Page 46 of Clean Sweep
Our hands untangled as she reached into her purse and pulled out several papers folded in half longways. Her hands trembled a little as she opened them, then flipped them so I could see.
Lists cluttered the front and back of two pages. While I studied the words, she had a sip of tea. It took only a moment for me to comprehend what she’d just given me.
“A wedding list?” I asked.
“Landon and I are very busy with the end of semester finals and his new job and . . . a few other things.” She waved a vague hand and had another sip of tea. “We were wondering if you could help us pull the wedding together?”
Whether it was the warm drink, the coffee shop, or having spilled her thoughts, her cheeks had pinked up a little bit. When she had more color, her face flushed out in a lovely way. I had no difficulty seeing in her what Landon must see.
I studied her eager eyes for any sign of pity. Was she giving me something to do to help me get used to this? I found none. Instead, a sense of hope mixed with despair lived there.
Whatever they faced in their life that they weren’t disclosing, it certainly seemed real enough.
“Yes, of course.”
She tapped a finger at the top of the list, and I felt a thrill at her organization. A girl after my own heart. Maybe boysdidmarry different versions of their mother.
“Here are a few simple things I need help with,” she murmured. “It’s mostly coordinating, like what you said you were doing for a family reunion here. Calling a few places, that sort of thing. We aren’t going to have anything big. We just need to find a venue, an officiant, and invite Landon’s friends and family.”
“What about yours?”
“Ah . . . there won’t be any. Just me.”
My gaze darted to hers, but she kept hers studiously on the papers. “See this list? Landon wondered if we could have the ceremony here.” Starla gestured around us. “At the Frolicking Moose. I thought I’d ask if it was available.”
I skimmed the page, sliding past completed details likewedding dressandbudget. Their total budget of $500 sent a wince and a giggle through me at the same time. Easy enough to fix. If she let me help with the planning, my credit card could also help with the expenses.
“Winter theme,” I murmured as I read the top of the second page. Underneath that were doubly-underlined words.Lots of snowflakes and glitter. I grinned.
“Snowflakes and glitter. Girl after my heart.”
Starla smiled unapologetically. I kept perusing past a list of bridal necessities—comfortable shoes, groom’s ring, and hairstyle picked—and into a detailed explanation of the generalities. Simple catering. Easy wedding cake design. My eyes skidded to a full stop on the date.
New Year’s.
I blinked.
What?
She’d tensed when I looked up at her, clearly anticipating what I’d just seen. “New Year’s?” I asked.
She rolled her lips, looking uneasy again. “Yes. We, ah, moved up the date from Valentine’s Day. It will work best with training for Landon’s new position and a few other things.”
Thefew other thingsis what had my curiosity. Whatever it was, thoseother thingsclearly drove the agenda here. She’d appeased some of my concerns, but new ones grew. While I had a greater trust in their inherent care for each other, I still couldn’t believe that they were making the right decision.
What drove them to such haste?
“Do you think it will be possible?” she asked. “Could we pull something like this off, or is it too late?
A note of concern filled her tone, and I found myself wanting to allay it.
“Yes, of course.”
“Would the Frolicking Moose be available?”
She glanced over her shoulder, past the counter where Dahlia filled a drive-through order, and into the doorway that led to the back room.
White twinkle lights, fake snow, and far too much Christmas glitter already decorated the back room now. Except for a Christmas tree in the corner, I’d insisted on avoiding Christmas decorations and keeping it solely winter themed to avoid decorating twice. Maverick had been resistant, but eventually saw my way.
