A Pineville Memorial Day: Pineville, #4

By Anne Fons

Though she loves her new home, kindergarten teacher, Stephanie Cannady, has doubts if she can continue to live where her former boyfriend, the sheriff, has strong ties to the community and whose family goes back several generations in the little, central Wisconsin town.  To complicate things even further, Sheriff Joseph Anderson's daughter is in her class, and her best friend is engaged to Joseph's brother.  Can she keep herself together through all of this, or is it time to walk away?

The fictional town of Pineville, Wisconsin is a place where holidays are celebrated with the festivity of years gone by.  The people care about one another, their town, and finding the joy in the little things in life.

Come on over to where the greetings are friendly, and there's always something to celebrate and love.

Welcome to Pineville!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Fons
• Release date: Apr 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393854678

Book preview

Also by Anne Fons...

-FICTION-

A Pineville Easter

A Pineville 4th of July

A Pineville Valentine’s Day

-NON-FICTION-

Monthly Prayers of Gratitude and Hope

Coming Soon...

A Pineville August Wedding

Acknowledgements

As this book is set around the Memorial Day holiday, I want to first acknowledge, honor, and thank the brave men and women who laid down their lives in service to their countries.  Without their sacrifice, we may not be able to enjoy the many freedoms we have today.  Any honor they receive is not enough to thank them for that ultimate sacrifice.

I also thank the following people for their part, and encouragement, in the writing of this book:

My writing mentor, best-selling author, Winter Travers, a gifted, talented, woman who reaches out to others in her words and in her interactions.  She’s an inspiration.

My cover designer, Valdas Miskinis, for his wonderful cover art that gives my books visual depth, cohesiveness, and meaning, all the while exuding kindness, professionalism, and caring.

My Advance Readers for this book, Jennie Amato, Rachel Auberger, and Sharon Hartlaub for their talents in catching many mistakes along the way.  They are awesome women who always share both their talents and their kindness.  Whatever errors remain, are mine.

My readers, thank you for reading my work.

My family and friends, for all their words of encouragement and the many ways they show it.

God, for His enduring, forgiving love and for gifting me the blessing of being able to write.

I respect the past, and I strive to honor both past and present by living in the love, kindness, and freedoms I’ve been blessed to have.

In reverence, respect, and joy,

Anne

To Dave & Lyn,

Thank you for letting us spend relaxing, refreshing, and productive time in your lovely, welcoming home.  It was a perfect antidote for those late winter blahs.

This book was written in near entirety while we were at your place.

Your porch proved very conducive for my writing,

and the words often flowed like the comforting breeze through the palm trees outside the window.

To the Margate, Friday-night, Happy Hour group,

This is the book I was writing when I was in your town.

Thank you for your kindness and for welcoming my husband and I into your very fun circle.

To you I say, Chrysanthemum.

That’s ‘c-h-r-y-...’

Also,

in honor and respect,

this book is dedicated to Charlie Michaels,

who died in service

for his country.

May we always remember

the courage and sacrifices

of all those who served.

Chapter One

I don’t know what I was thinking scheduling my wedding so close to Jeremy’s graduation, Julia said as she looked at the long list she was compiling.

Oh, for Pete’s sake, Jules, Stephanie said.  Picking a date in the middle of August was perfect.  It’s after your brother’s graduation by a couple of months and a couple weeks before he heads off to college.  Plus, Lucas and I are off from work in the summer.  One of the benefits of being teachers, you know.

I know, said Julia.  It’s just a lot of things in a really short period of time, and you know Lucas works at the family’s campground in the summer.  So, even though he’s not in the classroom, my fiancé is still busy.  He has a ‘the wedding itself is the bride’s thing’ attitude.

Stephanie picked up the list from in front of Julia and slid the pad of paper over to her seat at the old, wooden kitchen table in the homey parsonage kitchen.  I’m the Maid of Honor, she said.  Let me see what I can do to help.  Honestly, you brides are a bunch of Nervous Nellies.

Julia blew out a long breath.  I’m not nervous about the wedding.  I’m nervous about getting everything accomplished without losing my mind or short-changing Jeremy’s graduation in the process.

Stephanie looked up and down the list and added a couple of entries at the bottom.

Julia groaned.  Oooh, you mean there’s more?  What did I forget?

Stephanie held the pad of paper against her chest.  Can I keep this for a couple of days? she asked.

Shrugging her shoulders, Julia said, I suppose so, but why do you want it?

Her best friend continued to hold the pad of paper.  I think I can trim this list a little bit.  Jules, once again, you are putting way too much stress on yourself.

Julia stared at Stephanie for a full minute before she responded.  I don’t want to fall behind.

You won’t.  I promise.

Ok, said Julia.  She bit her lip.  At least one of us is sure I can handle all this.

Stephanie slid the pad of paper into her tote bag, which was on the floor by her feet.  Come Memorial Day weekend, I am off for the summer.  I will have lots of time to tackle whatever isn’t ‘bride related.’

Julia looked at the calendar that was still in the middle of the table.  You realize that’s only a couple of weeks from now?

