“Here, honey.” I help her put on the bonnet, and then I tie it loosely underneath her chin.
She giggles. “This must be my something old.”
“You’re right! And your something borrowed.”
“And blue.” She gestures to the blue letters spelling out Ms. Bennet on the front of the bonnet.
“All good luck.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and step back into line.
* * *
The actual wedding ceremony at The Cowherd Whiskey Chapel goes by without a hitch. During those thirty minutes with no one able to talk to me or touch me, I’m the most relaxed I’ve been in days.
The cameras zoom in closely on Ginny and Dave as they exchange their vows. The reporters are working overtime as they nearly trip over one another to get the best shot. Jon falls, and his camera flies out of his hands.
As Skip rescues it, I whisper to him, “Serves you right that Jon missed the shot, you blackmailer.”
“Remember, your story comes out first thing tomorrow,” he says back. “You’re going to want to read it, Ms. Henwood. You come off like a real heroine.”
“Shut up, Skip.”
Then, Reverend Sands pronounces Dave and Ginny husband and wife, and I can’t tell if Ginny’s crying happy tears or something else. I twist my head to get a better look, but the brim of the bonnet keeps her face in shadow, and the moment passes.
She and Dave walk down the aisle and head into the saloon. Foregoing any formal procession, all guests rush the liquor room. Cameras bump cameras, and people slam into each other as everyone wants to be the first one in the door.
Logan and I end up reaching the door at the same time, but it’s Daddy who calls out the truth.
“There will be no miracle tonight,”he says.“Jane Austen’s ghost is still locked up tight.”
He removes the cowboy hat off Dave’s head, takes the bonnet from Ginny, and returns them to their locked cabinet in the corner. Mr. Bingley calmly watches the commotion from his perch on top of the cabinet, his green eyes assessing us all.
“Good Lord,” I say to Logan in a low voice. “My parents have hoodwinked the entire town with this Make Your Match contest.”
“The town wants to be hoodwinked,” he says. “No one’s an innocent here.”
But just because the cell door didn’t open doesn’t mean everyone’s accepted the cold hard truth. Mrs. Rattles calls out that a couple isn’t truly officially married until their reception is complete. They must have a first dance, after all, and cut the cake. And then, she believes in her heart, her Ginny’s union will unlock that damn cell door.
“Did you get that, Skip?” Mrs. Rattles turns on him. “Don’t leave yet. You’ll miss a whole lot of story to put into that paper of yours.”
Her pep talk buoys everyone’s spirits, although on the way out the door, all I hear people saying is how, if Ginny and Dave don’t unlock the door, then Logan and Gigi must be the soul mates.
I put a smile on my face and try to gracefully enter the reception hall. Nickel’s band is playing Ginny and Dave’s wedding song, but as soon as the father-daughter moment is done and Dave cuts in, I have to dance with Logan. The whole wedding party walks out onto the floor, but I hang back. My throat is tight with emotion.
I can’t imagine dancing for three minutes in public with Logan.
Mama’s beaming at me from her table as I get up from my chair. Logan slows down without turning around—I guess he trusts I’m right behind him.
When I reach the dance floor, Logan turns slightly so we make the barest of eye contact, and he holds out his left hand. I take it in my right, and we walk the last two steps onto the dance floor together.
The song’s already nearly half over.
Just a minute and a half left, Mace. You can do it.
I curse Flip for choosing Erma as I put my left hand on Logan’s right bicep and his free hand circles my waist. I know Gigi must be watching, but Logan pulls me in closer anyway. We move away from the periphery of the floor and further into the circle so that we’re right next to Ginny and Dave, who look like they’re fighting.
Logan leads me away from that minefield, and we settle into place at the back of the floor. He holds me close, and I let him, and we don’t break away when the song ends. It’s not until everyone begins walking off the floor and they announce upcoming toasts that we both start and pull apart.
Then Ginny, guitar in hand, steps up on the stage and sings with Nickel. I stare at her, transfixed by how well she fits with him. I can see her eyes shining from way down here.
