© 2016 by Janice Thompson
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-0414-8
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
The author is represented by MacGregor Literary, Inc.
Praise for Every Bride Needs a Groom
“Thompson launches a new bridal series with a contemporary, joyful Cinderella story that is filled with good humor and old-fashioned Southern style. Readers will fall in love with Katie and the rest of the well-drawn Fisher clan. This swoon-worthy tale will appeal to aficionados of humorous romances by Rachel Hauck and Lisa Wingate.”
—Library Journal
“Thompson presents a feel-good romantic comedy of subverted expectations, reminding readers that plans may not always work out but that, with faith, we can have much more. Readers will laugh and sigh along with Katie as she comes into her own, discovering a life and love beyond her dreams.”
—Booklist
“Every Bride Needs a Groom is one to savor over and over. This compelling tale keeps you hooked on the memorable characters, especially Queenie. It ignites your heart while pulling you into the hands of a rarest kind of author. What an intriguing way to visit the culture of a small central Texas town.”
—Eleanor Clark, award-winning author, motivational speaker, and resident of Fairfield, Texas
Praise for Every Girl Gets Confused
“Looking for a romance that will have you laughing out loud while recognizing the impact of ever-changing seasons in our lives? Every Girl Gets Confused is romantic comedy at its best. A sweet romance. A wonderful band of supporting family and friends. And enough humor to keep me smiling on each page. This book is a great next chapter in Katie and Brady’s story and a welcome addition to my library. I highly recommend it!”
—Cara Putman, award-winning author of Shadowed by Grace and Where Treetops Glisten
“Every Girl Gets Confused is a delightful mix of romance, inspiration, and humor, woven together with Thompson’s trademark Texas storytelling and a happily-ever-after ending that will make you want to swoon.”
—Judy Christie, author of Wreath, A Girl in the Wreath Willis series
“Janice Thompson tosses her readers into a humorous whirl of romantic possibilities with characters I swear I’ve met in small-town Texas. Fun!”
—Julianna Deering, author of the Drew Farthering Mystery series
To Michella and Josh:
your outdoor wedding served as a great inspiration for this book and proved, once and for all, that every bride deserves her perfect day.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
1. Happy Girl
2. Valentine
3. This One’s for the Girls
4. My Baby Loves Me
5. She’s a Butterfly
6. Cry on the Shoulder of the Road
7. I Just Call You Mine
8. Wrong Again
9. Chances Are
10. Whatever You Say
11. That’s Me
12. There You Are
13. If You Don’t Know Me by Now
14. How I Feel
15. When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues
16. For These Times
17. Back in the Saddle
18. I’m Gonna Love You Through It
19. Love’s the Only House
20. Bring It on Home to Me
21. The Time Has Come
22. Where Would You Be?
23. Never Loved Before
24. Always on My Mind
25. You’ll Get Through This
26. Where I Used to Have a Heart
27. Sweet Dreams of You
28. Wild Angels
29. We’ve Got Tonight
30. Safe in the Arms of Love
31. Independence Day
32. Blessed
33. Trip around the Sun
An Excerpt of Fools Rush In
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by Janice Thompson
Back Ads
Back Cover
1
Happy Girl
I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.
Audrey Hepburn
You. Are. An. Engaged. Woman.” I spoke to my reflection in the mirror on the Monday morning after the love of my life popped the question. “Engaged!”
A little giggle followed as I thought back on the moment when my sweetie had slipped that gorgeous, perfect-for-me ring on my finger. The flawless princess-cut diamond was almost as amazing as the fella who’d given it to me. Almost. Then again, Brady James was in a class of his own. Comparing him to anything—even something as precious as a diamond—just felt wrong. What I’d ever done to deserve such a guy, I could not say, but he was mine all the same.
Mine.
Engaged!
I needed to get busy planning a wedding. Oh, but right now I just wanted to dance down the hallway to the kitchen, eat breakfast with Aunt Alva, then head off to work at Cosmopolitan Bridal, where I would see my fiancé in person. A few sweet kisses would start my workday off right.
I did a happy little Texas two-step all the way from my bedroom to the Formica table in the kitchen, where I greeted my elderly great-aunt with a kiss on the cheek. “G’morning, Auntie!” I sang, my words coming out like a Disney musical in the making. “How are you today?”
“Well, aren’t we happy this morning, Katie Sue.” Aunt Alva’s soft wrinkles seemed even more pronounced than usual as her lips curled up in a smile. “Love is in the air, I see.”
“Indeed, it is!” I trilled, my melodic words filling the tiny kitchen. “Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and all’s right with the world! I’m engaged!”
“Love does make you feel young, doesn’t it?” She attempted to stand, but her arthritis slowed things down a bit. “Never mind getting up. I guess you’ll just have to fix your own plate. I’m so worn out from taking care of Lori-Lou’s kids all week I can hardly move.”
“No doubt.”
