Page 18 of Alistair

Maggie frowned. Boozy was her sister’s twelve-year-old chihuahua, which was just as likely to bite your face as she was to cuddle up to you.

She saw her mom and Geneva frantically shaking their heads, so she said, “How many guests have dogs?”

“Oh, I don’t know. A few, I guess.”

“So it seems like something that will just end up getting tossed. You’re already putting Boozy in the wedding pictures and she’s going to be the flower girl. I think that’s plenty.” When Penny opened her mouth to protest, Maggie switched the subject by saying, “So what do you want me to help you with? The seating chart?”

“We’ll do that later,” Penny said. “I need your help with the decorations for the cake table.”

As Maggie busied herself following her sister’s detailed instructions to get the cake table decorations made, she listened to her sister talk about the dinner she’d had the night before with Brian’s family and her mom lament her inability to find shoes to match the dress she’d picked out

Maggie’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it from her back pocket.

I hope you slept well last night, sweetheart. And I hope you’re having a great day today.

Alistair had texted her!

She nearly squeaked in excitement like a mouse with a piece of cheese.

She texted back,I did! I hope you did too. Are you taking care of the animals today?

Yeah, I’m heading to the paddock to see if Tank is in a good mood.

Sounds like more fun than I’m having. I’m making a garland out of silk flowers and strings of pearls to decorate the cake table.She sent him a picture of the mass of flowers spread out in front of her.

Maybe you can help me in the paddock sometime when you’re not busy making garlands.

I’d love that.

I’m looking forward to tonight.

Me too.

See you soon.

She sent a smiley face emoji and nearly put a heart but decided against it. Hadn’t she just told herself she was happy to be taking things slow with him? Putting her phone away, she got back to work. The faster the day went, the faster she’d get to see him again.

After lunch, the decorations were put away and the seating chart was brought out. Penny had used marker to draw the interior of the ballroom on a large piece of white posterboard, from the area where the ceremony would take place, to the bars on either side, the double doors where they’d make their grand entrance, and the tables spread out around the perimeter of the dance floor.

Her sister and her fiancé were going to be at a sweetheart table.

Maggie scanned the tables and found the two family tables—one for Brian’s and one for Penny’s—and her name next to her parents.

“What the hell?” Maggie demanded.

“What?” Penny asked.

Maggie set her fingertip on the seat next to hers that was apparently reserved for Seth.

“You know what. Why the hell is Seth at the table? Why is he even coming? We broke up a year ago!”

Penny stared at Maggie like she’d sprouted a second head. “When we sent out the save-the-date cards, you were still together and you said he was your plus-one.”

“But we broke up. A year ago.”

Penny didn’t say anything.

Maggie felt like her whole world was turned upside down.

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