One Lavender Ribbon

“Moving?” Sammie asked, hands on hips. “Were you planning to tell me?”

Adrienne waved her in the front door. “Nothing is set in stone yet. I may not even get accepted into the school.”

Sammie sailed into the kitchen and dropped the two bags of coffee beans she’d brought on the counter. “But you are selling the house?”

Adrienne answered her with a gentle nod and quiet words. “Yes, I am.”

Sammie rushed back out and slumped into a chair at the table.

Adrienne sat across from her. “I just decided this. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about it yet.”


“You know what I think?” Sammie countered, hurt lacing her words. “I think this is a cop-out. I think you’re scared to stay here because of Will, and you’re running away.”

Adrienne toyed with the edge of the salmon-colored place mat. “Maybe.”

Sammie leaned forward. “You love him, and you’re scared you’ll give in if you’re here. So you’re just going to remove yourself from the threat.”

She was right. And Adrienne couldn’t deny it. She also wouldn’t change it. “My mind is made up, Sammie.”

Sammie heaved a sigh. “Can I tell you how I feel about this?”

Adrienne smirked. “I thought you just did.”

“When you came here, you said you wanted to work on who you are as a person. You wanted to be a stronger woman. And over and over I’ve watched you make tough decisions and burst through layer upon layer of weaknesses. But this isn’t one of those times. Now, when there is something on the line, something really worth fighting for, you’re just shrinking back into that old cocoon. It won’t fit anymore, Chicago. It’s a coffin. And now that you’ve grown, it’s too small. It will suffocate you. And it won’t take very long.”

Coldness snaked through Adrienne’s veins.

Sammie brushed at her skirt with frustration. “You have no idea how often I’ve envied you. You’re young, you’re beautiful, you’ve got so much going for you. But, I gotta tell ya, Chicago. I’d rather be a used-up, broken-down coffee-shop owner that lived life to its fullest than a young woman who refuses to live at all.”

Adrienne threw up her hands. “That’s what I’m trying to do. Live my life.”

Sammie pressed her palms against the table. “Look, I’m not trying to scold you. I just think that he continued to grow and you stopped.”

“What do you mean?” She’d grown. Was growing, changing, becoming the kind of woman she wanted to be.

Except, maybe she wasn’t.

Maybe all these decisions about taking her life in her own hands, steering her own ship really was a cop-out. It nearly killed her to sit at the table with Will and watch Pops and Sara on the balcony of the restaurant. All of them happy, moving forward while she . . . well, was her decision to sell and move an attempt to outrun the pain? The memories that were so fresh here? When she looked at the ocean from her back deck, all she saw was Will and Pops. She envisioned catching fish and throwing crab claws on their kitchen floor. When she walked upstairs, all she saw was Sara walking around with a book on her head, instructing Adrienne how to be a lady. All these things were just ghosts—ghosts from a past that had nothing to do with her future.

It didn’t matter that it hurt so bad. She wasn’t quitting. A quitter would curl up inside herself, inside her shell, and never come back out. Adrienne was trying to move on. Wasn’t that brave? At least a little? Sammie’s insulting words stung. “What do you mean he kept growing and I stopped?” There was a bite to her tone that she wouldn’t apologize for or feel bad about. Sammie was out of line.

“You told me that you were going to give Will time to change. You said that his big hang-up was that he didn’t deal with things, and he just let them fester. His parents being the biggest wound. But he’s made peace with that. He’s even made the choice to embrace Pops’s past, though it’s painful to both of them. Kiddo, the young man has jumped through hoops.”

Adrienne stared blankly at her.

“For you. He wasn’t asking to grow, but he made the choice to when you confronted him with it. You came here to grow, but now you’re running away.”

Adrienne wanted out. Sammie couldn’t understand. No one could.

She shrugged. “So he got mad when you did something that could have ultimately caused a lot of pain. Big deal. You took a risk with people you barely knew, but these are also people he’s fiercely devoted to. How else should he react? You sort of set the precedent, don’t you think? Then he reconciled with his parents. And instead of appreciating all he went through, you slammed the door in his face.”

