Small Town Secret: Mayfield Springs Book 1 Read online

  Bella in a princess dress, tapping her wand from side to side as if casting magical spells on the congregation. My breath stopped as she reached my pew. Bella was finally in front of me in person and when I saw her face I had no doubt she was my daughter.

  Anyone watching me would have assumed I was teary and emotional about my only sister getting married. What they didn't know was that I was seeing my daughter for the first time, and apart from her mother, Amy, she was the most beautiful girl in the church. I had to stop myself from leaning into the aisle and scooping her up.

  Bella noticed me as she walked past, and looked at me with a quizzical expression before turning to her mom and whispering loudly "Mommy that man is from the television." Everyone laughed.

  Amy put a finger to her lips to quieten her daughter, and as Bella walked away from me, she turned back and smiled making my stomach flip somersaults.

  When the ceremony began, I barely paid attention. I was too busy looking at Bella, and most of the guests were too busy looking at me. Luckily for Cassie, she didn't notice because she was too busy looking at Daniel, and he was too busy thinking about himself. It all worked out and when they said their vows and kissed, it was the magical moment I'm sure my sister would have wanted.

  Cassie beamed as she and her husband ran out from the church to a flurry of confetti.

  "See you all the reception," Daniel waved at everyone, taking center stage as usual.

  CHAPTER 16

  AMY

  I usually hate first dances. The songs are unbearably sad or cheesy and despite the fact I try not to, I always cry my eyes out. This first dance, on the other hand, was a happy occasion. Cassie and Daniel, true to their perfectionist style, chose Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and had memorized every dance move.

  Frequently they tried to outdance each other, their egos getting in the way of the special moment. By the end of the song, it was more of a dance-off than a first dance, but I guess that's what they wanted.

  At my side, Bella danced happily to the music, bobbing her head and stomping her feet. She's got some Taylor family genetics in that little body of hers, and I thought she'd probably got the theatrical gene from them. I wondered if Bella would grow up to be as successful as her dad and aunt? Or if she would be more of a homebody like me?

  I picked her up and bopped her on the nose.

  "Are you having fun, sweetheart? Would you like to have some more cake?"

  Bella nodded.

  I bumped into my parents on the way from the dance floor. I could see they were having a good time, laughing and falling off each other's arms - the product of a lively reception and a little too much wine.

  "Amy!" Mom called out, giggling with intoxication. "Where are the two of you going?"

  "To get some fresh air and some more cake," I replied.

  "More cake," Bella confirmed, nodding her head.

  "How lovely, Bella. And weren't you the cutest princess up there in the church?" Mom asked as she pinched Bella's chubby cheeks.

  "Mom said I was the most beautifulest person there. Even more beautiful than Cassie, " Bella said proudly.

  "Bella! I exclaimed, hoping no one had heard her. "No one was more beautiful today than the bride. But you were a close second." I tickled her ribs to stop her saying anything else.

  Mom leaned in close to Bella and whispered, "Bella, don't believe your Mom. You were by far the most beautiful princess in the church but don't tell anyone because it's a magical secret."

  Bella erupted into a fit of excited giggles and held on tight to her Grandma.

  I felt a gentle touch in the middle of my back. "Can we talk?" Chris murmured in my ear.

  "Sure, I'll just grab Bella and...

  "No," Chris interrupted, "just the two of us." He reached out to Mom's arm. "Sue, would you mind looking after Bella for a moment?" She nodded.

  "Remember, I promised Bella some cake..." I called to Mom over my shoulder as Chris led me away.

  "What did you want to talk about?" I asked once we were outside. Now that we were away from the crowd there was no longer any need to hide my anger.

  "I just wanted to say I was sorry," he said quietly.

  "Sorry?" I replied. "That's it?"

  Chris took hold of my hands and looked me directly in the eyes. "Amy. I'm so sorry. I am thrilled that Bella's my daughter. You have to believe me. I just said something stupid at the time. I'm sorry. Please give me another chance."

  "Why would I do that?" I asked, still mad as hell. "I used to believe everything you said and look how that worked out for me."

  "Amy..." responded Chris, "if I was in your position I wouldn't believe me either, but please understand that I'm a different person now. I didn't know how to behave back then. I was trying to get my career established, and there was no relationship between Stacey and me other than one of convenience. I didn't think about how things were going to work out."

