Page 29 of A Week To Wed
On Friday morning, I regretfully leave a note for Maisy that I’ll be running some last-minute errands for the wedding as soon as I finish my morning chores. By that time, I know she’ll be out and about, doing her thing and coordinating all the last-minute wedding details. As much as I want to see her—every minute of every day—I don’t want her to see me hitching up the trailer to my truck.
After I pick up my suit, I go next door to finish paying for Maisy’s dress. She hasn’t been in for her final fitting yet, but I just want to get that payment out of the way.
Here, I have a strange conversation with the saleswoman.
“What happened to the Big Bird dress?” I ask.
She tuts. “I assume you mean this one.” From the rack of reserved dresses behind the counter, she pulls out the very one. “She canceled this one and asked me to pull a simpler one instead.”
I stand there looking confused. “I don’t understand. Maisy wants that one,” I say, gesturing to the first one.
“These dresses are heavy, so just tell me which one you want for her,” she says impatiently.
There’s only one answer to that.
* * *
As I’m headed out of town, I drive by James’s Dance Studio, giving me another idea.
I stare over at it while waiting at the light, debating whether to go in and talk to my cousin I haven’t seen since Dad’s funeral.
Ah hell. Here we go.
My knuckles rap on the glass door of the dance studio, hoping my cousin is still here.
A shadow moves across the darkened room pauses, then unlocks the door.
Cousin James peeks his head out. “Well, if it isn’t Lonesome Dove,” he says. “I heard you’re getting married and didn’t bother to tell a single soul.”
Seems word gets around, and not just in Darling Creek. I slip my hat off and hold it in front of me. “Hi, cousin. About that…I was hoping you could do me a favor.”
James crosses his arms in front of his chest. “What kind of favor?”
I explain the situation, and he listens attentively.
“So, can you help me?”
He looks down at my feet, then back up to my face, and shakes his head, sighing. “Maybe. Take those boots off, Left Feet. I have a school to run and can’t afford any broken bones.”
Two hours later, I think I have everything I need.
I pull out my wallet and pay him twice the hourly fee. “And I know it’s late notice, but uhm, you’re also invited to the wedding.”
James cocks his head at me. “I know I am. Your girl already called to invite me and my plus one.”
A sudden feeling of pride surges in my chest. My Maisy did that.
“Of course she did,” I say, chuckling.
“And what did you do to land a woman like that, anyway? Blackmail somebody?”
I chuckle, pop my hat back on my head, and nod at my cousin. “I’m just lucky, I guess. See you and Matthew on Saturday.”
ChapterTwenty
Maisy
While the seamstress from the dress shop finishes the final adjustments, I look at myself in the mirror.
