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After taking a shower, Annie got dressed and did her makeup and hair. She put on a light dusting of powder, followed by a hint of black eyeliner and mascara. The final touch was a slash of red on her lips. Retro red, she liked to call it. She had curled her hair so that it hung in waves. One look in the mirror had Annie convinced she could put her best foot forward at the ceremony. Her outfit was as close to perfection as she could imagine. She had purchased the gray wool dress at a vintage shop on a trip to Bar Harbor. Her plaid coat with the faux-fur collar completed the outfit. She pulled on her tall brown boots and inhaled a deep, steadying breath.
A quick glance at her watch revealed that Hazel would be arriving in a matter of minutes. When she flung open the front door of the cabin so she could wait outside on the porch, she saw a big box sitting at her doorstep. Hmm. She hadn’t ordered anything, nor was she expecting a delivery from back home. Perhaps someone had left it at the wrong cabin. When she picked it up, she noticed a small tag with her name on it taped to the box. It read “For Annie.” Nope. There hadn’t been a delivery mistake. Had someone from Whimsy sent her a care package? If so, she hoped it was full of treats from her favorite candy store in town, Betsy’s Penny Candy. She bent down and ripped it open, letting out a sigh as a pair of snow-white boots came into view. A cream-colored card sat perched on top of them.
Just wanted to make sure your toes never get cold again. Declan.
She ran her fingers across the handwritten note as a surge of joy rose up inside her. She had truly missed seeing him over the past week. And then out of the blue he’d sent her the boots! It was one of the most thoughtful things anyone had ever done for her.
The words written by Declan went straight to her heart. Even though she hadn’t yet forgiven him, the thoughtful gift served as a huge incentive to patch things up with him. She carried the box back inside her cabin and switched the boots she was wearing with the Lovely boots. The moment her feet slid inside the warm, cozy shoes, she let out a sigh of contentment. They were perfect to wear to the ceremony. And they matched her outfit.
When she heard the toot of Hazel’s horn, she grabbed her purse and rushed to the door. Today was the first day of the rest of her life. As she delicately navigated the snowy path, she felt very thankful for her Lovely boots. The pair she’d brought from home would have had her slipping and sliding. These new ones provided great traction on the snow and ice.
Once again, Declan had stepped in and rescued her.
* * *
Declan hadn’t planned on attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the library. He had plenty of business to square away today as a result of the plane crash. For the past week he had been dealing with insurance issues, rearranging the schedule and trying to deal with his flying jitters. Getting O’Rourke Charters back on track was his number one priority. It was critical! He had to admit that he had been motivated to show up today by a simple desire to see Annie again and to find out if the boots had placed him back in her good graces.
As soon as he arrived, he made a beeline toward Boone, Grace, Jasper and Hazel. Boone and Grace were holding hands and making goo-goo eyes at each other. Declan shook his head. Boone and his brother Cameron both were newly married and besotted with their wives. He had to give it to them. They did make marriage seem like a blissful state of being.
Declan casually scanned the crowd, hoping for a sighting of Annie.
“If you’re looking for our new librarian,” Boone said, pointing his finger toward the building, “she just went inside for a moment.”
“I wasn’t looking for anyone in particular. Just checking things out. There’s a nice crowd here,” he said, quickly veering the subject away from Annie.
Grace grinned. “I think everyone is curious about the new library, as well as Love’s newest transplant.”
Declan cast a quick glance at his watch. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled to take place in ten minutes on the front steps of the library. The library was a small brick building on Frontier Street that had formerly been the post office. When the post office had been upgraded to a bigger building, the former site had been left vacant. It was a decent size, and with a little spit and polish, it exuded a quaint charm. According to Boone and the rest of the members of the town council, it would be a work in progress.
Now it was going to house a collection of books, movies, periodicals and audiobooks. Declan himself had never been much of a reader, although he did find the subject of aviation history a fascinating one. Maybe he would see if the library had any books like that on the shelves.
All of a sudden he caught a flash of her gray dress set against dark hair. Annie! Declan didn’t think he’d ever been speechless a day in his life, but at the moment all he could do was gawk at the beautiful woman standing on the library steps. Radiant was the first word that came to mind.
“Doesn’t she look lovely?” Hazel asked, sidling up next to Declan.
“She sure cleans up well,” Jasper marveled. “Reminds me of one those old-fashioned movie stars we grew up watching on the silver screen. She looks downright regal.”
Boone folded his arms across his chest and rocked back on his heels. “I can only imagine what kind of a stir she’s going to make in this town,” he marveled. He leaned over and placed a kiss on his wife’s forehead. “Kind of like someone else I know.”
Grace shook her head and chuckled. “I only had eyes for y
ou.”
Declan didn’t trust himself to comment. Boone’s statement didn’t sit well with him. His throat felt a little dry. He fought to speak past the lump in his throat.
For a man who had been crushing on girls since kindergarten, feeling off-kilter like this was out of the ordinary. Just like Annie Murray herself.
“She’s beautiful inside and out,” Hazel declared. She sent Declan a knowing look. “She’ll make a mighty fine wife for someone in this town.”
“You’re about as subtle as a sledgehammer, Hazel. The last thing I need is a wife,” Declan said. “And we all know it.”
“I know no such thing,” Hazel quipped.
“People were meant to be partnered up, two by two,” Jasper groused. “Get on with it already. If the new librarian doesn’t float your boat, there are plenty of other single ladies you can court.”
“What about you?” Declan asked, jutting his chin in Jasper’s direction. “When are the two of you getting hitched?”
Jasper’s eyes bulged and he began to stammer. “M-marriage is for young folks, not old roosters like Hazel and myself.”
