Page 72 of The Emma Special

“Nice. I like this list. Keep going.”

“That’s about all I have for now.”

“You forgot one thing. I’m adding it now,” Daniel said.

“What did I forget?”

“That you’d have a smokin’ hot wife.”

“That is not going on your chart.”

“Too late. It’s at the top now. Please give me a moment to evaluate the data.”

“Daniel, this isn’t a game. I’m⁠—”

Daniel made a few beeping sounds followed by the dull tap tap tap of the marker hitting the board. “Survey says marriage to Emma is the winner. You may now kiss the bride.”

James stared at the cup of terrible coffee on the small table beside his chair. He’d tried a million different ways to make The Emma Special, but he still hadn’t gotten it right. “It’s not that simple.”

“I rest my case,” Daniel said before knocking something against wood on the other end of the call.

“No one is on trial,” James reminded him.

“Yeah, but I’ve always wanted to do that. And can I be the officiant at your wedding?”

“You have to be a judge or an ordained minister to perform a marriage ceremony in the state of Alabama.” James muttered the facts with a sigh.

“Hmm. Which one is easier to do?” Daniel asked.

“For you? Neither. I really need to go over the slides before church this morning.”

“You sure I can’t be the clicker this week?”

“The clicker must be someone who pays attention the whole service.”

“Totally me.”

“No. Now, promise you won’t tell anyone about this.”

“What about Katie? She’ll know, so I can talk to her about it, right?”

“Absolutely not. I haven’t even asked Emma yet, and I don’t want her to be pressured by you or anyone else.”

“Dude, do you have a ring? Can I be the best man?” Daniel gasped. “This means I need to plan the bachelor party.”

“There won’t be a bachelor party, and there probably won’t be a public ceremony. If she’s doing this to get insurance, why would she want to invite people? And waiting to plan a wedding would mean waiting to get the insurance she needed yesterday.”

“Right. Right. Well, I’m at least throwing you a hoedown.”

“No parties,” James said. “I really have to go.”

“Yeah, me too. I have a wedding to plan. Bye.”

James leaned back in his chair and let the morning sun warm his face. Emma was more than a checklist. She was a woman any man would be blessed to marry. Would she choose him, even if he was her only hope?

Chapter 21

Emma’s Dilemma