Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
“Did I miss it?” a woman shouts, and I feel Brody perk up at my side, twisting to see who it is.
It’s his mom, who got in last night. It’s a bit of a surprise and I can’t hold back the grin. Behind her are Sharon, Autumn, and Bri, her sister. Brianna’s gotten close to us recently, with plenty of drama to spill at Wine Down Wednesdays.
“Mom,” he calls, and his face lights up with joy. I bet he doesn’t even realize how handsome he is when he smiles like that, or how it makes my heart go pitter-patter. “We said we were going to hold a reception later on for everybody to—”
“Oh, please.” She breezes past all of us and pulls Brody down to kiss both his cheeks. “You think I was going to let my only son get married without me there to see it? Hi, sweetheart.” She kisses the top of Bridget’s head. The two of them are thick as thieves whenever Brody’s mom visits. They took to each other right away. Kids can recognize kindred spirits, I think. “Besides, someone has to take pictures.” She balances a camera in her hands, winking at me.
A man sticks his head out the door of the courtroom. “Brody and Magnolia?”
In varied sundresses both Autumn and Sharon call out, “Just a sec,” as they pick up their pace to get to us.
“That’s us,” I say, maybe a little too loud. Robert laughs.
“Everybody ready?” asks Renee. “You ready, baby?” She and Adeline, Brody’s mom, have each taken one of Bridget’s hands, and the three of them look fit to burst with excitement.
“You ready?” Brody whispers, grinning at me while he takes my hand.
“I’m ready,” I proclaim, my fingers twining around his.
We lead our group, hand in hand and I didn’t expect it to feel like this. It’s a shotgun wedding, but the tears come regardless. He’s a steady presence next to me as my legs turn weak.
“I love you,” he murmurs to me as we go to begin our new lives together.
“I love you too.”
Asher
The courthouse is only a block away from where I stand, waiting on my order from the coffee shop. My gaze is focused on one particular woman wearing a beautiful sundress. I know she saw me; she’s only looked back once. She looked back, though, and that means something.
I never much liked weddings. My own parents never got married, so I grew up not knowing the point. As I watch the group of women follow Mags and Brody into the courthouse, I have to admit, I get it now. In a way.
The gray clouds are threatening to bring a downpour, but Robert told me Mags said it’s good luck if it does rain on their wedding day. If that’s true, I need to start standing out in storms. I’m going to need all the luck I can get.
“You going to the courthouse too?” Gail asks me, handing over a tall coffee. I give her a broad smile and shake my head. “I’ve got work, but I’ll be celebrating with them after.”
Her red lipstick and pinned-up hair have been Gail’s preference since I can remember. Everything about this town has been the same all my life.
Except her. Bri Holloway.
“You think the other couple are going to get married next?” Gail asks me and it’s only then that I realize she’s still standing with me next to the large paned-glass window. The wedding is the talk of the town after all, so I shouldn’t be surprised. According to … well everyone, it’s long overdue.
“You talking about Renee and Griffin?” I clarify, giving the nosy woman a side-eye.
She smirks at me and says, “You know I am.”
“Well, I don’t know much about that,” I lie. I know damn well what’s going on with them.
“Order up!” someone calls out from the back, and Gail hollers back that she’s coming.
“You have a good day, Asher,” she tells me, tapping the table before slipping her pen back into her apron.
“You too,” I answer her, but my tone slips, betraying me. A good day … If she would just talk to me, if she would just let me explain, maybe then anything would feel good again.