I walked over to the mirror above the mantel and stared at my reflection. I couldn’t fully see the dress, what with the mirror being so high and all, but I saw enough to make my heart want to burst into song. Queenie pushed herself to a standing position and walked over to me. She stopped just beside me and we stood side by side, looking into the mirror.
“Remember when you used to hate your freckles?” Queenie spoke to my reflection. “I’ll never forget that time I caught you with a jar of pickle juice. You were rubbing it on your face.”
“Queenie! I was hoping you’d forget all about that.”
“Forget? My house reeked of pickles for hours.” Her gentle laugh rippled through the air.
“Pickle juice?” Pap-Paul asked from the other side of the room. “Must be some beauty treatment I’ve never heard of.”
“Not really.” I laughed. “The crazy part was, I had the wrong kind of juice. It was supposed to be lemon juice. Don’t ask how I got them mixed up. Just young and foolish, I guess. Desperate to get rid of those freckles.”
“Why?” Queenie asked as she turned to face me. She brushed my loose hair off my shoulder. “I never understood why you wanted to change yourself. Those freckles are an asset, girl. Trust me. They’re not just adorable, they’re what make you . . . you.”
“Aw, thank you.” I turned back to look in the mirror and tried to imagine the freckles as assets.
“Do you know what girls would give to have your gorgeous blonde hair?” Queenie ran her fingers through my messy locks. “And naturally blonde to boot.”
“Thanks.” I pivoted on my heels to face both of my grandparents. “You two sure know how to make me forget about my woes and focus on the good.”
“There’s plenty to focus on,” my grandfather said. “Look for it. It’s there.”
“I’m trying.” I felt my shoulders slump as I thought about all of the decisions yet to be made. Suddenly I felt weary.
Queenie reached over and put her knobby index finger under my chin, then lifted it, putting the two of us eye to eye. “I know you’re inundated with advice right now, Katie Sue, and I don’t want to add to your dilemma. Just a word of advice, if you please.”
“Of course.” I ran my fingers along the skirt’s fabric, loving the way it felt.
“Planning a wedding is a little bit like looking in the mirror. The reflection looking back at you is yours. Don’t change it to make other people happy. Just be yourself. When it comes to planning your big day, I don’t want a repeat of what happened this morning. I’ll make it plain to the WOP-pers that times are changing. Just because we’ve always done things one way doesn’t mean it’s the only way. I for one am glad Crystal spoke up.”
“Oh, Queenie!” I threw my arms around her neck. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “Now, that’s not to say you should get married in Dallas. Don’t let those folks at the bridal shop talk you into that, okay?”
“Okay. I’ll get married right here. And it will be a day everyone will remember for years to come.”
“That’s sweet, honey,” she said. “But more than anything, I want you to make sure it’s a day the bride and groom will remember for years to come. Promise?”
“I promise.” I gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. Suddenly I couldn’t wait to talk to Brady, to put together a solid plan.
6
Cry on the Shoulder of the Road
Let’s face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.
Audrey Hepburn
Alva and I spent Saturday night at Queenie’s place. The following morning we attended the early service at the Baptist church. I would’ve preferred the second, more contemporary service, with Levi Nash and Joni leading worship, but I knew my aunt wouldn’t be as pleased. Not that I really minded.
This church still captivated me. The size of the sanctuary might not be as impressive as other churches in the area, nor were the stained-glass windows as elaborate as the ones the Methodists boasted. The pews were chipped and worn, especially on the armrests, and the sanctuary walls needed a fresh coat of paint. But no one could deny the feelings that swept over me as I entered these hallowed halls. Perhaps it had more to do with the many Sundays I’d spent here in worship, singing alongside people I loved. Listening to messages that pricked my heart. Marching up the aisle toward the pastor to declare my faith publicly. I hoped those memories would never fade.
