“Let me just get that pie.” She slipped through the door behind her.
I pulled out my phone and texted Ryder.
Bringing dessert
I pressed send, and stared at the screen, waiting for his answer.
Nothing.
Okay, either he was angry and ignoring me, or more likely, he was busy getting the grill ready for dinner and didn’t have his phone on him.
But just in case it was the first thing, I sent another message.
Be home in 5
There was still no answer by the time Gale came back with the pie in the bright Puffin Muffin box.
“Two coffees, dark with espresso, yes?” she asked, even as she was pulling out cups and lids and prepping the machine.
“Yes.” I thought about sending another message, changed my mind and stuck the phone back in my pocket. I’d be home in five minutes, and whatever mood Ryder was in, I’d figure it out.
We’d talk. I’d tell him we should pick a date, for this year. September. I’d always liked September. It would be a good wedding date. A good anniversary date.
Just choosing the month settled something in me. I could imagine the fall colors, deep green fir trees, vine maples gone rust and gold. Maybe we’d hold it outdoors, even if it rained. I didn’t think we had a place indoors large enough for everyone.
I could tell him all those things. Things I knew he’d already thought of. This could be the beginning of us being on the same page.
I’d admit I had invited all the gods to the wedding, and I was pretty sure I couldn’t retract that. I’d admit I’d been pretty awful about the whole thing, had been overthinking all of it and getting nowhere. I could step up. Do my part. Maybe mess with his orderly plans and add some fun to it.
“Need a carrier?”
“Sure,” I said.
Gale placed everything on the counter. I handed over my card, and she rang me up.
“So have you decided on a wedding date yet?” she asked, as she punched buttons.
“Not yet. Why? Are you part of the betting pool?”
She laughed. “No, I just was hoping it was going to be soon. I got this cute dress I want to take out for a spin. If I’m invited to the reception, that is.”
“You are. Of course you are. We’re still working out all the details.”
“Sure,” she said. “Not a problem. This is going to be amazing. The wedding of the year.”
I stepped aside as a young man walked in. “Please tell me you still have those caramel snickerdoodles.”
“I still have a dozen,” Gale said.
“Life saver.” He dug out his wallet.
I waved over my shoulder and stepped outside.
Now all I had to do was stop at the store for beer, go home, offer up my apology pie, and tell Ryder I was ready, really ready to pick a date and get this wedding going.
Chapter Fourteen
I didn’t recognizethe green Mini Cooper parked in front of our house. Ryder’s truck was in the drive. Light poured out through our living room windows, but that car…That car didn’t look like any in Ordinary.
