Page 66 of Blue Jean Summer

“Asking my dad to come and walk me down the aisle. I don’t think I would have drummed up the courage to make the call. I’m not exactly sure what we’re going to tell people about that, but…” She paused. “Just…thank you.”

We stargazed in silence as the guilt gnawed away at me. Governor Grant wasn’t showing up out of the goodness of his heart. I just hoped that his ulterior motives didn’t hurt my girl.

That thing Catherine had said about this being a partnership rather than a relationship floated back through my mind. It was how I was justifying the whole charade. The scars I bore from childhood tragedy and a broken engagement made me gun-shy when it came to the prospect of someone new seeing those scars, seeing how deep and calloused they were.

I could never let her hold my heart, but I would protect hers.

“You told me why you were nervous,” I said. “Tell me why you’re stressed.”

She laughed at the stars. “Job hunting.”

“Any prospects?”

“An administrative position at a mutual aid group out of Roanoke, or a marketing job at a hospital system in Richmond. But honestly, the hospital position is a long shot.”

“Pros and cons?”

Catherine hummed under her breath as she thought it over. “The mutual aid group is right up my alley. I love the work they do, and it’s pretty close to what I was doing before all this.” There was a pause. “But the pay sucks, and the position doesn’t have a lot of growth potential. Honestly, most of the nonprofit sector is like that.”

“And the hospital job?”

“Pretty much the opposite. Great starting pay and potential for upward mobility, but I’m not exactly sure I have the qualifications they’re looking for.”

“Is that why you were redoing your résumé?”

She nodded and looked down at the toes of her boots as they dangled over the edge. “Probably not the most traditional night-before-the-wedding activity.”

I chuckled. “Fuck tradition.”

“Tell me two truths and a lie,” Catherine said out of the blue.

I smiled at her. “Why?”

“Because I want to get to know the man I’m about to be married to for the next few months.”

“Okay.” I thought for a moment. “I’ve broken the same arm twice, in the exact same place, a week after getting the first cast off. I’ve never brought a girl up to the rock. And I love watching black-and-white movies.”

Catherine laughed. “You’ve definitely brought girls up here. Don’t even play with me.”

I laughed. “Guilty.”

“How many?” she pressed with a curious snicker.

“You don’t wanna know, Cath.”

“Come on,” she egged as she elbowed me. “Tell me.”

“More than I could probably remember even if I tried.” I offered a lopsided smile. “There were certain perks to being the kid who had the land for pasture parties.”

“Pond parties,” Catherine clarified. “Or at least they were pond parties by the time I was of age. I guess things changed after you were grown and out of the house. Me and my classmates would sneak through the gates and walk to the pond after dark, since you can’t see it through the trees.”

“Wanna know a secret?” I asked.

She looked up at me.

“Granddad always knew. He got a kick out of it. Kids sneaking onto the land and enjoying it was his favorite part about being out here. He used to call me up and tell me when a party was going on.”

She giggled. “I have no doubt.”