If You Cherish Me Read online

  If You Cherish Me

  Ciara Knight

  Contents

  Reader Letter

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Ciara Knight

  If You Cherish Me

  Book III

  Sugar Maple Series

  Copyright ©2020 by Ciara Knight

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover art ©2020 by Yocla Cover Designs

  Edited by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

  Copy Edit by Jenny Rarden

  Proofreading by Rachel

  ****To receive a FREE starter library (Two free books) AND an alert of Ciara’s next book releases, go to Ciara’s Exclusive Reader group click here. ****

  Created with Vellum

  Reader Letter

  Dear Reader,

  I’ve love all the reader emails and comments about the Sugar Maple series! I’m so excited that you’ve been enjoying this small town, because I know I’ve really enjoyed writing these books. This story specifically was a joy to write. Sometimes characters just talk to me and it makes everything click. Don’t get me wrong, there was a ton of editing still involved. Of course, with a dyslexic writer there is always a lot of editing!

  Since I’ve enjoyed this series so much, and many of you have sent questions about Davey, I’ve decided to write a Christmas story set in the 1940s about Davey as a child. This will still be a sweet romance, but I’m going to give you an inside look at why Davey is the way he is.

  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy If You Cherish Me, a sweet story about a man struggling with his past and a girl wanting a brighter future with the occasional Davey cameo and a new/old love interest in his life.

  Sincerely,

  Ciara

  One

  The midmorning sun blasted the spring flowers with summer heat. Since when did the Tennessee mountains reach blistering hot temperatures in April? Felicia pushed as many potted plants and flowers into the shade of the large maple tree as she could manage.

  Jackie sauntered up in a flowing summer dress that swished with each perfect-postured step. The contrast of the pale green made her dark, red hair even more vibrant. “So much for the Fabulous Five sticking together.”

  Felicia patted her gloves together to rid them of some of the excess dirt onto the grass to her side and then blinked up at her. “What are you talking about? Did I miss a get-together or something?”

  “Ha, so much for the negotiator. You didn’t even try to put my name in the hat for the Spring Festival or to be next on Knox’s show.” The way Jackie lifted her long thin nose into the air and placed her perfectly manicured hands on her hips told Felicia she was in trouble. And Jackie had a point. Everyone knew that Jackie longed to star in the Knox Brevard internet show but had been passed over twice already.

  “I didn’t have a say in his show. I’m just following what I was told to do by Ms. Horton.” Felicia was being honest but not forthcoming. If she wanted to truly share why she hadn’t thought about Jackie joining the Spring Festival, she’d have to confess that her business was thriving so much she didn’t have time to breathe, let alone think about a friend. That would only lead to hurting Jackie’s feelings due to her failing dress shop, which was, of course, the reason she needed her business highlighted on the Knox Brevard show. “As for the festival, what do you mean?” Felicia stood, removed her gloves, and slid them into her apron pocket that Mary-Beth had hand embroidered with The Tranquil Maple on the front along with two bright pink flowers.

  “I mean,” Jackie said, slow and drawn-out as if to make her point more obvious so Felicia could follow, “Carissa is selling baked goods and passing out free tastings, Mary-Beth is doing the same but with coffee, and you’re doing flowers and plants. Even Stella organized a classic car show. Where do I fit into all this? I’m not sure why I’ve stayed in Sugar Maple so long if I’m not wanted.”

  “Don’t say that. We want you here.” Felicia saw the telltale sign of jealousy with Jackie’s twitching cheek. What could she say to smooth things over, though? She had a point. They’d all been so busy. Felicia hadn’t even had time for her own grandmother, who needed her most. She was desperate for help at her nursery, more help than her assistant who never, well, assisted. She scanned the parking spaces that circled the town square, but there was still no sign of Lacey.

  “Are you even listening to me?” Jackie tapped her size-six heeled sandals that were sparkly gold with tiny beads on the straps. The girl knew her fashion.

  “Yes.” Felicia stood, untied her apron, rolled it, and then tucked it next to her gardening bag that Mary-Beth had made to match the apron. “Why didn’t you organize a fashion show?”

  “For this town? Why would anyone care about that?” Jackie crossed her arms and eyed the town square down the end of that nose that always pointed in the directions she wanted to go.

  Felicia closed her eyes for a second, digging for possibilities to make Jackie feel more a part of the town. She needed the five to stay together. No, not just her—the entire town needed the Fabulous Five to stay together. As Ms. Horton always said, the Fabulous Five kept people united through events, blessings, and hugs. Not to mention the occasional intervention when a town resident needed some extra help, like when they’d worked on Jake’s garden a few months ago after his mother died. “Charity? Those always sell out. You could’ve done that. Hey, it’s not too late. The festival runs all week.”

