Close to Heaven

  “Rain, I have loved you for so long. Will you marry me?”

  Stunned, she looked from the ring to the man, who knelt there, waiting for her answer. “You’re really asking me to marry you?”

  “I was going to wait till Christmas, but I decided to do it now. I don’t want you to think for one moment that I asked you only because you’re pregnant. I want you to believe that I wanted this before I found out about… er… the … um… baby.”

  That right there melted her heart. “Yes, Joe, I’ll marry you.”

  He kissed her, then took the ring from the box, slipped it onto her finger. “The gold is recycled from my grandmother’s wedding ring. The diamonds are Canadian.”

  Rain stared at her finger, at the glittering stones. She didn’t know much about diamonds or carats or Canadians for that matter. She’d never even seen a ring like this, much less imagined owning one. “How did you know my ring size?”

  “I took one of your rings from the bathroom counter, dropped by a jewelry store on the way to work, and asked them to size it for me.”

  “Sneaky.” Rain knew exactly which ring he’d taken, because she’d thought she’d lost it, only to find it that evening right where it was supposed to have been. “Is this really happening? Am I dreaming?”

  “I’d originally thought we could get married this summer, but we should do it right away, before anyone knows you’re pregnant. I don’t want people saying that you got pregnant just to force me into marrying you.”

  Could he be any sweeter?

  “Do you want to go to a judge tomorrow?”

  He shook his head. “You deserve better than that. How about on December twenty-third? We can do it at Knockers and invite the whole damned town.”

  “That’s only three days from now.”

  “Then I guess we’d best get busy planning.”

  They both agreed Lark should hear the news first—all the news.

  Rain called her, then handed her cell phone to Joe, who put it on speaker.

  “Hey, Lark. I’d like to ask your permission to marry your mom.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Of course, I’m serious. I’ve got a ring and everything.”

  Lark’s happy scream made Rain and Joe both cover their ears. “Oh, my God, yes! Please, marry my mom! You’ll make her so happy.”

  “I will do my best. I promise you that.”

  Rain leaned forward, spoke into the phone. “I’d like you to be my maid of honor if you’re willing.”

  “Are you crazy? Of course, I’m going to be your maid of honor.”

  “I’m going to need your help finding a gown and all that. We’d like to get married at Knockers on Sunday, and there’s a lot to do between now and then. But there’s more news, and this has to be a secret. Promise us that you won’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh, my God!” Lark laughed. “Did you not listen to the lectures you gave me when I was a teenager? ‘Don’t get pregnant.’ You said that every day for half my life.”

  Rain met Joe’s gaze, nodded. “It’s true.”

  “It’s important to me that you know I’m not marrying your mother because she’s pregnant. I already had the ring. We’re just speeding things up now.”

  “You’re protecting my mother’s reputation. How sweet!”

  “Also, I don’t want the wedding preparations to wear your mom out. She’s feeling pretty tired these days. I was hoping you could stay here for—”

  “I’m already packing my backpack. Can you come get me?”

  “Sure thing.” Joe grinned. “You’re not planning to bring Surfer Boy, are you?”

  “Zander? Joe, he is so last week.”

  Joe and Rain held a meeting at Knockers the next morning and told the staff the news that he and Rain were getting married. He’d figured they’d be happy about it, but he hadn’t expected the pandemonium of cheering and applause that broke loose. When things quieted down again, he went on. “After Sunday, she will have equal ownership of this establishment. A request from her comes with the same authority as a request from me. Is that clear to everyone?”

  Heads nodded.

  “Hell, Joe, we already take her more seriously than we do you,” Rico said, laughing at his own joke.

  “Look at the rock on her finger!” Cheyenne pointed.

  “That has to be a two-carat stone, right?” Marcia asked.

  “I don’t know.” Rain looked over at Joe. “I didn’t think to ask.”

  That was one thing Joe loved about her. She hadn’t asked him how much the ring had cost or how many carats worth of diamonds it held. It hadn’t mattered to her.

