Trouble at the Wedding Read Online Free PDF Page A

aboard ship.” She glanced around. “Now, gentlemen, are there any questions?”
    Looking resigned, all three men shook their heads.
    â€œI’m glad to hear it,” she said, and stood up, indicating this meeting was at an end and bringing everyone else at the table to their feet as well. “Thank you for your time today. I do appreciate it. Now Mama and I will get out of your hair, and let y’all get started. You have a lot of work to do before this afternoon.”
    She turned toward the door and sailed out of the room in a cloud of soft, expensive French perfume, her mother right behind her, leaving a trio of very unhappy men staring after them.
    â€œIt’s like herdin’ cats,” she muttered once they were out of the law offices and headed for the elevator. “This is the third time I’ve had to ask them to make these changes, and I just don’t understand what’s so hard about it.”
    â€œThey are good men, Annabel.”
    â€œI know, Mama, I know,” she said as they paused in front of the wrought-iron gate of the elevator and she pressed the electric button to bring it up to the tenth floor. “But they pat me on the head every time I talk to them and act like Uncle Arthur is the only one they have to answer to.”
    â€œI doubt they think that now,” Henrietta said with a touch of humor. “Not after today.”
    Annabel smiled. “I did come down hard on ’em, didn’t I, Mama?”
    â€œLike a hammer, darlin’.”
    â€œI couldn’t help it. All that stuff about how a woman can’t manage finances just got under my skin. And then they had to bring up that whole business about waiting a year.”
    Henrietta was silent for a moment, then she said, “Would it be so bad to wait? A year isn’t all that long.”
    Annabel groaned. “Oh, Mama, not you, too. Not again.”
    â€œWell, it’s true you and Bernard don’t know each other all that well. Maybe—”
    â€œNow, Mama, we’ve had this talk already,” she reminded, having no desire to revisit the subject. “Bernard and I know what we’re doing, and we don’t see any reason why we should wait another six months. It’s plain as day those lawyers are dragging their feet because that’s what Uncle Arthur wants them to do. He’s never liked Bernard, and he’s been against this marriage from the first. But I did think you were on my side.”
    â€œAnnabel Mae, I am on your side! I’m your mother, and all I’m concerned about is your happiness. Arthur feels the same way. And your short acquaintance with Bernard worries us a bit.”
    â€œBernard and I have known each other six months, and that’s long enough for us to know what we’re doing. So there’s no need for y’all to be worryin’ about me. I know you think I’m rushing in headlong, but I’m not. And anyway, the wedding’s in six days. It’s a little late to be having doubts now.”
    â€œIs it?” her mother asked, jumping on that like a duck on a June bug. “Are you having doubts, Annabel?”
    â€œNo! Heavens, how many times do I have to say it?”
    â€œYou’re not in love with him.”
    She wriggled under her mother’s gaze. “Bernard and I get along very well. That’s enough for me, Mama.”
    â€œI’d like to see you marry a man you’re in love with.”
    Like you did? The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she bit them back. She didn’t say that Black Jack Wheaton, her mama’s great love, had been a worthless, wandering rascal, and that divorcing him for desertion so that she could marry George was the best thing her mama had ever done. Nor did Annabel point out that Mama hadn’t married her second husband because she felt a deep, passionate love for him. No, Henrietta had married George because George had always been the