“Tomorrow?” I asked, because what was the rush?
“Yeah, why not? Unless you need time to get yourself ready and all dolled up for our big day.”
“No,” I immediately denied. There would be no fancy dress, shoes, or any of it for me.
Well, since I couldn’t think of an objection, I guessed I was going to take the day off tomorrow and get married. Unless… Ryan didn’t have all the documentation he needed. He’d probably have to fly home and get his birth certificate and other identification.
“Hey, we might have to hold off. We will both need our identification in order for the registry to issue our marriage certificate.”
“Well, I have all the documentation the registry requires.” He sounded so confident.
“You couldn’t possibly know that,” I practically taunted.
“Of course, I do.”
“So, you have a birth certificate?”
“Check.”
“A visiting visa?”
“Check.” He tapped my nose.
“Oh. Um…”
“No need to worry; I have everything I need to get married.”
“Did you look it up?”
Ryan shrugged as if the answer should have been obvious to me.
“Of course. How else would I be prepared?”
I suppose I should be grateful that one of us was ready because I sure wasn’t. God, what had I gotten myself into?
CHAPTER SEVEN
RYAN
“I’m curious. What’s Jo short for?” I asked on our drive to the registry. In a few hours, she would be my wife, so I figured it was time she finally fessed up. I had asked before, and she always changed the subject.
“Ugh,” she groaned. I looked over, and her smile evaporated as she puffed out a frustrated sigh. Her silence hung in the air for so long, I thought she wasn’t going to answer.
“My father really loves my mother.” Jo picked at an invisible string on her dress.
Uncertain of where she was going with that admission, I remained silent.
“And my mother is a huge Dolly Parton fan.”
As the pieces fell into place, I thought,Oh, no wonder she kept her full name under wraps. Although I worked to suppress my laughter, a smile tugged at my lips.
“Don’t you dare!” Jo ordered.
“No one else told her?” I asked because naming your child after the subject of that song had to have repercussions. Jo must have been teased throughout her childhood. We would have to be conscious of that when we selected our child’s name.
“My aunt said she tried, but my mom was determined. Momma insisted the name was beautiful. Who cared if your daughter had to bear the name of a notorious man-stealer?”
“Now, to be fair, Jolene was simply asked not to steal Dolly’s man. There’s no proof she actually did,” I explained, holding back laughter.
