Derby Divas (Zoe Donovan Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

all th at trouble at this point,” Mom said. “We have two children together.”
    “Maybe , but it’s the first and only wedding for both of you,” I pointed out. “Please think about it. I’ll do everything. All you’ll have to do is show up.”
    Mom hesitated and looked at Dad.
    “We’d need to keep it small,” Dad insisted.
    “You can make up the guest list,” I assured him.
    “And I don’t think I want to bother with the whole white dress thing,” Mom added.
    “We can do a theme. It will be fun and less formal,” I suggested.
    “A theme?” Mom asked.
    “Yeah.” I shrugged. “Like Hawaiian or nautical. We could all wear veils and do Arabian Nights.”
    “I’m not wearing a v eil,” Dad said.
    “Can your dad and I have a couple of days to talk about it?” Mom asked.
    “Of course. It is your wedding. I’m just so thrilled you guys are finally getting hitched that I’ll be happy with whatever you decide.”
    I picked up Harper , who was propped up in her infant seat.
    “Did you hear ?” I held her in my arms and looked into her bright blue eyes. “We’re going to have a daddy and a mommy.”
    Harper smiled.
    “Oh, I have to show you the outfits I got for her.” I adjusted my baby sis so that she was resting on my shoulder, then returned to the house for the bag of goodies I’d brought back from my trip.
    “I got a bunch of things , but this is my favorite.”
    I held up a tiny lace dress in a pale yellow with a matching hat that looked like something one would wear to a garden party.
    “Adorable .” Mom took it from me. “Maybe we should do afternoon garden party for our theme. The women could wear sundresses and floppy hats and the men could wear casual dress attire.”
    “I love it,” I said. And I did.
    “Zak’s deck and pool area is already pretty awesome, but we could add huge bouquets of flowers in a variety of bright and summery colors. I’m sure Hazel will help with the arrangements. She’s really into her flowers, and since she’s dating Pappy, we’ll have to invite her anyway. I can ask Ellie to cater the food, and I’m sure Levi will help set up. Jeremy can do the music.”
    “Doesn’t Jeremy belong to a heavy metal band?” Dad asked.
    “Yeah, but he can play all types of music. Give him a list of what you want and I’m sure he can do it. This is going to be so awesome.”
    “And small,” Dad reminded me.
    “Of course,” I agreed.
    “If we ’re going to actually have a wedding, I’ll need to invite my parents and a few other members of my family,” Mom pointed out.
    “I ’m sure that won’t be a problem,” I said. I looked at Dad, who was frowning. “We’ll just invite family and a few friends,” I assured him.
    By the time the big day rolled around , I would look back to this moment and realize how foolish I was to think that small was even a possibility.
     
    “I’ve joined a dating site,” Ellie informed me after I’d returned to the boathouse to meet her for dinner. Both Charlie and Bella greeted me as I walked through the door as if I’d been away for days rather than a couple of hours. I gave them both welcoming hugs before answering.
    “Dating site? Like online dating?”
    “Basically.” Ellie followed me across the room as I headed to the back door to let the dogs out for a run on the beach. “You register and fill out a profile. After you do that, you’re given a list of men who seem to meet your requirements. Some of them live too far away to actually date, but others live in the general area.”
    “Wh en did you do this?” I wondered as I stepped outside to make sure Bella wouldn’t run off. I knew she was a well-behaved dog, but she’d only been with me for a short time, so I wasn’t certain how she’d react to being off leash without being in a fenced yard. “We just got home yesterday.”
    “I filled out the profile last night and I’ve already found a man.”
    “Wow. That was fast.”
    I had to hand it to Ellie.