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Water, dummy. Remember, she brought a ton with her?
That couldn’t be it. No way. People just joked about the water in the Cove.
But she was pregnant…maybe. Probably. And we had been careful. But I’d been careful with plenty of other women. I was just glad local lore hadn’t kicked in before now.
Maybe that was the whole point. It only happened once it was meant.
Tish’s older brother was staring at me, probably wondering when I’d keep the conversation going. Problem was, I had like three going in my head.
“Sorry. A lot on my mind.”
“I hear that. I didn’t even know I was going to a wedding today. I had a gap in my schedule so I figured I’d dip into the Cove, see if I could hit up Ging. I found my way to the coffee place in town and they pointed me this way, said a lot of people would be here, even Tish. Seemed dubious, but hell, I’ve got some time to see what’s what. So, where’s my best girl?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I’m guessing at the chapel changing into a maid-of-honor dress. Then again, maybe not. She wasn’t real keen on swapping dresses.”
Rhett laughed. “I imagine not. She’s not much of one for dresses anywa
y. Maid-of-honor, huh? She consented to that? What kind of bribery was involved?”
I had to laugh. “A little guilt, I’m sure. It’s for my best friend’s fiancée. His wedding.” I cleared my throat. “Their wedding.”
“So, she did it for you.” He rubbed the light scruff on his chin then popped on a pair of glasses from the pocket of his flannel shirt. “You two serious? I have to assume it’s a thing since you were at the memorial and now she’s wearing dresses for you.”
Now that was an image—my Ruby in a dress for me. Maybe for us, as in a wedding of our own.
Not that she’d need to wear a dress. She could wear anything she wanted. I wasn’t particular, as long as she showed up.
Knowing her, she’d alter her vows to call me a jackass. And I didn’t much mind.
“Deadly. At least on my end.” I slipped my hands into my coat pockets. “You didn’t hear me say that.”
“No, I didn’t, but you might want to let my brothers know. If you’re dating Ging, they’ll be ready to read you the riot act. They’re even worse than our father.”
“I’d tell everyone if she’d let me.”
“Sounds like Ging. Friendly piece of advice—don’t let her rule the roost. Push back. Sometimes she needs a nudge toward where she doesn’t realize she wants to go. Her first reaction is defensiveness. Started young with her. Being the only chick in a bunch of guys can do that.”
“Yeah. I can see that.”
“It wasn’t only that though,” he said after a moment before blowing out a breath. “So, where the hell’s this chapel?”
The senior citizen from the bathroom wandered by at that moment and tsk-tsked under her breath. She was weighed down with paper shopping bags, so at least that probably meant she wasn’t a fellow wedding guest.
I hoped.
“Let’s find out.” We headed out, falling into step side by side down the stairs to the snowy walkway.
An older couple was shoveling with big smiles wreathing their faces as if it wasn’t coming down at a steady clip. “Hey there.” I returned their smiles. “Nice day.”
The older man laughed and leaned on his shovel. “Pretty usual for this time of year around here. You folks looking for the wedding? Chapel is around the side here and straight through to the back. Glad we enlarged the lot once we fixed up that chapel for my Leelee and my son-in-law.”
“Oh, they were married here? That must’ve been cozy.” It was hard to speak when the howling wind was chapping my lips with every word.
“Actually, it wasn’t their idea to marry here. Nick just horned in on his best friend’s wedding. Fred always gets the story wrong, although Simon worked with him to fix up that chapel. It was a dreadful mess. I’m Laverne Ronson, by the way, and this is my husband. We own Happy Acres.” She stuck out a purple gloved hand while her husband went back to shoveling.
Laverne’s halo of white hair fluttered as she pumped my hand enthusiastically before she moved on to Rhett. “And you are?”
“Rhett Burns. I know Nick. He’s a character.”
