Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers 1)

“Hey.” Evin’s hand waves in front of my face, bringing me out of my daze. “Did you hear us?”

“No, sorry, I was distracted. What did you say?”

“That you’re not going to be alone tomorrow. We’ll all be there to support you.”

I blow out a loud breath. “As tempting as that sounds, I’m a grown woman, and there are some things I need to do on my own.”

“Bullshit.” He deadpans.

“Evin—”

“No, Darby. This is a family thing, and we’re not letting you go down this road alone. Last time we did that, you ran off for twelve years.”

“That’s not fair.”

“For what it’s worth, I agree with Evin. My niece and nephew need to see upfront that we’re a blended family.”

My heart skips a beat at his reference. I don’t argue anymore, giving them both an appreciative smile. My phone chimes with a reminder that the bizarre officially starts in fifteen minutes.

“Okay, guys, I need to give you a crash course in working the payment system because Mom will probably be flitting around every booth and forget she’s supposed to be working.”

They listen intently, assuring me they’re comfortable. A squeaky honk followed by a buzzing gets closer. “What the fuck is she doing?” Evin sounds terrified as we watch Mom pull up on a bright purple scooter.

“Mom, what the hell?” I screech as she climbs off.

“I lost track of time, and your dad refused to let me run back, so I borrowed Tess’s scooter. Evin, I need you to return this to booth twelve.”

“There’s no way in hell I’m driving that anywhere.” He grunts.

She narrows her eyes in a way that silently says, ‘we’ll see about that’.

There’s no time to discuss the purple contraption now parked beside my tent because a wave of people crowds the streets, signaling the bizarre has officially started. I smooth my hands down my sundress, do one more quick check over things, and get ready to work.

Three hours later, my throat is raw from non-stop talking, and my feet are screaming at me. There hasn’t been one break in the crowds, and my mom is perched like a proud peacock on her stool, upselling every customer. Lynda sits next to her, doing the same, except her style is subtler. Warren, Jill, Dad, and Evin are all busy as well, greeting people as they stop.

“We’re out again! You got me ready, Evin?” Miller yells, coming through the crowd with an empty sample tray.

“I got it!” I hustle behind the tables and pull out a tray from the cooler, handing it to Miller.

“Get another one ready, Dar. The band’s about to take a break, which means a bigger rush,” he instructs me, and I get to work immediately. Jill jumps in to help me break up cookies and clusters we are using for the samples. It’s amazing how everyone has fallen into a routine so easily. A stab of pain pierces my heart, thinking of the one person missing.

“You’re killing it, sweet girl.” Dad pats my back with an ear-to-ear grin, his eyes shining bright with pride.

“Thanks, Daddy.”

“What’s going on? We having a union break? Darby Rose, get your skinny butt back out front! You’re the headliner, and I’m not paying you to crumble cookies,” Mom yells to us, and I roll my eyes once again at her attempt to be funny.

I take another minute to restock the display cooler and then return to the front of the tent. Miller was right; when the band on the main stage takes a break, people swarm our tent. I’m doing my best to make my way through the crowd, accepting compliments and thanking the customers.

I’m mid-sentence when an icy chill washes over my skin with the response of being watched. My head swings in both directions, and when my eyes land on him, I stumble backward.

There’s no denying the young boy staring at me is Cole Kendrick. All the breath leaves my lungs, and my heart races to the point of dizziness. I can’t tear my gaze away, taking in the beauty of this boy. Cole is an exact replica of his dad, complete with the striking blue eyes. Eyes that are trained on me.

For the briefest of seconds, my mind goes to the baby I lost and if he’d look like the boy standing in front of me.

The answer is yes.

His lips curl into a boyish grin, and my hands begin to tremble. Panic knots in my stomach, winding its way up. Hot flashes hit my flesh, and sweat dribbles down the back of my neck.

Dear God, please don’t let this happen right now. I pray silently.

“Cole!” Pierce’s sharp voice cuts through the air as he shoulders through a few people and stops by his son’s side. “What the hell are you thinking? You know you can’t run off like that.”

The noise of those around us fades away, and my hearing zones in on what’s happening twenty feet away. Pierce’s face is twisted, but Cole is unfazed, still smiling at me.