“Feels good to be home, even if it’s just for the weekend. And nice to cook in my own kitchen again. I made pancakes, honey. I know how much you love them and figured they’d hit the spot.”
“Yum!” I turned my attention to my aunt, noticing how weary she looked. “And don’t fret, Auntie. I’ll fix my own.”
“Before long you’ll be fixing breakfast for two.” A look of concern clouded her face. “In your own house. On the other side of town. Far away from me. Not that I’m complaining about you and Brady getting hitched. I’m
just worried about living on my own again after having someone as sweet as you share my home.”
I slipped my arms around her shoulders and leaned in close. “Think about it, Aunt Alva. I’m not the only one with a beau. I think we both know that Eduardo is planning to pop the question soon, and his house is near Brady’s. We’ll be neighbors.”
Auntie brightened at this notion. “I do hope he’ll hurry up. I’m eighty-plus years old. I don’t have time to dawdle.” She tried again to stand, this time managing the feat. “But if I move into that ridiculously large house of his, you’ll probably have to send in a search party to find me. At least here I know the way to the bathroom.” She toddled off down the hallway as if to prove her point.
As I filled my plate with food, I thought about all of the changes in our lives of late. Moving from Fairfield to Dallas. Meeting Brady. Landing a dream job at his mother’s bridal salon. Moving in with my aunt. Falling head over heels for the greatest guy in the world. Had I really only been away from my hometown of Fairfield less than a year? Seemed like forever. Oh, but what a joy to start my life over again in a place with endless possibilities!
My happily-ever-after attitude continued to propel me as I drove to work later that morning. I entered Cosmopolitan Bridal, my home away from home, and was greeted by my co-worker Twiggy, who let out a deafening squeal the moment she clapped those overly made-up eyes of hers on me. “Katie! I still can’t believe you’re engaged! I mean, I know you are. I was there. I saw it firsthand. But it seems like a dream. Ooh, speaking of dreams, let me see your ring again.”
I extended my left hand to show off the diamond, and she gasped. “Wowza! Is it heavy? Have you set a date? Are you guys getting married at your church here in Dallas or back home in Fairfield? Where are you going on your honeymoon? Don’t go on a cruise. I’ve heard terrible stories about those tiny cabins. Not good for honeymooning. Have you chosen your bridesmaids?” A hopeful look sparked in her eyes at that last question.
Before I could say, “We haven’t had time to think about all of that,” the store manager approached. “So, Brady finally popped the question.” Madge gave me a motherly look as she crossed her arms. “It’s about stinkin’ time. I’ve been laying on some pretty thick hints over the past few weeks, but he didn’t seem to be taking them. I was starting to think Brady James planned to stay single the rest of his life, just like that stubborn agent of his.” A hint of pain clouded Madge’s eyes. “Some fellas are confirmed bachelors, I guess.”
“I was just waiting for the perfect moment, Madge.” Brady’s voice sounded from behind me. I turned, finding it difficult to stop smiling as I gazed into my handsome fiancé’s face. “And I’m pretty sure Stan isn’t a confirmed bachelor. Time will prove that.”
Madge rolled her eyes. “Whatever. And who was talking about Stan anyway? What does your agent have to do with this conversation?”
“You brought him up,” I reminded her.
“Maybe that’s a discussion for another day.” Brady gave me a knowing look.
“Enough about confirmed bachelors. We have a wedding shower to plan!” Twiggy seemed delighted at this possibility. “What themes do you like, Katie?”
“Themes?” I gave a little shrug. “No idea. What do you mean?”
“Oh, bridal showers these days are all themed. Tiffany. Shabby chic. Chevron. Everything’s built on the theme. So what’s it going to be? We’ve got to start planning.”
“In Fairfield all of the bridal showers are just alike. We meet at the Baptist church, drink punch, eat cake, and open presents. There’s always a toaster. And a blender. And my grandmother always puts together a basket of cleaning products, though I’ve never understood why you would give cleaning products as a gift. I guess she’s just trying to send some sort of message to the bride to keep a clean house?”
“Humph. Maybe that’s how they do it in a small town, but it’s not going to happen on my watch.” Twiggy waggled her finger in the air. “We can do a sure sight better than that.”
“We sure can.” My boss, Nadia, sashayed next to Brady. “My boy deserves a top-notch wedding. And his fans will expect it to be grand. What about the Gaylord, honey? You’ve loved that place since you were a kid.”
“It’s a great hotel, Mom.” Brady pursed his lips, and I tried to read his thoughts. “But this is really more about making the bride happy. You know?”
“Katie will be happy as long as you’re happy.” Nadia stared at me so intently that I felt beads of sweat pop out on my neck. “Right, honey?”
Before I could say, “But I’ve never even been inside the Gaylord,” Nadia headed off to her office, muttering something about how she would pull a few strings to get us the grand ballroom for a midsummer wedding. Lovely.
