I met Brady’s gaze. I’d thought I’d hidden my nervousness from the group, but apparently my acting skills weren’t what I’d hoped.
“It’s gonna be fine,” he told me quietly. “You’ll do great.”
I watched as my friend ambled away to join Wenn across the room. They started talking about some contest on Lindy’s page, but I tuned them out.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.
Instead of the brownie video, I pulled up my text thread with Joan. We mostly used it for logistics regarding our early-morning runs and Georgie’s visits. She wasn’t a big texter and didn’t believein sharing memes like a normal person. But I needed a distraction, and I didn’t think a cooking video was going to cut it.
Me: What’s the vibe over there? How’s the bride?
I was surprised when her response came through a moment later.
Joan: Well, she’s not drunk, at least.
I smiled, remembering how we’d worked together to wrangle the women the night of the bachelorette party. Since I’d had to cart a sleeping Candace in my arms, Larry had insisted I carry the rest of them, too. It had taken a while, but they’d all eventually made it into the SUV.
Me: Always a plus before a wedding.
Joan: I meant, she’s not drunk yet. Mac just opened another bottle of champagne. She said it’s for mimosas, but she forgot the orange juice.
Me: Can you get some food in them? We ordered some pizzas from Apollo’s. They should be here any minute.
Joan: That’s a great idea.
The wedding was happening at the old train station in Kirby Falls. It no longer serviced train cars or passengers, but it had been renovated into a beautiful event space. The bride and all her ladies were situated in a suite very similar to ours on the opposite end of the hallway.
My thumbs hovered uncertainly. I didn’t want to admit I was nervous. Mostly, because I didn’t want Joan to think I was incompetent or to worry about a potential disaster at the altar today.
She was the fixer in her family. If the farm needed something, she made it happen. She was a leader, and her family looked to her as a result.
I didn’t want to be one more thing Joan had to deal with. A calamity waiting in the wings.
Before I could decide what to type, I heard voices in the hallway, then a loud thump, followed by feminine giggles.
“What’s that?” Brady asked, noticing the commotion as well.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I’ll find out.”
But Mercer was already on his way to the door.
I didn’t realize Brady could move so quickly; he shot across the room and wedged himself in between Mercer and the door, practically shrieking, “What if Candace is out there? You can’t see the bride before the wedding!”
Mercer sighed. “That is an antiquated tradition.”
“I don’t care. Get back. Ian and I will check it out.”
“Good Lord,” Mercer mumbled, but he took a step away and let Brady and me shuffle through the doorway.
We made it into the hall just in time to see Mac and Bonnie stealing our pizzas from the delivery driver.
“Hey!” Brady called. “Those are ours!”
“Not anymore!” Mac hollered at her boyfriend.
The women cackled and took off at a run, black satin robes billowing behind them.
They slammed and locked the door to their suite before we’d even made it halfway.
