Lucy’s father escorted her to the edge of the portable stage as the minister and Patrick moved forward to meet her there.
Mr. Carter presented his daughter to Patrick, did his part in the ceremony, and then gave her a kiss on the cheek and joined his wife at their seats. Patrick took a second to whisper something to her. In her heels, she was eye to eye with him. He stroked her temple and gazed at her for a second before they followed the minster back to the center of the platform. Jayne stepped forward and Lucy handed her the bridal bouquet before she turned to face her husbands-to-be.
Witnessing the adoration in Patrick and Beck’s eyes, and despite all the worry and struggles she was going through, Maizy prayed fervently that someday she might reach a similar moment with her bears. As the minister spoke to the assemblage, Maizy made eye contact with Cody, Heath, and Spencer. Warmth filled her at the combined heat of their gazes and she wondered what they were thinking.
Chapter Twenty-Five
At Rachel’s request, Cody, Heath, and Spencer finished moving all the white folding chairs to the tables so the guests could find a seat, while the more intimate binding ceremony was being performed inside the house.
Warmth filled Cody’s chest and his stomach felt like butterflies were practicing Blue Angels maneuvers inside it when he saw Maizy walking toward them across the grassy expanse of the yard. The blue lace dress floated on the breeze as she moved.
Cody struggled to string words together as Maizy joined them under the arching branches of the tall oak trees. Tears still shimmered in her eyes and she looked more beautiful than he could find words to describe. He didn’t like feeling so inept but she seemed to do that to him on an increasingly regular basis.
Spencer nudged him and nodded when he looked at him. Cody swallowed and said, “Angel, we wanted to talk to you about—”
“Has anyone seen Maizy?” Charity called out and then spotted her and waved. “Hey, Maizy! Grace needs you inside!”
Maizy smiled at the three of them and patted his chest. “Let me find out what she needs, Cody. They’re running a bit behind schedule. I’ll be right back.”
Cody and the others nodded, and Spencer growled as she walked away, his eyes riveted to her legs. “Damn, she’s fine…and she’s ours. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
Cody sighed and then shrugged. “I don’t know, I was trying to get the words out…”
“And you got nervous?” Heath asked incredulously and then smiled. “Nah. Impossible. I’m gonna go see if I can help with anything. I’ll grab her next time I see her.” He walked off toward Rachel and Maya Warner, who looked like they were directing traffic. The kids crowded around Rachel’s husband, Eli, and Ethan as they sat together in folding chairs, playing guitar instrumentals. Guests milled around and visited with each other while the food was set up.
Cody joined a conversation with Ace Webster and Kemp Whittier and their wife, Summer. He discovered that Kemp and Ace were also big Dallas Cowboys fans and Summer rolled her eyes as the conversation devolved into a bullshit session about whether the team’s leadership was worth a shit or not.
He noticed that wedding guests were sitting down to the tables and eating, and wondered if Maizy was hungry. He looked around for her and discovered her near the dance floor, talking with Margot Redman and one of her men, Gil James.
Gil was a foreman at Chance and Clayton Carlisle’s Rockin’ C Ranch, a large cattle operation in the area, and Margot was co-owner of Discretion Boutique, one of the ladies’ favorite places to shop. He wondered if Maizy had been in there yet and turned to Summer, who was her sister’s partner.
“Summer, do you ever have any men who come in your shop, and ask for help…I mean, do they ever ask you for advice…”
Summer patted his arm. “Do they ask me for help as a personal shopper?”
She understood. Cody nodded. “Exactly.”
She grinned and gestured at the gathering. “I’ve helped at least half the men here, honey, at one point or another. Discretion serves a unique clientele with diverse interests. It can be a little intimidating for the uninitiated. Do you need some help?”
“Well, I was just wondering if Maizy has ever been in, and if there’s anything she likes.”
Summer nodded her head, her eyes lighting with merriment. “Yes, she’s been in to shop with Lucy before. If you came in, you wouldn’t have to worry about guessing her sizes because I have them on file.”
“That was one of my concerns. I’ve heard good things about your place but I’m not sure I’d know where to begin.”