  Jackie looked at Felicia as if she’d grown a rose bush out of her temple. “Seriously? Me, charity? What charity would I even work with?”

  Felicia shrugged. “Don’t know. Something you care about. Something the entire town would care about.” She tried not to ask if Jackie cared about anything or anyone else besides herself; that would only fuel the discontent. Besides, deep down, Jackie was a wounded soul who lashed out to protect herself. She wasn’t a bad person. She had a heart. It just needed to be dug up from wherever she’d buried it while she was away for a decade living in the big city. “I heard the kids at the day care needed—”

  “Kids? You don’t know me at all. I’m the only one of this friend group who never wants those sniveling little creatures to make stains on my skirt and leave snot on my collar.”

  Felicia scanned the area once more, willing Lacey to show with the company truck full of the rest of the plants. The senior bus stuttered and tooted black smoke out of the tail pipe at the turn onto the square. It jerked and coughed and belched to a front parking space. “Guess we better call Stella.” Felicia brushed her palms together to rid them of any soil residue before she reached for her phone.

  Jackie slid her purse off one elbow and onto the other. “I don’t know why everyone thinks Stella’s so gifted. Sh
e can’t even fix a van the elders use.”

  “She tries, but the van is only put together by duct tape and prayer according to Stella. She said she doesn’t know how much longer she can patch it.” Felicia abandoned her plants, texted Stella, and went to help the elders off the bus. “Good morning, Davey. You coming to help with some decorating?”

  “Sure thing, missy. I’m ready to make my big cameo appearance on the Knox Brevard show. He said we’re needed as extras for your segment.” Davey did a jig. He looked like a scarecrow that had elbows like the tin man before he was oiled.

  “Sounds perfect. I’m hoping my flowers get here soon, though.” Felicia eyed the four corners of the square. Still no sign of her truck or Lacey.

  “That cousin of yours not doing her job again? She’s probably up to no good. I don’t know why you put up with her.”

  “She’s family and she tries. She’s just a little scattered at times since she got a boyfriend in her life.” Felicia neglected to mention she didn’t like the boy Lacey had chosen. No need to get Davey riled up.

  “You know you can’t save everyone, right?” Davey winked, his eye disappearing between wrinkles. “You’ve got enough strays on your property to start a zoo.”

  Felicia helped Ms. Melba off the bus and passed her to Davey. “I’m not trying to save anyone.”

  “Really? What about that man, Declan? I hear you took him food and such.”

  Felicia felt heat rise to her cheeks, even though she was standing in the shade. “I was just being neighborly.”

  “Neighbors are people who have homes. Campers don’t count. They aren’t permanent.” Davey swished his lips, making little bubbles that caused him to look rabid.

  Jackie flipped her hair over her shoulder and shook her head. “She’s obsessed with strangers. It’s friends she can’t remember.”

  Ouch. “Don’t pull any punches.” Felicia faced Jackie, ready to share the entire truth about why she’d been so busy.

  Jackie must’ve sensed it too because she waved her hands dismissively and said, “Stella still hasn’t fixed that bus, huh?”

  “No. Guess you’ll have to take us all back to the center after this. I’ve always wanted to ride in that little sporty car of yours.” Davey wiggled his eyebrows, making them look like battling silver caterpillars.

  Jackie chuckled and offered Davey her arm. The girl always liked the men, no matter what age. Poor Ms. Melba looked dejected.

  Felicia offered her arm and escorted her to the bench. “Tell you what… I have a special centerpiece I need finished. Do you think you could help with that?”

  Ms. Melba lit up like a Golden Lily. “Sure! I’ll work real hard for you, hon. Just get me the stuff.”

  Felicia glanced at the four corners again. Still no sign of Lacey. “I’ll get it to you soon. I’m waiting on a delivery. I’ll be right back.”

  Felicia caught up to Jackie and Davey at the other side of the gazebo area. “Can you do me a favor? Can you see if you can find Lacey and my truck? I need to get those flowers from the nursery here before they can start filming, and Knox’s crew is due to arrive any minute.”

  “No need. I know where she’s at.” Jackie fluffed her hair around her face and sat down by Davey’s side.

  “Great. Where?” Felicia asked, hopeful she was close.

  “She’s in Riverdale with her new boyfriend. Apparently she wanted your truck so she could go visit him and never had any intention of helping you today.”

  Felicia wilted. “No. She wouldn’t.”

  “She would and she did.” Jackie gave her the I-told-you-to-fire-her look.

  Felicia lowered to the bench on the other side of Davey, wanting to admonish Jackie for not giving her this information sooner, but timing for dramatic affect was her specialty. “I can’t believe this.”

