Page 28 of Jam and Jingle Bells
“I know she wouldn’t. You’re going to be her daughter-in-law. She’d be honored for you to wear it.”
A smile reached her eyes, but it dimmed again when she turned back to the mirror. “I don’t know, guys. It’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but is it too much for a courthouse wedding?”
Ivy shook her head violently. I was afraid she was going to break her neck if she wasn’t careful. “No, you could walk into that courthouse in a full train and it wouldn’t be too much. This is your wedding. If you love this dress then you should wear it proudly. I know with absolute certainty Mason would definitely do jazz hands for this dress.”
Mel laughed with happiness and nodded. “You know what? You’re absolutely right. This is my wedding and I can keep it simple, but it’s also going to be my only wedding, so I deserve to enjoy it, right?”
“Right,” Ivy and I said in unison.
A look passed between us and all it said wasgotcha.
Chapter Eight
We were back at the diner and the gown had been paid for and left at the bridal shop to be steamed. It was now or never if we were going to talk to Mel about our plan. Ivy slid into the booth with two pieces of pie and two coffees. She had a Sprite and some toast in front of her, but that was as far as she was willing to go this late at night. The diner was closed so we had the place to ourselves, thankfully. The fewer distractions the better.
I took a container of strawberry jam from the dish and spread it on my blueberry pie, much to the chagrin of both Melissa and Ivy. “What?” I asked, scooping a bite into my mouth. “You should try it. Even Ellis tried it and thought it was good.”
Ivy waved her finger around my pie. “I noticed that the other day when he was in here. I rolled my eyes so hard I almost fell over.”
Mel nodded as she chewed. “That boy has it bad,” she added when she swallowed.
“Has what bad?” I asked, shoving pie in my mouth.
Ivy and Mel just rolled their eyes at each other and I decided now was a good time to change the subject. Spring the idea on her when she was least expecting it, so to say.
“Hey, Mel, I have a question.” She motioned at me with her fork to go ahead. “What happens at an adoption hearing for a step-parent?”
She laid her fork down and took a drink of her coffee. “It will be simple since we don’t know who Holly’s father was. That means there was no one to contest the adoption, so once we’re married, we sign the paperwork that my lawyer has already submitted to the judge. Then they send us a new birth certificate for Holly with Mason’s name on it and a new social security card.”
I nodded along as though this was new information, even though it wasn’t.
Ivy jumped in. “Yeah, the judge doesn’t even have to do it in the courtroom. That’s why they’re getting married in his chambers.”
Mel shrugged. “No sense using up courtroom space and time when it’s not needed.”
I leaned forward. “I’m glad you feel that way because I had an idea.”
“And I thought it was a great one,” Ivy added, helping me along.
“Well, out with it,” Mel said, glancing between us.
“I checked and there’s nothing going on at the gazebo on December ninth. I was thinking, since that’s where he proposed, it would be a great place to get married.” I nodded along as though she should too, but she didn’t. She just sat there and stared at us.
“Um, what now?”
Ivy decided to take over the explanation. “The courthouse is a good place to get married, but the gazebo is so beautiful, and you know how much Holly loves the tree,” she added, using her daughter as a bargaining chip. I had to give her points for that.
“She does, but we’re not getting married at the gazebo.”
Ivy held up her hand. “I know, you’re worried about the cold and your feet, but we wouldn’t be out there for very long and I found the cutest pair of white boots. You wouldn’t even be able to see them under the gown you just bought anyway,” she said, holding up her phone to show her the fur boots on the screen. “I’d buy them, and they could be your something new,” she added quickly. “Besides, you can wear them again, they’re nice boots.”
Mel waved her hand in confusion. “Why does it matter where we get married as long as we get married?”
“It only matters where you get married if you’re going to get married in one place, but your heart is in another.”
“You’re saying I’m settling for the courthouse when I’d rather get married in the gazebo.”
Ivy touched her nose gently. “Bingo. You always said it was your dream to get married there. Last year, at my wedding, you looked so beautiful rocking back and forth in Mason’s arms as you danced by the light of the tree.”
