Page 51 of The Wedding Ranch
“Did you talk your mom into going to Pastrami Joe’s?”
“Yep. Ross and I have the cake being delivered at eleven. Joe is expecting it. We’re taking her to the vineyard at noon to pick out some wine, and then over to Joe’s. That’ll give you enough time to get everything in place and meet us there, right?”
“Yes. Text me as soon as you leave the house. I’ll have the breakfront loaded and ready when you call.”
“Ten-four,” Reece said.
“See you at Joe’s.”
He hooked up to the small trailer and backed it up to his workshop. Good thing Mark was going to help him move the thing. It weighed a ton. He grabbed a rag and wiped at a smudge on the seeded glass. That old wavy-looking glass in the cabinet doors gave the piece a timeless look.
He put Thunder out in the pasture and returned his saddle to the tack room before going up to the house to shower and change.
As he stepped out of the shower, he heard loud banging at the front door. “Mark, that you?”
“Yeah. You said noon, right?”
“Hang on,” Ryder called out as he swept the water off with a towel and jumped into a pair of jeans to run to the door. It was only eleven thirty. Mark was always early. “Hey, man. Thanks.”
Ryder and Mark walked down to the workshop.
Mark nodded with appreciation. “I’ve told people you could build anything, but you outdid yourself on this one. It’s really nice, Ryder. She’s going to love it.”
“I think she will,” he said. “Reece will text as soon as they leave the house.”
“Let’s get this thing loaded then.” Mark took his end and they loaded it on the trailer. The text came just as Mark tied it down.
“Perfect timing. You riding with me or following me?” Ryder asked Mark.
“I’ll follow you.”
They made the short drive over to Diane’s house. Ryder went inside first to be sure Diane was gone, then moved the old drop-leaf table out of the way so they could move the new piece in its place.
Ryder and Mark wrangled the hefty piece off the trailer and up the steps through the French doors into the dining room.
“That thing weighs a ton,” Mark huffed.
“No. We’re just getting older and out of shape,” Ryder said.
“Speak for yourself.”
Ryder slid the piece into place and centered it on the wall. A perfect fit.
“She’s going to go nuts when she sees that. You did a great job.” Mark opened the cabinet, admiring the inset hinges and dovetailed drawers. “Beautiful craftsmanship.”
“Thanks. Pop-Pop taught me well.”
“He was a good man.”
“The best.” Ryder took one last look at his work, satisfied that she’d be happy. One day, when she pulled it away from the wall, she’d find that note on the back, and it would make hercry big, happy tears. He couldn’t wait for the day she called to tell him she’d discovered that. “Let’s get on over to Joe’s. Everyone should already be there.”
Mark followed Ryder to Pastrami Joe’s.
When they walked inside, Joe gave him the “hurry” signal. They hustled over to where Joe prepared to take the cake to Diane’s table. Ryder and Mark followed behind Joe and everyone in the restaurant started singing.
Diane blushed. “Y’all! You are too much.”
Mark looked as smitten now as he had when they were fifteen.
