It's a Fabulous Life, page 24
“No, thanks,” Bailey said.
Quirking his thick eyebrows, Nick said, “You don’t have drinks, and you don’t want food. I suggest you order something or find somewhere else to loiter.”
Loiter? Who even said things like that?
Clara touched her arm and leaned in. “We should go. I don’t think he’ll be happy to learn we have no m-o-n-e-y.”
“No money?” Damn, Nick had overheard. He pointed the tongs at the door. “This ain’t a charity.”
“But you’re giving out wings, Saint Nick,” Bailey couldn’t help saying.
“Even Santa gets paid in milk and cookies.”
“Come on.” Clara tugged on her coat sleeve.
Bailey slid off the barstool, aching from the puzzled looks Nick and Kurt were giving her. She followed Clara toward the exit, watching Miss Josephine struggle with her soup bowl. Someone should be helping her. Everyone in town took care of her.
That is, they did. Lanford Falls wasn’t that place anymore.
At the door, Bailey turned and caught Kurt’s eye. “I’ll fix this if I can,” she told him.
He made a face like What a looney tune.
She could barely walk along the sidewalk, her legs having turned to lead. “My very gay best friend is working at a very straight bar.”
“He was never able to get things in order to open the café,” Clara said. “You helped him with that.”
“I did,” Bailey murmured. A wistful smile pulled at her lips. “We had so much fun doing it. We literally skipped out of the bank when he secured the loan. And oh man, he made such a mess painting the walls. We laughed so hard, we were in tears.”
“It sounds like you were good for each other,” Clara said.
“Yeah.” Bailey hugged her arms tightly. “I guess I forgot how much Kurt means to me. He’s always been the one who gets me out of the house and reminds me to have fun.”
“He wanted you to be happy.”
“He really does.”
“All your friends wanted you to be happy.”
“They do.”
Clara sighed deeply. “Too bad that’s just a memory for you. These people never got to know you.”
“So you keep saying.” So I keep discovering.
Ironically, Potter Real Estate looked exactly the same. Next door, an equally imposing office proclaimed it was Potter Enterprises. Felicity was eating up the town, bit by bit. She’d probably try to change its name to something ridiculous, like Pottersville.
“If this is what Lanford Falls is like now, I should be glad not to live here,” Bailey said.
“Sure.” Clara sidestepped a sloppy pile of shoveled snow. “None of this is your problem, and that’s what you wanted. To be free of this town.”
“I mean, it wasn’t that bad.” Memories floated about like snowflakes. Her morning coffee runs and chats with Kurt. Lulu romping at the dog park. Helping Miss Josephine. Trivia night. The thrill she got each time a client bought their dream home. Listening to Mr. Gruber’s stories, and cleaning up Lanford Creek, and Mom and Hannah. So much with Mom and Hannah.
And Maria. Going around town with Maria. Sharing stories with Maria while making ornaments. Maria at Mistletoe Grove, both as a teen and an adult. Maria and the joy and passion she radiated.
“Clara.” Bailey was almost afraid to ask. “Where’s Maria?”
Clara’s face pinched. “Oh honey, I don’t think you want to know.”
“I do. She just came back into my life. I couldn’t have screwed hers up that badly.”
“Well, remember that ripple effect of you not being here …”
Worry snaked through Bailey’s bloodstream. “Did she never leave, like Hannah?”
Clara looked up, as though searching for guidance. “I think I’d better show you. It’s easier that way.”
They approached Town Hall. The large pine tree in front didn’t dazzle with lights. A new metal sign proclaimed Lanford Falls, New York. Felicity Potter, Mayor.
“Really?” She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Oh, Ms. Potter is mayor,” Clara said over her shoulder. “You should’ve guessed that by now.”
“I want my friend to be mayor,” Bailey said. “Ellis is a fantastic mayor.”
“Ellis ran against her, but as I said …”
“People are afraid of Felicity.”
“Mm-hmm. Who’d vote against her?”
