Page 174 of The Reason I Married Him
Christ, it did work.
I’m going to bank that for possible use later.
She kisses him one more time and then clasps her hands together. Brody stares at her as if she’s the best thing that’s ever happened in his life. So . . . my assumption is they’re going to get married soon as well. If Brody has anything to say about it, they will.
“Okay, as I was saying, we have decisions to make and not a lot of time. So, Brody, if you could turn the poster board for us, I’d appreciate it.”
Brody turns the board around, and we’re met with a neatly organized collage of pictures and ideas. At the very top, in bold lettering, it says Mr. and Mrs. Preston. Below is a picture of the barn, hay bales, lace, and bulb lighting. Rows of old dining room tables with mismatched chairs, lace runners, and wildflowers. A picture of The Cliffs with a bowl of mac and cheese next to it, which I think is funny. The tractor is used as a backdrop for the bar, and there’s a layout of a dance floor and what the tables would look like lined up—although that’s more tables than I’d expect. And then of course a bouquet of wildflowers strung together by jute. There are a few other things, like favors and the wedding party and . . . Chewy Charles. It’s very well put together.
Stepping to the side of the poster board, Maggie holds up a wooden spoon and starts painting a picture for us.
“The wedding starts at dusk, right before the sun sets. String bulb lights illuminate the barn, and hay bales are lined up row by row but covered with burlap and tweed. Hayes plays a soft melody ofWildestDreamsandLove Story. The procession starts, led by Hattie, followed by MacKenzie and Chewy Charles.” I hold back my snort because she’s truly trying to paint a pretty picture for us. “Then the bride steps out, and there isn’t a dry eye in the barn. She’s so beautiful there will be sonnets written about her. The town will have no other choice than to clap because she’s breathtaking, like a gust of angel breath caressing the farm.”
“What about the groom?” I ask. “Is he angel’s breath?”
Maggie’s eyes fall to mine. “His jawline will make people weep.”
I wink at her. “That’s what I like to hear.”
She smiles and continues. “The couple says their I do’s, and then they’re announced as Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Preston. The cheers will make the cows one farm over lift their ears with interest. Potatoes will sprout new eyes. The bees will flitter about, proud of their new owners.” Dear God. “And then, while you’re off taking pictures during the golden hour, the tables will be arranged and set up. Tables from around town will be brought in along with chairs. They’ll be quickly decorated while a dance floor is assembled. This will be the busiest time, but guests will enjoy some spiked cider and bear claws in the barn while talking about how beautiful the new couple is.”
“Because of the jawline,” I say.
Maggie points at me with her wooden spoon. “Precisely. Once pictures are done, we’ll introduce the new couple, the family, as well as Chewy Charles, because that has been told to me by a spicy four-year-old. Then we feast on mac and cheesefrom The Cliffs and cherry pie for dessert. Wildflowers will be used for décor and the bouquets. Invitations will be e-vite because we don’t have enough time to print, but I think that’s okay. I would say we’re looking at about . . . one hundred and fifty people?—”
“What?” Aubree practically yells. “Where are you getting that number from?”
Maggie looks stunned. “Uh, Ethel gave it to me.”
“Ethel?” Aubree asks. “She’s not in charge of the guest list. I wasn’t even planning to invite her.”
“Ooo, that would be a bad idea,” Maggie says. “I know I’m not from here, but just from what I know, not inviting Ethel would be a black mark on your name.”
“Babe, we have to invite Ethel,” I say.
“But if you invite Ethel, you have to invite Dee Dee,” Aubree says. “And if Dee Dee is invited, then the whole Peach Society is invited. If the whole Peach Society is invited, then Rodney will want to come?—”
“You’re not going to invite Rodney?” Hattie asks. “He drove your knight in shining armor onto the dance floor on a locomotive. You don’t think that deserves an invite?”
“A locomotive, Aubree,” I repeat because this seems like a lot of fun.
“Be that as it may,” she says, looking at me with those stern eyes. “I don’t think one hundred and fifty people should be at the wedding.”
“What is your ideal wedding party size?” Maggie asks.
“I don’t know . . . ten?”
“Ten?” Maggie shouts, then quickly calms herself. “Ten is . . . very intimate. Ten might be too intimate. If it were ten, I don’t think we’d be invited.” Maggie motions to herself and Brody with the wooden spoon. “And even though there are times when I’m terrified of you, I’d still like to witness your marriage. Plus,Ethel and Rodney are a must for the invite, given what they did for the proposal.”
“I second that.” Hattie raises her hand. “On all the accounts, even the terrifying part.”
Aubree snaps a look at her sister, who curls into Hayes.
“Fine, we can expand the guest list to twelve.”
Maggie winces. “Again, I just don’t think that’s enough people. You see, normally I wouldn’t blink an eye when paring down the guest list, but the problem is, Ethel has made it quite clear that this is a town event. She stated that the proposal was a town event, and now the wedding is a town event, and it won’t happen on time unless the town is involved. Therefore, it seems like we’re going to have to include the town.”
“Then we just elope,” Aubree says. “I’m not into the big wedding thing.”