Shock kept Adrienne from breathing. Everything around her was going dark, the haze closing in on her field of vision until all she could see was the woman she called friend.

Sammie suddenly stood from the table. “You know what? I’ve said all I’m going to say. You’re still letting Eric run your life. I feel sorry for you, Adrienne.” And Sammie left.

Adrienne stared at the bowl of fruit that sat in the center of the table. The apples were going bad. Tracing the ugly, brown spots, she reached over and plucked them one by one from the basket. The oranges still looked good. She loved the oranges here. She loved the selection of fresh tropical fruit that was available at the grocery store on the corner and the farmers market in the parking lot every Saturday morning downtown.

Her eyes scanned the house. This house. Her house. The one she’d found while searching “property for sale, Florida Gulf Coast.” Adrienne had made the offer with her entire being screaming to back out. There was strength within her that—though buried under the dirty blanket of Eric’s abuse—had been unearthed. She’d given the house time, love, and a fair portion of her blood. It had all been worth it. She could let it go. After all, it had given to her as well. She had learned she could make it on her own. She was strong. And even though she loved this house, loved this town, and, heaven knew, she’d fallen in love with several people here, she’d be okay. Without a second thought, she tossed the apples into the trash. Besides, Tallahassee had grocery stores too.





The morning of the rehearsal, the day before the wedding, Adrienne’s nerves were pounding out their own rhythm. She wanted everything to go perfectly. It will, she kept telling herself as she willed the butterflies from her stomach. Mary Lathrop had called her to say they had an offer on the house, but Adrienne couldn’t be bothered with that right now. Two weeks ago, she’d received the acceptance letter from the culinary school but was shocked at her own lack of enthusiasm over it. It was what she had wanted. She should be excited.

It’s the wedding, she decided. She and Sara had spent countless hours on every detail, and in all honesty, Adrienne was tired. That was the reason for the lack of enthusiasm. Once she got some rest, she’d be excited about her new adventure. Of course she would.

Adrienne stepped into the ballroom and gasped. Though she’d been there late the night before, putting on the finishing touches, she’d been too tired to appreciate the space as a whole. Her energy had gone into things like adjusting a spray of white lilies until they were just right and spreading a shimmering white rope along the edge of the seats to let guests know where to sit.

Was this really the same room she’d barely noticed last night? Shades of white from warm winter to soft, billowy cotton were repeated in every portion of the decorated space. The elegance of her surroundings made her smile. It was perfect, and Pops and Sara were going to love it.

The rehearsal went smoothly, with gushing remarks from each new person who entered the room. Sara hugged her, thanking her and telling her that if she’d had a daughter, she would have wanted her to be just like Adrienne.

But Sara seemed reluctant to let go and hung there for a moment, arms draped over Adrienne’s shoulders. When the older woman released her, Adrienne scanned her eyes. Though Sara was trying to hide it, Adrienne could see the exhaustion on Sara’s face. It was masked by the quick smile that sparkled, but beyond the fa?ade, there was desperation.


As Sara glided across the room, dread crept into Adrienne’s being. Had the bride-to-be just stumbled a bit? Sara reached a table and leaned there for a few moments before continuing on. Something was wrong. This woman had outwalked all of them at both the zoo and the Air Force celebration.

On top of that, Sara looked pale. Understandably—Adrienne herself was exhausted, and Sara had kept up a steady pace with her through the work and decorating. But Sara was in her late seventies.

Again, Adrienne watched her lean against a table. By the time the rehearsal was over, Adrienne decided to insist Sara go straight home with her to rest.

But it was too late. As Adrienne began to move to the entrance door where the happy couple were standing and talking, Sara’s eyes fell on her across the room. A moment later they were rolling back as she collapsed to the ground.

First, Sara’s weight slumped against Pops, who took a steady hold on her despite the confusion registering on his face.