Shit. Her biggest fear had come true. Without someone keeping Felicity in check, she’d run rampant over the town. It had always felt like a burden, but if this was the alternative, it was more important than Bailey ever realized.
Clara stopped near the library. “Maria’s still working here?” Bailey said. “At least one thing’s going right.”
Clara didn’t say anything.
Bailey followed her gaze. It was the same historic building with Lanford Falls Public Library chiseled above the doors. But there was a sign to the right of the stone steps. A business directory. Like this was an office building.
“What’s going on?” Bailey breathed.
“I hate to tell you this,” said Clara. “The library closed a few years ago. Budget cutbacks. It was converted to office space.”
She could scarcely push the word through the lump in her throat. “Maria?”
“Maria never moved back to Lanford Falls.” Clara shrugged. “She had no reason to.”
“So she’s …”
“In Concord. Single. No pets.”
“No.” Bailey shook her head. “Maria always wanted to move home. That was her dream, and it came true. And to be honest, I think I was maybe part of that dream. I think she was hoping we would reconnect. And we did.”
“No, sweetie.”
“We did. You can’t tell me I’m gutted over something that never happened. What we have is very real.”
“I wish it was.” Clara touched Bailey’s shoulder. “I truly wish it was. But your wish did not include Maria.”
This infuriating wish. People said off-the-cuff things like that all the time. It didn’t mean they genuinely wanted them. Didn’t mean Bailey wanted to have never stepped foot in Lanford Falls.
Maria never moved home. Maria isn’t happy the way she should be every single day of her life.
Tears pooled in her eyes. She had to turn away from the library. “Everyone I love is miserable.”
“Things could be better for them,” Clara said.
“I’m hurting all of them.”
“Your presence is greatly missed.”
Maria wasn’t going to do her projects and presentations. She wasn’t going to meet Bailey at the dog park. They weren’t going to have coffee or dinners or dates or anything. They would never kiss again. Never sleep together. They couldn’t start something. Couldn’t try. And that just hurt. She’d thrown away the chance to be with Maria.
Clara looped her arm through Bailey’s. “You see, Bailey?” she murmured. “You had a pretty fabulous life.”
She really did.
And now it was gone.
THE ANGELS
Clara studied Bailey closely for a response. She’d gone all in, reminding her of the good things in her life.
Bailey cleared her throat, tears shining in her dark eyes. “Can you give me a minute?” she said, untangling their arms. “I need to be alone.”
“Of course.” Clara stepped away.
Bailey walked to a nearby bench and sank onto it. Poor thing. Life transformations were exhausting. People really didn’t see the impact they made every day, in big and small ways.
Looking up at the night sky, Clara asked, “How am I doing, Gabriella?”
“Girl,” Gabi’s voice echoed in her head. “You are killing it.”
“This town is so depressing,” Jovanna chimed in. “I had to wrap a blanket around myself to ward off the chill.”
“Her heart is changing. Can you feel it?”
Clara tuned in to Bailey’s core. A small fire had been ignited and was smoldering. Growing. “Yes. She’s starting to believe again.”
Clara could also feel, more than ever before, her wings were within reach. Which was wonderful, no doubt about it. But just as wonderful was going on this journey with Bailey. It was tough to stand back and observe, but Bailey was worth it. She’d been a good challenge. She needed something as extreme as this to bring back her holiday spirit.
“Nice touch making Felicity Potter mayor,” Gabi said.
“I thought you’d like that,” Clara said.
“Can we work on that woman next?” Jovanna said. “She could use a strong cup of spiked eggnog.”
“A little nudge might be in order,” said Gabriella. “I’ll consult universal wisdom.”
“I’ll do it for you.” Jovi whistled loudly. “Yo. Felicity Potter. Eggnog enema. Cool? Cool.”
Their mother sighed. “If you need a project that badly, why don’t you organize your wigs?”
