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I exchanged a glance with Soren, trying not to laugh. Of all people, I understood about presentation, but I didn’t think Atticus or Annie would care one whit about the lack of doves.
“You won’t believe it, but I actually called my nemesis to see if she had any ideas.” Rafferty set aside his shot glass. “That’s how I found out they fly home. I don’t know why, but I never thought to ask. Arabella laughed at me when I expressed concern about their whereabouts. I mean, they could be eaten by coyotes or something, but she assured me, rather condescendingly I might add, that they would know how to get home. I don’t know if she’s right or not, but what can I do?”
“It’ll be all right,” I said, trying to reassure him. The poor man was a wreck.
“Who doesn’t check the locks on their cages while delivering doves?” Rafferty asked.
“Did Arabella have any ideas about how to get some more delivered fast?” Soren asked.
Arabella was our local veterinarian and Rafferty’s enemy from high school. In all advanced classes, they’d competed for every award and scholarship. Rafferty had ended up a doctor, so they seemed to have both won what they wanted out of life. But somehow, Rafferty couldn’t seem to let go of his old rivalry with her.
“No, she had no ideas whatsoever,” Rafferty said. “Or if she did, she wasn’t sharing them with me. Which she informed me after her hysterical laughter subsided.” He shook his head. “She is the most insufferable woman that’s ever lived.”
“I think she’s awesome,” Soren said. “She saved one of my horses last month. I thought I was going to have to put her down. She’s really good at her job.”
“Pretty easy on the eyes, too,” I said. “Not that I’m on her side, of course.”
“Me either.” Soren clapped Rafferty’s shoulder. “Family first. But I do think it should be noted that she’s a wonderful asset to our community.”
“You don’t have the hots for her, do you?” Rafferty glared at Soren. “Because if anyone were to bring her into the fold, I might lose my mind.”
“Not guilty,” Soren said.
Rafferty turned to me, giving me the once-over. “What about you?”
“I have no intention of sweeping her off her feet,” I said, bursting into laughter despite my best efforts to remain supportive of my brother’s weird hostility toward Arabella. She’d been a nerd in high school, with thick glasses and braces. She no longer wore either, and whatever she’d changed about her lifestyle was reflected in her lovely figure. Again, not that I was interested. She was really pretty but not my type. Too quiet and serious for my taste. She’d never be interested in someone like me. She was more suited to someone like Rafferty, now that I thought about it.
Anyway, I liked women who were outgoing with a side of feisty. That way I didn’t have to think of anything to say. I admired women who enjoyed life to the fullest, with great senses of humor and quick wit.
Like Elliot.
“What’s so funny?” Rafferty asked me, growling.
“Nothing. You’re just taking all of this a little seriously. It’s no big deal about the doves. All Annie and Atticus want is to get married.”
Just then, Atticus arrived wearing a three-piece blue suit and a tie the color of Annie’s copper hair. “Hey guys. What’s up?”
“You doing good?” Soren asked. “Need anything?”
“Doing great.” Atticus grinned and pointed at the bottle of whiskey. “But I wouldn’t turn down one of those.”
Rafferty looked at his watch. “We have twenty minutes until go-time. You can have one, and then we have to get it together. The photographer wants to get some pictures of you seeing her for the first time.”
A look of guilt crossed over Atticus’s rugged features. “I might have already seen her.”
“What?” Rafferty actually paled and grabbed a patio post for support. Who needed a wedding planner when we had the best man from hell? “That’s bad luck. My God, no wonder we lost the doves.”
“Doves?” Atticus asked, accepting a shot of whiskey from Soren. “We’re having doves?”
“Have you not looked at any of the details of your own wedding?” Rafferty asked.
“I’m sorry. Right. The doves. Did something happen to them?” Atticus asked politely. “Because thatwouldbe awful.”
“I know. Annie had her heart set on them, thanks to me. Now everything’s ruined.” Rafferty thumped his forehead with the heel of his hand. “I’m so sorry. This is a disaster. I feel terrible that I’ve let you down.”
“Dude, Annie’s not going to care,” Atticus said. “All we care about is getting married and heading off to our honeymoon. Don’t sweat it. At the end of the day, Annie’s going to be my wife, with or without doves. I’ve got my family here, and I’m marrying the woman I’ve loved since I was five years old. Nothing’s going to ruin this day.”
A second later, the clouds opened, unleashing biblical torrents of rain.
