Always the Baker, Finally the Bride (3 page)

“Okay,” Sherilyn said, licking the chocolate batter from her finger before setting the bowl on the table in front of her and struggling to stand up. “Okay, that’s good. We’re communicating. We have a dialogue going.”

Emma shook her head, her sigh morphing into the
Pffft
sound of a deflating balloon.

“But . . . Fee . . .” Sherilyn continued with caution, “maybe a little less aggression in our communication would better suit what we’re trying to accomplish here. How about this? Can I get anyone some more iced tea? The muffins should be out of the oven soon, shouldn’t they? Do you want me to make coffee?”

“Just stop it, Sher. No need to play nursemaid here, okay? Just drop into a chair and prop up your feet before they spring a leak.”

Sherilyn stood there, in the center of the room, her swollen pregnant frame wobbling from side to side as she glanced from Emma to Fee and back again.

“Relax, will you?” Emma said, more softly this time, punctuating her words with a smile. “Let’s focus on the things we can accomplish, okay?”

Sherilyn sighed with relief and waddled over toward her. “Really?”

“Yes. I can’t think about the cake. It’s too much pressure. But how about we look at those flower pictures you mentioned on the drive down here?”

Sherilyn’s blue eyes shimmered as she plopped down on the other side of the sofa, and a grin pushed her plump cheeks upward. “Great! Yes, let’s talk flowers.”

“I’m going for a walk on the beach.” And with that, Fee hopped to her feet and headed out the door.

“Turn on the floodlights,” Sherilyn instructed. “It gets really dark out there at night. The switch is on the—” With a single thump, the door closed, cutting her helpfulness in two. Deflated, she sent the rest of her words into the air over Emma’s shoulder. “—wall by the door.”

“You know Fee,” Emma comforted. “She got married in a hallway at the hotel, for crying out loud. The details just aren’t her thing.”

“I know.”

Sherilyn’s pouty face made Emma chuckle. “Let’s have a look at those flowers of yours, my wedding planner friend”

“Oh. Right.”

Emma watched as Sherilyn struggled to balance the neon-pink laptop on her beach-ball belly. A few clicks later, she
surrendered the fight and set the computer on the coffee table in front of them.

“Here. This will be easier.”

Emma leaned forward and peered at the screen as Sherilyn arranged four rectangular photographs into symmetry.

“I thought because you chose such a lovely, simple silhouette for your dress, the flowers should—”

“Simple?” Emma interrupted. “Do you think it’s too simple?”

“Not
too simple
, no. It’s beautiful, Emma. It’s just not one of those elaborate numbers where the flowers have to be bold and make a statement to stand out.”

“Do you think Jackson will be disappointed? Because you know his family would so prefer some big extravaganza with three hundred guests and—”

“Emma Rae, of course not. Stop it.” Sherilyn reached out and grabbed Emma’s hand and shook it gently. “This is about what the two of you want. And I think you chose the ideal dress for an elegant, intimate ceremony. You’re going to look so beautiful in your gown, Em. Timeless and perfect. Jackson is going to have to work to catch his breath when he sees you in it.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Emma sighed and glanced down at the stunning platinum and diamond ring on her left hand. She heaved one more sigh. “You’re a good friend.”

“Yes, I am.”

“And the flower choices are all really beautiful. What do
you
think, Sher?”

“Well, I love the calla lilies. Simple. Elegant.”

“They remind me of a funeral,” Emma stated. “Let’s cut those from the possibilities.”

“Done. What about this for your bouquet, then?” she asked as the calla lilies disappeared from the screen. She clicked on the next one and the image filled the screen. “Since you’re going understated, maybe you want to go slightly bolder with your bouquet. This is a stunning combination of red roses, lily-of-the-valley—”

“No,” Emma said, shaking her head. “It’s really pretty, but I’m not feeling that one.”

“Okay.” Sherilyn clicked the X in the corner of the photo, and it disappeared. “I think you’re going to love this next one, though. It really suits you, and since it’s a spring wedding I think it’s a great choice.”

A beautiful arrangement of multicolored pastel tulips filled the screen, their long green stems wrapped in ivory satin ribbon.

Emma cooed at them. “Oh, Sher, that’s really beautiful.”

“I think so too.”

“I love the way the light pink and lavender ones seem to blend into the white ones. Like cream.”

“So . . . is this your wedding bouquet?”

Emma’s blood pumped as she smiled. “I think so. Maybe.”

Sherilyn minimized the photo and raised her hand in expectation of a victorious high five. But Emma didn’t return the triumphant slap just yet.

“Wait. What’s that one? Make that big, will you?”

Sherilyn opened the final image so it filled the screen, and Emma felt her blood pulse through every vein as her hand flew to her heart and she sighed.

“That’s the one, Sher. Right there.”

Just four stems of pale lavender-blue hydrangea, rhinestone-studded tulle ribbon wound tightly to hold them together.

“Flower paradise,” she whispered. “That’s the one.”

“Really? You like the bling? I didn’t think you’d like the bling. I mean, it’s not that much bling, but still. I’m pleasantly surprised, Em. That’s great. So this is the one.”

“This is the one.”

“This is the one!” Sherilyn repeated.

And when she raised her hand a second time, Emma slapped it in midair.

“Pull up your checklist and mark this off. I’ve chosen my flowers.”

“I’m so proud,” Sherilyn said as she
click-click-clicked
the laptop.

Emma sighed. “Me too.”

