Page 34 of Cowboys at Coconuts

Suzy winked. “Your name is on my babysitting sheet too, my dear.”

Shaking her head, Alex said, “Honestly, you don’t want me near babies. I’d rather help you with your wedding business. Fair trade-off?”

Reaching for a sweater in her purse, Suzy said, “We’ll see. I don’t have any brides lined up but if I get another mother of the bride like that pretentious Mrs. Biltmore, she’s all yours.”

“Mrs. Bitchmore, you mean?” Alex said. “I could handle someone like her. I’d enjoy that.”

Hope slapped her forehead with her palm. “I remember her. Didn’t she have a stroke and become, um, nice?”

Nodding, Suzy said, “She sure did. Too bad she isn’t on Facebook. I’d like to catch up with her.”

“She owns the Biltmore Country Club across town,” Alex said. “We could always have lunch there.”

Suzy chuckled. “I don’t want to catch up with her that badly.” Glancing toward the front entrance, she said, “Cheri’s taking her sweet time with that cowboy.”

“So would I,” both Alex and Hope said. Alex doubled over laughing. “Change of subject. What’s going on with you, Hope? Why the text earlier? Not that I’m complaining.”

Rubbing her forehead, Hope said, “I do have excitement, I suppose. But it’s unwanted.”

Alex and Suzy both leaned forward. “And?”

Hope took a sip of margarita for fortitude. “Get ready. This is a shocker. I’m pretending to be upbeat, but I’m a total and complete wreck. Willow and Larry-Mac, my thought-dead adopted dad, got married in Eureka Springs. I read a newspaper article months ago about a woman, who looks just like Montana, also known as Larry’s wife, who is apparently alive in a nursing home.”

After a few gasps, Alex’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t even live in Utah.”

“Huh?” Suzy asked.

“Polygamy. If Larry is indeed Larry, and Montana is alive, then he has committed polygamy.”

Hope’s eyes filled with tears. “Afraid so. I’ve met with my dad about this and—”

“He’s an attorney, right?” Suzy asked. Hope nodded. “What does he suggest?”

Taking a deep breath, Hope said, “He believes, like I do, that I must get Larry to Nashville to see his wife.” She steepled her fingers. “Maybe seeing Montana will jog his memory. Then we can deal with the legality of his marriage to Willow. I want to leave for Nashville as soon as possible.”

“What a mess.” Alex held up her fingers. “So, girls, let’s see. What are we dealing with this time?” She ticked each item off on her fingers. “Morning sickness, a hateful intern who is probably dating my boyfriend’s married brother, and the whopper of them all, Hope’s adopted dad got married, but his first wife is still alive.” Sipping her wine, she asked, “Does that about sum it up?”

“Don’t forget the cowboy. I wonder if Cheri is coming back inside.” Suzy and Hope both giggled. Alex grinned. “Yeah, I admit. I’m most intrigued about the cowboy. I figured Cheri was hobnobbing with Elton John again or maybe Keith Urban. But here she is with a real live cowboy.”

“Change of subject.” Suzy frowned. “One girl at the OB/GYN thought I was waiting for my daughter. She thought I wasthe grandma.”

Elbowing Suzy, Alex said, “Newsflash: You are a grandma.”

Suzy threw up both hands. “You’re impossible.”

“Well, you are.” Alex sipped her chardonnay. “But you’re a young, sexy grandma. There’s that.”

“Thanks, I think.” Suzy glanced toward the entrance. “Something tells me Cheri isn’t coming back inside.”

“Can you blame her?” Alex asked.

Chapter 32

Still furious about Nikki’s confrontation in the bank parking lot, Alex couldn’t wait to interrogate her intern the following morning. Crossing the lobby, she made idle chitchat with lenders, got coffee, and waited for Hannah to arrive.

Before her intern had a chance to sit down, Alex stood with both hands on her hips. “Close the door.”

Hannah’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you firing me?”

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