“What trailer?”
“They’re moving one in beside my house tomorrow m-mornin’,” Shane answered. “It’s real nice, even if it is a used one. That w-way they don’t have to pay rent and can save up their m-money for a down payment on some land and a house.”
“But three weeks?” Vicky put her head in her hands.
“Don’t worry, Mama. We’ve already got plans in motion. We’re getting married in the parking lot of the diner at eight o’clock. The sun should be setting about then,” Emily said.
“I see you’ve been thinkin’ about this for a while.” Vicky’s voice sounded all high and squeaky even to her ears.
“Yes, ma’am, we have,” Ryder said. “Vicky, please give me a chance. I love her more than anything in this world.”
“Parking lot?” Vicky grimaced.
“We can’t take out more than two tarts. It’s the first rule.” Emily’s smile was weak, but her eyes shone with love. “And I want tarts on the counter right along with a wedding cake. Think Andy will take care of that for us?”
“Dress, flowers, invitations?” Vicky floundered at the enormity of it all.
“Public invitation at church. Flowers can be ordered. Nothing fancy. I’d be happy with wildflowers picked from the side of the road. The dress is something I saved for me and you to do together. Of course, we’ll need Nettie and Jancy to go with us, and Sarah, Teresa, and Waynette, because they’re going to be bridesmaids, too. Maybe we’ll close up early next Sunday and go shopping.”
“But why so fast? Can’t we . . . ,” Vicky started.
“The baby is due Christmas Day, Mama.”
“But I proposed long before we got pregnant,” Ryder said quickly.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
That is a lot to spring on a woman in one night,” Nettie scolded.
“I’m going to be a grandmother?” Vicky whispered.
“Yes, you are, and Nettie is going to be a great-grandmother,” Emily said.
Vicky’s head swam with information overkill. Nettie was speechless. Emily looked as if she was about to burst into tears. Ryder’s nervousness filled the whole area. Something had to be done to ease the emotions, to get things going in the right direction rather than stalling out on the worries of putting together a wedding.
Jancy squeezed Shane’s hand and said, “I’m butting in where it’s none of my business, but there’s going to be a wedding and a baby. Might as well get the first over with so we can all look forward to the second. Emily and Ryder have things under control, Vicky. Everyone in town will attend the wedding, and every chair will be filled. Folks can park their cars over on the north forty.” She grinned. “I’ve always wanted to use that phrase. One church couldn’t hold everyone, anyway. Ryder has promised to be a good husband and father, and if he’s not, I’ll take care of his dead body. Nettie will help me dig.”
“Yes, I will,” Nettie said with a nod.
Jancy put her hand on Shane’s shoulder. “Let’s take a walk, Shane, and let the family have some alone time.”
They were all the way to the diner when Shane stopped and drew her into his arms. “That w-was brilliant, darlin’.”
“Women need to talk things through, Shane. It’s the way we’re made. Sometimes it’s best to boil it down to a few words that can be easily digested and then move on.”
“I love that you see things so clear.” He sank his face into her hair. “And I love the smell of your hair. Coconut, right?”
“That’s right.” Her hands flattened out on his wide, muscular chest.
His thick lashes fluttered and then rested on his high cheekbones. She barely had time to moisten her lips before his met them. Everything that was going on back at the house faded away. When he took a step back, she leaned into him so hard that she had to rush to right herself.
“I like the way you fit in my arms,” he chuckled and then got serious. “You have a big heart that doesn’t even hear m-my stutter. Your beauty comes from the light inside you. It’s brighter than that m-moon hangin’ up there in the sky.”
Jancy’s eyes filled, and she had to blink fast to keep them from spilling over. There wasn’t a pickup line in the world that was more romantic than what Shane had said. She’d thought that she was in love before, but those relationships couldn’t even compare to what was slowly developing with Shane.
Maybe that was the secret to happiness—patience and waiting instead of jumping in with both feet and immediately having regrets.