Adrienne broke into a run and dropped beside her. Sara lay unconscious in a pool of soft white silk. Her skin had paled to a disturbing deathly white. Pops had lowered her to the ground and knelt beside her. “Sara? Sara!” He choked on the name. Will dropped too, and there they all were, surrounding the bride. Pops ran his hand over Sara’s still arm, mumbling incoherent words. The man who’d cheated death for over eighty years was crumbling.

Somewhere behind her, Adrienne heard someone say an ambulance was on the way. Various hotel personnel bustled in and out, but none were able to help. Sara lay quietly.

Peg screamed as she entered the room. She and Charles had gone to check the hotel room arrangements for Pops and to make sure he and Sara were booked into the honeymoon suite.

Charles dropped beside them all on the floor. “Is she breathing?”

Will removed his suit jacket and placed it under her head as Adrienne held Sara’s hand. It felt cold. Thin and cold like tree branches in winter. Vaguely aware of what was happening around her, Adrienne caught tiny snatches of conversation. People talking, gasping, wishing they could hurry an ambulance that would move on its own schedule, and no amount of looking at one’s watch would change it. But the only thing Adrienne heard clearly—and each word sliced into her heart—was Pops’s choked sobs as he cried, “No, please God, no. Not again.”





What must it be like to lose a spouse? Pops had already suffered that tragedy once; it seemed unthinkable that he might have to again. Adrienne sat in the small, brown chapel of the Naples Hospital, finally understanding Will’s fierce desire to protect his grandfather. For it was in the moment of Sara’s collapse that she’d looked into Pops’s eyes and seen the horror of death. Living beyond your friends, your parents, outliving so many who’d died too young. As Pops slumped to the floor holding Sara, Adrienne understood loss on a profound level, a level that transcended her years. And the pain of it was unbearable as she watched the gentle man with the soft, blue eyes falter as his world tumbled down around him like leaves on an autumn day.

And it was all her fault. It truly was. Unforgivable.

At the hospital, they were notified it would be at least an hour before they knew anything. From across the room, she had watched as Charles and Will stood on each side of Pops, shoring him up. When Will’s accusing eyes met hers, she left the room. By the time she found the chapel at the far end of the building, she was nearly running. Trying to outrun the pain she’d caused. He’d been right all along. What a bitter, bitter way to find out.

The chapel was a narrow room with cushioned pews. She couldn’t remember ever being in a church inside a hospital. She sat and tried to draw peace, but her heart only filled with accusation. Softly glowing bulbs above lit the space, showering the walls and floor with gentle soothing light. It helped, if only slightly. Yet this felt like a safe place.

Adrienne turned as a mother and small child entered and moved to the front. They sat across from her, and she could see the weight of uncertainty upon them. The child, who’d been clutching a teddy bear, dropped to her knees, set the bear aside, and with eyes squeezed shut began to pray. Adrienne watched. Did children’s prayers work better? All that hope, all that faith in those little innocent bodies. Could their heartfelt prayer reach deeper into heaven? Probably. When they were finished, the mother and child silently slipped out of the room. Adrienne was alone once again, as questions assailed her.

Why hadn’t she insisted Sara go to the doctor this morning? She’d seen how pale Sara was, saw her struggling to maintain her strength. If Adrienne had spoken up, maybe things would be different. She looked at her watch, a gift from Pops and Sara for all the help on the wedding. Her fingers toyed with the gold band as tears blurred the numbers.

If it weren’t for the deep love she felt for this family, especially Sara, she’d leave. Leave right now before Will got a chance to shred her with his words. They were right—they were all right, including Eric: All she did was cause trouble. Sure, she had good intentions. The very kind that paved the road to hell. Now she understood why.

But she didn’t leave. Wouldn’t run. Maybe she was a coward, but she wasn’t heartless. Alone in the chapel as the family huddled in the waiting room. She was an outsider who had forced her way into lives already recovering from one tragedy. Now she’d brought another.

Adrienne closed her eyes when she heard the chapel door close behind her. It was him. She steeled herself. She could hear his footsteps on the soft carpet as he made his way to her.

