“You look pretty good yourself, Bailey.” She brushed a piece of lint off my shoulder.
I took her hands and twirled her around. She laughed and her skirt flared up as she spun.
I pulled her into me at the end of the spin and started a slow two-step. “Ready to go get that cake almost as gorgeous as you?”
“I’m so scared I’m going to fumble a tier.”
“You won’t. And even if you do, it’ll be fine.” I kept dancing with her and she followed my lead, haltingly at first, then with more confidence. She didn’t dance much. I’d change that tonight. “Just make sure to drop the white chocolate strawberry tier so we’ll be forced to eat the remains and save the rest of the cake for the other guests.”
She grinned. “No promises.”
I let go of her hands, only to wrap one around my elbow. “Promise me the first dance.”
“I can do that.”
A buzzing phone cut through the day. Mine was in my pocket. “You got a call?”
She released my elbow. “It’s probably someone from work forgetting that I took the weekend off.” She peeked at the screen and her finger paused over the disconnect button. “It’s Cara.” Putting the phone to her ear, she stopped, head down, the fingers of her other hand worrying at her lower lip. “Hello?”
Cara’s high-pitched voice carried through the line. I couldn’t make out the words, but her tone was a mix of professional excitement and no-nonsense instruction. I hadn’t met the woman, but she sounded like the female version of Tenor’s soon-to-be father-in-law.
“Okay. Yeah, I mean...” Madison paused as Cara chattered. “What do you think? No, I’m okay with it.” Another major pause. “Yes, I’m sure. The first one. I just want it done more than I want another three hundred grand. Email me whatever you need, I’ll take it.” She hung up but kept her head tipped down. A crease slashed across her brow. Then she raised her gaze and hope simmered there, bright and uncertain. “I got an offer on the property. Two, actually.”
“Hey, how ’bout that!” I clamped my hands on her arms. “That’s a good thing, right? Or did they underbid?” Anything was better than the pennies Sal had listed it for, but Madison deserved every dollar that place was worth.
“One offered two hundred thousand more than the asking price and they just want to buy it. No loans, no inspection, nothing. Just a flat-out purchase. The second offered more, but it’d go through financing.”
“Damn, that first one’s a good deal. Both are.” I ducked my head to catch her eyes. “Right?”
“It’s a great deal. Cara asked if I wanted to counter with a higher offer. She thinks I could get three million.” Her laugh dripped with disbelief. “Can you believe it? That three hundredKalone would probably take care of Mom for life.” She shook her head. “No, two point seven is more than enough. Mom’s care, a reserve for Flatlanders, a house for me, and some more to live off.”
She wasn’t allowing herself to be happy. I tipped her chin up. “You nailed down long-term care. The doors to Flatlanders are going to open in two weeks. You did it.”
Her smile was slow. “Yeah. I guess I did okay.”
There was something else she wasn’t telling me. A reason she couldn’t really celebrate and was treating the news like business as usual. “Then what’s wrong?”
She stared at me for a moment, then blinked. “Nothing. Don’t count your chickens and all that.”
She was too practical to celebrate this early. I’d make sure she treated herself when the money did land in her account, but her caution wasn’t the issue. “I’ll count a few of your chickens for you. And when we toast at the wedding, we’re going to sneak one in for this. All right?”
“I can do that.”
Madison
I wasn’t a photographer, yet after a week of letting my creative side loose, my fingers had itched to take a picture through the whole ceremony.
The pastor stood in front of Tenor and Ruby, with the backdrop of the tree-covered slopes surrounding Tenor’s place.Theirplace. Ruby’s off-the-shoulder dress stopped before her ankles and she wore white sandals with a chunky heel that wouldn’t sink into the soil. A light breeze ruffled the curls around her face. Tenor towered over both her and the pastor. A gentle giant. His focus was all on his bride. No others stood with them. They’d invited only family. And me.
When the panoramic view wasn’t holding my gaze, it strayed to the cake inside the shed. A plastic tent protected the food from bugs and probably from the children that would be running around later. All the food was covered, and the cords running to the buffets were concealed behind the table.
Fairy lights and white tulle dressed up the inside of the shop, converting the interior into a classy but unfussy reception hall.
My own wedding hadn’t been this relaxed. I had wanted a small ceremony, but Damien had pushed for a show. We’d married in Missoula, which had been fine, and my parents had complained about how long of a drive it’d been. Everyone had been drunk.
A seamless wedding didn’t guarantee a happily ever after, but the atmosphere surrounding the couple and all of the property could make a person think Ruby and Tenor were for forever. Not even the clouds building in the distance gave me pause. The vows were done. Tenor was kissing Ruby.
Whoops went up around me. Little kids cheered. Teller squeezed my hand, smiling at me. When I looked at him, at the line of his jaw and the slope of his nose, I flashed to a fantasy world. I was the one in a simple white gown, saying I do to a guy who’d promised to love and cherish me forever and meant it.
