Page 51 of Hers to Marry
“How did you get dragged into this?”
“My mom said the bride ate some bad sushi. You?”
He smirked. “Grandma said the groom got sick. She said I should take a day off and come out here and get some history and make out with a cute girl.”
Even though it was still early in the morning, the July sun had started to take effect. Now Kat was simply ablaze. “Oh, so a make-out session convinced you?”
He cocked his head to one side. “Very funny. I thought she was joking, and now I’m not so sure.”
“Why?”
He stared at her without blinking. “You know why.”
Did she? She looked away.
Muriel came up with hands clasped in front of her chest, her face illuminated by her bright smile. “Okay, you two, let’s get you to the chapel.”
They followed Muriel to the location where the wedding was going to take place. Kat smiled at the rows of chairs facing a small archway adorned with roses and a lovely field of flowers behind it. “It’s very pretty,” she breathed.
“You’d like an outdoor wedding?” Drew asked casually.
“I think it would be peaceful, don’t you? Something small with our closest friends.”
“Our?” A brow rose.
“I mean mine and my…whoever I’m going to marry.” Kat turned her head and rolled her eyes. She blamed Muriel and her mother. She didn’t believe this wedding was really on the agenda. Well, she had to get an agenda to prove it.
He grinned. “I agree. An intimate wedding somewhere like this.”
“Or by the lake. I think by the lake would be really wonderful. Lots of wildflowers, the soft sounds of nature.”
He got a far-off look in his eyes. “Yeah, that would be nice.”
“You and Parker are booked for a hotel downtown, right?” She already knew the answer. She had read Parker’s brief email that basically gave the name of the hotel and the types of flowers she’d like to see at her wedding.
He sighed. “Yup. Married in a hotel,” he said dryly.
Kat had guessed that would be his reaction and silently agreed with his distaste. Hotels were cold, formal…like Parker.
Muriel explained that Drew would be standing underneath the archway and all they’d have to do is recite the vows stated by the man playing the pastor. Drew and Kat nodded. In thirty minutes, a crowd of onlookers had gathered—the reenactment festival well under way—and Drew took his place at the alter.
“Nervous?” Mary whispered from behind Kat, who stood at the other end of the aisle, waiting for the signal. She was dressed in a plain cotton dress fit for a servant in some big house.
“I don’t know why. It’s a fake wedding.”
Mary handed her a bouquet of fresh wildflowers. “Because he’s your Steven.” She winked.
Kat narrowed her eyes. “I blame you for this.”
She giggled. “Good luck, honey.”
“You know this isn’t real.”
Mary kissed Kat on the cheek and took a seat in the back row.
“Okay everyone!” Muriel called them all to attention. “After the nuptials, we’ll have a reception where you’ll get to eat a few of the foods that you would’ve seen in the 1860s. If you look at our bride, Kat, she’s wearing her Sunday’s best, which would be a typical wedding dress of a girl who wasn’t wealthy. Same goes for our handsome groom, Drew, dressed in his best clothes.”
Slowly, Kat walked down the aisle and met Drew, who looked incredibly relaxed. He mouthed the words “I love you” and grinned wider.