  “I can. I told you she needed to be run out of town. Just like that Declan guy. Look at him over there, still begging for a job. I should go tell him we don’t need his kind here in Sugar Maple. We’re good people and don’t have no room for no ex-cons.” Davey spit when he spoke like a venomous snake ready to strike.

  Felicia shot him a sideways glower. “Now, Davey, there’s no reason to be ugly. That man stood up to Stella’s father to help her and ended up with a massive bruise on his shoulder. He’s lucky nothing was broken.”

  “Not a good deed if you brought the man into town in the first place,” Davey huffed.

  Felicia watched Declan pop in and out of several stores with a smile on the way in and slumped shoulders on the way out. “Did you put out a no-hire mandate on him?”

  Davey scrunched his lips and smacked them. “Maybe.”

  Felicia shook her head and sighed. “Not nice. I expect better from you.” She stood, intending to go talk to the object of Davey's scorn. When Declan Mills first came to Sugar Maple with Stella's father, Jackie had indeed been right when she called him a convict. He hadn't tried to make excuses for what happened, but she had heard him mumble under his breath something about his mother and protecting her from Stella's father. At least, that's what she'd thought she'd heard him say. There had to be some truth to it, because the man had been nothing but polite, kind, and well-mannered, and not once had he been less than a gentleman around her, so she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to prove Davey and the rest of the town wrong. The poor guy had no idea the prejudice he’d be facing, but Felicia did. She’d been looked down on for so long from certain members of the community due to her mixed race that she’d felt the full sting of judgment over the years.

  “Going to pick up another stray?” Jackie asked.

  Felicia watched Declan, a healthy-looking, muscular man with well-kempt hair and attitude stand at the corner waiting for some piece of good news, and she had one for him. “No, I’m finally taking your advice, Jackie.”

  “It’s about time. Which one?”

  “I’m going to demote my assistant and hire a new one.”

  “You mean fire.” Jackie bolted up from the bench and uncharacteristically hotfooted it in front of Felicia. “Wait, you’re not thinking—”

  “That I’m going to hire Declan as my new assistant? Yes. Accuse me of picking up another stray. I don’t care. Everyone deserves a second chance. And apparently I’m the only one in town willing to give him one. So much for small-town welcomes. You both should be ashamed of yourselves.”

  “He’s an ex-con. Not a visitor from out of town,” Jackie said, as if Felicia had forgotten.

  She brushed past Jackie, knowing she’d never convince anyone else that Declan deserved a chance. Prejudice lived in all towns, no matter how loving and special they were. And it was her job to show Sugar Maple they were wrong. Declan had obviously had a rough start, something Felicia could relate to, and he needed one person in the world to give him an opportunity. She paused at the curb. “Besides, I need the help. It’s not like you’re going to break a nail or get your hands dirty. Sometimes we need to open our eyes to what opportunities are around us, however unlikely they seem.”

  Davey pushed up from the bench with a grimace. “You’re making a mistake.”

  Felicia shrugged. “It’s my mistake to make.” She crossed the road, leaving her loving town family behind to extend a true Sugar Maple welcome to a man who’d been judged and sentenced by the elders without a trial.

  Two

  Declan checked off the barber shop, the last potential job opportunity in town. If he didn’t find something soon, he’d have to search elsewhere if he wanted to be able to make his restitution payment and not end up back in jail.

  He glanced around the quaint town square full of residents setting up for some event. He longed to be a part of the group, but no one liked outsiders in this town. Especially outsiders with a criminal record.

  Sugar Maple could be on the front page of Southern Living or some other magazine. Especially with all the plants arranged around half of the square that sprouted spring flowers in a spec
trum of vibrant colors. It had to be the expert work of the beautiful and kind Felicia Hughes, based on the perfect backdrop of earthy greens with pops of color. She stood at the curb with the friend of hers he’d overheard being called Judas Jackie. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but they’d seemed like good friends when he’d seen them together. The man shuffling toward them from a nearby bench to Jackie’s side was none other than Davey, who’d threatened to run Declan out of town several times already.

  Declan’s gaze skimmed over them like dust in the air and settled on the bright light of the mesmerizing Felicia. She had a kind heart and a good nature, too. The type of young woman who was pleasant to be around and pleasant to look at. Of course, just getting out of twenty months of incarceration with no members of the opposite sex in sight probably made her look even more beautiful than normal. That could explain why he’d been captivated by her like no other woman he’d ever met in his life.

  If he had the opportunity to describe Felicia to his mother without her screaming at him for five minutes, he’d say she was exotic with hair the color of a moonless night sky that contrasted with her light complexion. Sparkling, crystalized silver-blue eyes distracted him into a mumbling fool each time she’d blessed him with a greeting. A true unique beauty who belonged standing in the middle of her floral arrangements on an advertisement poster.