Once the early service finished, I stopped off at the ladies’ room before heading out. As I walked the hallway beyond the classrooms, I couldn’t help but reminisce. These were the same rooms where I’d been taught the names of the twelve disciples and where I’d memorized the books of the Bible. The rooms where I’d learned to pray aloud and share my faith with others. Beyond the classrooms, I passed the fellowship hall. If I closed my eyes right now, I could picture at least forty or fifty potluck dinners I’d attended in that room over the years. Okay, sixty or seventy, but who was counting? I’d eaten my first piece of pecan pie in that room. I’d also pleaded with Mama to let me attend my first boy-girl party in that room and had cried buckets of tears when she’d insisted I wasn’t old enough.
Yes, this church certainly held pieces of my heart, and I could hardly wait to get married here. But first I had to get back home—Dallas—and come up with a plan for the big day.
Minutes after we left Fairfield, Alva dozed off, her snores sounding rather musical. As I pulled up to a stoplight, I glanced over at my aunt. Her petite frame didn’t take up much space in the passenger seat. As she gently snored, I found myself captivated by her hands. Tissue-paper skin, wrinkled and soft, stretched across knobby joints, revealing exaggerated veins. My gaze shifted to her face. Alva’s makeup had been applied with a loopy hand, leaving her cheeks a bit pinker than one would expect. And the eyeliner job proved a bit cockeyed too. What she lacked in makeup technique, however, my aunt more than made up for in personality.
Behind me, a car horn beeped and I realized my light had turned green. Better step on it. I needed to get back home and spend some time with Brady. Surely we could put together a plan, if we put our minds to it.
Plans. Hmm.
I spent several minutes in inner turmoil. Despite my grandmother’s words the night before, I couldn’t help but wonder if my wedding plans—should I ever come up with any solid ones—would come under fire by the WOP-pers, my parents, and/or my future mother-in-law. Why did wedding planning have to be so complicated?
I spent the next several minutes pondering my situation. Just about the time we reached Waxahachie, my aunt startled awake. “Ooh, potty break required! Pull over quickly, if you please.”
“There’s a Dairy Queen at the next exit, Aunt Alva.”
She shifted her position and then grimaced. “I do love their ice cream. Might just have to get a cone.” She yawned and looked my way. “You know, I had the funniest dream. It was about you. I dreamed you played basketball. Isn’t that the silliest thing ever?”
“Definitely. I’m only five feet two, you know.”
“That’s what I told you in my dream.” She giggled. “There was more to it than that, but I’ll fill you in later. Right now I just need to hit the ladies’ room. Pull off quickly, please and thank you.”
We stopped at Dairy Queen, where Alva visited the ladies’ room, and then we both chowed down on Oreo Blizzards. I couldn’t help but think of my ex-boyfriend as I swallowed spoonful after spoonful of the yummy stuff. As a teenager, I’d just known Casey and I would get married in our local church. It would be a simple, sweet ceremony with a traditional but lovely reception in the fellowship hall. That’s how everyone in Fairfield did it . . . mostly, anyway. Only, now Casey was married to Joni and Crystal was having a Gone with the Wind wedding and my future mother-in-law wanted me to get married in Dallas and Twiggy wanted a full-out Texas cowboy–themed cake.
Life had been much simpler when I was a teenager. I wouldn’t mind
riding off into the sunset with Brady right about now, just to avoid all of the drama.
Oh, but when I thought of my precious fiancé, when I pondered our life together, I realized that all of the ups and downs of planning for our big day would be worth it in the end.
“Keep your eye on the basket.” As I spoke the words aloud, they sank deep into my heart. In that moment, clear as day, I saw Brady at the end of the court, arms outstretched. I pictured myself running straight into those arms, our happily ever after a slam dunk.
“Still thinking about your basketball days, Katie?” Alva looked my way as she swallowed the last of her Blizzard.
“I guess you could say that.” I wiped my hands on a napkin and tossed my cup in the trash can to my right. “Thinking about life in Fairfield. And I’ve been giving a lot of thought to Jasper this weekend too.”
“What about him? He play basketball too?”
