Page 53 of 5 Golden Flings

With that notoriety had come the demanding clients who wanted exclusive engagement parties, weddings and elaborate baby gender reveals planned at their idyllic, Blue Ridge Mountain, lake-side setting. And Autumn, with efficiency, calm and a knack for keeping things in line, handled them all.

But the clients – or rather, their grandson - coming in today…

“I’ve got this. I’ve been planning the Woodson’s fiftieth wedding anniversary for six months. I’m not bowing out the week before just becausehe’sfinally decided to give a damn about something more than writing the check.”

Autumn was really going to have to do something to temper the disdain in her tone before Noah Woodson actually showed up. Because no matter their history, she had no misconceptions about what the man wanted from her.

Absolutely nothing.

But especially not judgement for the way he’d completely abandoned everything – their relationship, his family and the community that supported him - when he left Sweetheart fifteen years ago.

Cindy’s voice was gentle as she eased into the seat across from Autumn’s desk. “The Woodson’s are important to this town, and I know they’re important to you.”

Friends with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Woodson had been her in her life since the day she was born. In all the importantmoments of her life, they’d been there. Graduation, sweet sixteen, the year she starred in the high school production of Grease. Her parent’s funerals.

They’d been there, during her sophomore year in college, when the cancer her mom fought for three years finally won. Fuck cancer. And when her dad had a massive heart attack less than a year ago, leaving her suddenly alone in the world, no family left.

Ed and Harry Woodson were pillars of the Sweetheart community. Ed had been involved on the town council in one capacity or another for almost forty years. He’d been principal of the high school for nearly that long, until he’d finally retired about five years ago.

Harriet, who everyone called Harry, had owned the town bakery until about ten years ago when she passed it on to her granddaughter, her son’s girl. Margo renamed the shopWell Bread Ladiesand now ran it with her wife, Nicola. Which reminded Autumn, she needed to do her last check with them about the four-tiered cake they were providing for the party.

Shaking her head, Autumn pulled herself back into the conversation. “I want every event I plan to be perfect, but Ineedthis one to be flawless.”

Cin’s eyebrow rose slightly. “For Ed and Harry or to prove to Noah that he’s an ass and made a huge mistake?”

Autumn’s nose crinkled. She could try to lie, but it wouldn’t do her any good. “Both?”

A huge smile slowly spread across her friend’s gorgeous face. “Everyone already knows he screwed up.”

Everyone but him. No, that wasn’t fair and it wasn’t the mental state she needed to walk into this meeting with. Sure, Noah Woodson had broken her heart fifteen years ago, but that was ancient history and didn’t matter anymore. To either of them. “Stop it. I’m perfectly happy with my life.”

A pang hit straight in the middle of her chest, but Autumn ignored it.

“Of course, you are. Your life kicks ass. But that doesn’t mean watching him squirm a little wouldn’t feed your soul just a smidge.”

Autumn shook her head. But as much as she wanted to deny it, her heart kind of wanted to see regret fill his deep, soulful eyes.

She was human after all.

Noah Woodson walked slowly beside his grandmother. His grandfather trailed behind them, each step reluctant but steady. Noah couldn’t blame him. He really didn’t understand why Harry insisted he accompany them to this final meeting with the event planner for their golden anniversary party.

His grandfather had voiced the same thought right before they’d walked out of the old colonial home they’d lived in for the past fifty years. Not that it had mattered. What Harry wanted, Harry got. But between Harry and the resort staff, what the hell did he and Ed have to add to the conversation? He was already paying for the entire extravaganza, wasn’t that enough?

He was smart enough to keep all those thoughts to himself.

Beside him, Harry chattered on about the latest town gossip he also cared nothing about. He could count on one hand the number of times he’d been back to Sweetheart since he left.

Once he’d gotten out, he’d never wanted to come back.

Especially after his mom finally kicked his no-good dad to the curb and moved to North Carolina.

Not that he didn’t love his family – or most of them - but he saw the ones he wanted to see. It was the town and all the bad memories he’d wanted to avoid.

“Oh, shoot.” Harry stopped mid-stride, turning to look up at him with those imploring blue eyes. He’d never been able to deny his grandmother anything. And she knew it. “I left something in the back seat. Could you go grab it? A little cardboard box with a red and green bow on top.”

Noah opened his mouth to ask what she could possibly need to bring to this meeting that involved Christmas wrapping, but snapped his mouth shut before the words popped out. Not worth it. With a nod, he spun on his heel and headed back to the large pick-up he’d rented at the airport.

Flipping the key around his finger once, twice, he hit the button to unlock the door, leaned in and grabbed the package. How had he missed her carrying it out to the truck? The thing had long, curling, sparkly ribbons cascading down over the top of a cardboard box with reindeer and Santa and all things Christmas printed over the sides.

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