Page 1 of Ardently Yours

Chapter One

Lizzie

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Christians get married faster than most people do. Except for me, apparently. At twenty-seven years old, I have everything I need: my business, my family, my friends, and a small town I love.

But I have no prospects for marriage, and I guess that should frighten me. But it doesn’t…sometimes. Not after my failed engagement. Not after Mama keeps pressuring me to get married. I look down at the wedding invitation in my hand.

We cordially invite you to attend the wedding of Jay Gatsby and Nic Caraway.

My best friend Nic and good friend Jay are getting married this month. I can’t believe Nic is about to have a whole husband. I’m one maid of honor for the wedding, sharing the role with our other best friend, Jane Eyre. We’ve planned to go to the wedding without dates. Mama, who keeps texting me links to dating apps, is not okay with me not having a date for the wedding.

As if on cue, my phone buzzes on the counter, and I glance over at it. Mama’s text message includes no greeting, just a link to a Christian dating app she thinks I should try. I give her message a thumbs down and look at the wedding invitation again, thinking about why she even bothers to send me these so early in the morning.

My phone buzzes again, and I groan, looking down at it to see what app Mama thinks I should try now. But thanks be unto God, it is not a text from her. It’s a text from the group chat I share with my four sisters: Janet, the eldest; Mary and Kitty, the middle sisters; and Lydia, the youngest. They are early risers like me, so I’m not surprised.

Janet: I got my wedding invitation in the mail today! Charlie and I are so excited. Haven’t been to a wedding since my wedding.

Mary: That was forever ago. Chill. But I got my invite too. Already RSVP’d.

Lydia: LOL…I will RSVP right now.

Kitty: I LOVEEEEE weddings. I hope they have a good DJ because I will dance at this function. And I RSVP’d too.

Mary: She’s only saying that because Janet’s wedding was boring and had a no-dancing rule.

Lydia: Once again… LOL.

Kitty: We need more weddings to happen so I can PARTYYYY!

Me: You all need help.

Mary: You would say that…

Me: What’s that supposed to mean?

Lydia: The older sisters always think the younger sisters need help.

Janet: I am not that concerned about you all to think that.

Mary: Lies!

Me: I gotta admit I’m actually not that invested in you guys to be thinking about whether you need help, so...

Lydia: YOU KNOW YOU LOVE US, LIZZIE!

Kitty: You better love us or I’m not coming to your wedding.

Me: I’m not getting married at the moment. No matter what Mama says.

Janet: I would know if there was a wedding happening…no one in this group chat may get married without notifying me first.

Mary: I will elope when it’s time for me to get married and then send pictures of my new husband in the group chat to rub it in all your faces.

Lydia: That’s diabolical…. I LOVE IT.

Me: Mary the manic is at it again, folks.

Mary: And so is Lizzie, the lame… apparently.