She was in the first pew, and instead of towering over her, he knelt.

When he gently cradled her hands in his, she slowly looked up to meet his gaze.

She’s gone, she knew he was going to say. Sara’s dead. The words rolled through her before he could speak. Scenes flashed through her mind of a funeral, Pops sitting by a grave, alone once again. Grief and regret flooded every inch of her body.

He gently squeezed her hands. “Adrienne?” he questioned, soft as a whisper.

She must be gone, why else would he not be screaming at her? Adrienne began to tremble. It started in her chest, her heart, the center of her being, and rippled outward. “Tell me,” she finally managed through gritted teeth.

He flashed a moment of puzzlement, then answered. “We . . . we don’t know anything yet.”

Relief engulfed her as the tension in her muscles released.

His eyes were green velvet, tender as a petal on a flower. “But you need to know something.”

She blinked, causing her vision to clear. Such softness from Will she couldn’t fathom. Maybe she was losing her mind.

He made tiny circles on her hands with his thumbs. “I wanted to find you to make sure you’re not somehow blaming yourself for this.”

Confusion spread through her system. “What do you mean?”

One hand slipped up to cup her face. “Listen to me. No matter what happens to Sara, you gave her and Pops a beautiful gift by bringing them together.”

When she tried to look away, his hand held her face steadfast.

“No matter how long or short that time might be.”

She stared at him, uncertain if he was really the Will Bryant she knew. He couldn’t be.

“Adrienne, no one is guaranteed a tomorrow. Life is a precious and delicate thing. At the very best, it’s a vapor. Pops spent a lifetime with the woman he loved. Now he’s had a chance to love a woman from a lifetime ago.” He moved from in front of her to the seat beside her and turned her to look at him. “Adrienne, you did the right thing.”


She shook her head, closed her eyes. Tried to get the disjointed pieces to fall together, but they didn’t. He was wrong. She hadn’t done the right thing at all. Pops and Will had had a good life before she came along with the letters. She should have left those letters in the box in her attic.

His voice rose. “Do you hear me? You did the right thing.”

She nodded absently in an attempt to make him stop talking. This wasn’t right. Wasn’t normal. He should be yelling at her. And she should learn her lesson.

“I want to hear you say it.”

Say it? No. She tried to slide away, but he wouldn’t let her. “I can’t. I can’t because I can’t believe that this much pain could be right.”

He took her hand and placed it over his heart. “Love is always the right thing. I’ve learned that now. I trust you, Adrienne. And I think you were right. Sometimes love isn’t enough alone. But love and trust together? You can’t walk away from that.”

He had to stop talking. Had to stop saying these words because though everything else was chaos, the words made sense.

“Sometimes love comes with pain. But you can’t just stop loving. You might as well be dead if you do.”

Her eyes were dry now, burning. “So love isn’t enough.”

He smiled and despite her fear, his warmth found a crack into her and forced its way through.

Will squeezed her closer. “No, love isn’t just enough. Real love is everything.”

His lips made their way to hers, and he kissed her. When he drew away, she tried to smile.

A glorious new sensation stormed through her system like rain in a desert, removing old scars of anger and mistrust. It gathered speed and force as wave after wave of dirt and cobwebs washed away in the tide of this new power. Strength settled in her bones, encircled her heart, and rejuvenated her limbs. For the first time in years, Adrienne tasted freedom.





They made their way from the chapel back to the rest of the family. Pops was sitting in a corner chair, elbows on the armrests and long legs stretched out in front of him. His fingers were laced together, one thumb making small circles around the other. It was interesting enough to hold Charles’ attention who sat in the chair next to him.

When the doctor came into the waiting room, everyone stood. He was young—didn’t look old enough to be a doctor—but Adrienne knew that was common in the ER. For a brief second, she wondered about his credentials, wondered if he was capable of treating a treasure like Sara.

