“I think I want somethingtraditional.”
“Whitethen?”
“But not too bright,”Carolsaid.
“What about the fabric?Satin?Lace?”
“Not satin. I’m a bit too bigforthat.”
“We’re about the same size,”Rachelsaid.
“Oh, Idon’tmean—”
“I know what you meant,” Rachel said with a laugh. “Don’t worry, our mates don’t seem to care that we’re a littlerounder.”
“Very true.” Carolsmiled.
“Anyway, let’s get you into the lace ones first and see what youthink.”
After three dresses, Carol slipped into a beaded lace dress with capped sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. When she stepped in front of the mirror, tears sprang intohereyes.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,”shesaid.
“I love that on you. And it fits perfectly. You won’t need any alterations, which is good because I haven’t picked up a needle and thread in years,”Rachelsaid.
“I don’t know.” Carol passed a hand over the intricate beadwork around the waist. “I’m not sure if I’mreadyyet.”
“Does the thought of being without Hank make you feel like you’re going to die inside?” Rachelasked.
“Yes.”
“And can you picture waking up next to him every day for the rest ofyourlife?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’reready.”
“Are you sure we can pull it off by tomorrow?” Carolasked.
Rachel grinned. “Oh, honey. You have no idea what we can pull off in twenty-fourhours.”
Chapter13
On Christmas Eve morning,Hank rolled over to face the beautiful woman he was going to marry that day. When she’d tried to sleep in another room, claiming that he couldn’t see her on her wedding day until she was walking down the aisle, he’d spent an hour convincing her that their love was stronger than superstition. She’d finally relented and lay snuggled inhisarms.
The wedding would take place at six p.m. so that Madison could serve dinner right after. When he’d snuck downstairs for a pre-breakfast snack, he’d found Rachel’s mom June in the kitchen. She was pressing a graham cracker mixture into the bottom of several pie pans. She’d asked him how he wanted the wedding cake decorated. He’d asked her to surprise him. It wasn’t that he didn’t have a preference, but he knew she could come up with something better than he could everimagine.
Now, cuddled up against his future bride, he couldn’t have been happier. So when loud shouting seeped through the window that faced the front of the B & B, he grumbled and slipped out of bed. He opened the window and looked out to find Trevor bellowing that he wanted to seehiswife.
Wait, were they actuallymarried?
“We never got married, you two-bit sonofabitch. And thank God for that because now I don’t have to divorce your loser ass,” Vicki screamed as she streakedoutside.
Oh,shit.
Hank jammed his legs into a pair of jeans and grabbed a jacket as he ran out of the room. After taking the stairs two at a time, he flew past Madison and onto the front porch, just in time to watch Vicki take a swing at Trevor. She caught him square in the jaw. He stumbled back and brought his hand tohisface.
“You hit me,” Trevor said in adisbelievingtone.
