around the lid.

“That looks like something out of the 1940’s,” I said.

“I ordered just a hundred.” Emma fit the shoes inside and laid the kappe on top. “They’re for the discriminating customer who will appreciate them.” She winked at me as she pushed the box across the counter.

Tears filled my eyes.

“SarahJane, are you okay? It’s just a box.” Emma’s concerned voice slipped around me like a warm comforter.

I blinked rapidly. “I’m fine. I—it’s just—I have so much to tell you and this is the perfect end to this summer. These shoes, the kappe, the box. It’s my life in one neat package. Our culture and heritage, and the reality show that gave me back my past.”

April scampered up then. “I’m ready to go home now.”

I propped the box on one hip and gave her a hug with my opposite arm.

“We are, sweetie. We are finally home. And there’s no place I’d rather be.”

The End

The Bandbox Hat

Previously: SarahJane arrived back at the Date My Son! house for her meeting with Austin and Linda to ask why they let her go and get some closure. Linda told her she was too sweet and not cut out for life in Hollywood or on a reality show. Austin told SarahJane that her brother Nate was about to propose to Cassie, her friend on the show and asked her if he could call her after the show. She had an epiphany about the men in her life and left the house and called Jesse.

Chapter Fifty-Six

“Thanks, Chip,” I called to the driver as I dashed out of the car and up the steps to my apartment.

“You’re home!” April launched herself at me from the couch.

Rachael reached for the remote and paused their movie.

“I am. But you need to go to bed and Rachael, thanks a bunch, but I need you to leave.”

“What’s going on?” Rachael reached for her purse but April only burrowed her head into my gut.

“I’ve invited someone over for a serious talk about the future.” I couldn’t help the grin spreading across my face.

A quizzical furrow appeared between Rachael’s brows. “Someone from that show? I thought you went to get closure or whatever.”

“Not from the show.” I kicked off my heels and unpeeled April’s arms from around my waist. “But the people there helped me see what I really want and what I deserve. Which is to be in a relationship without someone wondering what I can do for them and their career.”

“I agree.” My sister grinned at me and I flashed back to our years sharing a bedroom. Instead of wondering what she was doing when she sneaked out our window, she was the onlooker. It felt weird. But also right.

A knock sounded.

“That’s our cue, April.” Rachael pulled April down the hall and I heard the bedroom door click as I strode to open the front door.

“Hi, SarahJane.”

Jesse.

“We’ve been so stupid.” I drew him into the room and to the couch.

“I know I have but what did you do?” he asked.

“I let you be stupid.”

He grinned.

“I played the martyr at home instead of going away to school like you did. I was scared. Mom and Dad would have supported me.”

“Keep going.”

“So I spent years resenting you and Rachael both, for getting away.”

“Do you mean you’re not going back to Rosedale?”

The thought silenced me for about half a second. I shook my head. “Rosedale is my home. I see that now. These months in LA have been good, but I miss my home. I miss my brothers. I even miss Anna. But most of all, I miss you. I miss us.”

His eyes widened at that. “Us?”

“Yes. Will you forgive me for giving up on us so easily?”

A grin spread from his lips to his eyes. “Maybe.”

“I know your job is here now and I want to go home to Rosedale, but you know what? I learned that home isn’t just a dot on the map. It’s where your loved ones are.”

He took my hand, twining fingers through mine. “I’ve been thinking this summer, too.”

My heart did a little jump-rope dance and skipped around my chest. “Oh?”

“You’re right. Rosedale is home. I’m ready to go back. I applied for a job with the county. I have an interview next week. And if I don’t get this one, I’ll keep applying until I get one.”

My cheeks warmed. “Are you saying—”

“I’m coming home, too. We belong together and we belong in Rosedale.”

The bedroom door opened with a crash and April barreled down the hall. “Auntie SJ, are you really coming home again?”

I pulled her into a hug. “We’re all going home.”

Previously: SarahJane arrived back at the Date My Son! house for her meeting with Austin and Linda to ask why they let her go and get some closure. Linda told her she was too sweet and not cut out for life in Hollywood or on a reality show. Austin told SarahJane that her brother Nate was about to propose to Cassie, her friend on the show.

The Bandbox Hat

Chapter Fifty-Five

My heart froze for an instant then I let out a breath. “Oh, wow.”

“How do you feel about that?” Austin asked.

