Page 30 of Sugar Plum Serenade

Olive in red, standing by the first Christmas tree he’d ever owned as an adult, that was true beauty.

“Dinner is getting cold,” he said. Olive left the tree behind to rejoin him. She took his arm again and they walked down the hallway, through the kitchen, then onto the large screened porch that looked out over his wooded backyard.

“Wow, this is surprising. Gorgeous, but I wouldn’t expect a volunteer fireman to leave this many candles burning.”

“There’s a fire blanket on standby and a small fire extinguisher in that corner.” He pointed. “It wouldn’t have the same effect if I had to come out here and light all the candles while you waited in the kitchen. You’d get bored, and hungry.”

Olive looked up at him with those deep brown eyes, her lush lips slightly parted, her breath short. “Nate Tucker, you are many things, but in my experience you are never boring.”

The scenebefore her was like something out of a movie or a dream. A small round table was set with china, crystal, and silver. A warming tray sat in the middle, and prepared salads had been placed to the side. A bottle of wine — no cans for them tonight — was on ice. Candles burned there, on other tables scattered about, even on the floor. It was the most romantic fire hazard she’d ever seen.

“I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” she said. “Not in real life. In the movies, maybe, but… Did you do all this?”

“I can’t take credit. I picked up dinner from Maggie’s. They even provided the dishes and silverware. I’m more of a paper plate kind of guy.”

“Shrimp and grits?” she asked, her eye on the covered silver tray.

“You seemed to like that the other day, so it seemed a safe choice.”

“It was.”

She knew where this night was heading, wanted it, needed it even. But before she sat down at this lovely table with a man she was becoming more and more attached to, she had to tell him what was going on. He’d had enough surprises in his life lately. She wouldn’t add to the stress he was under. She wouldn’t lie to him.

“We need to talk,” she said.

“Oh shit,” he muttered. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, really,” she said quickly. “I just don’t want any secrets between us, not tonight.” Not ever.

His expression changed; he looked like he expected the worst.

“I went to the depot today, to talk to Colt.”

“About me?” he asked.

“Not really. At least, that wasn’t the reason I went to the depot. I wanted to know if ghosts were real, and to ask him if there was a pirate ghost in my house. There is, by the way. Ava saw him Saturday. She said his name is Giles.”

“You can always stay here if you’re afraid of Giles,” he said in his usual lighthearted tone of voice, though she detected a hint of new stress.

Olive managed a small smile. She wasn’t anywhere near done. “While I was there, Colt asked me to… help.”

“With my supposed grandmother? I guess that’s where this is headed, right?”

“Yes. I don’t believe he would’ve mentioned it, he didn’t intend to break a confidence, but for some reason Anna thought you’d told me and that’s why I was there, and she said… too much.” This was getting so far out of her comfort zone… “Colt really wants you to call him, to talk this over. Sounds like the ghost is hounding him night and day.”

“Not my problem.”

She kept going. They needed to get past this so they could move on. Move forward. “Maude is insisting that Colt retrieve the pearl earrings she believes were taken by a woman at the retirement home.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Tuck snapped.

She should’ve waited until after. Until tomorrow. Until… No. Now or never. “Your grandfather gave them to her, and she wants you to have them. She said one day you could give them to… someone you care about.” She hesitated to tell Tuck word for word what she’d been told. One day he can give them to a woman he loves as much as Phillip loved Maude.

Yeah, she should’ve waited to tell him about the request. This was ruining the mood. But waiting, telling him after the fact, would’ve been wrong.

“I don’t want the old woman’s damn earrings,” he said with finality.

“That’s fine. I just… I don’t want us to start whatever this is with a lie, even a lie of omission, between us.”