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Chickens
Barrett
“Fuck, Barrett, I don’t do this clandestine shit well,” Rhys griped. “Willa started texting, I answered like I thought you would because you weren’t picking up my goddamn phone, and I think things were about to get mushy so I cut it off.”
We were sitting at the same table as the last time at The Copper Kettle where we met to exchange cell phones and discuss the day’s progress. Barrett sat across from Rhys and Zale; he needed the space.
Barrett nodded at his brother in acknowledgement. “I hear you. I’m sweating through my damn shirt.”
Zale took a sip of his coffee. “I don’t know, it’s kind of fun.”
Rhys leaned back in his seat, his hands in loose fists on his thighs, and laughed. “That’s why you’re married to Mara. You like the excitement.”
Zale grinned, shrugged. “It’s true.”
Barrett drummed his thumb against the table. The drive did little to reestablish his customary stillness.
“Did you know rings come in sizes?” Barrett grumbled. “I called Junie, she couldn’t talk and didn’t know Willa’s size anyway. I called Mara, thank God, she knew. There were two rings I was deciding between. That made the decision easy, at least.”
“You got her wallet back into her purse?” Zale asked.
“Yes, by the skin of my teeth.” Barrett rubbed a big hand over his face.
“Let’s see the ring,” Rhys prodded.
Barrett pulled the box out of his pocket and opened it on the table between them.
A vintage diamond solitaire, set in a filagree white gold setting.
“It’s pretty,” Zale commented. “Looks like a flower. It’s perfect for her.”
Rhys grinned. “You did well, bear. It’s beautiful.”
“Did you buy the bands?” Zale asked.
Barrett swung his gaze up to Zale’s and groaned.
Rhys laughed.
When Barrett finally made it home to Willa, it was to find her smiling and tear stained.
“What’s going on, curly?”
He held her lightly within the circle of his arms and rested his forehead against hers. She reached up and smoothed her thumbs across his forehead.
“You need a drive out,” Willa stated.
“I do,” he agreed. “How about Sunday? I need some away time with you.”
“Sunday?” She looked interested. Something was brewing in that mind of hers. He hoped she was going to wait until then to share the news. The wedding would hopefully be over by that time.
His mom had already arranged catering from a local restaurant, with desserts being supplied by Willa’s favorite, Bliss Kitchen. It wasn’t going to be fancy, but they weren’t fancy people so that was all right. The pastor was available, the photographer wasn’t, but he highly recommended a student who had just finished a semester’s internship with him, and she was available. His dad had taken over preparing the backyard for the festivities, including getting the flowers. All he had to do now was arrange for some music for the ceremony and pick up two wedding bands. Minty was planning something to keep Willa occupied on Friday, a spa day that would also get her ready for Saturday.
He knew that Junie was taking the next day off work to go shopping with Mara and Bex for dresses. He also knew that Junie had lied about being behind on a project to keep Willa wrapped up at work.
“Yes, Sunday. What do you think?”
She twinkled up at him. “I think that’s a great idea.”
