And then he does something surprising and grasps the sides of my face and plants a kiss on my forehead. It’s quick and obviously platonic, but it still leaves my skin warm as we walk down the hallway together, ready to face Ainsley, who’s waiting for us in the kitchen.
“I’ve always wanted to be a best man,” Ainsley announces as Miles pulls the car into the parking lot in front of the courthouse.
The old courthouse is rather picturesque. As far as a wedding venue goes, it's beautiful. If this were a real wedding, then Iwould want all the pictures taken on the courthouse steps with the beautiful columns in the background.
Ainsley seems to read my mind, because she says, “I’ll take some cute wedding pictures of the two of you at the top of the steps. I brought my camera. We need to make this look real.”
I glance back to see that she really does have a camera draped around her neck. Ainsley is wearing a white blouse with a black bowtie and a pair of matching black trouser-pants.
The thought of taking wedding photos on those steps feels surreal. I’m more nervous looking at the courthouse now that I’m on the verge ofactuallygetting married.
“What do you think the judge will look like?” Ainsley asks excitedly as we climb out of the car. “You guys are the best—you know that, right?”
“We don’t have another witness!” Miles exclaims. He looks at me with raised eyebrows. “Are we supposed to have two of them?
I hold up a hand. “Don’t worry. I have the perfect person. She’s meeting us there.”
He glances at the street as we walk toward the steps. “Did you tell Willa?”
“No, I chickened out. So I visited someone else, who I knew would be happy to help.”
Miles slowly smiles when he sees the woman walking down the sidewalk toward us.
“What an excellent choice,” he says.
“Yep. No better person to keep your secrets.” I smile at Margaret as she approaches us.
“Who’s that?” Ainsley asks.
“She’s the woman who keeps everybody’s secrets. I love her!” I exclaim the last part and realize I mean it as I watch her make her way slowly up the steps to the front of the courthouse.
“Yeah, she knows all of the secrets, but she doesn’t tell any of them, which is a very important distinction,” Miles says with a laugh as he parks the car.
We climb out and march up the sidewalk as though we’re on a time crunch.
“You know, now that I think about it, I’ve never heard her say a word about someone else unless it was just a casual update,” Miles says.
God bless Margaret Eventhall. She really knows how to show up for someone when they need her.
I wave and smile at her as I climb the steps. “I hear you’ve agreed to be my maid of honor!”
“Matron of honor, but, yes, dear. Do you like purple?” she asks as she brushes a hand against the fabric hugging her hips.
I glance down at her purple floral dress. “I love it. You look wonderful.”
I reach out and squeeze her hand. Maybe some of Margaret’s natural confidence will flow through to me.
She pulls me into a hug and whispers in my ear, “I knew you two would be perfect for each other.”
I freeze. I wonder if she thinks we’re in love. Miles is standing behind her, and I look at him with wide eyes. He just shrugs and looks as confused as I do.
When I step out of her embrace, I ask her, “Did I remember to tell you that we’re keeping this a secret?”
“Oh, yes, I won’t say anything, but we’d better hurry inside so that no one you know drives by and wonders why you’re on the court steps wearing a white dress, with a handsome man in a tie.”
Ainsley steps forward to introduce herself to Margaret, and I’m not surprised to see them hit it off. They loop arms and walk into the courthouse. No two greater conspirators ever existed before.
Miles shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “Ready? It’s not too late. We could get in the car and go eat sushi.”