He pulled the glasses from his face and rubbed them against his white coat. “Sara is suffering from acute dehydration.” He slipped them back onto his nose. “She’s stable and resting comfortably, but we’re going to continue to pump fluids into her for the next couple of hours. After that, she should be fine to leave if she’s feeling up to it.”

The entire room breathed a collective sigh of relief. “Dehydrated? That’s all?” Pops said.

The young doctor nodded. “Yes, it’s not that uncommon in older people in stressful circumstances.” His head tilted from one side to the other, no doubt a posture he’d practiced in the mirror a thousand times. “Sara told me she’d been burning the candle at both ends.”

“Sweet Sara,” Pops said. “Just try to slow her down.”

The doctor chuckled. “Yeah, I can see why that wouldn’t be easy. She’s low on iron too. She said she’s been dieting to get ready for the wedding, but I’m not allowing that anymore. I’m sending her with a week’s worth of B-12 shots. They’re simple to administer and will help boost her body’s immune system and energy level.” He pointed to Pops. “Plenty of lean, red meat for her over the next week or so will help her regain full strength.”

Pops nodded. “We can postpone the wedding until she’s feeling stronger.”

“Actually,” the doctor corrected, “you can’t.”

Pops questioned him with a look.

“Sara is adamant about the wedding going on as scheduled tomorrow.” The doctor crossed his arms in front of him. “I think that would be in order. She should be feeling good by then . . . as long as she rests today.”

Charles patted Pops shoulder.

The doctor’s eyes narrowed on Pops. “I’m actually only worried about one thing.”

Pops put his hands up in surrender. “We’ll do anything so Sara can have her wedding day.”

The doctor shook his head, but his mouth quirked in a smile. “I’m not worried about the wedding. I’m worried about the honeymoon.”

A bright stain colored Pops’s cheeks, as others in the group stifled snickers. Pops’s mouth hung open.

“I’m just kidding, Tiger. She’ll be fine.” He shook Pops’s hand, then Charles’s and after throwing an appreciative look to Adrienne and ignoring Will, he left.

Pops scratched the back of his head. All eyes were on him. He opened his mouth to speak but changed his mind. Instead, he forced his hands deep into his pockets, grinned, and shrugged.





In a room next door to the bride’s dressing chamber, a trio of men tugged at their collars and stared at their hands, wishing the time would move along more quickly.

“Are you scared?” Will stood to adjust Pops’s tie.

Pops’s gaze focused behind Will to an indistinct point. “No,” Pops said, and the calm and serenity in his single word echoed that. His eyes locked on his grandson’s. “I feel as though I’m on borrowed time. Life is best when you find someone to love, and you pour your heart and soul into it. Into her. Everything is sweeter. Everything is new, fresh. I got to do that not once, but twice. How could I be scared of what lies ahead when the whole world has been given to me and then given to me again?”

Will put his hands on Pops’s shoulders. “You really are a poet, Pops.” Find someone to love and pour your heart and soul into it. Will had fulfilled the first part. He loved Adrienne. Loved her more than life. She deserved someone who would pour his heart out for her. She deserved a man who could give her wings.

Some people were like pottery. They had been tested in a fire just hot enough to make them capable, but perhaps not durable. But Adrienne was fine porcelain. Delicate, yet purified in white-hot flame reserved for those who would stand every test thrown at them. He was fortunate to even know her. And more fortunate to love her.

She was the person he would pour his heart and soul into. But not just for him. For her. Because she deserved it. She deserved nothing less.

Pops lifted his hands so they rested on Will’s arms. “But don’t let the moment slip by,” he said, tightening his grip.

Will frowned. “What moment, Pops?” He searched the older man’s face.

Pops released a long breath and whispered, “You’ll know. You’ll know when it happens. You’ll know when the time is right, and don’t you dare back away from it. No matter what. You hear me, boy? No matter what or when.”

Will nodded, and hugged his grandfather, the man who’d taught him how to love. Then he turned and hugged his father, the man who had taught him how to sacrifice. And now, Will was capable of letting Adrienne soar, but also catching her if she fell. For the first time in his life, Will really, truly knew what it was to be a man.