The Strawberry Hearts Diner(98)
“Cone,” he said without hesitation. “Them bags is pre-m-made, and they ain’t as good as the warm stuff right out of the m-machine.” He lowered his voice. “M-me and Ryder will go to another store wh-when y’all go to the panty place. He’s got to pick up the rings and buy Emily a special w-weddin’ present.”
“What is it?” Jancy asked.
“Can’t tell. It’s a surprise,” he answered. “But I think she’s really goin’ to love it.”
“Are you for real or did you pop out of a romance book?” Jancy asked.
“Wh-what does that m-mean?” Shane grinned.
“You are so sweet and kind that I’m not sure you could possibly be real. I think maybe I’m dreamin’ and you are a knight in shining armor.”
One side of Shane’s mouth turned up slightly. “Ahh, honey, not a one of them fancy knights ever stuttered. I’m m-more like Shrek.”
“Maybe not, but you will always be my knight,” Jancy said.
The lady handed Ryder two huge cones of pink cotton candy. He handed one to Jancy and the other to Emily. “Where to now?”
Shane grinned. “To the food court for this pregnant lady’s pickles.”
“Hey, at least I wore shoes, so I’m not barefoot and pregnant. And I don’t crave pickles, just lots of sweet stuff.” Emily picked a handful of cotton candy.
“And after that we need half an hour in Victoria’s Secret,” Jancy said.
“Why so long?” Emily asked. “I know exactly what I want and it won’t take very long to get it all.”
“Because it will take that long,” Jancy said as they found seats in the food court and the guys went to buy bottles of water.
“Really, it won’t,” Emily argued.
“Did you get Ryder a wedding gift? Something that you give to him before the wedding? The bridesmaid is probably supposed to deliver it, since you can’t see him that day, and believe me, Nettie will stand guard outside the door with a shotgun to keep that rule in place.”
“Oh, my gosh. I didn’t even think of it,” Emily said. “What am I going to get?”
“Does he wear a tie to work?”
“He will in the office.” She nodded.
“Maybe a really nice tie tack with a personal note?”
“Jancy, you are a lifesaver.”
Vicky set a bottle of cold water on the swing between her and Nettie. Andy sat down on the top porch step and braced his back against the post. Tomorrow it would all begin, and in forty-eight hours it would be over.
“So when do you start setting up?” Nettie asked.
“The bridal tent goes up first thing tomorrow morning so the girls can do all their primping and whatever it is that goes on inside those closed doors for two days. Tell Emily I’ll get it ready and cooled down by ten o’clock. Then it’s all theirs.” He held up a six-pack of beer by the plastic ring. “Either of y’all want one? Things are about to get hectic around here. You might not have time for a beer and a relaxing hour until it’s all said and done on Saturday night.”
“I got water, but I might have one later,” Nettie said.
Vicky hopped up from the swing and crossed over to where he was sitting. “I’d love one.”
He worked one out of the plastic ring and put it in her hands. “How did your day go? I bet you were so busy that your feet are killin’ you. Will you be ready for a good foot massage after this wedding is over?”
“You have no idea, and yes.” Rather than going back to the swing, she eased down beside him. Something about his presence brought calmness into her life.
“It’s a date, then. Meet me on your front porch.” He smiled. “Where are all the kids?”
“They’ve gone to Tyler for last-minute honeymoon things, plus Ryder needs to pick up the rings and Shane said something about a wedding gift for Emily. I hope she remembers to get him something. Hey”—she bumped a shoulder against his—“thanks again for making the cake on such short notice,” she said.
“Hey!” Woody stepped up on the porch, grabbed a beer, and settled in beside Nettie on the swing. “I was out for a walk and decided to see if y’all might be on the porch. So what are they going to name the baby? Woodrow is a good boy’s name.”
“That’s their job. Ours is to get them married and settled into the trailer,” Nettie pointed out. “Y’all did a fine job of that porch.”
“I just supervised. Them young’uns did the work. I still can’t believe that Emily is going to marry Ryder. I love them both, but . . .” He hesitated.