Just for This Moment (Wishful 4)

Norah hurried to comply.

Leah’s cheeks flushed pink. “We’re happy for you and you’re going to criticize us for that?”

Piper closed her eyes and counted to ten. She didn’t want to fight with her sister. She didn’t want to fight with anyone. “That isn’t what I’m saying.” Blowing out a breath, she accepted the mimosa Tyler held out and downed half of it. “I appreciate the fact that you’re both happy for me and that you’ve thrown yourself into the cause to help pull together this wedding last minute. I really do.”

At Babette’s urging, she stepped up onto the platform in front of the three-way mirror. The dress had an empire waist, with an explosion of beading on the bodice and a simple drape all the way to the floor.

“No,” Norah and Tyler chorused.

Piper turned away from the mirror.

“Then what’s the problem?” Leah asked.

“None of this is what I want.”

Everybody went stock still, like deer in the headlights.

“Um.”

Piper’s gaze shot to the doorway, where Skye stood, mouth hanging open. Augusta stood was just behind her.

Perfect. Just perfect. She’d insulted her future mother-in-law’s husband just two days ago and now Augusta was going to think she was backing out of the wedding.

Piper downed the other half of the mimosa. “That isn’t what I meant.” She handed Tyler the glass and stepped off the platform to head for her future in-laws. “I want to marry Myles. I want to marry him next weekend. That isn’t in question. It’s just that...” She trailed off, not sure what she could say that wouldn’t make her sound like an ungrateful bitch.

“My mother-in-law has come in and taken over?” Augusta suggested gently.

Piper exhaled in relief. “Yes. And my mom has jumped right on the band wagon.”

“I’m afraid Suzanne has a habit of doing that.”

“Have you seen the itineraries she’s given us? This wedding has absolutely nothing to do with Myles and me personally. We might as well be living Ken and Barbie dolls up there for other people’s entertainment.”

“Why agree to it at all?”

“Because I felt like I needed to play nice to pacify everybody in the wake of that whole ugly scene when they found out we were getting married in the first place. My mom was offended—by my behavior, not hers, mind you—and I’m pretty sure I made the worst possible impression on Mrs. Stewart.”

Augusta winced. “I expect her behavior made the worst possible impression on you. Let me apologize for that again and assure you that there’s no need to pacify anyone.”

“Water under the bridge.” God knew there was no reason to stay upset about it when nothing could be done to change it.

“For what it’s worth, she admires your moxie. So do I.”

It was Piper’s turn to wince. “Is that a nice way of saying you’re not mad at me for calling out Myles’ dad?”

“Warrick is...set in his ways and has never quite gotten over the fact that Myles has a different path. Someone needed to say it. That it was someone not part of our family had more impact than anything Myles has said over the years. So no, I’m not at all angry. I appreciate your defense of my son.”

“Uh, Piper, you might want to continue this conversation on the other side of the curtain. You’re on a tight schedule,” Norah reminded her.

“Oh, we don’t want to intrude,” Augusta began.

“Speak for yourself. I want to get to know my new sister-in-law.” Skye flounced in and plopped onto one of the dainty sofas.

Augusta wasn’t nearly so comfortable. “Myles mentioned you’d be here this morning, and we thought we might stop in.”

Piper reached out to squeeze one of her hands, grateful for her show of support. “Please stay. I’d like to get to know you better, too.”

As Babette unzipped her, Piper made quick introductions. Then she stepped behind the curtain, stripping out of the first dress and working her way into the next.