Page 66 of The Wedding Ranch
“You’re not cooking, are you?” Cody teased.
“No, but I did do the shopping for Pam.”
“I am hungry, but I have to see Kasey. We want you both to come to the cookout on Friday night.”
“We’ll be there.”
“I’ll text you the details. As for Saturday, just come and enjoy yourself. Wear whatever you want and prepare yourself for a good time. Mom will be there. She’s dying to talk to you, so be ready.”
“It’ll be great.” They walked him to the front door. “Wait, Cody. We have your wedding present. Take it with you sothere’ll be one less you have to deal with at the reception.” She ran over and got it. “It’s from the both of us.”
“You didn’t have to do this.”
“We wanted to,” Pam said.
He tucked the long frame under his arm like a surfboard. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. By the way, you know,” Pam added, “that Mercedes isn’t exactly low-key.”
“Hey, I’m trying to keep up with this Walker girl.” He gave Lorri a wink. “The Pinto was already rented. It’s all they had.”
“Right,” Lorri laughed. Her first car had been an old Ford Pinto. It had been her grandmother’s and she’d put less than thirty thousand miles on it before Lorri ever got it. It was like brand new, and she knew she should’ve appreciated it, but the other kids had teased her mercilessly about it. “Real funny.”
As soon as Cody backed out of the driveway, Pam practically melted. “Please tell me you are okay with taking a nap. We did not get enough sleep last night!”
“I’ll race you.” Lorri scooted past her and didn’t stop until she reached her bedroom door. She poked her head back out. “Pam. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too. I miss you, but I feel so much better seeing for myself how happy you are here.”
Lorri slid across the bed and hugged her pillow.I am happy.
Funny how her life had changed since the divorce from Craig. There’d been a time when she was dressed up more often than not. Now she chose blue jeans and pulled her hair back. No makeup. No jewelry.
I have better things to do with my time. She glanced over at Mister, who sat next to the bed with his head held high.
“You’re the best thing Craig ever did for me, even if his intentions had been less than honorable.” She brushed her left hand over the mask of dark hair surrounding his eyes and ears. “Good boy.”
She’d be glad when the telltale notch on her ring finger finally went away. Pulling her hand into her lap, she twisted the skin at the seven-year indentation. It wasn’t noticeable to anyone else, and hopefully soon she wouldn’t notice the wedding ring missing or why. Like it had never happened.
She questioned now if it had ever been love, or rather the expected natural progression of steps since they’d been together from their school years. Time served. Companionship and being able to afford things—two paychecks were easier than one. Feeling like adults by moving out onto their own. She’d landed the graphic design position right out of college; he’d hopped from job to job. Playing more than planning.
With him off her back financially, and the extra cushion from the sale of their home, she was living more comfortably than ever.
Chapter Eighteen
Saturday morning, Lorri smoothed her party dress, twisting in the full-length mirror and relieved she still loved the emerald green. She stood in front of the mirror. It had been a splurge. She wasn’t sure what kind of wood it was, but the slightly reddish hue made her think it was either cherry or pecan. It had been simply leaning against a wall in a furniture store marked “Not For Sale” the day she saw it. She’d tracked down the manager anyway. She told him that she’d fallen in love with the piece the moment she’d laid eyes on it, knowing it would cast beautiful light across her bedroom from the window across the way.
The manager seemed to enjoy her excitement, admitting he’d bought the mirror at a sample sale from a company that was no longer in business. He’d underestimated its size and it wouldn’t fit where he’d planned to use it. “It’s not for sale, young lady, but I have to say you’d give it a much better home than I’d intended. I’ll part with it for you.”
She’d almost fallen down. Those kinds of things never happened to her, but here it was, proof that life wasn’t always predictable.
The whole time she’d lived here, she’d barely used it to check her image. Working at home meant jeans or jammies, but it was nice to dress up again. Heels, earrings, and the pearls Mom and Daddy had given her when she’d graduated from college. She was excited for Cody. Moments like this were exactly what this mirror was meant for.
“Are you almost ready?” Pam leaned inside the door. “Wow, you look beautiful.”
Lorri turned to Pam, who looked elegant in her black lacy dress.
“That dress… wow.…” Pam shook her head. “Twirl. Let me see the back.”
