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Zoey tugged on an exquisite set of Egyptian earrings. “You have no idea how much she’s improved my wardrobe.” She slipped her hand into her pocket where Meg happened to know she’d stowed a glittery bottle-cap necklace she could slip on when Hunter Gray’s mother appeared.
“The country club hasn’t been the same since she left,” Shelby gushed. “You would not believe how difficult it is for some people to distinguish between regular Arizona iced tea and diet.”
It was Kayla’s turn, but Birdie had to poke her in the ribs to drag her attention away from the gorgeous Koranda brothers. Kayla blinked and dutifully did her part to bu
rnish Meg’s reputation. “I swear I gained six pounds after she left, I was so depressed. Her jewelry was practically keeping my shop afloat. Plus, she’s the only woman other than Torie and me with an appreciation for cutting-edge fashion.”
“Y’all are too dear,” Meg drawled. And then, loudly, to her parents, “They take their electroshock therapy together. That way, they get a group discount.”
“There is no gratitude in that girl,” Shelby sniffed to Lady Emma.
Torie grabbed a crab puff. “We could always put her in charge of the city playground committee. That’ll teach her to disrespect us.”
Meg groaned, Lady Emma smiled, and Lucy was befuddled. “What’s happened?” she said when she caught Meg alone. “You totally fit in here. And that’s not a compliment.”
“I know,” Meg replied. “It sort of sneaked up on me.”
But Lucy was mildly miffed. “They were never anything but polite to me, so clearly, I wasn’t good enough for them. Me, the daughter of the president of the United States. You, on the other hand—Miss Screwup—you, they love.”
Meg smiled and lifted her glass toward the Crazy Women of Wynette. “We understand each other.”
Fleur drew Lucy away, Ted joined Meg, and together, they watched Kayla and Zoey move in on Meg’s brothers. Ted took a sip from his wineglass. “Shelby told your parents she’s pretty sure you’re pregnant.”
“Not yet.”
“I figured you’d probably tell me first.” He gazed toward the women. “Or maybe not. You’re absolutely sure you want to live here?”
Meg smiled. “I couldn’t live anywhere else.”
He slipped his fingers through hers. “One more night, and then that stupid sexual moratorium of yours is over. How I ever let you talk me into it, I’ll never understand.”
“I don’t know that you can exactly call four days a moratorium.”
“It sure as hell feels like one.”
Meg laughed and kissed him.
By the next afternoon, however, she was a bundle of nerves, and neither Lucy, nor her five other bridal attendants, could calm her down. Georgie and April, along with their famous husbands, had flown in from L.A., while Sasha had arrived from Chicago. It hadn’t felt right to get married without Torie and Lady Emma, and they all looked stunning in simply cut, sleeveless, dove gray silk dresses, each with a slightly different set of rhinestone buttons running down the back.
“Kayla’s putting ’em all up on eBay for us when this shindig is over,” Torie announced to Meg as they gathered before the ceremony in the church’s antechamber. “She says we’ll make a fortune.”
“Which we’ll give to charity,” Lady Emma stated firmly.
Fleur got predictably teary-eyed when she saw Meg in her gown. So did Torie and Lady Emma, although for a different reason. “You’re sure about this?” Torie whispered to Meg as the bridal party moved into the narthex for the processional.
“Some things are meant to be.” Meg clutched her bouquet tighter as Lucy arranged the short train. The gown, with its structured corset top, fragile cap sleeves, and slim, delicately embellished silhouette, plunged to a deep V in the back. She wore it with her mother’s fingertip wedding veil and tiara of Austrian crystals.
The trumpets sounded, a signal for Ted to enter at the front of the church, along with Kenny, his best man. Although Meg couldn’t see her bridegroom, she suspected a convenient shaft of sunlight would choose that moment to spill through the stained-glass windows and put another one of those ridiculous halos around him.
She was getting queasier by the minute.
Lady Emma had lined up the bridesmaids. With a gathering sense of panic, Meg watched April step off first, followed by Torie and then Sasha. Meg’s hands were clammy, her heart beating too fast. Georgie disappeared. Only Lady Emma and Lucy were left.
Lucy whispered, “You look beautiful. Thanks for being my friend.”
Meg tried to smile. Really she did. But Lady Emma was heading down the aisle, and only Lucy was left, and Meg was cold all over.
Lucy moved.
