Love Lessons in Good Hope : A Good Hope Novel Book 14 Read online

  Love Lessons in Good Hope

  Cindy Kirk

  Copyright © Cynthia Rutledge 2020

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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

  ISBN: 9798640664881

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Cindy Kirk

  Chapter One

  Charlotte McCray considered herself a connoisseur of ballparks. She’d cheered at MLB games in Cleveland, San Francisco and St. Louis. The high school ballpark in Good Hope, Wisconsin, was a pebble in the shoe of those magnificent stadiums.

  “I love seeing the guys in those cute uniforms.” Her friend Piper Ambrose shoved her hand into the nearly empty bag of nuts. “Who knew vintage could be sexy?”

  Sexy was spot-on. Especially if they were talking about Adam Vogele, the hunky organic farmer with wavy black hair brushing his collar. His rangy, work-hardened body would look good in anything.

  If it was up to her, Charlotte would have preferred seeing him in the tight britches of modern ballplayers. Or, better yet, in nothing at all. But, as this was vintage baseball played by vintage rules, you took what you got. Which was baggy uniforms that didn’t show off anyone’s body to full advantage. “More’s the pity.”

  “Did you say something?” Piper jerked her attention, which had moved from the players to the crowd, back to Charlotte.

  “I’m glad I came today.” She almost hadn’t, Charlotte remembered.

  The cheeks of the boutique owner beside her were flushed with excitement. “We single Good Hope girls have to stick together.”

  Charlotte wondered if she’d ever be one of the “Good Hope girls.” In general, groups weren’t her thing. Still, when she’d considered coming to the game alone, she’d realized sitting by herself in bleachers filled with groups of friends and families would be awkward. Not for her, but for those around her.

  Good Hope, known for its welcoming spirit, was built on family and friendships.

  Charlotte was savvy enough to know that promoting a new business venture in this town meant being seen as part of the fabric of this community. Besides, she liked Piper and enjoyed her company.

  “Any idea who’ll be throwing out the first pitch?” From her short-lived time in Good Hope several years back, Charlotte remembered a local “celebrity” always had that honor.

  “Tim Vandercoy.” Piper’s gaze scanned the crowd until she spotted the top real estate broker on the peninsula.

  To Charlotte’s horror, Piper pulled her hand from the bag of nuts and pointed. “He’s right over there.”

  Several people in nearby seats turned to stare. Keeping a smile on her lips, Charlotte resisted the strong urge to jerk Piper’s arm down.

  “Do you know Tim?” Piper asked, oblivious to the looks.

  “I’ve got him searching for a place for me.” Charlotte sipped her soda. “For now, the apartment over the bakery works. I want to be sure whatever I choose is right. I’m in no hurry.”

  “This is my lucky day. It appears there’s space for me to squeeze in beside you.”

  Charlotte froze at the sound of the theatrical voice. Turning slowly, she saw ninety-some-year-old Gladys Bertholf, tall and reed-thin, with jet-black hair that had a vibrant swath of silver from front to back, standing beside her.

  There wasn’t room, not unless Charlotte wanted to be squeezed in tight, which she didn’t. She opened her mouth to respond, but Piper beat her to it.

  “There’s always room for you.” The words had barely left Piper’s lips when she scooted over, leaving Charlotte no choice but to do the same.

  Charlotte offered a polite smile. “It’s good to see you again.”

  The way Gladys’s pale blue eyes fixed on her had red flags popping up.

  The older woman, considered the matriarch of Good Hope, was also rumored to be a matchmaker constantly in search of her next victim. The fact that Gladys had deliberately seated herself beside two single females didn’t bode well.

  Unless Gladys was looking to match Piper. In that case, Charlotte would totally support her efforts.

  But Gladys’s unwavering gaze remained fixed on Charlotte. “You’re a blonde now.”

  Charlotte touched her hair. “Do you like it?”

  “Different. But I like different.” Gladys inclined her head. “I understand you’re back to stay.”

  While Charlotte was sure Gladys knew nearly every detail of her return, the older woman obviously wanted firsthand confirmation. “I’m here to stay.”

  Unless, she added silently, the new venture failed or the lure of the city grew too strong. Combining Golden Door with Marigold’s salon had been a strategic move and her best hope of generating the income she needed. “Marigold and I are now business partners. We’ll be opening Marigold’s Golden Door Salon and Day Spa this fall.”

  Gladys inclined her head. “So what I’ve heard is correct. Marigold gets top billing.”

  Charlotte chuckled, wishing she had a dollar for every time she’d heard that comment. “Golden Door Marigold’s Salon and Day Spa doesn’t have the right rhythm.”

  An approving spark flared in the older woman’s eyes. “I like your spunk.”

  “Throwing out the first pitch will be our own Tim Vandercoy.” The announcer’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker, and the people in the stands cheered.

  Tim, a perfectly pressed man in his late fifties, stood and waved. He knew how to play the crowd. Before throwing out the first pitch, he held the ball high.

