The Magnolia Cafe(9)

“Write them down, Jenny.” Izzy laughed and handed her friend a sheet of paper and a pen.

“I wish I were as organized as you. I can’t seem to get everything done that needs to be done.”

“When are you going to move?” Becky Lee glanced at her watch.

“We’re going to move almost everything next month, but Nathan and I will wait to move until after the wedding. A bit old fashioned, but I just wouldn’t feel right moving in with the kids and everything. Not before we make it official.”

“Ah, your old-fashioned ways are part of your charm.” Izzy grinned at her and looked down at her binder. “Okay, moving on. We’ll have the wedding in the backyard of my carriage house. I’ve got some rental chairs ordered and I’ll do up a nice arbor for you. Gil is going to build it for me. It pays to have a handy brother. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, but just in case, I’m going to find a backup plan.”

“You think of everything.” Jenny was filled with gratitude for all the help, for their years and years of friendship.

“I found a place to order the flowers you wanted. Simple white hydrangeas. They will look wonderful.” Izzy looked at her list again. “Becky Lee and I still need to get our dresses. We just need to finalize the color and we’ll get different style dresses, but the same color.”

“You two will make great tandem maids of honor.”

“Way to go, not having to pick between us.” Becky Lee grinned.

“As if I ever could. You two are the best.”

“We are.” Izzy nodded gravely then the corners of her mouth teased into a grin. “Good thing you have us. Oh, and Owen is going to work with Sylvia to pick the wines for the reception, if that’s okay. I’m good at planning, but I just don’t know wines and how much we need to order.”

“How is Owen? Back in town again?”

“I haven’t seen him in over a week. He’s away on business again.”

“Things getting any better between Owen and Jeremy?”

“Not really. My son is the most stubborn male I’ve ever met. He’s not willing to give Owen much of a chance, but he knows I won’t put up with his rudeness. Owen is being so patient. Timmy is nuts about Owen, luckily. At least he has one of my sons in his corner.”

“Things getting serious between you two?” Jenny knew Izzy and Owen had been dating awhile, but had a brief breakup this winter, mostly due to Jeremy. She thought things were going better for them now.

“I don’t know…” Izzy sighed. “It would probably go better if he’d ever be in town for more than a few days. He keeps saying he’s going to work it out so he’s here for a month or so, but something always comes up.”

“I guess the shop will be busy this summer, too. You always keep crazy hours at your shop in the summertime with all the tourists coming to town.” Jenny shook her head. “I don’t know how you do it all. Run your shop, raise two young boys… and plan your friend’s wedding.”

Izzy laughed. “But planning the wedding is fun. The boys are… a handful. But I love having my own shop and don’t really mind the long hours in the summer. I’m just glad for the business the tourists bring in.”

“You going on anymore antique buying trips to stock up the store before the rush hits?” Jenny asked.

“I think I’m fine. I did a lot of that this winter.”

“That’s good, ‘cause I know your summer gets nuts.” Becky Lee glanced at her watch again. “I think everything should be ready. Let me just pop in the kitchen and check.”

~ * ~

Jenny dropped Izzy off at her home and decided to drop by Greta’s house and see Clay for a few minutes. They’d both been so busy they’d hardly seen each other for days. She pulled into the drive and saw Clay and his mother sitting on the front porch.

Clay pushed off the porch swing, loped down the steps, and over to her car. “Hey, beautiful.” His eyes lit up and he flashed his just-for-her smile. “This is a nice surprise. I’d almost forgotten what you look like.”

Jenny slipped out of the car and Clay enveloped her in a hug. She rested in his arms for a moment, letting all the stress of the day and the litany of to dos fade away. “Hm, I needed that hug.”

“Always have one waiting for you. Tough day?”

“Just a long one.”

“Did you get more wedding things sorted out with Bella and Becky Lee tonight?”

Jenny pulled away from the hug and took Clay’s offered hand. “We did. I’m lucky to have both of them or we’d never get to have this wedding.”