“Because I’d rather help people.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Clara waved her hands to shush them. “Can we focus on Bailey? This is a critical moment. Whether she chooses to stay or go.”
“It’s up to her now,” Gabriella said. “You’ve done all you can.”
Bailey wiped beneath her eyes. She looked positively wrecked.
There was still one thing Clara could do for her. “She needs a friend,” she said, and walked toward the bench. Her feet ached in protest. “Remind me to consider better footwear next time.”
“Hey, Clara,” Jovanna said. “Next time, wear boots.”
She shot her sister a dirty look, which Jovi would catch on TV. Then she sat beside Bailey on the cold metal bench. Bailey slouched against the back, eyes red, face raw.
“What’s on your mind?” Clara asked gently.
Bailey plucked at the cerulean blue scarf peeking out from her coat. “There’s no dog hair. It had Lulu fuzz and Rosie’s short hairs all over it. I never thought I’d miss dog hair on my clothes.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
She flopped her hands in her lap. “Everything I wanted was right in front of me, but I didn’t see it. I was too busy looking ahead. At this life I thought would be so much better if I’d gotten the chance to live it.”
Clara nodded in understanding. “Looking at the destination, not the journey.”
“Yeah.” Bailey rolled her head to look at her. “That’s exactly what it was. Not paying attention to the right here, right now.”
“It’s the journey that will bring you joy. I think a lot of people forget that.”
Bailey wagged a finger. “You’re very good at what you do. Whatever it is you do.”
“Deliver sickening looks and universal wisdom,” Clara said.
“That you do.” Bailey dropped her head back and released a deep groan. “I can’t believe I messed things up with Maria. Twice. Once when I left her at Winter Wonderfest, and now this. She’s everything someone could ask for in a partner. She’s so sweet, and funny, and kind, and so beautiful it almost hurts. And she was right in front of me and I missed it. Now it’s too late.”
The hope inside Bailey pulsated. Clara could feel it growing stronger.
Bailey looked at her, pleading with her eyes. “Is it too late?”
“No, honey,” Jovanna said in Clara’s mind. “It’s never too late.”
“No, honey, it’s never too late,” Clara said.
“Hey, that’s my line.”
A great flood of emotion washed over Bailey, so powerful it flowed into Clara.
“Ah, there it is,” Gabriella said.
It was the release when a life transformation took hold. Bailey’s heart had changed.
Clara had felt it before, but never to this intensity. She’d finally altered someone’s life all by herself. It was almost intoxicating. No wonder Gabi didn’t want her to have an appletini.
A slow smile spread across Bailey’s face. Clara matched it with her own.
Both of their deepest desires were about to come true.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It wasn’t too late. She could get her life back.
Bailey sat up straight. “Okay, then. What do we do? It’s Christmas, right? The time for miracles and stuff. Can you sprinkle some holiday magic over the town?”
“That’s a different kind of magic.” Clara touched her heart. “Your magic lives in here. It’s more of a feeling. A state of mind. You already have it. You’ve just forgotten about it.”
“So … I have the power to change this?”
“You do.”
“How? Do I make another wish? Okay, I wish that—”
“Hang on. I’m not a genie, granting wishes over here. It needs to be your deepest desire.”
Tears stung Bailey’s cheeks, but it felt good. Invigorating. Like her senses were waking from a long winter’s nap. “It is. I know what I really want now.”
“Can you feel it?” Clara asked.
A renewed energy, a sense of purpose, a deep and profound love coursed through her veins. “I can.”
“Then tell me what it is you want.”
“I want Winter Wonderfest back. I want everything back. I want to live in the Lanford Falls I know and love. With the people I love. Everyone.” In case it wasn’t implied, she added, “Maria, Lulu, Rosie …”
“Are you sure?” Clara raised her eyebrows. “You could go visit Maria. You still have a shot at freedom.”
Bailey shook her head so vehemently, her hair swung over her shoulders. “Maria belongs here.” Her heart pounded as the truth became crystal clear. “I belong here. And if I haven’t messed everything up, maybe we belong here together.”
