Page 6 of Forever Fascinating

“Here?”

“No,” Karen muttered, sighing, as she sat down at the kitchen table. “I wish. He wants to do things as close to original as possible – and while it’s perfectly sweet? I love the man and would rather have him here.”

“Then we wouldn’t get anything done,” Jana teased pointedly, winking at Emily who blushed and looked surprised at the comment.

Karen laughed, wagging a finger at her, and smiling.

“That’s true,” she admitted. “And we need to eat quickly before setting up at the chapel. The guys are going to be running around like crazy and we might have a little help from Dixie since she doesn’t have any kids, but the new mommies won’t be able to help much.”

“We’re good – and almost done.”

“Cool,” Karen smiled nervously. “I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

“Neither can I,” Emily admitted, smiling at her sister. “I know it’s crazy and y’all have been married for a year, but I have this feeling it’s going to be so special tomorrow.”

“Okay, don’t laugh,” Jana began, taking a seat nearby and accepting one of the Styrofoam dishes. “I was thinking the same thing. It’s like I can tell something is about to change, or something is on the wind. I feel like something incredible is about to happen, and I guess it’s because you two are renewing your vows. Maybe it’s just the excitement in the air from all our hard work over the last week?”

“Who knows?” Emily shrugged, handing her a fork. “Do you want jalapeños for your stuffed potato?”

“I thought this was barbecue,” Jana hesitated, looking surprised.

“It is,” Karen smiled. “Texas stuffed baked potatoes – and yes - you want jalapeños and some barbecue sauce. Trust me. It’s obscenely divine and Melody hooked us up with some banana pudding for dessert.”

Jana slowly opened the top of the container… as her mouth dropped open. The potato inside was massive, slathered with butter, sour cream, cheese, chives, brisket, and everything imaginable.

“Whoa… this looks incredible,” she hissed, reaching for the small cellophane container of jalapeños that Emily held out to her.

“Tastes even better…”

“I’m not gonna fit in my dress tomorrow,” Jana muttered, taking a massive bite, and groaning with happiness. “Omgosh… soooo good.”

“Spanx,” Karen said flatly, smiling. “And yes, we are all fitting in our dresses tomorrow, I promise.

* * *

Hours later,Jana was miserable… in more ways than one.

Not only was she completely and overwhelmingly full? Karen was becoming full on bridezilla, having them move and rearrange the garland, bows, and move around some of the tables in the reception hall.

She wanted everything to be perfect – and it was – but not enough.

“Karen, seriously, relax,” Emily said firmly. “Once you come down the aisle, no one is going to notice if one arrangement has three flowers, and one has four. We don’t need to redo them all… what we need is to put them up, affix them so they don’t fall during the night, and get some rest for tomorrow. It’s already ten o’clock at night.”

“I know… I know,” Karen hedged, reaching over to adjust one of the centerpieces on the table. “I just want it to be nice and everyone is going to be here. Mom, Dad, and Chase will be here. Lindsey and Jim are at Sophie’s bed and breakfast already. It’s just this has been months in the planning and I…”

“You are nervous and want it to be special and memorable.”

“Yes,” Karen rushed out, nodding as she smiled.

“Don’t you think it will be?” Jana asked curiously. “I mean, I’ve seen you two together and you don’t have eyes for anyone else. My brother loves you so much that I guarantee the moment you walk down the aisle – everything else will be a blur.”

“I hope so.”

“We both know so…” Emily said softly, looking at Jana. “Everything is beautiful, but we need to get the bride home, so she can rest for tomorrow’s big event.”

“We should have just eloped…” Karen laughed softly.

“I’m gonna - if I ever get married,” Jana quipped, chuckling. “Big ‘IF’…”

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