“Holy cripes.” Ginny’s hands go to her mouth when I finish. “I knew Logan was always on your side. I knew it!”
112
Later that evening at my place, Mama’s screaming.
Riley’s laughing.
Free’s concerned we’re behind schedule.
And Ginny’s desperately trying to get me into my dress.
When my phone rings, I gesture them all to quiet down.
“It’s the mayor!” I say.
“Oh, the mayor,” Mama says in hushed tones. “How very formal.”
He says he insists on sending a limo for my wedding party. “To make it look more presentable. Then, hopefully, everyone will forget Logan’s other woman.”
“I don’t think they’ll forget,” I say to Mama when I hang up. “They called her the Darcy heroine all summer.”
“Don’t you worry about that,” Mama says. “Daddy said he’s going to make everything right.”
Ginny nods. “Macey, you look so beautiful.”
“Remember how much Logan loved you in that dress.” Mama smiles at the floor-length green bridesmaid dress I’ve converted into a wedding gown. “He nearly gave himself away that day.”
“It was another chapter in your love story,” Ginny gushes.
“And you getting married will ease the pain of the legend of Darcy coming to a close.” Mama’s voice is tinged with sadness. “Our favorite ghost, Macey. It just doesn’t seem fair that she’ll never get out, does it?” She perks up. “At least you’re not cursed.”
I’m too happy to be irritated.
“Thanks, Mama.”
I finger the strand of pearls around my neck, the ones from Logan’s mama.
“Aren’t those lovely?” Mama nods at the pearls. “They fit you, Mace.”
I swallow. “I do love them.”
They mean so much to me already, because they mean so much to the Wild family. Logan told me how his mother showed him the necklace when he introduced her to Gigi, and he said he’d been waiting to give them to me ever since.
As soon as Daddy shows up at my duplex, Mama insists on a toast. When we all protest, she starts screaming, “With sweet tea, of course, with sweet tea!”
“To our beautiful daughter Macey as she embarks on a new chapter of her life.” Mama wipes a tear from her eye. “I know you and Logan will make each other very happy.”
It’s a perfect mother-daughter moment until she adds?—
“Macey, stop playing with your hair. I’ve told you once, and I’ve told you a hundred times, it’s just not pretty, and a beautiful girl like yourself. I bet you Logan doesn’t love you for your split ends.”
Then she reaches into her bag. “I’ve brought a surprise! Instead of waiting until the chapel, we agreed you could put this on now.”
She pulls out the Ms. Bennet bonnet.
“George has been entrusted to make sure Logan wears the Mr. Darcy cowboy hat, so don’t you worry.”
Mama reaches over and helps me tie on the bonnet.
