“You’re in for an unhappy surprise pretty soon,” I told her as she began to scarf down her food. “Once the puppies are weaned, you’ll have to start eating regular portions again.”
I washed my hands so I didn’t go to the wedding smelling like dog food. I’d just dried them when I saw Taylor coming up the front steps. She had on burgundy slacks and a white button-down top, and my heart gave a little kick in my chest at the sight.
“Hi,” I said as she came in through the front door. “You look really nice.” Her hair was more polished than usual, and she’d accented her eyes with mascara and a coppery eyeshadow that complimented her complexion.
“So do you.” She pulled me in for a quick kiss, tugging at the hem of my dress. “Ready for this?”
“Totally ready. I love your family.” I still wasn’t sure whether I was attending as Taylor’s date or her friend, but either way, I was looking forward to the chance to see her family. I hoped I was her date, though, because I was tired of hiding. I wanted to shout our relationship from the rooftops. I wantedeveryoneto know.
We went out back to say goodbye to Holly, who was sitting in the grass playing with the puppies. Then we were on our way to Taylor’s SUV. She’d been quiet since she got here, and I hoped she didn’t regret inviting me.
“I’m looking forward to this,” I told her. “I’ve never been to a wedding this small and informal before. It seems really personal and meaningful.”
“Really?” She glanced at me as she drove. “Because I would picture you having a big expensive wedding in the city.”
“That’s certainly what my parents would want,” I agreed.
“What kind of wedding wouldyouwant?”
I shrugged, staring out the window as we passed the farm at the end of the road. Cows roamed the green grass, tails flicking from side to side. “I don’t know,” I told her. “I guess I’m not one of those girls who has her dream wedding all planned out.”
“Prefer to keep things casual?” she asked, and I was starting to dislike the direction this conversation had taken. It almost felt like she was trying to pick a fight with me, like she wanted me to say I hated everything about marriage, proclaim my love for the city, and leave her. But I wasn’t going to give her a fight, at least not today.
“I’m capable of love and marriage,” I told her. “What about you?”
“Ready and waiting,” she said.
“And what kind of wedding would you want?”
“Something small and casual like Steven and Jill’s.”
“It would suit you,” I told her. “And I definitely see you having dogs involved somehow. Like, I’ve seen pictures where the couple had their dog as the ring bearer. You should do that.”
She darted a glance in my direction, her expression softer than it had been a few minutes before. “Yeah. I mean, I can’t help envisioning all the possibilities for disaster when you add dogs to a wedding ceremony, but it does sound like me.”
“Probably no worse than having kids in your ceremony, right?” I said.
“Right,” she agreed. “And dogs are cuter.”
We managed to keep the conversation light the rest of the way to the park where the wedding would be held. I saw about two dozen people already gathered on the grass, women in casual dresses like mine and men in polo shirts and khaki pants. I hadn’t been lying when I told Taylor I had no idea what my wedding would look like, but I liked this. A city wedding sounded nice too, but I might like something small, maybe set against the waterfront.
And when I pictured it, my bride looked an awful lot like Taylor…
She parked the SUV, and we stepped out. I’d hoped she might take my hand or even wrap an arm around me as we walked toward the other guests, but she kept her hands to herself as we crossed the lawn. Obviously, we needed to have a chat about the future, and soon.
“Taylor,” someone called, and we turned toward a couple I recognized as her parents. Aside from a few extra wrinkles, they looked more or less the same as I remembered, and I found myself smiling as we approached. I’d spent a lot of happy afternoons at their house when I was growing up.
“Mom, Dad, you remember Phoebe,” Taylor said, still not touching me.
“Phoebe!” Taylor’s mom exclaimed, throwing her arms out to hug me. “Well, if you aren’t a sight for sore eyes. Look at you!” She wrapped me in a tight embrace.
“It’s good to see you too, Mrs. Donovan,” I told her.
“Oh, please call me Debbie. We’re all adults now,” she said with a laugh, reminding me why I’d always liked her. “I’d heard you were back in town. It’s so good to see you again.”
“You too,” I told her. “I’m so glad to be back.”
“Such a shame about your grandma,” Debbie said, giving her head a shake. “We were all just devastated when she passed away.”
