Page 39 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense,” Aubrey said to Poppy. “Show us.”
With a theatrical flourish, Poppy slid the invitation from its envelope, holding it up like a prized artifact. Aubrey leaned in. The invitation was a work of art—delicate ivory paper embossed with a subtle pattern of pine trees, the text a rich, earthy brown.
Charly’s brow furrowed slightly as she examined every detail, her eyes roving over each carefully chosen word. Aubrey found herself holding her breath, acutely aware of how much this meant to her friend. She glanced at Poppy, seeing her own nervous anticipation mirrored in the wedding planner’s face.
“Well?” Aubrey prompted, unable to bear the suspense any longer. “What’s the verdict, Char?”
For a moment, Charly’s expression remained unreadable, and Aubrey felt a flicker of worry. Had something gone wrong? But then, a radiant smile spread across Charly’s face.
“It’s perfect,” she breathed, her eyes welling with happy tears. “Absolutely perfect.”
The tension in the air dissolved instantly, replaced by a wave of collective joy. Aubrey felt her own lips curve into a smile. “Thank God,” she muttered, reaching for Charly’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “I was worried we’d have to tie Poppy to a chair to keep her from redesigning the whole thing if you didn’t like it.”
Poppy let out a laugh, bright and melodious. “Hey now, I might just like being tied to a chair.”
Aubrey barked a laugh. “Somehow I do not doubt that.”
As the three of them shared a moment of laughter and relief, Aubrey’s heart warmed. She couldn’t forget that only a few months ago everything seemed wrong, but now, there was a brightness to her days she loved.
When the laughter faded, Poppy leaned in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Now, ladies, let’s talk accommodations for our out-of-town guests. I’ve been doing some research, and I think I’ve found some perfect options.”
“Do tell,” Aubrey said.
“The Timber Falls Inn is our crown jewel, of course,” Poppy explained. “It’s got that rustic charm with all the modern amenities. But for those looking for a more intimate experience, I’ve scouted out a few adorable bed and breakfasts.”
Charly nodded appreciatively. “You’ve really thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“That’s why you hired me, sugar.” Poppy winked. “I’ve got brochures for each place, complete with pricing and availability. I figure we can include them with the invitations, make it easy for everyone.”
Aubrey couldn’t help but be impressed. “Poppy, you’re a godsend. I don’t know how we’d manage all this without you.”
As Poppy beamed under the praise, the door to the bar opened yet again, bringing the familiar presence of Willow.
“Well, well,” Willow said, her eyes taking in the scene before her. “Looks like I’m interrupting a party. I’ve never seen the bar this busy so early in the morning.”
Charly held up the invitation with a grin. “Final approval on the invitations.” She pointed to Jessie. “Band has been booked.”
Willow’s face softened. “Amazing,” she said, sliding onto a stool next to Charly.
Charly let out a deep, contented sigh, her shoulders visibly relaxing as she gazed around at her friends. The weight of wedding planning that had been pressing down on her for months seemed to lift, replaced by a warm sense of accomplishment.
“I can’t believe we’re almost there,” she said, her voice soft with wonder. “All the big things are done. It’s really happening.”
Aubrey reached over and squeezed Charly’s hand. “This wedding is going to be beautiful.”
Charly’s eyes misted over. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you,” she said, her gaze sweeping from Aubrey to Poppy to Willow. “I just appreciate it so much.”
She trailed off, overcome with emotion. Aubrey put an arm around Charly’s shoulders.
“Alright, enough of the mushy stuff,” Aubrey said, keeping them on track as she’d done the past two months. “What’s left on the list?”
Charly straightened, wiping at her eyes. “Well, we’ve still got the final fittings next week. And then there’s the decorations that I want to make.”
“Oh! Speaking of decorations,” Poppy interjected, practically bouncing in her seat. “I had the most brilliant idea for centerpieces. We could use mason jars filled with wildflowers and fairy lights!”
Charly’s face lit up. “That sounds perfect! But it’s a lot of work.” She paused, head cocking. Then added, “What if we made it a group project? We could all get together, maybe even rope the cowboys into helping. Make a day of it?”
Aubrey grinned. “Count me in.”