Twiggy clasped her hands together in obvious glee. “Ooh, the Gaylord! Perfection! I’m going to throw you the bridal shower of the century. It’s totally going to be Texas-themed, cowboys and horses and the whole works. Perfect, since you guys got engaged at the stockyards. And I know the other girls will help me. Dahlia loves to design things. Hibiscus too. Crystal’s probably a little too busy planning her own wedding right now to get very involved, but I could ask Jane.” Her nose wrinkled. “No, on second thought, I doubt Jane would be terribly interested.”
“I think it’s a little early to be worrying about all of that,” I said.
“Oh, it’s never too early. Now, the first order of business is to look for ideas for the actual wedding, not just the shower. Fresh. New. Hip. Cool. Nothing too overdone.” Twiggy swept her hair back with her hand. “We want something fashion-forward, not something from a magazine. By the time that magazine goes to print, the trend is already passing. We want something original, something perfect for Katie.”
“Well, I’m a small-town girl, so—”
“Everything has to jive with the theme for the wedding. And if you’re getting married at the Gaylord, then the whole cowboy-meets-cowgirl, riding-off-into-the-sunset thing will be perfect.”
“Are you saying my wedding has to be themed too?” I slapped my palm against my forehead. “Really? Can’t we just call it ‘typical wedding theme’ and leave it at that? I’ve been planning my big day since I was a girl, and I don’t remember any theme at all.”
“Typical wedding theme?” Twiggy stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “I guess some girls still do that. But don’t you worry, Katie. I’ll start a wedding board for you on Pinterest, and I’ll pin all sorts of ideas to share with you.”
“Wait.” I shook my head. “You’re coming up with ideas for the shower or the actual wedding? Because I really want to do that my—”
“Both! It’s going to be great.” She sauntered down the hallway toward the design studio with Madge on her heels. I could hear them talking about my wedding as they disappeared from view.
Brady slipped his arms around my waist. “You don’t have to listen to a word they say. They’re just trying to be helpful, in their own intrusive way.”
“It’s not that, Brady.” I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed. “I’m just so embarrassingly small-town that I don’t know much about how to do things in a big way. And if that’s really what you want, what you expect, then . . .”
“All I expect is for you to be there, ready to take my hand in yours. Other than that, I couldn’t care less. Just tell the planning committee that you want to go simple.”
“Right. Is there such a thing as simple chic? Something that doesn’t involve pictures from the internet? Or big hotels? Or cowboys and horses?”
“Yep. But you’d better tell them quickly. I have a feeling Mama’s already mapping out the reception hall, and I’m guessing Twiggy is back in the studio by now, involving Dahlia and Hibiscus.”
I shook my head and pinched my eyes shut. Maybe I should let them enjoy the moment. And perhaps I should look at whatever plans they came up with. They might just surprise me with something that felt right, after all. Just because we always did
things the simple way in my small town didn’t mean I wasn’t open to change.
“I’ve already got my dress, anyway.” I offered Brady a delighted smile. “Thanks to you.”
“No, thanks to you and that prize-winning essay you wrote.”
“Yes, the essay.” I pursed my lips as I remembered the emotions I’d felt as I’d penned the winning essay. Felt like a lifetime ago. “But I guess my point is this: the dress is a Loretta Lynn style, which is simple. Country. Sweet.”
“I like simple. Country. Sweet.”
“Which explains why you fell for me, I suppose.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But I’m trying to say that the theme of our wedding could be just that. Simple. Country. Sweet.”
“Yep.” His word came out with a slow Texas drawl. Brady then tipped his imaginary hat, gave me a wink, and headed off to his office. I decided I’d better get to my office as well. In spite of my enthusiasm for the wedding, there was still work to be done. Cosmopolitan Bridal wasn’t paying me to plan my wedding, they were paying me to do marketing and PR for the store.
Several minutes later, as I was comfortably seated at my desk, my phone rang. I answered on the second ring. “Cosmopolitan Bridal, home of the Loretta Lynn gown. How can I help you?”
“You can help me by taking a break from your work and talking to me about your wedding.” I recognized my mother’s voice. “Pop and I are so excited about your big day. I’m sorry we couldn’t stick around and help you plan it, but you know how he is. He wanted to get back on the road again, headed west. But we’ll be there when you need us to help get things ready for the wedding, honey. I promise.”
“Oh, no problem. I’ve hardly had time to think about it since Brady popped the question. It’s been a whirlwind weekend, for sure.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I took it upon myself to see when the church is available. I figured you’d want to do an early summer wedding, though that wouldn’t give you much time, this being February and all. If that’s too short notice, then late summer would be nice too.”
“Actually, we—”
“I called the church, and they’ve got VBS taking place the second week of June, so you can’t use the fellowship hall that weekend. And there’s the annual Peach Festival. You’ll have to work around that. But I understand every weekend in July is open. Of course, it’s hot as blue blazes in July and the AC isn’t great in the fellowship hall, but maybe we could bring in a couple of window units? Those are loud, though. Might be kind of hard to celebrate with all that racket. What do you think?”