“I’m happy for you, Molly.” Nicole smiled. “Have you guys made any plans yet?”
Betsy rolled her eyes. “They only got engaged last night.”
Molly’s cheeks pinkened. “Actually, we did discuss some particulars.” She squeezed my hand. “Do you think the Thomases would be open to letting us use their property as a venue? We’d pay them, of course. But Ben and I both thought the ranch was absolutely beautiful and would love to get married there.”
“I can ask him.”
Amanda leaned into my shoulder. “I’m not going to steal Molly’s moment,” she whispered. “But don’t think I’ll forget about this thing with you and a certain cowboy.”
I popped my shoulder up to displace the little gnat and grinned at Molly. “Have you thought about dresses? What silhouette you might like?”
She coughed. “Umm, I might have a confession.” Her face got even redder as she walked over to a side table and yanked open the drawer. She reached in and pulled out a familiar ream of paper.
The sketchbook Malachi had given me.
“I might have found this in your room one day, and I might have peeked inside.” She held the book to her chest, her eyes holding a telltale sheen as she looked across the room at me. “These are really beautiful, Jocelyn.”
“More secrets?” Amanda waved her hands around like she was trying to call a foul play.
“Tsk, tsk.” Betsy sounded disapproving, but her eyes said something different.
I held my hand out for the book. “They’re not secrets exactly.”
“No,” Molly agreed. “They’re beautiful.”
“Either one of you going to fill the rest of us in?” Nicole asked.
I flipped through the acid-free pages until I found a design I’d been working on with Molly in mind. A simple but sophisticated relaxed A-line silhouette with a boat neckline and a slightly low dipped back to add a hint of sexiness. Textured satin would slim through the bodice and hips and then flare with ease along the sides of the skirt. An adorable little bow nipping at the waist to add a pinch of whimsy and flirtiness, but the best part—
“Are those pockets?” Nicole gasped behind me. I hadn’t noticed that my friends had crowded around.
The model I’d drawn did indeed have her hands in pockets.
Amanda swatted my shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell us you could design stuff like this?”
I shrugged. “I used to doodle designs all the time but hadn’t picked up a pencil to create in a forever. Not since Mal—” I stopped short, but four pairs of eyes smiled back at me knowingly. “Oh, all right. Yes, Malachi and I have been getting to know one another better. He sent me the sketchbook and encouraged me to dream a little again.”
“That’s really sweet,” Molly said at the same time as Amanda muttered, “Was that so hard to admit?”
We all looked at the picture for a few moments in silence.
“Do you think you could make this one?” Molly touched the page.
I blinked up at her. “Really? You want me to create your wedding dress?”
Her lips quivered. “Nothing would make me happier.”
“We’ll all help,” Nicole offered.
I wiped at an errant tear. What did I ever do to deserve these women as my best friends?
24
Malachi
“What do you think of having a wedding take place at the ranch?”
Nate’s fork fell from his hand and clanked against his plate.