Clara’s smile nearly lit up the darkness. “I was hoping you’d say that,” she said, her voice thick with tears.
“I know it sounds silly, but I believe in this town. What we have is so special. I don’t want to give that up. I’m not giving up on my family and friends, or even Winter Wonderfest.” Bailey laughed at those words coming out of her mouth.
“That doesn’t sound silly at all.”
“And I want you to get your wings!” She leaped off the bench and grabbed Clara’s hands, pulling her up. “I want you to dazzle the crowd in your glorious wings. You deserve them. I’ve been a huge pain in the butt.”
They danced in a circle, hopping and laughing and being free. It wasn’t about physically leaving Lanford Falls. It was … What did Clara call it? A state of mind. That was it exactly. Being content and happy with the present and not always looking to an outdated vision of the future.
“You know all those things I said were chores?” Bailey said, slightly breathless.
“Uh-huh?”
“They were gifts. Ways for me to give back to the community. My dad taught me the value of that. I’ve been honoring his memory by doing them.” Her heart twinged, but with happiness. “It wasn’t my duty. It’s been my pleasure, like it was for him.”
“That’s a beautiful way to see things,” Clara murmured.
“Helping Kurt, and Hannah, and my mom, were ways to show them I love them.” More thoughts tumbled out of her mouth. “I hope I can help Maria with whatever she needs. We can start a frickin’ adult choir if that would make her happy. I just want her to be happy.”
She stopped dead in her tracks. “Clara, I think I love Maria.”
“I think you do too,” Clara laughed.
“I do. I love her.” Bailey let out a jubilantly crazed laugh. “I’m in love with Maria! I have to tell her. Now would be a great time to have my phone.” She patted her coat pockets, just in case.
“If you told her right now, she’d think you’re off your rocker.”
“Oh crap, that’s right. I need to get back to my Lanford Falls.” She squeezed Clara’s arms. “Can you fix this? Can you take me back?”
“Are you sure that’s what you really and truly want?”
Bailey looked her square in the face. “Never more sure of anything.”
Clara took a step back. “All right. Hang on to your panties.”
She slapped her hands together and rubbed them thoroughly. The snow piled behind the bench began to twirl around them.
I’m going home. I’m going where I belong. Bailey danced with excitement.
The snow stalled and dropped to the ground.
“Come on,” Clara grumbled. She clapped her hands twice and tried again.
The snow chugged upward against its will. “Uh, Clara?” Bailey said, nerves mounting. “You can fix this, right?”
“I’m working on it. This snow thing is giving me guff.”
“Do you have to do the snow thing?”
“No, but it creates a nice dramatic effect.”
“Clara!” She was jumping out of her skin with anticipation. “I don’t need dramatic effect. Just do it already.”
Clara gave her a dirty look. “Fine.”
She snapped her fingers.
And then Bailey was blinking from sudden bright lights.
They were on the wooden footbridge. The intact bridge lined with Christmas lights.
“Are we back?” she whispered.
“We’re back.”
“Yes!” Bailey raised her arms high and gave a joyous whoop. “I’m back!”
Her rubber boots were caked with dried mud, and … “My coat’s all gross,” she noted in delight.
Familiar weight hung in its pockets. She shoved her hand in the left pocket. “My phone.” Then she checked the other one.
“Lulu’s treats,” she said, pulling them out. Never in her life had she been happier to see dog treats. They meant she had a dog to give them to.
“Lulu is yours again,” Clara said, adjusting her stole.
“I’m never letting her go again. I need to see her.” Bailey tucked the precious treats in her pocket. “I need to see everyone and make sure they’re okay.”
“They’ll be glad to see you.”
“Come on. We have so much to celebrate!”
She grasped Clara’s hand and started down the bridge. Clara didn’t budge.
“This is where I leave you,” she said.
“You have to come with,” Bailey said. “Your family can meet us there.”
“You don’t need my help anymore.”
