Page 44 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“It’s you,” Zelda said. “It’s just…you in dress form. Oh, Juniper. Do you like it?”
“Let us see,” Annya called from outside. “Don’t hide in there, Juniper.”
I turned to Zelda. “It’s exactly what I would have asked for.”
Zelda smiled, her eyes wet with happy tears, then went to the drape and pushed it aside. Then, giving me a hand, she led me out to the waiting area where the orc women had gathered, all of them chatting happily.
But when they saw me, they all went silent.
“Juniper…” Annya whispered, tears coming to her eyes at once.
“Fireworks,” Kika exclaimed with a gasp. “Juniper, that’s your dress. That’s the dress! Oh, just look at her.”
The others murmured in agreement.
My gaze shifted to Gree-Gree, who was giving me an assessing look. She met my gaze, her eyebrow arching in question.
I smiled at her.
Kika gasped loudly. “I just had the best idea. We’re all here in Moonshine Hollow now,” she said, gesturing to the family. “Why make another trip? I mean, the whole town looks so festive, all their friends are here. It’s already a festival. Why not add a wedding to it?”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Annya agreed. “We’re all here. Lots of hands for cooking and preparing,” she said, then laughed. “Yes, indeed! We should do it. I mean, just look at her. Juniper is the perfect bride, and that dress!”
“A wedding! Yes, a wedding!” Kika said, dancing happily.
At that, the women all began talking at once.
My heart pounded in my chest, and my head began to feel light. “Oh, but we…” I said, my objection getting lost in the crowd. “But Granik and I?—”
“Granik and you what, dear?” Gree-Gree asked, cutting off the rest of the women, quieting them.
“We just… We hadn’t made plans that far ahead.”
Gree-Gree smiled at me. “Sometimes things don’t go as planned because something far better comes into focus,” she said, giving me a steady look. She then turned to Zelda. “Miss Zelda, please prepare this dress for Juniper, and we’ll have coordinating gowns for the rest of us. Now, we just need to tell the groom.”
At that, the women all cheered.
Zelda laughed. “I knew I was making this dress for someone special. Oh, you will make the most beautiful bride, Juniper. Come, let’s get you out of this so I can get to work on the final touches.”
“I…I…” I stammered then looked at Gree-Gree.
She smiled at me. “Most beautiful bride ever,” she said with a knowing grin, then turned and walked back into the store. “Girls, we’re going to have a wedding.”
CHAPTER 16
GRANIK
Iwas several mugs of ale into the tasting, my cheeks feeling warm, when my family arrived with Juniper. At the front of the tent, Juniper paused a moment to greet Grella. She looked beautiful in her green gown, her golden locks hanging long down her back. They shimmered in the sunlight like golden ribbons of silk.
She must have felt my gaze on her because she turned and smiled at me, but there was an odd expression on her face. It was the same look she got when she’d heard some piece of gossip and was waiting to share it with me. But there was more which I couldn’t read.
She embraced Grella, then was lost in the crowd as my family drew near.
“Uncle Granik! Uncle Granik! Wait until you hear,” Kika called.
My sisters all smiled at me, their expressions full of mischief.
Something was up.
