Page 6 of More Than My Hometown

I smile, my heart squeezing at my father’s second-in-command at the fire department caring enough for my family that he would think of such a thing. Landon has been the assistant fire chief for what feels like forever, and when my father finally retires, will step into the role as the head of the fire department with ease.

“That’s so sweet.”

“Landon grew up good,” Mama comments, giving me a little nudge, and a not-so-subtle eyebrow waggle. “He’s still very shy and quiet, but he’s as steady and sweet as they come.”

Got it, Mama…

I nod, letting her commentary die. As sure as I am that Landon is all those things, he’s not the one who I see when I close my eyes. The one who makes my heart skip a beat if I come across a patient with the same name. He who I’ve measured all others against.

Spoiler alert—they’ve all come up short.

Music fills the air, changing the subject for me, and everyone turns to face the aisle. Awws and coos ring out as my father, dressed in his full Class A’s, escorts his almost one-hundred-year-old mother down the aisle. Emotions swell up in me, forming a lump in my throat as I watch her slowly make her way, holding on to her son like he’s Prince Charming. For someone her age, she’s still so spry, but I can still see why Landon thought it would be better to have Daddy do this. I make a mental note to give him an extra squeeze when I see him later.

“Maisey!” she coos, sliding into our pew. “No one told me you were coming!”

“Mama, you’re supposed to sit in the front row,” Daddy tells her.

“I’ll sit where I please, Jeremiah.”

I suppress a giggle, loving that she still has all her sass.

“Surprise!” I whisper, as Auggie and Belle Hayes walk by, taking their seats. “It was a last-minute thing.”

“Oh, Dolly is going to be tickled to see you.”

I hope she’s not the only one…

“And just wait until you see those Hayes boys all dressed up. I know that’s not what they mean by if looks could kill, but, be still my heart.”

“Mama!” my father scolds, and there’s no holding in my laughter this time. Fuck, I cannot wait to be an old lady and say whatever I want.

“What? Am I not allowed to appreciate what fine, contributing members of society those young men have become?”

My father rolls his eyes, turning his attention back to the processional, a soft shift in melody making way for Hux’s sister, Willa, and her husband, Nash, looking as gorgeous and graceful as I remember her from high school. Turning to me, my grandmother gives me a conspiratorial wink, making me right at home.

One by one, the Hayes brothers make their way down the aisle, looking like grown-up versions of the guys I remember. Each one of them different and distinct, but there never being any doubt when you lined up all seven of the Hayes kids that they were siblings.

Same as there wasn’t any doubt that they would take over the Hayes empire, keeping that Fortune 500 company that was founded by their ancestor during the Civil War—the same one that employs most of our small town—going strong.

“That’s Sawyer, Anton’s girlfriend,” my mother whispers, pointing to the pretty brunette on his arm. “They met last summer. She’s also an agriculture expert.”

“And the pretty redhead with Gus,” Grandma adds. “That’s Margeaux. She spells it funny because she’s from Louisiana, but she is sharp, that one. A lawyer.”

“And of course you know Brenna,” Mama throws out there.

“Kinda,” I say. “She was still a kid when I left.”

“She isn’t one anymore. And Milo Hayes took notice,” Grandma comments.

“Mama!” Daddy scolds.

“They are engaged, Jeremiah. It is not a secret.”

“Em and Dolly caught me all up on that whole thing,” I tell her. “Including exactly how Brandt discovered their secret.”

I waggle my eyebrows, letting her know that I’m in on the juicy part of the story. Grandma’s eyes go wide. Oh, apparently that’s tea she doesn’t have.

“You will have to tell me that story later.”