Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(77)

She gave them one last pleading look.

They closed the door in her face.

Now alone, Dani dragged herself over to the box, took a deep breath, and gently tore open the seal of the first Valentine’s Day card.



Dearest Dani,



Happy Valentine’s, my dear. This is Janet Myers. You may not remember my husband Ken and me but we met you two years ago at your brewpub. My husband had just been laid off from work and our finances had gotten so tight that we ended up cancelling our long-awaited vow renewal ceremony that we’d planned to have in Sedona. We were heartbroken. As fate would have it though, we decided to have lunch at Ocotillos that day. And thank heavens we did.



To this day, we still can’t remember how you got us to go, but somehow, you arranged for us to see your friend at the local Y to take some ballroom dance lessons later in the day. We didn’t have anything else planned so we went and had such fun. Later, when the teacher convinced us to head back to Ocotillos for dessert, we agreed, having no idea what would be in store for us.



Even now, the sight that greeted us when we went up to your roof deck is still fresh in my memory. And like it did then, it still brings tears to my eyes. The trouble you went through to transform your deck into the beautiful white wedding landscape that evening still astonishes me. From the lights, to the flowers, to the food...it was simply magical. And with our new ballroom dancing skills, we were able to dance to our original wedding song in style, to a live band, no less.



That night meant so much to us, Dani. I hope you know. We will forever be grateful that you gave us the vow renewal ceremony we’d always dreamed of.



With love,

Janet and Ken Myers



*



Hey there Miss Dani,



Pete Mallory here. Alright, I’m not a mushy kind of guy, but when it comes to my wife and kids, I’ll gush like a little baby. And I wouldn’t be able to say that now if it weren’t for something that happened fifteen or so years ago.



Back then, I’d been just another dumb hick not appreciating the love of his life. After a big fight over who knows what now with my girl, I went over to what used to be your daddy’s place, Dobson’s. I was getting drunk off my ass and even dumber still when your daddy came over and gave me the swift kick I needed.



He sat me down and had a long talk with me about the love of a good woman and, more importantly, the love that a good man should be man enough to give her. Now, I never had a daddy like the one you had. Mine used his fists instead of his mouth to do the talking. But your daddy was something. He called my girl up for me and helped us patch things up. We musta sat in that tavern until hours after closing, but when we left, we were together again.



We’re still married, she and I, with a son and daughter of our own. Turns out everything your daddy told us about love and families was all true, and I can’t think where my life woulda ended up if I hadn’t walked into your daddy’s tavern that night. From the sounds of it, you’re a lot like your daddy. And that’s good because there’re a lot more jackasses like me who need saving.



You know, he told me you and your brother were why he was blessed to know love the way he did. Well, because of y’all, I’m blessed to know it too.



-- Pete & Jill Mallory + Vinnie, age 13 & Kelly, age 9



*



Dani,



It’s been many, many years. My name was Cora Rogers back when I knew you. You were my Algebra student—smart, funny, and dead-set on fixing me up with your father for Valentine’s Day. Though he and I didn’t hit it off on our date, I wanted to write to explain why that date was so very special to me.



Your father was definitely a charmer, but unfortunately, there was just no spark. So, we spent the night talking as friends instead. Mostly about you. He was so proud of you with your big heart, and he just adored the way you took care of him every Valentine’s Day. The stories he told me truly warmed my soul.



That night, I went home and finally opened the closet door to something I’d been hiding from for some time. Very few people knew this about me then, but when I was sixteen, I’d gotten pregnant and put my child up for adoption. Now, I never regretted doing what was best for her. Not once.  But seeing how much you filled your father’s life—and trust me, you made his life so full—I began wondering if my daughter had grown into an amazing woman like yourself.



I started thinking about her more and more until eventually I signed up for a site that reunites parents and adopted children. As it turned out, my daughter had been looking for me as well. Eleven years later and we’ve been in each other’s lives ever since. You inspired me to find her, Dani. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to be at my daughter’s wedding last Valentine’s Day.



Wishing you all the happiness you’ve given me...



Sincerely,

Cora Stevens



*



Dear Ms. Dobson,



This is Becca & Lance Lowry. We’re New Yorkers that visit Arizona every few years in the winter to stay with my husband’s family.



Long story short, four years ago, my in-laws and I visited Ocotillos for dinner and had a wonderful time. We remember the night well, especially the part where you all started singing that funny drinking song and introducing a beer so good it became a delicious memory we couldn’t soon forget. With that memory still with us, last year, we all came out to Ocotillos again but were sad to find the brew we’d remembered so fondly wasn’t available.