To Have and to Hold Read Online Free PDF Page B

bearer.”
    Madison’s head was spinning.
    Fifteen ?
    The original number of guests—according to Dad—had been only fifteen or so.
    “Wait. Stephanie, I’m confused.” Madison said. “I thought you and Dad said this was a small wedding?”
    Dad’s face brightened up. “See, Stephanie? My point exactly!” he said.
    Stephanie shushed him. “Don’t start again, Jeff,” she said sweetly.” It really isn’t that many people, Maddie. My mother just got a little carried away with the guest list.”
    “A little carried away?” Dad teased. “Why don’t you tell Maddie how many people are on the guest list now?”
    “Well, the party started at thirty or so guests. But now I’d say it’s up to a hundred. My mother likes to overdo it. Not to worry, though. I promise it won’t be much bigger. Really. This should be it.”
    “A hundred people? Wow. Just how big is your house?” Madison asked.
    Dad grinned. “Big.”
    “Oh, Jeff,” Stephanie said, hitting him lightly on the arm. “He’s exaggerating. The house is not that big….”
    “Yeah, but the ranch is,” Dad said.
    “Well, you have friends coming, too,” Stephanie insisted.
    “Yeah,” Dad replied. “Maybe five or six. What percentage is that of the total number, Stephanie?”
    She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
    Madison stood back and watched as Dad and Stephanie bounced comments off each other as if they had been tossing a ball back and forth.
    “Well, I don’t think having a lot of family is that bad. There always will be things to do and people to do them with,” Stephanie said. “Don’t you agree, Jeff?”
    Stephanie nudged him with her elbow.
    “Oh, yeah,” Dad said, winking at Madison.
    “Since you won’t have any cousins from your side of the family there, Maddie, you can spend time with some of my nieces and nephews who are just your age,” Stephanie went on. “Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
    Madison pasted on a smile. “Fun,” she repeated. “What am I supposed to wear? I didn’t get a dress yet.”
    “Since it’s such a rush, there are no specific dress requirements for the bridesmaids or maids of honor. I know your mother was planning to take you shopping….” Stephanie said.
    Madison wrinkled her nose. How did Stephanie know about that ?
    Madison looked over at Dad.
    “Your mother called me to find out if there was a color theme or anything,” Dad said, in response to Madison’s glare. “What do I know about color themes? So I asked her to speak to Stephanie directly.”
    Madison pinched her finger hard to keep from yelping. How could Mom have spoken to Dad’s girlfriend and not said anything about it?
    Stephanie spent the rest of the dinner telling Madison more details about how the ranch was being decorated and how it still really was just going to be a very simple ceremony with the closest friends and family. According to Stephanie, the day before the wedding would be relatively quiet and easy. Madison would have a chance to see some of Texas, go swimming, and just hang out at the hotel or the ranch.
    It sounded okay, Madison decided, although she didn’t know what it would be like to spend so much time with such a gigantic family. As an only child, Madison hardly ever spent holidays or major events with a kid her own age.
    This would be way different.
    “Hey, Maddie, when you get the dress, just don’t pick out some super short outfit with lots of Big Bird feathers,” Dad cracked at the end of the meal.
    Madison grinned. “Okay, Dad,” she shot back. “I guess I’ll return the yellow boa and my leather miniskirt.”
    Stephanie chuckled and took a sip of wine. “Whew! I can’t believe the wedding is only days away.”
    “Me neither, sweetheart,” Dad said, leaning in to kiss Stephanie’s cheek again. She cooed at him.
    Once again, Madison was beamed out of the conversation and into the peanut gallery.
    The love-fest was back.
    “Did you have a good dinner?” Mom asked when Madison