“Well, yes, but I’m not thinking of anything sports related. Just thinking about the fact that he’ll be married. Soon. At our home church. It’s just so ironic. We always thought he’d move away from home to someplace like Houston, but he’s stayed put in Fairfield. And my parents, who were always such homebodies, are off gallivanting around the country in their RV.”
“Technically it’s a fifth wheel, not an RV.”
“I know, I know. I guess my point is, life doesn’t always turn out like you think.”
“Right. It doesn’t.” My aunt licked the remaining ice cream off her spoon and then waggled it in my direction. “Sometimes it turns out better.”
“True, that.” I took her empty cup and spoon and tossed them in the trash. “Ready to get back on the road?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. Can’t wait to get back home for a long nap.”
No doubt she’d be snoozing within five minutes of being in the car, but I didn’t mention that. I led the way back to my vehicle and climbed inside, only to discover a call coming through. I startled when Lori-Lou’s husband came on the line.
“Katie, where are you?” Josh sounded anxious. “You didn’t answer my texts.”
“On my way back from Fairfield. I didn’t realize I’d missed any text messages. What’s up?”
“Izzy is coming.”
For a second I thought I’d heard wrong. “W-what? Is this a joke?”
“No, I’m not kidding. The baby’s on her way—today. Right now. Lori-Lou’s at four centimeters and this is our fourth baby, so it won’t take long, I’m sure. I started texting you at eleven, when we left the house for the hospital. When I didn’t hear back, I just kept trying.”
“Oh. My. Goodness!” I turned the key in the ignition and looked around to make sure I was clear to back out, then eased back onto the highway. “I’m so sorry! I never heard the texts come through. Please forgive me. What should I do? Can I come up there?”
“Yes, please. I’m going to need help with the other kids. Do you think Brady might come too?”
“I’m not with Brady, but Alva’s right here. We’ll come together.”
“I’m . . . where am I?” Alva stirred and then promptly fell back asleep.
Josh disappeared for a minute and I could hear him fussing at one of the kids. When he returned, his words sounded rushed. “Okay. We can use all the help we can get, so rally the troops to help with the kids, if you can. Maybe you could call Brady to meet you here?”
“I can.”
I phoned him the minute I hung up with Josh. He agreed to head up to the hospital right away.
“Stay calm, Katie.”
“I will. I’m just mad at myself for missing his texts. My cousin went into labor without me.”
“Nothing would be any different if you’d been there.”
Those words sounded ridiculous to my ears. “Of course it would have! Josh is there alone with their three kids, and you know how they are.”
“I’m guessing he’s not alone. Surely Lori-Lou’s mom is there. And her dad.”
“Maybe. I forgot to ask. They live in Arkansas, so it’s more likely they’re not in the Dallas area yet. Probably on the road. Like me.” I glanced at the clock. “Lori-Lou was at four centimeters and this is baby number four.”
“I have no idea what that means, but don’t take off driving faster just because you’re anxious. Promise?”
“Okay, okay.” I glanced down at the speedometer. Yikes. Seventy-six in a seventy. I should ease up a bit. Better to get there alive than to cause an accident along the way.
We ended the call and I prayed for my cousin as I drove. All of my wedding planning woes now paled in comparison to what was taking place in her life.
I arrived at the hospital an hour later and dropped Aunt Alva off at the door. A couple of minutes later I found a parking spot, texted Brady, and then sprinted toward the door. By the time I got there, he was standing next to Alva, who still looked a bit groggy and confused.
I gave my sweetie a quick hug, and we all raced inside and followed the signs to the maternity floor. We located Eduardo in the labor and delivery waiting room with Lori-Lou’s three rambunctious children playing at his feet.
“Lori-Lou’s parents aren’t here yet?” I asked.
Eduardo shook his head. “No. I think they’re still about an hour away. Hope they make it in time. Just got here myself.”
“It was so good of you to come.” Alva plopped down in the chair next to him. “I can always count on you.”
Eduardo leaned over and gave my aunt a kiss on the cheek. “Mmm. You smell like roses.”
Stains of scarlet appeared on her soft, wrinkly cheeks, making them more youthful in appearance.
