Less than two weeks after the magazine cover went live, my parents left for their first-ever Caribbean cruise. Mama called me from the port in Galveston just as I arrived at the shop on a Saturday morning. We hadn’t opened yet, so I had plenty of time to talk.
“Katie, can you hear me?” She spoke a little too loud for comfort.
“Sure, Mama.” I pulled the phone away from my ear. “What’s up?”
“Listen, we’re leaving on this ridiculous cruise right in the middle of hurricane season, so if you never see us again, just know that I love you and I wanted the chance to see you walk the aisle in that beautiful Loretta Lynn gown.”
“Mama, I’m not engaged.”
“Well, I know, but someday you will be. If we’re swept away by a hurricane, please bury me in my blue dress. You know the one, with the pretty collar?”
“Mama, if you’re swept out to sea, we won’t need to bury you.”
“True.” She sighed. “Well, don’t miss me too much. Oh, and check on Jasper while we’re gone. You do know what’s happening back home, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not going to believe it,” Mama said. “You’re just not.”
“Oh, I don’t know. These days I’d say my mind is opened to believing all sorts of new and interesting things. What’s up?”
“Call him when we hang up. He’ll tell you. But in the meantime I have some news about Queenie.”
My heart skipped a beat as fear settled over me. “What happened to her? Is she sick?”
“No.”
“She fell and hurt herself?”
“No. Not even close. Brace yourself, Katie.”
“O-okay.” I drew in a deep breath, unsure of what to expect.
“She’s. Become. A. Presbyterian.”
I couldn’t say why those words struck me like they did, but I laughed so hard I almost dropped the phone. Then Mama started laughing. After a while we simply had to end the call because we couldn’t get it under control. Brady heard me all the way from the workroom and came out to the front of the store, filled with questions. When I told him, he started laughing too.
I spent the next few minutes trying to picture my grandmother in the Presbyterian church. Watching the man she adored preach . . . in a bathrobe. Okay, not a bathrobe, but a robe. Feeling closer to heaven.
Funny how life turned out.
A quick glance at the clock let me know we still had fifteen minutes before opening, just enough time to call Jasper. He answered his cell phone on the second ring with a brusque “Hello?”
“Mama said I should call you. What’s up?”
“Yep. I hear she’s a Presbyterian now.”
“Yes, but wait . . . there’s more. There’s been a sighting.”
“A sighting?”
“Queenie. And Reverend Bradford. Sitting in your spot at Dairy Queen, eating Oreo Blizzards.”
“Whoa. I thought Queenie was borderline diabetic.”
“Katie, be serious. I’m trying to tell you they’re a couple.”
“Queenie and Reverend Bradford. Out in public. Eating ice cream.” I thought about that and smiled. “Which explains why she’s become a Presbyterian. But she really is borderline diabetic, Jasper. She’s kept it under control with diet and medication. You didn’t know that?”
“I guess I’d forgotten.” He sighed. “It’s true what they say . . . people will sacrifice just about anything for love.”
“Even their health.” I laughed, then grew more serious. “Or the desire to move to the big city.”
“Yeah, and that’s probably the real reason Mama told you to call me. Crystal has moved to Fairfield.”
“What?”
“Yep. I, um . . . I’m going to ask her to marry me, Katie.”
“Oh, Jasper.” I felt the sting of happy tears in my eyes. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m pretty happy for me too. And you know what? Now that Crystal’s here helping out at the hardware store, I don’t feel that same pressure to get out of town. In fact, Fairfield is looking better by the day.”
“I’m so glad. I’ll bet Pop was surprised, though.”
“He was. Did you know he was actually talking about selling the store? Can you believe that?”
“Yeah, he mentioned it awhile ago.”
“Well, I think I’ve talked him into letting me take over as manager instead. That way he and Mama are free to gallivant around the country.”
“Now that they’ve lost their marbles,” I said.
“Yep. And speaking of which . . .”
Off in the distance I heard the sound of a customer’s voice. Sounded familiar.
“Is that Bessie May?” I asked.
“Yes.” He chuckled. “Arguing with Crystal about the price of a garden hose. You know how she is. Always wanting to barter.”
“Let me guess. She’s offering her two jars of peach preserves in exchange for the hose.”
“One jar. Her prices have gone up. But Crystal’s taking the bait,” Jasper said. “Sorry, but I’m going to have to intervene before things get out of control. Gotta go, sis. Take care of yourself in the big city.”
“And you take care of yourself in the small town.”
We ended the call and I couldn’t help but smile. I pictured it all—my brother in a small town with the woman of his dreams at his side, me in the big city. I sighed, thinking about how good God had been to us.
“You seem kind of dreamy over there.” Madge’s voice startled me back to reality. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were in love.”
“Oh, I’m in love, all right.” A giggle followed. “With this place. With my new life. With . . . all of it.”
“All of it?” She jabbed me with her elbow and gestured to Brady, who fastened a veil loaded with Austrian crystals onto a mannequin.
“Well, it might be a little soon to say.” I’d never admit my feelings aloud to Madge, but right now they had me smiling from the inside out. I continued to gaze at Brady, emotions overtaking me. I felt my cheeks grow warm as he looked my way and gave me a wink. In the process of flirting with me, he nearly tumbled from the ladder. Poor guy.
“See the effect you have on him, girl?” Madge groaned. “It’s the only downfall to you working here. Now he’ll never get any work done.” She mumbled something about how he’d never worked very hard in the first place, but she lost me after a line or two. Brady James was the hardest-working man I’d ever met, and the most dedicated team player. No doubt about that.
He climbed down from the ladder, extended his arms, and gave me a “come hither” look.
I glanced up at the clock and took note of the time. Only two minutes until the store opened. Just enough time for one final play from my end of the court. With a spring in my step, I raced across the bridal shop and flew straight into the arms of the man I adored.