  Joe answered for her. “The center stone is two and a half carats.”

  The women stood, crowded around for a better look.

  Vicki hugged her. “It’s beautiful. I’m so excited for you two.”

  “Thanks.”

  When the meeting ended, Joe called Rico into his office. “I’d like you to be my best man.”

  Rico stared at him. “Me, boss?”

  Joe nodded. “You’re the closest thing I’ve got to a brother.”

  Rico laughed, pulled Joe into a bear hug. “Hell, yes, I’ll be your best man. What do I have to do?”

  “Help me pull this off.” Joe had never been involved with a wedding, much less planned one. “I want this to be special for Rain, and I don’t have much time. We need to order decorations, flowers, food, booze, and a cake. We have to arrange music, get the marriage license, find someone to officiate, get a photographer, put out invitations…”

  “I got you covered on that last one.” Rico pulled out his cell phone, tapped in a number. “Hey, Rose, yeah. It’s Rico. Joe and Rain are getting hitched on Sunday at five here at Knockers. The public is invited. I thought you’d want to know.”

  Rico ended the call. “Done. Doesn’t Rain want to be involved with this?”

  Joe thought for a moment about what he was going to say. “I’m going to share a secret with you, and if you tell anyone else—”

  “You got her pregnant.” Rico cackled. “I love it. Okay, so she’s probably tired and has other concerns. You ought to talk to Belcourt. His old grandpa got stuck here in Scarlet thanks to the snow and hasn’t made the drive back to the reservation yet. He did Chaska and Naomi’s ceremony.”

  Chaska’s grandfather was a Lakota Sun Dance chief.

  “Thanks. I’ll ask.” Joe saw Rain and Lark waiting in the hallway. “Let me have a moment with the bride and maid of honor, and then help me plan a menu and order food and alcohol.”

  “All right, then.” Rico stepped out, still grinning.

  Rain and Lark came in. Rain shut the door behind them and started to speak, but Lark cut her off.

  “Don’t let her buy something here in Scarlet. Tell her it’s okay to go to Denver and get something she really loves.”

  “Lark, honey, I just don’t think we have time for that. Besides, I don’t want to spend all of Joe’s money. He’s paying for all of this.”

  Lark rolled her eyes. “I don’t think you can spend all his money. I mean, look at his house. He’s got to be a millionaire, right?”

  “Lark! Do you know how tactless it is—”

  “It’s okay.” Joe cut in. “Can I talk?”

  The two women looked at him.

  “I think Lark is right. You should go to Denver and find something you love. You won’t be able to order anything custom-made, but there will be a lot more to choose from there than in Scarlet.”

  “Thank you.” Lark looked over at her mother. “See?”

  “As for spending all my money, I told you—it’s not going to happen. I’ve got—”

  Rain held up her hand. “I don’t want to know how much money you’ve got—not until after we’re married.”

  God, he loved her.

  He closed the space between them, took her into his arms. “What I wa
s going to say was that I’ve got a car on its way for you. The driver will pick you up and take you and Lark to the florists here in Scarlet so you can pick out flowers. After that, he’ll drive you wherever you want to go. Shop for gowns, shoes, whatever. Have lunch. Do that mani-pedi thing. If you don’t find what you want today, you can go out again tomorrow.”

  “Wow!” Lark beamed. “This is going to be so fun.”

  “Who’s going to do my job while I’m shopping?”

  “The staff aren’t going to have any problem covering for you.”

  Rain smiled up at him. “You’re spoiling me.”

  “Get used to it.” He kissed her, let her go, then reached into his back jeans pocket for his wallet. “Here’s my debit card again. We’ll get you your own card soon. In the meantime, put everything on here. And, Lark, don’t let your mom buy anything she doesn’t truly love, okay? Money isn’t an issue. I’m counting on you.”

  Lark stood on her toes, pressed a kiss to Joe’s cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”

  As Joe watched mother and daughter leave his office together, Lark’s words wrapped themselves around his heart like a big, warm hug.