“Any word on Lori-Lou?” I asked. “How is she?”
“Seven and a half centimeters. Baby’s coming soon. Josh said to send you and Alva back as soon as you arrived. They’re in room 331—that way.” He pointed through the double doors.
My nerves kicked in. “You’re sure it’s okay for me to go in there?”
Eduardo nodded. “Josh says she’s an old pro at this, and she won’t mind a little company. Those are his words, not mine, in case anyone’s wondering.”
“You guys okay to watch the kids?” I looked back and forth between Brady and Eduardo.
“Are you kidding?” Brady scooped up Gilly and began to tickle her until she squealed with glee. “We’ve got this.”
By now Alva had already trotted off in the direction of the patients’ rooms. I tagged along behind her, coming to a stop at room 331.
“Okay, this is it.” I tugged at the collar of my sweater, suddenly feeling a little warm.
“Knock-knock!” Alva’s cheery voice rang out as she tapped on the door.
From inside I heard panting. At least, it sounded like panting.
I peeked inside and saw my cousin seated on the bed with her husband standing next to her.
“Okay to come in?” I asked.
“Sure. C’mon in and—ow, ow, ow!” Lori-Lou’s face turned red. After several seconds of panting with her eyes squeezed shut, she looked Josh’s way. “How. Long. Was. That. One?”
“Forty-seven seconds. Sorry, honey.”
My cousin released a long breath and her face returned to its normal color. “This little girl had better be well behaved once she arrives. She’s putting me through more grief than all the others rolled into one.”
That didn’t sound good, especially when one considered how precocious her other three children were. I hoped this wasn’t a sign of things to come.
“We just wanted to stick our heads in the door to say hello.” I gave her a little wave. “We won’t stay.”
“Definitely not.” Aunt Alva fanned herself and her face grew pale. After a few seconds she sputtered, “Well, have a nice delivery, you two,” then turned on her heels and took off out the door.
“Chicken,” Lori-Lou called out.
“You have to give it to her,” I said. “She’s fast on her feet. Not bad, considering her age.”
Lori-Lo
u’s glare seemed laser hot as she looked my way. “You’d. Better. Stay! I can’t do this by myself!”
Okay then. She couldn’t do this by herself. I took a couple of steps toward her, arriving at her bedside just in time for the blood pressure cuff to activate.
“This stupid thing!” She tugged at it and then started panting again as another contraction hit. Oh boy. I needed to escape from this room—and quick!
7
I Just Call You Mine
If I get married, I want to be very married.
Audrey Hepburn
I’d no sooner started planning my escape route than the nurse arrived. She took one look at my cousin’s blood pressure results—173/96—and pushed me out the door, claiming Lori-Lou needed to calm down.
She didn’t have to tell me twice. I left in a hurry, promising my cousin that I’d pray for a safe and healthy delivery. As Alva and I made our way back to the waiting room, anxiety kicked in.
“Do you think she’s going to be okay, Auntie?”
“Sure.” With a wave of her hand, Aunt Alva appeared to dismiss my concerns. “She’s done this a time or two.”
“Yeah. I’m sure you’re right.” Only, I wasn’t so sure, to be honest. Fear gripped my heart as I thought about my cousin’s elevated blood pressure.
We headed down the hall and I did my best to calm my stomach. I’d always hated the smell of hospitals. We arrived back in the waiting room to find the kids playing tag and the two guys engrossed in a conversation about basketball. Go figure. Gilly asked to play on Alva’s phone and she handed it to her, no questions asked.
“You sure that’s safe?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Alva took a seat next to Eduardo once again. “Josh showed me how to download some of those app things the kids like. You’d be surprised at how many minutes of peace I can get in a day just by passing off my phone.”
“But what if she calls Australia or something?”
“Hmm.” My aunt appeared to consider that. “Hadn’t thought of that, to be honest. If she does, I guess it’d be cheaper than reimbursing the hospital for any furniture they might break by running around the waiting room like animals.”