“She madeadecision, notthedecision.She’s had time to think about what you said.Can’t you at least give her another chance?”
“Is this you asking, or Barbara?”
Katie looked at the coffee cup.“Me,” she muttered.“But I know my sister.She’s besotted with you.”
“Besotted?”
“You know, crazy in love, willing to do anything to be with you.”
Although he liked the idea of Barbara being besotted with him, it didn’t seem possible.“Thanks for coming over, Katie, but I have a lot to do before Penny and Wyatt’s wedding.”
“You’re still going?”
“Wyatt invited me, not Barbara.”
“Oh.I forgot.”
Theo hadn’t.Maybe that was the first clue that things weren’t quite as rose-colored as he thought they were.“If that’s all, I need to go.”
“Remember what I said,” Katie said as the door closed.“Barbara can be weird, but she loves you.If you want to see her, she’ll be at the church at nine o’clock this morning.”
Theo grabbed hold of the handle and opened the door.“Nine o’clock?”
Katie nodded.“We didn’t finish decorating the church yesterday.She told Penny she’d finish it this morning.Well, I’d better go.I have a stressed aunt pacing back and forth at the inn.”
He stared bemusedly across the front yard as Katie rushed toward her truck.
After she’d gone, he closed the door and walked toward the bathroom.If he was going to see Barbara, he needed to look his best.And an after-five shadow and bloodshot eyes wasn’t the look he was going for.
He just hoped what Katie had said was true and that Barbara still loved him.Otherwise, the decision he’d made in New York would be the biggest mistake of his life.
BARBARA DIPPEDa knife into the jar of raspberry jam.
Outside, the sky was already full of pale gray clouds.The weather forecast was for showers this morning, clearing to southerly winds and a cooler temperature this afternoon.As long as the rain was over before they left for the church, everyone would be happy.
The back door banged open and Katie hurried through the kitchen.“Can’t talk.Aunt Roberta needs some safety pins.Her zipper malfunctioned.”
Taking two slices of bread out of the bag, Barbara frowned.She must be getting more used to Katie’s odd ways than she thought.As soon as she disappeared, Barbara opened the wedding spreadsheet and checked where they were up to.
Thankfully, most of the decorations had been added to the reception room and church yesterday.The only thing Barbara had to do was place the dried flower arrangements at the end of each row of chairs.
Running her finger down the spreadsheet, she stopped at the hair and makeup entry.The beautician would be at their mom and dad’s house at eleven o’clock, the same time Barbara and her sisters were arriving.And then it was lunch, getting dressed, and the wedding.
She didn’t know how Penny felt but, after weeks of planning, it seemed as though the day would rush by in a blur of activity.
“I’m back,” Katie said as she bustled into the kitchen.“Our first disaster has been averted.”
“Aunt Roberta’s happy?”
“More than happy.After I bought the zipper, I called into Sweet Treats and bought her a chocolate bar.You know what she’s like.She gets stressed at the least little thing.”
“I’m surprised Sweet Treats was open.”
“The store wasn’t, but the back door was.Brooke and Megan were baking, so I popped my head inside to say hello.We should invite them over for dinner one night.They’re full of great food ideas and neither of them had the chance to see the inn before we opened.”
“That’s a good idea.If you’ve already been to the general store, what time did you get out of bed?”
“Six o’clock.I couldn’t sleep, so I thought, what the heck.I might as well get up and enjoy seeing the sunrise.”
