“Okay.” She doesn’t look like she believes me. “But I want to be on record saying this is a bad idea.”
I reach out and swipe a small bit of ice cream from the corner of her mouth, and she doesn’t flinch away. “So noted.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cara
My first afternoon client is a Great Dane who loves being groomed and shows his appreciation with copious amounts of slobber.
Despite the mess, Boris is one of my favorites and after the morning I had, it’s a blessing not to have to wrestle a wet dog into submission. Boris happily does anything I ask of him, and all I have to do is accept really slimy kisses in return.
It’s worth it.
About two minutes after Boris is picked up, the door opens and Emily and Bob Pearson walk in. Mel’s parents often stop by and say hello when they’re doing errands in town, but this is the first time I’ve seen them since the wedding engagement I haven’t told them about.
When Emily puts her hands on her hips and her eyebrow arches, I know she’s heard the gossip. “What is this we hear about you marrying Hayden Reilly on Saturday?”
My cheeks flame and I can’t look her in the eye, so I make a big deal out of trying to brush dog hair off of my shirt. “I was going to call to invite you. Hayden and I…we connected a while ago and he came to town and— I know it’s all happening fast, but we don’t want to wait.”
I know I’m talking too fast because I’m uncomfortable lying to the Pearsons and I just want to get the words out. I really did intend to call them, but lying to them felt even harder than lying to my mother, and I hadn’t worked up the courage yet.
I don’t know if Mel told them or if they heard about our trip to town hall, but they hadn’t heard the news from me and they should have.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you right away.”
I’m relieved when Emily laughs and waves her hand as if to say it doesn’t matter. “You’re caught up in a whirlwind romance, my girl. And we’re happy for you.”
When she moves in for a hug, I hold up my hand. “Before you hug me, you should know I’m covered in Great Dane slime.”
“Boris?” When I nod, Emily laughs again and gives me a hug anyway, though she’s careful to leave plenty of daylight between us. “I stopped by there to drop off a casserole when they had pneumonia and the smell got Boris’s mouth watering. He shook his head and the slime splattered all over me. But he’s a good boy.”
“And Em makes a great casserole,” Bob says. “You can hardly blame the dog for slobbering.”
Emily beams at her husband before turning back to me. “How is Gin taking the news?”
“I’ll let you know after she starts speaking to me again.” I wanted it to come out like a joke, but neither of them laugh.
“I’m sure this is hard for her, him being a Reilly and all,” Bob says.
“And because she’ll have to share you with somebody else,” Emily adds sharply.
“Em.” Bob gives his wife one of those married couple looks, even though it’s no secret Emily isn’t Gin’s biggest fan.
They’ve always been friendly, if not actual friends, but in the years since my father passed away, Emily and Bob have struggled with keeping their opinions about Gin’s dependency on me to themselves.
“Is there anything we can do to help you with the wedding?” Emily asks, smoothly pivoting back to what she thinks is a happier subject.
“I think we’re all set. We’re keeping it simple, and Hayden’s assistant is handling some of the details. We’re going to the flower shop in the morning to order the arrangements.”
Emily frowns. “Doesn’t Gin work Friday mornings?”
“I warned him.” I hold up my hands and shrug. “He’s very much a rip-the-bandage-off guy.”
“And who’s walking you down the aisle? I don’t see Gin volunteering to give you away.”
“I’m going to walk by myself.” And I’ll be praying the entire time I don’t trip while everybody is staring at me. That’s the kind of thing this town would talk about forever, and thanks to cellphones, they’d have photos and videos to go with the story.
Emily sighs. “I’ve heard that’s a popular thing to do now—brides walking down the aisle alone.”
