The Wedding Caper Read Online Free PDF Page A

my place, turning my daughter’s
head—and heart—away from the family? Would she talk Brandi and
Scott into moving to Georgia? Would she raise my grandchildren in my stead?
    Where in
the world is all of this coming from?
    I’d
almost calmed myself when a syrupy voice near the door rang out: “How wun -duh- ful you look, dah- lin !”
    I pivoted
on my heel and swallowed my fear. There she stood, in all her glory. Scott’s mother. Nadine Cunningham. With
her arms around my daughter, proclaiming Brandi’s beauty to the masses.
    Yep. She
was definitely going to end up with the grandchildren. I could feel it.
    On the
other hand, she did have a pleasant-enough smile, and as she approached, I saw
the laugh lines around her eyes. A very good sign. I
reached out to take her hand and we bonded the moment we touched. Tears rose to
cover my lashes. The words must have come from the Lord. I certainly hadn’t
planned them. “We’re going to be the best of friends,” I found myself saying.
    “Oh, dah- lin , we are. I can feel it!” Nadine wrapped me in a warm
embrace and all the rules of proper etiquette flew right out the steakhouse
window as two Southern women reveled in each other’s presence. For a moment we
giggled like schoolgirls, then began to ramble. “How lovely you look.” “What an
a-dah- rable shade of blue. Looks mah-vuh-lus with your eyes.” I found myself caught up in the wonder of it all—and in
the wonder of Nadine. It had nothing to do with her undeniable physical beauty;
this was something different, altogether. We were truly kindred spirits. I
could sense it right away.
    I also
sensed Warren’s humor as he watched me slip back into “Southern” gear. A playful
smile crept across his lips. I smiled too—until, of course, I remembered
how he had acquired the money to pay for the wedding we’d gathered together to
discuss.
    “Are you
cold, dah- lin ?” Nadine gave my fingers a little
squeeze. “Your hands are trembling.”
    “No, no.”
I clasped them behind my back and tried to imagine how my new friend would take
to the idea that her daughter-in-law’s father had stolen the funds to cover the
cost of the wedding.
    Thankfully,
Brandi and Scott chose that moment for a “get-acquainted” session. The tall,
silver-haired man to Nadine’s left was introduced as Scott’s stepfather, Brad.
With his soft round face, slightly protruding belly, and warm, laughing eyes, I
couldn’t help but think of the fellow as a pre-mature Santa Claus. Warren
reached to take his hand for a friendly shake and I noticed the look of relief
in Brandi and Scott’s eyes. Only then did I realize they had probably stressed
over this meeting more than I had. Somehow, that put everything in perspective
for me.
    We spent
the better part of the evening focused on the wedding. Brandi and Scott beamed
as they shared their ideas. We all joined in with excitement, like school
children released to the playground. Within an hour, most of the particulars
had been penciled into my notebook, which I’d stashed in my oversized purse.
    Date:
Saturday, February 14th—Valentine’s Day.
    Time:
7:00 p.m.
    Locale:
The new Be Our Guest wedding facility about halfway between Clarksborough and Philly.
    Colors: Wine-colored
dresses for the ladies, black tuxedos for the gentlemen
    Wedding
Party: Four bridesmaids (Candy and three of Brandi’s best friends from church
and school); four groomsmen (mostly college buddies); one flower girl (Nadine’s
“dah- lin ” granddaughter, Madeline); and one ring
bearer (my great-nephew, Shawn).
    Invitations:
Personally designed and printed by the bride and groom, to be mailed early
January.
    Showers:
Two. One for wedding gifts, another for lingerie. Mental note: Don’t ask if you’re invited to the second. Assume it’s for the
girls.
    Food: Clarksborough Catering—Italian cuisine
    I bit my
lip as I wrote that last one. I couldn’t help but wonder how the fine folks at Clarksborough Catering would