“That’s the dress, the venue, the invitations, and the flowers. We’re cooking with gas now, Em! Am I pushing my luck to bring up the subject of music?”

Emma chuckled softly and fell back against the cushions. “Bring it on.”

“Do you and Jackson have a song?”

“A song?”

“You know. A love song that belongs to just the two of you.”

A nostalgic smile pushed upward at the corner of Emma’s mouth. “Well, yeah. We have a song.” Recovering, she added, “Do you and Andy have one?”

“Of course.”

“You do? What is it?”

“Promise not to laugh?”

Emma thought it over. “No.”

Sherilyn’s eyes popped open wide. “No?”

“You know I can’t promise that. Come on. Out with it. What’s your song?”

She shrugged slightly and surrendered. “
Single Ladies
.”

Emma shook her head. “I don’t think I know that one.”

“Oh yes you do.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. Beyoncé?
Single Ladies
?”

Emma pondered. As realization dawned, she smacked her hand over her mouth to catch the burst of laughter.

“Put a ring on it
Single Ladies
?” she exclaimed.

“Yes,” Sherilyn admitted with some reluctance.

“Why on earth?”

“Emma, it’s not like we chose it or anything. It was playing in the restaurant the night we told each other how we felt.”

“Well,” Emma said, and she pressed her lips together to hold back the grin. “I guess it worked. He put a ring on it, right?”

“Ha. Ha,” Sherilyn commented dryly. “What’s your song, smarty pants?”

“
The Way You Look Tonight
.”

“Oh, of course. It couldn’t be something like
Disco Inferno
, now could it? If you were a better and more supportive friend, you would have lied.”

“It was the opening night party for The Tanglewood; the first time we danced,” she told her. “Jackson arranged this private little dinner for us after everyone had gone, and he asked Ben Colson to perform for just the two of us. It was magic. So—” She cut herself off when she noticed Sherilyn beaming at her, hand to heart. “Well, anyway. That’s our song. Think you can do something with it?”

“Oh, I think so,” she replied.

Traditional Wedding Flowers & Their Meanings

The Rose
Meaning: Deep and abiding love
Fragrant; in season all year

The Calla Lily
Meaning: Magnificence and great beauty
Mild fragrance; in season spring and summer

The Hydrangea
Meaning: Deep understanding and spiritual unity
No fragrance at all; in season early spring through late fall

The Peony
Meaning: Shy and virginal
Mild fragrance; in season late spring

The Tulip
Meaning: Passionate love
No fragrance; in season during the spring

The Lily-of-the-Valley
Meaning: Guaranteed happiness
Quite fragrant; in season spring and summer

The Orchid
Meaning: Unmatched beauty and appeal
No fragrance; in season all year

Jackson closed the back door and stepped inside the house just in time to catch the can of soda Andy lobbed at him.

“I think we’ve got about five minutes before the ribs need to be turned again.”

Before Andy had a chance to reply, the dog barked as the front door gushed open and slammed shut again.

“Henry,” Andy reprimanded. “It’s Sean. Put a lid on it.”

The very large sheepdog made his way toward the front door, his barks mellowing down to a soft yip as he escorted Sean down the hall.

“I stopped at Publix and picked up a few things from the deli,” Sean announced, grocery bags in hand.

“Did you remember trash bags?” Andy asked.

Sean shot him a glance, revealing a peek of pearly white teeth as he began to unload several plastic bags, reciting his shopping list as he did. “I got everything that goes with ribs. Southern-style potato salad. Shredded cole slaw. Baked beans. A couple rolls of paper towels . . .”

“Good move,” Jackson chimed in.

“The strawberry Twizzlers are for me.”

Andy and Jackson exchanged glances before Andy piped up. “With ribs?”

“Nah. The drive home. Fee keeps a lock on my snacks when she’s home. But it’s my favorite candy, man.”

“I get it. What about the trash bags?”

“Nah.”

“No?”

Sean shook his head and dug deep into the bag. “Such low expectations, Doc.” He tossed a roll of garbage bags into the air, and they landed in Andy’s hand with a thud. “You don’t know yet that I got your back?”

Jackson laughed and shook his head. “You gonna flip those ribs, or what?”

“Grab something to drink and join us,” Andy told Sean on his way out the back door.

Making his way around Henry, Jackson followed and leaned against the deck railing. Andy Drummond, ortho man, monster-dog owner, and soon-to-be father, had found his sweet spot in life right there in front of the grill.

“How many times a week do you think you barbecue, man?” Jackson asked him.

“In weather like this? Not usually more than four.”

“Four!”

Jackson couldn’t imagine even just eating at home four nights a week, much less taking the lead in organizing the meal. The Tanglewood took up every spare moment of time for both him and Emma, leaving very little space for much else.

“Hey, Andy. Can I talk to you about something?”

“Sure,” he replied without looking up from the rows of ribs rubbed with his secret recipe of brown sugar, chili powder, garlic, and whatever else he wouldn’t give up. “What’s going on?”

“I had a meeting today. Sort of intriguing, actually. But I just don’t know how Emma will respond. How anyone at the hotel will respond, really.”

Andy rolled the grill top closed and wiped his hands. “Yeah?”

“Just between us, right?”

“ ’Course.”

“Well, there’s an offer on the table about The Tanglewood.”

“What kind of offer?”

Jackson inhaled sharply before he replied, “To buy the place.”

Andy narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “What do you mean? Somebody wants to buy the hotel?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it for sale?”