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“And mine.” Piper leans her head on my shoulder.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,” Carol tells her. “Thank you for letting me be a part of this process. I’d like to think that the women my sons choose as wives one day would allow me to be involved, but this might be my only chance for something like this. I love you, sweet girl.”
A flash of Brooks standing at the altar while I rush down the aisle to him flashes in my mind. It causes sharp pain in my chest. I’ve been distancing myself from him. So much so that even last weekend, I cut our night short, claiming I didn’t feel well. It wasn’t a complete lie. My heart was hurting. He was being so sweet, telling me he missed me and spewing sweet words. It’s like he knew I was thinking about calling off our little deal to preserve what might be salvageable of my heart, so he pulled out the big guns. My heart was cracking wide open. I went back to my place and cried myself to sleep.
“I love you too, Aunt Carol.”
“So, do you want to try on the next one?” the attendant asks.
“No.” Ramsey’s smile is radiant. “I don’t need to try on any other dresses. This is the one.”
“Well, all right then. I think you might just be the easiest bride I’ve ever worked with,” she jokes.
“It’s not really about the dress. It’s the man.” Ramsey’s eyes flash from me to Piper. “I love your brother with all that I am. I’m honored to have you both here with me today. My sisters,” she says, her voice cracking.
“Now you’ve done it.” I stand and go to her, wrapping her in a hug. I feel arms around me, and I know without looking that it’s my sister.
“Got room for one more?” Carol asks. She joins us, and the four of us start to laugh.
“Well,” Piper says, stepping back and wiping under her eyes, “we planned for all day, but Ramsey is a super bride. So now what?”
“Well, how about we go to my place? Deacon is there with all my boys helping Raymond put a new railing on the back deck. We can pick up some food, something easy like pizza, and take it back with us.”
“Perfect.” Ramsey’s quick to reply. “Are you two good with that?”
Piper’s phone alerts her to a message, and I watch her as she reads it. “The guys got called out to another fire. I think I’m going to go to the firehouse and make them dinner to come back to. Heath says they went from the accident to the fire, so they’re all starving. They’re almost finished.” She looks up at us. “What do I make a bunch of hungry firefighters?”
“Spaghetti,” Carol answers. “It’s cheap, filling, and it goes a long way.”
“Oh, good idea.” Piper looks at Ramsey. “Raincheck?”
“Of course. Do you need help?”
“No. I’m good. Thank you. And the dress is beautiful. Palmer’s right. Deacon is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
Ramsey grins. “I hope so. Thank you for being here today.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be. Oh, I was supposed to tell you that Mom said she’s sorry she didn’t make it and she would make the next one. I guess the joke’s on her.” Piper laughs. “That’s what they get for taking yet another cruise.”
“Hey,” Carol defends them. “They’re retired. In fact, I need to tell my husband it’s about time we take a few days away.”
“If it were me, and Deacon wanted to get away, I’d be there too. I don’t blame her.” Ramsey smiles. “Okay, let me get out of this dress and have them ring it up, and then we’re off.”
“I’ll order the pizzas,” Carol says.
“I’m buying.” Ramsey points at her. “Don’t think I don’t know that you’re going to march over to that desk and buy this dress when you know I don’t need you to. Deacon tells me that I need to let you, and you can close your mouth.” Ramsey laughs. “I know you, Aunt Carol, you are a kind, loving soul, and I’m forever grateful to you and Uncle Raymond for accepting me into your family.”
“You were always family, Ramsey.” Carol wipes her eyes.
“You know what I mean. Anyway, if you insist on buying this dress, then I insist on buying pizza.”
“Fine.” Carol sticks her tongue out at Ramsey playfully.
“Those cousins of mine are rubbing off on you,” Ramsey jokes, pulling her aunt into a hug. “I’ll be right back.”
“She’s my daughter,” Carol says, blinking away tears. “I will never understand the decisions of my sister, but in my eyes, and in Raymond’s, Ramsey is our girl.” She turns to face me. “I mean, what’s one more when you already have nine rowdy boys.”
“You are one hell of a woman, Carol Kincaid.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she’s raised nine amazing men, one in particular that I’m pretty fond of, but I keep it to myself. Instead, I focus on how I’m going to get through the afternoon, hanging out with him at his parents’ place. He’s been begging for us to get together all week. Offering to come to my place or take me to dinner, and I’ve claimed to be too busy every time. I know he’s not impressed with me, and well, I’m not sure how he’s going to act, but we’re about to find out.