  Rain sat in the limo with Lark, scrolling through photos of wedding gowns on her smartphone. “This one is too quinceañera.”

  “Oh, yeah. Too many ruffles.”

  She scrolled further, not seeing anything she liked so far. “Look at this. I can’t believe you could actually wear that in a church. It looks like lingerie.”

  “It’s sexy though,” Lark said.

  “I’d wear this if I were dressing up as a cake for Halloween.” Rain held the phone so Lark could see again.

  “A layer cake.” Lark laughed. “Hey, here are some cute maternity gowns.”

  “Stop teasing.” At least Rain wouldn’t have to wear one of those. “I’m not sure I’ll find anything I like.”

  They’d been to four bridal shops already, and nothing had been available in a size eight that had appealed to Rain.

  “You can always get a pretty evening gown if none of the bridal gowns suit you. You are getting married in a pub, right?”

  “I suppose that’s true, but…” How could she explain this? “I never thought I’d get married, so I’d kind of like to look like a bride.”

  Lark lowered her own cell phone, gave Rain’s hand a squeeze. “We will find you the most beautiful wedding gown in Denver.”

  The driver pulled up in front of their next stop, The Bride’s Studio, and came around to open the door. It was a new experience for both of them, and Rain couldn’t help but feel like an imposter.

  “I’ll park in back, ma’am,” the driver said. “Text me when you’re ready.”

  “Thank you.”

  Rain walked up the stairs with Lark and stepped inside. The place was elegant and spacious, with high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, polished wooden floors, and long racks of gowns arranged by color.

  “Over here, Mom.” Lark started toward the bridal gowns, when an older, immaculately dressed woman stepped out from behind a curtain.

  “Good afternoon. Do you have an appointment?” The woman’s gaze moved over them, and she pressed her lips together.

  Because of her nose piercing and the dreadlocks she used to wear, Rain was accustomed to people making judgments about her based on her appearance. Still, she felt self-conscious standing in her blue jeans and snow boots in a place like this. “I’m getting married on Sunday, and I need to find a gown.”

  “We carry exclusively designer and bespoke gowns, and our prices start at two thousand dollars. I’m not sure we’ll have what you’re looking for.”

  What the hell did that mean?

  Lark gave the woman a sweet smile. “Money isn’t an issue. The quality of the bridal gowns has been our problem, but if you don’t think you can help…”

  Rain stared at her daughter, amazed at her boldness.

  “My name is Sally. I’ve got a little while before our next client arrives. Do you have a specific style or designer in mind?”

  “Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen, Vera Wang…” Lark was completely making this up, probably listing the designers she’d heard of watching the red-carpet coverage of the Oscars. She looked over at Rain and shrugged. “I guess I left the list in the limo.”

  Rain was onboard now. “I could text our driver, but it would probably be faster if we just look.”

  “This way.” Sally smiled and motioned for them to follow.

  Lark walked beside the saleswoman. “We don’t want anything that’s too high school prom or quinceañera or that looks like lingerie or resembles a layer cake.”

  Sally laughed at this and led them toward the bridal gowns. “I think we can avoid those styles. You look like you’re a size seven or eight, Miss…”

  “Rain Minear. You’re right on. I’m a size eight.”

  They had spent ten minutes looking at gown after gown, when Rain saw it. She walked over to a locked display case. “This is beautiful.”

  It had a sweetheart neckline, three-quarter-length illusion sleeves, and a gathered satin and tulle skirt. The bodice and the sleeves were beaded with thousands of small crystals and pearls arranged into delicate flowers and vines, the needlework done in silver metallic thread. It was the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen.

  She turned toward the woman. “What size is this?”

  “I think it’s a size eight,” Sally said. “It’s a one-of-a-kind bespoke gown being sold on consignment at a considerable discount by the bride. It has never been worn. The groom backed out, I’m sorry to say. It’s quite lovely. Those are real freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals, and the thread in the bodice is platinum. I’m afraid it’s far outside most people’s price range.”

