“It must be overwhelming.”
“It can be, but having lots of people helping us makes it worthwhile. People forget you can have a lovely wedding without going into masses of debt. All it takes is a little imagination.”
“And a lot of friends,” Becky added. “Thanks for helping me today. I was worried we wouldn’t find any dresses.”
“I’m glad, too. If there are any last-minute issues with the dresses, let me know. We can always swap them for other gowns if they can’t be altered.”
“I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
“So am I, but it’s good to know you have options.”
After they’d placed the dresses in white garment bags, Becky said goodbye to Tess and made her way back to her truck. All she had to do was pick up Mary from the after school program and make her way home. And then she’d call Sean and tell him the good news.
Chapter9
Sean didn’t need to count down the days before Matthew and Ashley’s wedding. It was imprinted on his brain. Each morning, it was the first thing he thought of—before the ranch, before Becky, and before whatever mayhem the rest of his family had created.
This morning, that number had come frighteningly close to giving him a heart attack. In nineteen short days, his brother expected his bride’s dream wedding to suddenly materialize. Heaven help them all if Ashley refused to walk down the aisle.
That wasn’t the only thing sending him into a mild panic. Doris Stanley had left a message telling him she didn’t have all the fairy lights he needed. So, at five-thirty this morning, he’d logged into the Internet to search for anyone who could make a barn look like a country wedding in less than three weeks. It hadn’t been easy, but he’d finally tracked down Claire Williams and her event staging company.
As he drove toward Happy Petals, he thought about the conversation he’d just had with Claire. Since she could potentially be their guardian angel, he didn’t think it broke the promise he’d made to Matthew not to say anything about the wedding.
He couldn’t help smiling when he parked outside Happy Petals. Six months ago, he would have told anyone the chance of him driving into Bozeman to visit a flower shop was remote to none. Now, he couldn’t imagine anything better.
Laura, Becky’s assistant, was adding flowers to the display in front of the store. She turned around and grinned. “Hi, Sean. Becky’s in the workroom.”
“Thanks. How did the exam go?” Last time he was here, Laura was practicing a special type of floral arrangement for a big exam.
“It was great. I passed with flying colors.”
“Good for you. Before you know it, you’ll be opening your own store.”
“I hope so.” Laura looked down the sidewalk, then stepped closer to him. “It sounds as though Matthew and Ashley’s wedding plans are going well,” she whispered. “I hope the last few details work out.”
“So do I. Keep up the good work with your exams.” He walked into the store and admired the changes Becky and Laura had made. They’d moved the pre-made bouquets of flowers to the center of the room. The newly created walkway around the display gave customers even more floral arrangements to choose from.
That wasn’t the only change. He stood in front of a wall covered in small pots filled with berries and greenery. Considering all the apartments being built around Bozeman, having something like this would give homeowners a chance to create their own gardens in tiny spaces.
“Do you like our vertical garden?”
Becky stood beside him. The yellow sundress and bright red scarf she was wearing made him realize just how much sunshine she brought into his life. He returned her smile and wondered if this was how Matthew felt about Ashley. There was a sense of rightness, a joy that came from simply being around the person you were falling in love with. “Whoever thought of growing plants and flowers in pots on the wall is a genius.”
“Laura and I designed the frame and the content of the garden. We’ve partnered with Pastor Steven to start a small business initiative. The frame and the pots are made from recycled material and fabricated in Bozeman. And the strawberry plants and greenery are supplied by the church’s garden. We have four plant options customers can choose from, depending on the season.”
“What a great idea.”
“We think so, too. Did you find someone who can supply the fairy lights?”
Sean nodded. Becky was just as worried as he was when Doris told them she couldn’t provide all the lights. “I spoke to Claire Williams. She owns an event staging company and can supply everything we need.”
“Everything?”
“Apart from the bride and groom.”
Becky plucked a rose from a vase. “’Tis a wondrous thing when you crack a joke. This is for you, Sean Gray, for saving your brother’s wedding. Without the lights and the decorations we’ve yet to find, the barn wouldn’t look quite so good.”
He had a feeling his blush was as red as the rose. It had been so long since anyone had given him flowers that he didn’t know what to say.
