Sunlight glanced, hard and sparkling, off the polished blond pews of Midnight Bluff Baptist Church. Grant sniffed, his head foggy with Benadryl and the hundred different perfumes and colognes assaulting his nasal passages. What was with the people in this town and their incessant need to bathe in eau de parfum? The two Benadryl he’d taken before coming weren’t even putting a dent in his allergies.
He side-eyed the floret affixed to the end of the pew at his elbow. Cress had gone all-out with the decorations. Flowers festooned every pew, window ledge, the top of the piano, and the pièce de résistance: a gigantic arch that looked like it had been whisked here from a fairytale, covered completely in velvety roses and baby’s breath.
Where in the world she had found that many roses in December was beyond him.
Just the sight of it all made his eyes water. Quietly, he pulled a tissue from the pack he kept eternally in his pocket since coming to this God-forsaken backwater and blew his nose. An awkward honk echoed through the polite chit-chat. A hundred eyes turned and pinned him to the pew, tissue frozen over his nose. He squirmed like a worm on a hook until one by one they turned back around, leaving him alone in his stuffy-headed misery.
Out of everyone in this sanctuary, he had the least business being here, and yet Leora had made it clear that she expected his attendance.
“After all,” she said with a sly smile in the courthouse vestibule two weeks ago, “We must let bygones be bygones. Show this town we’re bigger than our pasts.” She patted his arm like they were old friends.
He’d heard himself muttering, “Of course,” and knew he’d regret it until he could put this town behind him. That woman frightened the bejeezus out of him. Besides Mayor Patty, Leora McBride was the single citizen most capable of compromising everything he’d come here to accomplish.
His eyes flashed to the double doors at the back, cheeks heating. Besides winning Cress back. But that ship was sailing—had sailed— the moment she’d shoved him away and stomped his heart into the dirt.
For the last two weeks, he’d had a rancid case of heartburn and broke out into a sweat every time he saw the scallop-edged invitation stuck to his fridge. Thank God, the worst part would be over after today. He tugged his jacket straight and sat up tall. No way in heck was he going to let these people see him sweat.
Mayor Patty turned around in her pew, her coiled and crimped hair fluttering with the movement, and pressed something into his hand. Looking down, he recognized one of her handkerchiefs, her mayoral “seal” embroidered in one corner. Her dark eyes twinkled kindly at him. “I think you need this more than I do, darlin’.” She patted his knee.
Such a small gesture. Suddenly, he felt a little less alone in this sea of whispering people. A knot formed in his throat as he croaked out, “Thank you.” With a smile, she murmured, “Of course,” and turned back around to nod at something her husband was saying.
With a jolt, the piano thumped out “Here Comes The Bride” and they all hushed and rose to their feet, silk and linen rustling. An exhale rushed through the crowd as the back doors burst open, and Grant clutched the arm of the pew.
Cress walked towards him, beaming, clad in an ivory silk gown that perfectly hugged her curves before flaring out at the knees. Light haloed around her, brushing her cheeks, and highlighting their ecstatic glow. She floated towards him on her grandfather Bo’s arm.
He watched her glide on past, her eyes never once flicking to his face. The effort of holding himself back from reaching for her made his lungs constrict and burn. His jaw throbbed and his teeth ached as he forced his face to relax before any prying eyes could find him as they took their seats. The worst was over; there was no doubt in his mind.
She didn’t love him. She didn’t even know he existed anymore. He just had to endure a few more minutes, congratulate Leora, and then he could slip away and get back to work.
The sooner he could get out of this town the better.
~~~
Across the aisle, Ellie smoothed out her dress as she stood, delighted by how the satin shimmered in hues of amethyst and mauve. “Thank you for letting me borrow this,” she whispered to Lou Ellen. “I don’t have anything half as nice.”
Lou Ellen squeezed her arm. “You know I always like dressing my foster-sister up.”
Ellie chuckled as she turned back to watch Cress float dreamily down the aisle, a vision in her ivory mermaid dress. A pang ran through her as she watched Bo pat Cress’ hand fondly, then hand her to Jake with a kiss and a wink. One day, she would be the one at the altar. If any of the eligible men in this town ever noticed her behind the “Land For Sale” signs. She sighed.
Pastor Riser motioned for them to sit, and as they shuffled back down into their spots, a flap of white in the corner of her eye caught Ellie’s attention. Glancing over, she saw— Gill… Gary… Grant? — the man that Mayor Patty had hired to “help” the town, snapping out a handkerchief and rubbing at his nose. And he was Cress’ ex that had made the big scene at the dove hunt last fall!
She tapped Lou Ellen’s leg and pointed. “This must be hard for him.”
Lou Ellen settled her shoulders back and floofed the ends of her hair. “If he had any decency, he wouldn’t have come at all. Leave poor Cress alone.”
“I’m sure he got an invitation just like everyone else. The whole town is here.” Ellie craned her neck to take in the packed sanctuary. She should catch up with Mr. Monroe after the ceremony about that back forty acres he’d mentioned wanting to sell.
“Still, it’s just not decent. Coming to your ex’s wedding. Downright tacky.” Lou Ellen raised a perfectly groomed brow. Mrs. Emma Jean Hicks shot them a look. They’d better hush before she turned around and smacked them with her fan like she used to do in Sunday school.
Ellie glanced back at Grant’s pale face and sweaty brow. He looked like he was going to keel over any minute. She dropped her whisper even lower. “Well, I think it’s kinda nice: being big enough to face the whole town to come wish your ex well.”
Lou Ellen shrugged with a smile. Ellie knew they hardly ever saw eye-to-eye on these things, and it’s what they liked about each other, their different perspective. As Pastor Riser pronounced “You may now kiss the bride,” they whooped and clapped together.
Clutching her hand, Lou Ellen promised, eyes misty, “One day, that’s going to be us up there. My daddy will walk us both down the aisle in a big double wedding.” Ellie nodded, too choked up to speak. She hoped that day got here soon. She was ready for a family of her own.
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