  Everyone cheered some more.

  Finally, blessedly, his arm came back, and he launched the ball.

  Adam jogged forward, keeping his eye on the ball that came down far short of where he’d been waiting. As gloves weren’t worn in the 1860s, he caught the ball bare-handed.

  Charlotte winced when the ball slammed into his hand.

  If it stung, he didn’t show it. Adam waved to Tim and headed out to the mound.

  Gladys leaned close, which didn’t take much effort since she was practically in Charlotte’s lap. “Adam is single and a real hottie.”

  “If you like farmers.” The second the dismissive words left her lips, Charlotte wished she could pull them back.

  But darn it, the older woman had the ability to see too much. An inexplicable heat had flared between Charlotte and Adam at their first meeting. When she’d been in Good Hope several years ago, they’d enjoyed one amazing night.

  She’d realized her mistake the next morning. She was too high maintenance for him. He was too earthy for her.


  Gladys’s brow arched. “You don’t like farmers?”

  “I adore farmers,” Piper announced in a loud voice, leaning around Charlotte. “Especially sexy ones.”

  Gladys smiled politely and pointed to the field. “I’d love to chat more, but the game is starting.”

  Charlotte was happy to focus on the ballfield. Surprise registered as she realized she knew most of the players on the Good Hope team. Perhaps not personally, but she knew their names. She even knew who they were married to—or had been—the last time she’d been in Good Hope.

  Her smile turned rueful when her gaze landed on Max Brody. She’d once made a play for the sandy-haired hunk. It had taken just one date for her to realize there was only one woman Max wanted to be with, and it wasn’t her. He and the former Primrose Bloom were married now, with a young daughter and her twin boys.

  There was an abundance of men on the field to admire, most married, but a few singles. Despite her resolve, Charlotte’s gaze kept circling back to Adam.

  The man had a languid grace on the mound. That slow, easy smile that lifted his lips whenever an Egg Harbor player stepped up to bat was oh-so-familiar.

  Conscious of the scrutinizing gaze of the woman next to her, Charlotte was careful to keep her expression blank. Still, she couldn’t help cheering with everyone else when Adam pitched a shutout in the last inning, ensuring a Good Hope win.

  Gladys’s gaze narrowed on Charlotte’s face. “The man throws pretty well for a farmer.”

  Charlotte only smiled and nodded.

  Disappointment flickered across Gladys’s face. With an audible expulsion of breath, Gladys pushed to her feet. The quick movement had her swaying ever so slightly.

  Charlotte reached out to lend a steadying hand.

  “Thank you, Charlotte.” Gladys spoke warmly before shifting her gaze to the other woman. “Good to see you again, Piper.”

  Gladys hadn’t gotten halfway down the bleacher steps before she was surrounded by two women Charlotte thought of as her posse—Ruby Rakes and Katherine Spencer. A recent addition to the group, Oaklee Marshall, a woman in her twenties with hair the color of ripe cherries interspersed with silver, quickly joined them.

  From her vantage point, Charlotte could see there had been plenty of available space where the women had been sitting. That confirmed Charlotte’s suspicions. Gladys was definitely looking for someone to match.

  If she was considering Piper, that was all well and good. But if Gladys was looking at Charlotte for the next match, she’d best move on. Charlotte wasn’t interested in finding a man.

  She had two goals. First, get her new business up and running. Then, once that was done and her coffers replenished, she’d move on to making a baby. IVF was expensive, so it wasn’t happening anytime soon. Still, she’d turned forty-one last month and couldn’t wait too much longer.

  Leaving the stadium grounds, Charlotte and Piper were swept along by the crowd. No one sauntered or strolled. The parade was about to start, and everyone was eager to secure the perfect spot on the route.

  Once she spotted a way to step out of the mad dash, Charlotte took it.

  Piper followed.

  As they slowed to a stroll, Piper slanted a sideways glance at her. “I got the impression Gladys wants to match you with Adam.”

  “Hopefully, I disabused her of that notion.” Charlotte laughed and held up her hands. “Adam and I are complete opposites.”

  Piper’s expression turned teasing. “Surely you’ve heard that opposites attract?”

  “I suppose it happens.” Charlotte thought for a second, then shook her head. “I believe that kind of mix working out is rare. My parents were opposites, and their marriage ended up being a disaster. And my ex-husband and I were a total mismatch, though I was too young and immature to see it at the time. It didn’t last.”

  Surprise skittered across Piper’s face. “I didn’t realize you’d been married.”

  Charlotte waved a dismissive hand. “Ancient history.”

  “What happened?” Curiosity had Piper pressing.

  “We weren’t a good fit.” That was all Charlotte was prepared to say. Thankfully, a Sousa march played by the Good Hope marching band wafted toward them. “We better hurry, Piper. It sounds as if the parade is underway.”

  The Independence Day parade was the crown jewel in the town’s annual celebration. Charlotte admitted by the time a clown troupe appeared near the end that she’d enjoyed this Good Hope gem.

