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Marlowe barely paused. “No reason.” She picked up the pace again.
Macey broke loose from me and matched Marlowe’s pace. They began to see who could walk faster, pushing each other on the gravel path. What was going on with them?
It didn’t take us long to arrive at the “chapel.” It wasn’t a chapel at all, but an outdoor amphitheater with wood benches for seating. In the front stood a pergola covered in crawling roses, all pink, of course. Mom and Dad were married under that very pergola, except it wasn’t here, it was at a country club in Edenvale. As a first-year wedding anniversary present, Dad had the pergola moved here. Mom planted the roses. There had yet to be a divorce for anyone who married under that symbol of love. Mom had made sure to keep tabs on each couple who had married here. That was my job now. I sent a gift basket filled with handmade truffles and other goodies to each couple on their anniversary, just like Mom had done. It was time consuming, but it helped me feel connected to Mom. And I knew she would fret if it wasn’t done. I couldn’t have her blaming herself for another celebrity breakup all because she died and didn’t get the baskets out. I was sure she was already in a tizzy now that she knew Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling were no longer a couple. That information had to be readily available in heaven.
Marlowe and Macey raced to Ashton, who was looking nervous while he paced in a white shirt and jeans near the pergola. I guess it would be nerve-racking to join together two people in holy matrimony. There were several guests already seated in the audience. Typically, anyone who was currently vacationing at the Ranch was invited unless it was an invitation only ceremony. From what I knew, this couple was visiting from South Dakota and had decided on Friday to take the plunge and they welcomed any guests. The only reason they waited until today was because the bride wanted to find the perfect dress. My sisters had informed me they’d helped the bride out since they lived and breathed fashion. They were saints.
I admit I stalled on the precipice of the lowest level of the amphitheater. I pretended to look at how much the pine trees had grown since I’d last been there an entire month ago. I was sad to report I didn’t see much change. Then I thought maybe I should wish Ashton luck. Anything to not face Sawyer or his mom, who I knew was sitting up several rows between my two favorite men. I had good peripheral vision. And her big hair was hard to miss. I headed toward Ashton, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“Em, up here,” Sawyer called.
Internally I sighed before plastering on a smile and looking up.
Sawyer was standing up waving at me. Josephine was tugging on his shorts telling him to sit down. I wasn’t surprised. She didn’t seem to care for Sawyer’s and my friendship. She was always trying to keep us away from each other at family functions for some weird reason. Once, she went as far as suggesting I move seats at the dinner table. I declined.
I sucked it up and walked up the aisle to the fifth row where they all sat. Dad stood up as I approached, looking as handsome as ever in his signature plaid button-up. I noticed his raven hair had more gray in it and his brown eyes were tired. They looked like that a lot now. I gave up asking him if he was okay because he would only nod. He gave me a smile, but something was missing from it. It wasn’t the warm, how-is-my-Emma-Bear smile. It was cordial. Nothing more. Nothing less.
“Hi, Dad.” I hesitated to hug him, which made my stupid eyes tear up. When did I start questioning whether to show my own father affection? Josephine glared up at me from her sitting position, giving me all the answer I needed. I wasn’t going to let her take that away from me. I wrapped my arms around Dad and took comfort in the fact that he reciprocated so strongly with no hesitation at all.
“Emma—”
“You were cutting it close,” Josephine’s acidic voice with a hint of fake sweetness interrupted Dad.
Our father-daughter moment was gone. I pulled away from Dad and faced the woman who was reaching up and digging her claws literally and metaphorically into Dad. If she gripped his arm any tighter it might require a crowbar to wrench it away.
I smiled at her. “As long as you show up before the bride walks down the aisle, I’d say you’re in plenty of time.”
Sawyer chuckled until his mom turned to him with her left brow raised so high I thought it might stick like that. With all the extra collagen she had pumped in there, it was possible. I had this urge to poke it and see if I could push it down.
