That caused his daddy to get off the couch and go toward her. She carried a big box that splayed her arms wide, and Daddy took it from her as she spoke to him. She searched for him, and Ty lifted his hand, knowing full-well she’d come over and talk to him, whether he wanted her to or not.
She didn’t seem to know—or care—that she was in the groom’s room with only men as she picked her way past the pool table and the buffet where Bryan and Daddy had put out sandwiches, a charcuterie board, and drinks while they all waited for this wedding to get going.
“What’s going on, Momma?” Ty asked as she perched on the edge of the couch next to him.
She grinned at him, because his mother had never been cowed by his grumpy personality. “Wow, you look amazing.” She smiled at him. “Who knew you’d look so good in all black?”
“You’re funny, Momma.” Ty smiled, because he always wore all black.
She wore a dress the color of sun-white ripened wheat, with gems and golden sparkles from head to toe. Winnie had wantedwhat she called a “modern chic farm wedding,” and she’d chosen colors with plant and earthen names like sage, wheat, cream, and lavender.
They had a rust accent, but the only place Ty had seen that color was in his bowtie, vest, and socks. His groomsmen wore sage and olive, while siblings and parents were in wheat, and the bridesmaids boasted lavender.
He knew his bride wouldn’t be wearing a dress, but pants instead, and he’d told his parents so his momma wouldn’t die of shock right there on the front row. Everyone else though…. Ty smiled justthinkingabout the gossip that would spread around town once news about Winnie’s wedding non-dress got out.
“Taylor just got here with the flowers,” Momma said. “Daddy’s going to make sure everyone gets what they need.”
“I saw you with them,” he said. “Everything’s ready outside? They got the tent situation fixed?”
Momma nodded. “Yep. Carolina and I took care of it.”
Ty had no doubt his mama had done exactly that. She’d probably started the conversation with,Look, I have three children, and this is the third wedding for one of them in the past five months, and I need you to….
The number of times Ty had heard that since he and Winnie had been engaged…it brought a smile to his soul—not because the Year of Weddings had caused his mother some stress, but because he wouldn’t have to go years as the outlier in his family.
Of course, he loved Winnie with his whole soul, and that had made waiting the past six months to become her husband an exquisite form of torture Ty wouldn’t wish on any man.
Momma looked down and brushed something invisible from his knee. “Winnie’s a little bit nervous,” she said, and Ty’s heart squeezed.
“She is? Why?”
Momma looked up, a bit of surprise in her eyes. “Ty, she’s been here before.”
“Not right here,” he said. “Her last fiancé ended things a week before the wedding.”
“Yes, and she thinks you might end them an hour before.”
“We’re within an hour, aren’t we?” Ty asked. “Dear Lord, if we still have an hour to go, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
His momma said, “It’s twenty minutes from now.”
“Well, then, we’re fine,” he said.
“If you’re ready and willing, she’d like to meet you a little earlier.”
“Let’s go,” Ty said, and he immediately started to get off the couch. Momma simply rose from it, because of how she’d perched on the edge, but Ty felt like the beast had swallowed him. He had to push himself out before he could stand up, and Momma reached out and steadied him on the back of his elbow.
Irritation fired through Ty. “Momma, I’m fine,” he growled.
She pulled her hand back and cleared her throat. “She said she’d meet you at the golf cart.”
Ty nodded, reaching up to adjust his tie as he scanned for his father. “I don’t have my flowers.”
“Oh, right.” Momma found Daddy and hurried over to him. A quick conversation ensued, and then she turned with Ty’s boutonniere in her hand. “Daddy says he’ll take care of everything,” she chirped just before pinning his boutonniere to his lapel like she did such a thing for a living.
Ty hadn’t wanted to walk down the aisle by himself, nor did he want to stand there and wait for Winnie. Her father had undergone back surgery recently, and while he’d recovered well, and he could certainly walk Winnie down the aisle, she hadn’t wanted that.
She’d planned all of those things for her first wedding, and she wanted to do the complete opposite for this one, so as to notbe reminded of anything that had happened previously. She’d rented a beautiful facility that had massive grounds, and they would be married outside in the Infinity Garden, and then move indoors for their dinner and reception in the Moonlight Hall.