  Like most everyone else, she and Piper visited booths set up in the center of town. Piper continued eating her way through the town square. She’d already devoured two chunks of homemade fudge and was in the process of chowing down on a turkey leg.

  Though Charlotte didn’t know Piper well, she knew something was definitely off. The Piper she remembered had been into healthy eating. So far today, she’d consumed at least three days’ worth of calories. And her friend had been quieter than usual.

  “Is everything okay?” Charlotte didn’t want to pry, but if she could do something to help, she would. Even if it was only lending a supportive ear.

  “Why do you ask?” Piper tossed the remnants of the turkey leg into a trash can and wiped her greasy fingers on several paper napkins Charlotte had handed her.

  “Well…” Charlotte wasn’t about to bring up the food. Perhaps this was the way Piper ate at festivals. She knew others who binged on holidays. “You seem a bit stressed.”

  “I’m fine.” Piper’s immediate response and the bright smile didn’t fool Charlotte. “Oh, look, Izzie doesn’t have a line. You should do it, Charlotte. Having her do a caricature of you would be a fun memory.”

  As if hearing her name, Izzie Deshler glanced up.

  Piper gave her enough of a shove in Izzie’s direction that it had Charlotte stumbling. When she righted herself, Charlotte found the artist staring expectantly at her.

  What could she do? She certainly couldn’t walk away. That would be a slap in Izzie’s face. “Do you have time for me?”

  “You bet. Have a seat.” Izzie’s smile was a warm welcome.

  “I’m going to grab a funnel cake,” Piper said. “Can I get you one?”

  “I’m fine. Thanks.”

  Piper turned to Izzie. “What about you, Iz?”

  “I’m good.” Izzie picked up her pencil. “Thanks for asking.”

  Piper gave a jaunty wave and hurried off.

  Taking a place on the stool in front of Izzie, Charlotte relaxed. The sun warmed her face. Laughter floated on the breeze. Though she’d always considered herself to be more suited to big-city life, she was enjoying today immensely.

  Until she noticed Adam heading in her direction and realized she was trapped. She couldn’t just get up and leave. Not with Izzie in the middle of her sketch.

  Charlotte’s heart picked up speed.

  Her eyes met his.

  The urge to flee disappeared.

  Adam shot her a wink, then stepped behind Izzie to watch the artist at work.

  Instead of moving on once he’d checked out Izzie’s work-in-progress, he remained where he stood. Adam watched Izzie draw while accepting congratulations on his pitching from those strolling by.

  Piper returned, the trace of powdered sugar on her lips the only remnant of the funnel cake.

  Charlotte narrowed her gaze. “Are you okay?”

  When they’d been at the ballfield, Piper’s eyes had been bright, and her face had held healthy color. Now, her skin had a green tinge.

  “My stomach is super upset.” Piper bent close to Charlotte’s ear and spoke in a low tone. “The funnel cake was a mistake.”

  “You’ve had a lot of junk food today.” Charlotte kept her tone matter-of-fact, more observation than condemnation.

  “I think that’s why it’s upset.” Piper laid a hand on her stomach. “Can you hear it gurgling?”

  “No, but it’s noisy here.” Charlotte knew that if she’d been able to hear Piper’s stomach c
hurning, that would be a bad, bad sign. “Have you thought about trying some 7UP or ginger ale?”

  Piper covered her mouth and burped. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to head home and call it a day. You stay and have fun.”

  “If you need anything, you have my number.”

  “I gotta go.” Piper swallowed hard, then took off running, hand cupped over her mouth.

  “Take care,” Charlotte called after her.

  Later, she’d text Piper to make sure she was okay. But for tonight, Charlotte would fly solo. No worries. She felt sure she could still enjoy herself.

  Charlotte found her gaze shifting in Izzie’s direction and the tall man with smoldering brown eyes.

  Though Adam’s face was too angular to be classically handsome, the sharp planes drew the female eye. The wavy black hair brushing his collar practically begged a woman to run her fingers through it.

  Charlotte’s heart tripped. She remembered the silky feel of those strands. She told herself to look away. Nothing good would come of throwing caution to the wind and giving in to desire…again.

  Look away, she ordered herself.

  His eyes deepened with pleasure at the sight of her. When his lips curved in that slow, easy smile, she was lost.

  Instead of looking away, Charlotte smiled back.

  Chapter Two

  Adam had planned to enjoy the Fourth of July festivities with his dad, until Stan woke up this morning with a headache and decided to head home after the baseball game to recharge.

  As his father aged, he’d slowed considerably. It didn’t help that the weakness in Stan’s lower limbs seemed to get worse every year. Or that summer and fall were the busiest times on the farm.

  When his dad urged him to go out with friends after the baseball game, and even added a wink and said he’d see him in the morning, Adam knew spending the rest of the day at home wasn’t an option. His dad already worried that living together was hindering Adam’s social life.