“I’m not sure yet … Happy, I think.” As I turned over the idea in my mind—Cassie as my sister-in-law?—the more I liked it. “They’re a good fit. I love them both.”

“They’re lucky. They didn’t let this bubble of luxury and glamour mess with their heads. Mom was squared away when we got here, but somehow in the last couple of weeks, she’s lost it.” He sighed then stood and shook the clinging water off his feet.

“Thanks for the chat, Austin.” I slipped my feet back into my sandals.

“Do you think …” He paused and gave me an appraising look. I was suddenly conscious of the camera angled over his shoulder. “Could I call you when this is over?”

I swallowed a bark of laughter. “So much for finding true love on reality television?”

He shrugged. “I want someone who’s the same on camera and off. You and Cassie are the only two who resemble that.”

“And Cassie’s taken.”

He had the good grace to look away. “No, I really do like you, SarahJane.”

I glanced around. He was right. This place and this show sold an idea, an image of what a good life should be. A fully-stocked bar. A pool. Granite countertops. Fabulous dates and hip places. Helicopter rides to bowling alleys. But it was a faux life. The real good life is hot chocolate in front the Christmas fire. Scrabble on rainy days. Sparring about whether to order pizza or Chinese for dinner. And I knew who I wanted to debate pepperoni or fried rice with.

“Thanks, Austin. But, well, no thanks.”

“Really?” He actually looked disappointed.

I would have bought it except he spoiled it by looking in the camera and sighing.

I laughed. “See you around, Austin. Tell your mom bye.”

I skipped down the walkway and back to the front drive where the limo waited.

The door was barely closed before I had my cell phone out and dialed.

“Hello?”

“Jesse. It’s SarahJane.

The Bandbox Hat

Previously: SarahJane arrived back at the Date My Son! for her meeting with Austin and Linda to ask why they let her go and get some closure. Linda told her she was too sweet and not cut out for life in Hollywood or on a reality show. SarahJane told her that’s why Liam recruited her for the show. She left, but Austin grabbed her on her way out the door.

Chapter Fifty-Four

“Let me go.” I stopped walking but kept looking straight ahead, away from the cameras. Austin’s body kept the camera operator behind us but I knew as soon I opened the door the outside crew would have a perfect shot of my red-eyed and snot-nosed devastation.

“Wait, SarahJane.” He didn’t let go. “I’m not letting go until you listen to me.”

“Fine.” I shifted a bit to see him, but still kept him between me and the camera.

He guided me through the maze of people and rooms and out the back door. We paused by the pool and he sank onto the pool deck.

“What do you want from me, Austin?” I wrapped my arms around myself.

“Sit.” He patted the concrete and rolled up his pant legs before dangling his feet over the side.

I complied. I’d come here for answers and even though I didn’t like what Linda had to say, I couldn’t say I hadn’t asked for it.

Austin could have read my mind.

“I tried to tell you,” he said now. “I told you my mother had motives for the show.”

I nodded. “You did. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”

He sighed. “The truth is that I’m done with this whole thing.”

I turned to look at him. He gazed at the water and drew a foot through, making a wave that lapped my ankle. “Do you mean that?”

“I do. I grew up in Hollywood. I’m tired of everyone having double motives for everything they do. Sure, it’s nice to help your son find love, but the fact that it also launches your own show is only typical of the stuff I’ve seen. I envy you.”

“You do not.” I gave him a shoulder butt. “You’d hate life in a small town.”

“I’m not so sure.” He sounded rueful.

“You’re just tired of life in front of a camera. You’ll propose to Cassie and start planning a televised wedding, then call it off because you’re moving too quickly. You’ll quietly break up, and marry the girlfriend your mom made you break up with so she could get the two of you on the show.”

He twisted my way. “Wow, did we make you turn so cynical?”

I shrugged. “Does it matter? Cynical or real? The end is the same.”

“Maybe. He returned his focus to the water. “But you’re wrong about one thing.”

“You didn’t actually break up with your girlfriend?”

He chuckled. “Two things.”

“I knew it! I knew you were too great not to have someone.” Glee at being right stimulated my leg to kick up a stream of drops that plopped back into the pool. “What’s the other thing?”

“You forgot the twist in the show.”

My heart stilled. “Nate. He’s still on.”

Austin nodded. “I think he’s going to propose to Cassie.”