“Oh, I do.” I laughed. “I mean, I do feel the same. I really do.”
“Good. Then I have a question for you, Katie Sue Fisher.” He held the ring up and grinned. “Would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Brady James?”
“Would I!”
He slid the ring on my finger and I realized a crowd had gathered around us. I looked down at the gorgeous gem and then flung myself into Brady’s arms, forgetting about his bad knee. Fortunately, he managed to keep standing. Oh, but what sweet kisses followed. As I lingered in the arms of the man I loved, I thought about my life—my amazing, crazy life—and how far I’d come over the past year. What a blissful ride!
The cameras kept clicking. No doubt we were getting some fun shots. And the crowd seemed to be enjoying it, so we kept giving them more and more fodder.
Finally we came up for air. Through the sea of faces I saw Alva. And Queenie and Pap-Paul. And Mama and Pop. What? Weren’t they supposed to be in New Mexico? And Nadia. Whoa! When did she get back from Paris? And my brothers. And their respective leading ladies. I saw Stan pass a handkerchief to Madge, who dabbed her eyes. Then my gaze traveled back to Brady . . . and there it stayed. Well, until he pulled me close and planted a kiss on me that would’ve made Doris Day swoon. The crowd went a little crazy after that.
A few moments later I was surrounded by loved ones all talking at once.
My grandmother was the first to get my attention. “I guess you know what this means, Katie Sue.”
“What, Queenie?”
“You’ve got to come and get that wedding dress out of my cedar closet.”
“Oh, that’s right. But we haven’t even set a date yet. And I don’t know where we’ll get married.”
“Fort Worth is lovely for weddings,” Nadia suggested.
“Over my dead body.” Queenie gave me a knowing look. “Katie will get married at the Baptist church in Fairfield, naturally. Where she belongs.”
“Oh, but we won’t be living in Fairfield, Queenie. Surely you know that.”
“I know, I know.” She waved her hand. “But please make this old lady happy by sealing the deal in the church you grew up in. Promise?”
“But you’re a Presbyterian now. Why would that matter to you?”
“It just matters. Then again, if you want to dance, we’ll have to have the reception at the Methodist church. That might be problematic.”
“We can talk about all of that later.”
Mama got involved at this point. “Ooh, if you had a summer wedding, you could have your reception outdoors at city hall, right across the street from the hardware store. We could set up picnic tables and invite the whole town.”
That sounded wonderful to me, but I’d have to run all of it by Brady. He might have different ideas altogether.
“Of course, I’ll have to talk your father into staying home long enough to attend your wedding.” Mama rolled her eyes. “I do hope he gives up on that RV park idea. You’re my only daughter, Katie, and I’m going to be there for you no matter what.”
Off she went on a tangent, talking about Pop and his wanderlust. Not that I really heard any of it. Through the crowd I caught a glimpse of Brady talking to Jordan Singer. He gestured for me to join him and I wove my way through my friends and family members to his side. He took my hand—the one with the ring on it—and gave it a kiss à la Eduardo.
“You sure you can handle being Mrs. Brady James?” he asked. “My life is pretty crazy.”
“Your life is crazy?” I gestured to the crowd of people behind us. “Most of those people are from my side.”
He gazed at me with intensity. “No more sides, Katie. It’s not about Fairfield or Dallas. It’s not about the Mavericks or Spurs. It’s not even about the Baptists or Presbyterians. From now on, we’re on the same team.”
“Ooh, I like the sound of that.”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me soundly. The crowd gathered around us once again. I could hear Queenie bickering with Alva about where the wedding would be held. Mama and Pop argued about the timing of the wedding and how that would interfere with his latest plan to buy an RV park. Twiggy and Dahlia fretted over who would run the store if Brady and I left to go on a honeymoon. And Eduardo and Nadia called dibs on who would get to make my wedding gown.
Should I remind them that I already had a wedding gown hanging in Queenie’s cedar closet? It, like the girl who would wear it, had been waiting quite some time.
But as I gazed up, up, up into Brady’s gorgeous eyes, I had to admit the truth. Some things were definitely worth the wait.
Acknowledgments
The writing of this story came at a difficult time in our family’s journey. Just a few months after celebrating the news that a granddaughter was on the way, we received the devastating news that little Evie Joy didn’t make it. We didn’t learn until after the fact that she had Turner’s syndrome, a chromosomal condition that affects one in every two thousand live births and is responsible for nearly 10 percent of all miscarriages. I was in the middle of writing this happy-go-lucky story at the very time we were mourning her loss. When I contacted my editor, Jennifer Leep, to let her know that I needed extra time to complete the book as a result, she responded with such kindness and grace. This is such an example of the body of Christ at work in the real world. It’s one thing for people to say, “I’m a believer.” It’s another thing to see them prove it with their actions. I’m so grateful for the role Jennifer has played in my writing career, but I’m even more grateful for her kindness. She’s walked me through countless trials.
Speaking of editors, I’m so blessed to have my line/copy editor, Jessica English. Jessica, I marvel at your ability to keep up with all of my characters. And the timelines! You’re a marvel. Please don’t ever leave me!
To my awesome marketing team at Revell: Michele Misiak, Erin Bartels, Lanette Haskins, and many others. Thanks so much for helping me market my books. Those blog tours are amazing! Thanks for rallying around me at book launch time. I love the creative things we come up with.
Speaking of teams, I’m forever grateful to my Dream Team. You put up with my prayer requests, my crazy marketing ideas, and my wacky stories. You are my biggest fans, and vice versa. What a gift you are to me!
I want to offer a kind word for my agent, Chip MacGregor. He came up with the idea for this story and has celebrated its success every step of the way. Chip, I’m so glad to have you in my life. You’re a terrific cheerleader.
Finally, to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You’ve called me to go outside of the box and write romantic comedy instead of the “serious stuff.” Though I don’t always understand this amazing call on my life, I’m grateful for it. It’s such a relief to be who you’ve called me to be.
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. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.
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 reflected 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 woul
d 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 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 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!”
“Love does make you feel young, doesn’t it?” She attempted to stand, but her arthritis slowed things down a bit. “Well, 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! And don’t fret, Auntie. I’ll fix my own.”
“Before long you’ll be fixing breakfast for two.” A look of concern shadowed 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 at her chest. “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, my lips curling up in a smile 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?”
“Maybe that’s a discussion for another day.” Brady gave her 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? Everything has to be planned out.”
“Well, 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. Well, 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 into place alongside 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.”
“Well, 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. 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. 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 fresh, 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—”
“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?”
“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?”
“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 little 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 little 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.