Page 64 of Wedding or Not

“No!” Parker squeals. “Go away! You can’t see her!”

Tessa runs in front of me, taking a blocking stance, and Natalie tells Wes loudly he needs to be back in the garden right now.

“If I have to talk through a wall, I’ll do it.” I hear Wes’s voice clearly, although I can’t see him at the moment. “But I need to speak with her. I’m not leaving until I do.”

My stomach drops. “I’ll talk to him.”

“No, you can’t!” Tessa is adamant. “The groom can’t see the bride before the wedding!”

“Maybe we can get a sheet or something to hold up,” Parker suggests.

“Oh my goodness, we don’t have time for any of that. You all stay here. Wes, I’ll talk to you in the dining room.”

I have to push through my sisters to get through, but eventually the girls give up on their crusade to save me from the bad luck of the groom’s eyes before the wedding.

Wes is standing in the dining room when I step in.

He blinks. Stares. Stands perfectly still and keeps staring.

I swallow over my dry mouth. “This is me.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but no sound comes out. He tries again. “You look pretty.”

With an amused huff and a small smile, I say, “Thanks. You look good too.”

He does. He’s wearing a modern suit but not a classic tuxedo since it’s a morning wedding in a garden. He’s got a pink boutonniere and very shiny shoes. And a gray-and-pink argyle sweater-vest I’ve never seen before. “Thanks.”

“I like the vest.”

“Grace knit it for me for today.”

“It’s perfect. So what’s going on?”

“Sorry to do this, but I didn’t think you’d mind my seeing you since this isn’t a normal marriage. I’ve been hearing it from Dad this morning, and I promised him I’d double-check with you.”

I let out my breath in a whoosh of relief. “I’ve heard the same from Aunt Grace. She wanted to make sure I really want to do this.”

“Yeah, that’s what Dad was on about too.” He meets my eyes with his sober gray ones. “So tell me the truth one last time, Ella. You want to do this, right?”

“I want to do this.”

“And it’s not out of guilt because you feel responsible for the debt we’re in.”

He’s always said “we” when talking about Blossom Park even though the only tangible tie he has is the financial help he provides his father on a volunteer basis.

Recognizing it now makes my heart thump a few times.

“I am at least partly responsible for the debt,” I say, determined to be truthful. Before he objects, I go on, “But that’s not why I’m doing this.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

He nods, dropping his eyes. “Okay. I’m sure too. So let’s do this then.”

CHAPTER 21

Everything about the ceremony goes smoothly and beautifully.