“You’ll find something.”
“In two weeks? It’s going to be close to impossible.”
“Can she postpone?”
Annalise looked over at Cami. “Would you want to?”
If Cami found the right guy, she wouldn’t want anything to stand in her way. “Good point.” Cami turned out of the parking lot and headed down Avenue South.
“She’s looking for a location as well, but friends and family have already booked reservations. Cami, I’m gonna need your help.”
Cami slowed at the traffic light and peered at her sister. “Anything you need. Consider it my parting gift.”
“I take back everything I ever said about you.”
“Ha, no you don’t. Now, where can we have a lovely wedding in two weeks?”
Annalise jumped in her seat, stretching against the seat belt. “That’s it! You know the perfect location. Vicki will love it. The inn, Cami, the inn. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”
The light turned green, and Cami stomped on the gas. The inn? Annalise was right, the inn was perfect, but Cami was not ready to see Ben.
They’d had their goodbye. She wanted to hang onto the sweetness of his final kiss. Seeing him would remind her all over again they’d never have more than a fleeting summer romance.
“The inn is perfect. Even if it does need a bit of fixing up.” Annalise was on her phone. “Vicki will die for the rustic, hometown charm. There, hit I-65 and head to Hearts Bend. Vicki, I found the perfect place. No, no, I’m not going to tell you until I visit the property. I’ll call you later.”
“Cami, call Ben. Tell him we want access to the barn and everything. When are you closing on the place?”
“The fifteenth.”
“The wedding is on the nineteenth, so it will be your property by the time of the wedding, so I don’t think he’ll object.”
But I object! She didn’t want to see Ben. She feared her heart would decide to fall in love at a glance.
Next to her, Annalise was making a list on her phone. “The barn is perfect for pictures. So country music. Right on brand with Vicki’s music. How’s the pond? If it’s not clean, we can get it cleaned up.”
“It’s clean.”
“Look at this, God is providing for Vicki through me. What do you say to that? Why aren’t you calling Ben?”
“Nope. I can’t call Ben.” Still, Cami merged onto I-65 toward Hearts Bend.
“Why not?” Annalise pulled Cami’s hand over the center console and laid it on her stomach. Wait, did she feel a tiny hint of a bump? “Not even for the baby?”
Cami swerved as she twisted toward her sister, and everything clicked into place. The bags under her eyes, the nausea, the weight loss, the happiness when she mentioned Steve, then suddenly looking bright and glowy. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes, I am, Auntie Cami. So you have to help me. I’m already running on fumes. Who knew being pregnant was a full-time job in and of itself? There is no tired like pregnant tired.”
Excitement coursed through Cami. A baby. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was afraid of miscarriage. I had a scare really early on with some spotting. Steve’s sister miscarried four times, so we didn’t want to share the news until week thirteen.”
“Oh, Annalise! Just when I’m moving away! I’ll never forgive you for this.” But her tears were mixed with laughter. Finally, a baby in the family.
“So will you call Ben?” Annalise patted her middle.
Cami commanded her phone to call Ben Carter. “You’re shameless, Annalise, using your kid this way. How many times are you going to use your child to get your way?”
“From here on out, Aunt Cami. From here on out.”