  Surely, Sally didn’t mean real platinum. She was just referring to the silver color of the thread.

  “It’s not outside our price range,” Lark said before Rain could ask. “Would you like to try it on?”

  Rain hesitated, then remembered that Joe had wanted her to find a gown she loved. “Yes, please.”

  Sally’s entire demeanor changed. “Why don’t you and your sister go sit down in our fitting area, and we’ll bring the gown to you.”

  Rain bit back a smile. “Okay. Come on, sister.”

  People had been mistaking them for sisters since Lark reached puberty.

  The two of them laughed and whispered together while they waited.

  “When did you get so cheeky?” Rain asked her daughter.

  Lark smiled. “I wasn’t being cheeky. Everything I said was true.”

  “Right.”

  A woman they hadn’t met came over and offered them tea. Then Sally appeared, carrying the gown with the help of two young women. Together, they hung it on a high rack so that the chapel train wouldn’t touch the floor. Then the two assistants drew curtains around the area, making it private.

  “If you would undress, please.” Sally motioned Rain toward a raised platform at the center of the space.

  Rain pulled off her boots and her two pairs of wool socks, then stripped out of her jeans and T-shirt. She walked to the platform, waiting in her bra and panties while Sally and the two other women took the dress from its hanger and brought it over to her.

  “We’ll help you put it on,” Sally said.

  Rain was enveloped in light, silky fabric as they lowered the gown over her head. The bodice was heavy, the sleeves so delicate she was afraid she’d tear them. Sally buttoned the dress in back, the bodice drawing tight—but not too tight.

  Rain adjusted her breasts, looked down at yards of creamy tulle that hid her feet, then turned to Lark. “What do you think?”

  Lark had a hand over her mouth, and there were tears in her eyes. “It’s perfect. You are … so beautiful.”

  Rain turned toward the mirrors and stared. “Oh!”

  She looked like a fairytale bride.

  “They say every gown is meant for one special bride.” Sally, too, seemed genuinely m
oved. “This dress is meant for you. You have the perfect figure for it, and it’s got just enough sparkle to be perfect for a Christmas wedding.”

  As the saleswomen fussed with the gown, making sure it fit without need for further adjustments, Rain met Lark’s gaze. “This is the one.”

  It was late afternoon when Joe got a call from the bank. There’d been some unusual charges, and they wanted to confirm with him that he had, indeed, authorized them. “Go ahead.”

  “We have charges from the Bridal Studio totaling two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, and charges totaling nine thousand from Saks.”

  Joe’s heart skipped a beat. He kept his voice casual. “Did you say two hundred twenty-five thousand on that first one?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Jesus!

  A quarter of a million dollars. This must be one hell of a wedding gown.

  Well, it served him right. He’d told Lark that cost didn’t matter, and she had quite clearly taken him at his word.

  He fought back a burst of laughter. “That sounds about right.”

  “You did authorize those charges, then?”

  “Yes, I did.” He’d told her to get something she loved, and it sounded like she’d done just that. “I’m getting married on Sunday.”

  “Congratulations, sir.”

  Two hours later, Rain and Lark walked into his office at the pub. Joe got to his feet, hugged Lark, then wrapped his arms around Rain. “I got a call from the bank.”

  Her eyes went wide. “Did we spend too much? Lark didn’t let me see the price tags, and I was afraid—”

  Joe kissed her to still her. “Hey, everything is fine. They just wanted to know whether I authorized the charges.”

  Lark hadn’t let her look at the price tags. That certainly explained things.

  “I filled out the online form for the marriage license. We need to drive into Boulder to pick it up tomorrow morning. Chaska’s grandpa—remember him?—he has offered to officiate. I hope that’s okay. He wants to meet with us tonight to talk about the ceremony.”

  Rain face lit up. “Oh, that’s great. I love Old Man Belcourt.”

  “Rico and I set the menu and got the food ordered. What do you think of a prime rib buffet with a champagne toast?”