Chapter Six
Kate convinced Henri to let her buy lunch since it was an inexpensive fast-food option. They ordered their sandwiches and drinks to go and had their meal in the truck on the drive home.
“I love that dress on you.” Henri was an expert at eating and driving, clearly a veteran of road trips to Great Falls that involved consuming food on the way back. “The silver threads in the fabric look so great with your blond hair and your gray eyes.”
“If you ask me, they used sterling silver threads. I’ve never owned a piece of clothing this pricey.”
“The way I figure, if you need to do something tough, you might as well do it in style. You look like royalty in that dress. And the vest we added to Rafe’s tux will go great with it.”
“I wonder how he’ll feel about silver brocade. He’s such a down-to-earth guy.”
“He won’t even notice.”
“How could he not notice? He’ll be wearing it.”
“He’ll be so keyed up over this ceremony that we could give him a purple spandex work-out suit and he’d put it on.”
“He probably would, poor guy. We talked last night about ditching the recriminations, but I still feel guilty. Ginny is my baby sister and I’d do anything for her, but he has no such allegiance.”
“Only to you.”
“Am I trading on that right now?”
“No. When he turned you down, you came up with an alternative. He talked you out of it, so this is on him.”
“You know about my plan to put an ad in the paper?”
“Everybody knows. When Rafe walked into the bunkhouse last night, the entire Brotherhood was there. Matt and Jake put out the call. All was revealed. Much cider was consumed. I heard about it first thing this morning.”
Relief flooded through her. “I love them for doing that for him. Makes me feel a hundred percent better to know they’re giving him moral support.”
“You have their support, too.”
“I do? Even if I’m the source of the—”
“As I said, he’s a grown man with the right to make his own decisions. Nobody’s holding a gun to his head. If he didn’t want to do this, he could have let you go ahead with your Plan B.”
“Yeah, he really hated that idea.”
“I’m not surprised.” Henri set her drink in the cup holder. “Okay, let’s take stock. We have the clothes. Ed’s bringing folding chairs and an arched trellis. We’re using whatever fall decorations Millie has and whatever Ben has stored at the Moose. Garrett and Jake have the food under control for the reception around the fire pit. Have you gathered up what you need to take to the courthouse?”
“I have. Rafe texted me a list this morning.”
“What about flowers?”
“Flowers. That’s like a wedding staple, isn’t it?”
“I think so. Aunt Lilith will expect it. Do you have a favorite kind? Ed’s poised and ready to have them flown in.”
“No, no, we’re not flying in anything. What’s in the flower aisle of the market right now? You’d think I’d know, but when I shop there, I skip that section completely. I don’t have a favorite. Let’s go with something pretty and available.”
“That’s mums, and I have some growing in my yard. I have more than enough.”
“Perfect! I vote mums for me, mums for Millie, and mums for any other situation that needs a touch of color.”
“Lucy’s an artist. Let’s ask her to create a bridal bouquet and one for the maid of honor. If she has time, she could do something with the arched trellis—maybe autumn leaves and mums.”
“Sounds great to me. Should I call her or would you like to?”
“I nominate you. I have a sandwich, a drink and I’m driving. Last I checked, you just had a sandwich.”
“I’m on it.” She called Lucy, who was eager to help with the flowers. Kate hung up and turned to Henri. “Everyone’s being so nice about this crazy scheme.”
“Nobody likes a bully.”
“Aunt Lilith?”
“Yes, Aunt Lilith. It’s hard to believe you came from the same family tree. Why do you think she’s so nasty?”
“My mom says it’s partly because Aunt Lilith’s the second-born and she’s always been unhappy about it. But their biggest fight was over my dad. They both liked him and he chose my mom.”
“Probably because your mom’s nice and Lilith’s a pain in the ass. I’m just sorry he died so young.”
“It hasn’t been a bed of roses, but Mom’s a survivor.”
“How did Lilith end up in the chips?”
“She married a very rich older man. Then he conveniently died, leaving her with piles of money.”
“Well, I’m all for prying her away from some of her precious money. Oh! I just thought of one more thing. Do you have someone in mind for conducting the ceremony?”
“Yikes! That would be an important detail, wouldn’t it?”
“It would, especially at the last minute.”
“How well do you know the pastor at the Apple Grove Church?”
“Not well. He’s new, and I haven’t gone much since Charley died.”
“When I married Enrique, the pastor insisted on several counseling sessions. Would this guy want that?”
“I think he did something similar with Matt and Lucy, now that you mention it.”
“I’ll try to find his contact info. Ah, here we go.” She keyed in the number. After a couple of rings, his voicemail clicked on.
This is Reverend George Stevens. Sorry I missed your call. I’m currently attending a retreat and will be unavailable until late Saturday night. See you in church on Sunday!
Kate disconnected the call. “That’s clearly not an option.”
“I just remembered something.”
“You’re an ordained minister?”
“You don’t have to be to marry people in Montana. Or in most states these days.”
“I didn’t know that. In any case, I thought you were walking me down the aisle.”
“I am. I wasn’t thinking of me. Red used to perform marriage ceremonies.”
“Red? Anastasia?”
“Yep. She’s gone into semi-retirement to concentrate on her barrel racing and jewelry, but if you don’t mind a little kookiness in your ceremony, I’ll bet she’d do it if you ask.”
“And it’s legal? I don’t want Aunt Lilith challenging this.”
“It’s absolutely legal. Getting the marriage license is the legal part. The ceremony is just the icing on the wedding cake.”
“Oh, my God, that’s something else. A cake. I’ll bet if we don’t have a picture of us cutting a big ol’ cake, Aunt Lilith will—”
“I was going to surprise you with this, but I guess you need to know. Ed’s chef is making a cake. The Babes will take care of getting it out to the fire pit.”
Kate’s throat tightened. “That’s…” She had to clear her throat and start again. “That’s so….” She couldn’t go on.