  He hesitated and dropped his eyes to the ground. "Ambition ruins people Amy. And it wasn't until I was successful that I could see that, but I know what's important to me now."

  "And what would that be?" I asked caustically.

  "You and Bella," he responded, looking back at me.

  "The acting world does things to people, Amy," he continued. "It chews you up, it makes you want all the things that are bad for you and reject all the things you need, like love... and the people who care."

  He took hold of my hands again.

  "I cared," I said, feeling a tear slide down my cheek. "But I don't know if I can care again. It's not just me I have to worry about this time. I have to think of Bella as well."

  Chris' eyes were wet with emotion as he launched into his plea for my heart.

  "Please give me one more chance and I promise I will never let you and Bella down again. Those missing four years will taunt me forever, but I can make up for them... if you'll let me. I don't want any more years without you and Bella in my life."

  I stepped backward and perched on the railing behind me, trying to process everything I'd just heard.

  Had Chris Taylor really said that he wanted Bella and me in his life? And what did that mean anyway? That we'd stay here in Mayfield Springs, and he'd drop in and see us occasionally?

  I looked into the reception hall. I could see Mom and Bella sitting at an empty table. Bella's legs swung beneath her chair, and a smear of icing covered her chin. Could Bella really have her Mom and her Dad - that was something I had given up on as a reality for her. And what did it matter if we only saw Chris occasionally? Wasn't that better than Bella never knowing her father at all?

  I took a deep breath and hoped that I was making the right decision.

  "Chris Taylor," I said slowly. "I'm prepared to give you a second chance, but I'm telling you to take it seriously because you won't get a third one."

  Chris seemed surprised at my answer, standing still for a moment before leaping forward and hugging me so tight I could hardly breathe. "Thank you," he whispered into my hair. "Amy, all I've ever wanted was you."

  He pulled back, and I leaned in to kiss him.

  "Mommy," I felt an urgent tugging at the bottom of my dress. "Mommy, can I stay with you now?"

  I pulled away from Chris suddenly, not sure how to explain to Bella why Mommy had been about to kiss a stranger.

  "I know you," Bella said to Chris firmly. "You're the man from the horse movie."

  Chris laughed, "Yes, I'm the man from the horse movie. You're right Bella."

  She looked at me quizzically, "Mommy, why does that man know my name?"

  I hesitated, wondering if this was the time to tell Bella that Chris was her daddy. Chris looked at me expectantly. But I couldn't do it. Not until he'd proven that he really did care and until I knew that things were going to work out between us this time.

  "He knows your name because he's an old friend of Mommy's from when she was a little girl," I said. "He's Cassie's brother."

  "Oh," she said, seemingly satisfied, bu
t not really that interested anymore. "I'm going to find Gramgrams," she announced and strode off back towards the action.

  "You know you'll have to get used to the interruptions, don't you," I said to Chris laughing. "It won't ever just be the two of us."

  "I know," he replied, " and that's something I'm going to have to get used to."

  "And you know that star power doesn't have any pulling power with Bella," I said. "The fact you were in the movies interested her for what, a millisecond?"

  "I noticed," he replied. "Bella's the only girl in the room who wasn't falling at my feet. Apart from you, that is."

  Chris sat down next to me on the railing and told me about all the plans that he had for us; how we would go to Australia with him filming on his next movie; how when that was finished we could stay and live in Mayfield Springs in a new house, or we could join him in Hollywood.

  "I'm gonna take you away from this place, Amy," he promised. "Away from that crappy diner, away from that miserable house of yours. I'm going to give you and Bella both the life you deserve. Neither of you will want for anything. You'll have it all."

  I sat beside him listening to the words and wondering if I was dreaming. It all felt so surreal.

  Us together as a family? Australia? Hollywood? Our own home?

  It seemed impossible to believe.

  "Amy?" Chris's voice broke into my thoughts. "Amy? Have you been listening to me?"

  I jumped back into reality.

  "Yes, yes, I have. It's just a lot to take in at once."

  "Well," he replied, leaning in towards me. "Let me make it easier for you. Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?"

  He drew me in to kiss me passionately and for once I didn't care who was watching.

  THE END

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