Free Coming Home by Mariah Stewart Page A

Steffie’s eyes took on a dreamy look. “I made him kiss me out back near the grape arbor.”
    “What happened next?”
    “You mean after the kiss that set the standard for the entire rest of my life and has never been duplicated?” Stef made a face. “He was outta there so fast I barely even saw him leave. Left me brokenhearted. Never wrote, never called.”
    “So you would want to see him again … why?”
    “I guess just to see what I missed.”
    “Uh-uh. Wrong answer.”
    “There’s a right answer?” Steffie frowned.
    “Yes. The correct response would have been, ‘So that he can see what he missed.’”
    “Well, that goes without saying.” Steffie fluffed up her long blond hair.
    “So where’s he been all these years?”
    “I don’t know. No one ever really seems to talk about him. Everyone talks about his sister, of course. His sister is … wait for it now.” Steffie paused dramatically. “Dallas MacGregor.”
    “Dallas MacGregor, the movie star?” Vanessa’s eyes widened. “I did hear that she was a local.”
    “Not exactly. Her great-aunt is a local, lived here all her life. Still does, even though she’s like a million years old by now. Dallas used to visit a lot when she was a kid. Believe it or not, she and my brother had a thing going once upon a time. When their dad died, her mother and brother moved in with the great-aunt for a while so that Wade could go to school here. Dallas was older than Wade and she was already in college by then. She did come back in the summers, at least, until Wade finished high school and their mom moved away. You always see stuff in the magazines and newspapers about Dallas, but I never hear much of anything about Wade. I imagine someone in town knows what he’s been up to. Beck must hear from him.”
    “I’m sure Beck knows. Want me to pump him?”
    “No, thanks. He’ll know why you’re asking and he’ll tell Wade. I’d rather ambush him.” Steffie grinned.
    “Well, then, have you gotten a dress yet?” Vanessa walked to the front of the shop. “Because if you haven’t …” She pulled a silk sheath in pastel water-colors from the rack. “This little number just happens to be your size.”
    “Ohhh. Gorgeous! The colors …” Steffie reached out with both hands. “Gimme …”
    Vanessa laughed and handed over the dress. “You know where the dressing room is.”
    Minutes later, Steffie stepped out wearing the dress and pronounced, “I am an absolute goddess in this dress.”
    “Oh, my. You certainly are.” Vanessa nodded. “It’s perfect on you.”
    Stef looked at the tag and gulped. “Think I could get the same twenty percent off that you offered the woman who just left?”
    “I can do better than that. Since it’s so perfect for you—and I admit I did think of you when I ordered it in—I’ll give it to you at cost.”
    “Gasp.” Steffie held a hand to her heart.
    “The offer comes with strings.”
    “Anything. You name it. Lifetime unlimited ice cream—delivered to your door. A flavor named after you …”
    “Loan me one of your girls to cover the shop for Saturday afternoon until closing. Nan is working for me on Thursday and most of Saturday, but her grandson is being christened on Sunday in Virginia and she needs to leave on Saturday by four. I’ve asked everyone I can think of. I just need someone until seven. All she’ll have to do is turn off the lights and lock the front door.”
    “What about your cash receipts?”
    “They can wait until Sunday morning.”
    “Don’t you think that might be tempting fate? Oh, I know, there hasn’t been a robbery on Charles Street in years, but still.” Steffie went into the dressing room to change.
    “Maybe I’ll stop in after the reception.”
    “I’ll talk to Cathy about it. She’s my best counter girl. I’ve had her close for me several times.”
    “That would be worthy of a deep discount,” Vanessa said. “But that raises the question of what you’ll