Winona stares at the door then back at Cass who’s standing in her underwear, hand on hip like she’s ready to run a board meeting.
“Adjusted?” Winona laughs. “That feels a little … optimistic.”
Cass tugs on another dress—not the color of cheddar—and we all make our way into the back room where McKenna is on the pedestal in a gown that looks as if it were made for her.
Unexpected tears well in my eyes. I swallow the tightness in my throat.
“You’re beautiful,” I breathe out in a voice so soft I don’t think anyone hears me.
“Awww, thanks,” McKenna says, turning her head to smile at me over her shoulder. “So are you.”
Our eyes meet in the mirror and she tears up too.
Our childhood flashes like a montage. Running through fields. Jumping off hay bales. Sharing secrets. Always just down the road from one another.
I step closer, dabbing my cheek and stopping beside her pedestal.
“Look at you,” I say.
“Look at you,” she answers.
Then she bends down and gives me a hug and I squeeze her like I could keep us here forever.
The front door opens and male voices carry through to the back of the store. I step back next to Winona and Cass as if I’m undressed and a man is walking in.
“It’s just Cody and Luke,” Winona says.
My cheeks heat.
“What are you two doing here?” Mrs. Lawson asks her sons as they make themselves at home.
“Came to see our baby sister in her wedding gown,” Luke says, as if that’s normal.
“It was his idea,” Cody says, holding his hands up in the air in a show of innocence.
His eyes scan the room and land on me.
I look away, focusing on McKenna up on the pedestal. But I can feel Cody’s gaze as if his fingertips are tracing over me.
“What have we here?” Luke says, walking over to the charcuterie. “You see this, Cody?”
“Huh?” Cody answers, looking away from me and walking toward the spread of food and drinks.
“Man, girls have all the fun,” Luke says, grabbing a slice of deli meat and popping it in his mouth.
“You two need to leave,” Mrs. Lawson says.
Luke leans over and kisses her cheek. “Awww, Ma, we’re just here to see McKenna. We’re not staying.” He looks up at his sister. “You look beautiful, Hollywood.”
“Thanks,” she says, smiling.
Luke scans the room. “And you too, Carli. That dress. Whewee. Between it and your biscuits, I don’t know how I’m gonna let you stay single much longer.”
“Out!” McKenna says with a smile on her face. “That’s enough of the sideshow.”
Luke grabs a few more slices of cheese and meat and stuffs a petit four in his mouth. He mumbles, “Alright, Alright,” around the bite. Then he smiles cordially around the room and says, “Ladies, you all look lovely. McKenna, you’re stunning. Mom, we love you.” With a tip of his hat, he walks out of the store.
“Sorry about him,” Cody says, glancing around the room. “He’s not used to being off the ranch. We’re still working on getting him lessons. If any of you know anyone who wants to tame a rancher …” He smiles a big smile, flicks his eyes in my direction and turns to follow Luke out.