Yes, said Stephanie, I do, but if I ever would forget, I have eighteen kindergarteners who love to remind me how many school days are left until summer vacation.

Julia got up from the table to get more coffee for herself and her friend.  I am so lucky that I have you and Lucas’s whole family to help with all of this.  Can you imagine me planning both of these things by myself?

Yes, said Stephanie, you’re the one who can’t.  However, Jules, look at the facts here.  First off, the graduation party isn’t here.  It’s at the campground, which is perfect.  There’s stuff for everyone to do, especially all those teenagers.

It worked out well when we had Jeremy’s birthday party there last year, Julia said.

And it will work out well again, said Stephanie.  You’ve got your brother’s party, your fiancé’s youngest sister’s party, and your brother’s girlfriend’s party all rolled up into one event.  That’s really super-convenient.  You not only get a great venue for it with the campground, you get three parental sets of hands to help with organization and costs, not to mention that you can do it all in one place at one time.  Boom.  No running around town for several days to do it all.

Do you know how crazy this is, Steph?  My baby brother is graduating from high school and heading off to college.

And you will become Mrs. Lucas Anderson in between those two things.

It’s so much at once! said Julia.

Stephanie took another sip of her coffee and thought a moment before answering.  What would you change?

Julia thought a moment and smiled.  Nothing except my nerves.

Stephanie waved a dismissive gesture at her.  Julia Beth Garver, soon to be Julia Beth Anderson, I have been dealing with your nerves since we were babies.  I can handle that with ease.

Good, said Julia.

Stephanie looked at Julia for a bit.  She sighed as she pulled the pad of paper out of her tote bag.  She read the long list of items Julia had on the paper.  When she looked up from the list, she said, I’m going to need more coffee than this.  She reached back into her bag and pulled out a huge travel mug.  She poured the contents of her regular coffee cup into it and went over to Julia’s coffee pot.

Julia bit her lip.  I told you it was a lot.

Even with her back to her friend, Stephanie knew Julia would be biting her lip.  It happened every time Julia was nervous.  Stop biting your lip, Stephanie said without turning around.

Julia let out a small laugh.  You know I hate when you do that, right?

Ditto, said Stephanie as she came back to the table.

Stephanie read a little more on the list.  Tell you what I think we should do today, she said.

Ok, said Julia.  What’s that?

I will start sorting this by event and general timetable to get it done, who can do it, and so forth.

Sure, I can do that.

No, said Stephanie.  You are going to take the day and relax.

Relax?! said Julia.  How am I supposed to do that with all of this going on in my life?  I can relax in September.

Stephanie gave Julia a stern look.  You are going to make yourself such a wreck that you won’t enjoy your brother’s graduation, and by the time you walk down the aisle, you’ll likely have given yourself ulcers.  Now, first, I’m going to leave here and go home to work on this list.  You will then go upstairs, soak in a bubble bath and then read a good book until you head over to the Sunday family dinner.

Are you coming tonight? asked Julia.

I don’t know yet, said Stephanie.  Let me see how far I get on this list of yours.

Jeannie likes when you come, you know, said Julia.

I know, and I deeply appreciate that, Stephanie said.

So does Joseph, said Julia.

Stop, said Stephanie.  You very well know we are no longer a couple.  She let out a huge sigh, If we ever really were.

Julia shook her head.  She knew the decision to end the relationship between her best friend, the kindergarten teacher, and the town sheriff had been Stephanie’s, but she also knew that Joseph had put up tremendous walls around himself and his two children.

The first couple of weeks after Stephanie and Joseph separated back into being just friends, Julia knew Stephanie was beyond miserable.  With Pineville being such a small town, and with Joseph’s oldest child, Emmie, being a student in Stephanie’s class, there was no way for the two not to ever see each other.  It simply couldn’t happen in this environment.

Julia looked at Stephanie.  I haven’t asked you for a few weeks.  How are you doing?

Fine, said Stephanie.  I can’t believe this school year is winding to a close.

I’m not talking about your job or your kindergarten kids.

I know that, said Stephanie, but it’s an easier answer.

Stephanie went back to looking at Julia’s list.

Julia put her hand on the pad of paper, Steph, she said, you absolutely do not have to do this.  Looking at all this wedding stuff, it can’t be easy.

Julia, Joseph and I were never near wedding planning stages.  You know that.  We never got much beyond the casual dating thing.

Still, Julia said, I know how you feel about him.

Felt.

Julia was silent for a moment.  I don’t believe that, Stephanie.

Have I ever lied to you?

I think you’re lying to yourself.

Wow, Stephanie said.  That’s the kind of answer I would give to you, not this other way around.

I just want to know you’re ok, or if not, how I can help you.  You are always, always there for me, Steph.  There’s never been a time in my life when you haven’t been in my corner, helping me, encouraging me, occasionally giving me a strong push in the right direction.  I can’t sit here and pretend you are ok when I know you’re not.  I feel like the lousiest friend on Earth when I do that.

Stephanie gave Julia a half-smile.  I’ve been trying not to think about it.

"I’m sorry to bring