Pulling open the back door, I carefully unwrap the towels and blankets Lola put around the cake boxes.
“Yeah, but I was expecting you to be here maybe ten minutes early,” Bess returns, reaching past me into the truck to grab one of the boxes.
For sure that’s what Bess would do; be five or ten minutes early to a scheduled appointment.Not me, when I have to be somewhere at a certain time, I’m there with barely a minute’s margin on either side.
“Why would you expect me early?If you wanted me here ten minutes early, you should’ve told me to come at twelve fifty,” I suggest, grabbing the next box.
Then I follow her into a side door that leads to a large kitchen, about twice the size of the one at Strange Brew.
“Or…” Bess returns, as she slides her box on a long, stainless steel work station in the center of the space.“You could just come ten minutes early when you know that’s what I mean.”
I’m tempted to point out how irrational that is, but this is a silly argument that can go around in circles forever.As much as her point doesn’t make any common sense to me, it doesn’t cost me anything to mentally subtract ten minutes whenever she gives me a specific time.It will take less energy than perpetuating a recurring argument.
I slide my box next to hers and then crook my finger.
“Come here.”
“I can’t, I still have to get the third box and get this cake assembled.”
“One kiss,” I plead.“I’ll grab the last cake from the truck,andI promise to try and be ten minutes early next time.”
She capitulates, but does it with a little triumphant smile on her expertly painted lips.Minx.
Careful not to mess up her hair—I look forward to doing that later—I pull her close and curve my hand around the side of her neck as I drop a kiss on her shimmery mouth, my eyes locked on hers.
“I’m sorry if I’m snippy, I’m a little frazzled,” she admits, when I let her go and head for the door.
“That’s okay,” I return over my shoulder.“I’m already looking forward to unfrazzeling you tonight.”
Her sweet laughter follows me out the door.
Bess
She’s beautiful.
The simple cream-colored, satin sheath dress looks stunning on her, not quite hiding the swell of her belly, but not highlighting it either.
Savvy wanted her hair loose, mostly because she almost always has it up in a ponytail or tucked under a baseball cap, and for today she wanted to be as far from her normal tomboyish looks as possible.Her curls are flowing free, just brushing the tops of her bare shoulders.
I think she surprised even Nate, who can’t seem to stop smiling at her like he can’t believe his luck.
He’s dressed in black dress pants and a black dress shirt, with the collar undone and the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms.
They wanted it casual, but somehow, seeing them dance together under the twinkling lights out on the patio, they look like a movie star couple.
This whole day was perfect, and I’m glad now that my duties are over, I’m able to relax and reminisce.
I even ended up liking the dress Savvy forced on me to wear.It’s also simple, but mine is a burgundy satin; the bodice is formfitting with little cap sleeves, and the slightly flared skirt stops just at my knees.
I was proud to stand beside her as they exchanged their vows.Unreservedly happy for them.Each time my eyes would drift the crowd to land on Hugo’s blue ones, and I recognized the love in them, I felt happy for me too.
I guess it’s true what they say,happiness breeds happiness.
Glancing around The Carriage House patio, I see evidence of that everywhere; Jim Turcotte, one of our EMTs, gently leading Mrs.Dixon around the floor; Tatum with her head on Carson’s shoulder, swaying in place with their arms around each other; Phil laughing as she tries to coax her husband into dancing with her; and Buck Wilson showing off his skills as he twirls Bonnie Sadlowski around; and I even spot Tessa Androtti, the newest addition to the sheriff’s department, dragging Clem Tanek from the man-huddle he was hiding in and onto the dance floor.Talk about an unlikely pairing, that’ll be an interesting dynamic to watch.
But the moment I catch sight of Hugo, stepping out of the shadows and onto the patio, I only have eyes for him.
He stops in the middle of the dance floor—like a towering Viking, oblivious to anything or anyone but me—and simply holds out his hand.
