Page 186 of Maple Mountain
“You make a beautiful bridesmaid,” Archer whispered in my ear, his arm stealing around my waist.“But you’ll make an even more beautiful bride.”
“Flattery will absolutely get you laid,” I teased.
He tightened his arm.“You think anyone would notice if we left for a few minutes?”
“Everyonewould notice.”I gestured to the room.“There’s not even twenty people here.”
“Smile!”Arden instructed.
Archer and I dutifully turned to face the photographer that Poet and Brooks had hired for their wedding photos.I smiled quickly and pressed my hand to Archer’s chest.
Arden snapped the photo and then looked at her camera screen.“This would make a great Christmas card.”
“It’s not the entire family,” Archer said.“Lenni, come here a second!”
Lenni was standing with Lucy and Muddy, but she dutifully traipsed over to us.“What’s up?”
“Family photo,” Archer said.“Get in here.”
“There’s no Mildred,” Lenni whined, but she stood in front of us, right in the center.
I placed a hand on her shoulder and waited for Arden to take our snapshot.
“Got it,” Arden said.“We’ll get some photos of the bridal party in a bit.”
She swept away in a breeze of blonde exuberance.
The main house of the Powell ranch was covered in votives and white candles.The decorated Christmas tree had served as the backdrop to Poet and Brooks’ wedding vows, which had been short and beautiful.Poet looked like a fairy princess in her white lace, floor-length dress and a glittering headpiece in lieu of a veil.
“Am I free?”Lenni asked.
“You’re free,” Archer stated.
“Hold on,” I said to Lenni before she left.“Your sash is twisted in the back.There, now you’re perfect.”
“Thanks, Wyn.”She dashed off to talk to Muddy and Lucy again.
“I can’t believe Poet let Lenni wear white Converse sneakers,” Archer said.
“I can,” I said with a laugh.“After the shopping meltdown?Poet would’ve given Lenni anything if it made her comfortable.”
Lenni’s flower girl dress was white with a red-wine colored sash the same color as our bridesmaid dresses.
“Is it weird that Poet’s parents didn’t come for her wedding?”Archer asked as he sipped from his glass of SINNERS scotch.
I looked across the room to my best friend.She caught my eye and grinned before turning her gaze back to her new husband.
“You don’t know her parents,” I muttered.“It’s better that they weren’t here.Trust me.”
“Drama?”
“Oh yeah.”
Gracie and her husband sauntered toward us with flutes of champagne in their hands.Their toddler was currently with her grandparents, so they could imbibe.
“Beautiful wedding,” Gracie said.
“Beautiful cake,” I said with a smile, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.“Just as gorgeous as Hadley’s wedding cake.”
