“Markie …” Mom’s wedding dress is too special, too important to waste on this. “You’re the oldest daughter. You should keep it and wear it on your wedding day.”
She snorts. “The way my love life is going, I’m never getting married. I’m starting to hate men, actually. I even thought about making a Girls Only sign for my front door just in case anyone from the male species finds their way to my house.”
“You do not hate men.”
“No, I do. I definitely hate Jasper’s lying, cheating ass. But when I take a step back and look at my dating history as a picture, it’s a mess. Men suck—although they never suck the things I’d appreciate.”
I cover my mouth with my hand as I burst out laughing. A couple of the men from the round table look over at us and shake their heads. Whatever they think we’re talking about, I bet it’s not accurate.
“At least try the dress on,” Markie says. “If it fits, we’ll call it kismet. And, if it doesn’t, I probably have a white sundress you can borrow.”
I want to say no, but the emotion in her eyes stops me in my tracks.
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll try it on.”
Her face brightens. “Great. And I have this idea for your hair, too.”
“You’re doing too much.”
Lisa heads our way, but I see her this time. There’s a spring in her step that piques my interest. She just brought our drinks, and our pizza can’t be done yet.So, why is she making a beeline to our table like she’s on a mission?
She taps her fingertips on the edge of the table. “Mira St. James!”
“Yeah …”
“Congratulations!” she squeals. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re marrying Hartley?”
Oh. My.Markie’s jaw drops as her gaze sweeps to mine.
“Hartley didn’t say a word this morning when he was by for breakfast, either,” Lisa says, gushing. “I’m so excited for the two of you. I mean, it’s about damn time.”
It’s about damn time?
This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to be blindsided by people knowing about the wedding before I had time to get my head wrapped around it.How does she know? How could anyone have possibly found out about this already?
“Your grandmother just called in to see if Piper was available to make a few things for the reception on Thursday,” she says, answering my question before I have to ask it.
A reception? What is happening?
Blood races through my body as I try not to act surprised. This is supposed to be real, after all. I paste on a smile, hoping it covers my discombobulation, and laugh.
“I’m sorry it’s so last-minute,” I say, my words surprisingly even. “We just decided now is the time.”
“Love makes you do funny things,” Markie says, grinning.
I kick her under the table.
“I think Piper is going out of town, though,” Lisa says. “I told your grandmother that I’d have Piper call her back.”
“I’m sorry,” a low voice rumbles through the shop. All the farmers are looking our way, each with a slightly different expression. “Did you say Hartley’s getting married?”
Oh, fuck.
“Yeah,” Lisa says happily. “Mira is marrying him on Thursday.”
“Well, ain’t that something,” the man says. “I wondered why you looked so much like Markie when ya walked in. I ain’t seen you for years. Probably since you were a baby, Mira. It’s good to see you again. You’re the spittin’ image of your mama.”
My chest swells with a tender pride. “Thank you. That’s very nice of you to say.”
