Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

“Huh?” I said, not believing what I heard.

“Lucas, women have a way of knowing things before we do. Your mother is the best in the world with this little gift. She probably already knows the wedding is Saturday at six. I learned, as will you, that often you will say two words to your wife followed up most times by four more words.”

I could feel myself grinning. “What words would those be?”

My father looked me dead in the eyes. “‘Yes, dear.’ And ‘whatever you want, sweetheart.’”

After spending the morning with my father on the ranch, we drove to the courthouse and checked on the renovations. Then we swung by and checked on Paige’s shop. It was moving along faster than either of us could have hoped. The outside was nearly complete, and I couldn’t wait to see the sign I had made hung up.

I parted ways with my dad, but not before making arrangements to pick up Ranger, Princess, and two other horses my father insisted would be happier with me and Paige. I then swung by the grocery store and picked up a bouquet of flowers for Paige. As I drove down the driveway, I frowned at the number of cars and trucks parked outside the house. I saw Milo’s truck, Jen’s car, Gene’s truck, as well as my folks’ car. I pulled off to the side and got out, flowers in hand as I made my way to the house. I could hear everyone outside.

When I rounded the house, I stopped.

“Holy shit,” I said, looking around the backyard at the sight before me. Paige turned and waved, standing on top of a ladder. She was hanging up Edison lights.

“It’s about time you showed up. I need your help in the greenhouse,” Milo said, motioning for me to follow him. I walked over to Paige and looked up at her.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

She laughed as if I had just asked her the most insane question.

“We are getting married in three days! I had a ton of things to do to get ready. The ceremony will be in the greenhouse, then we will have the reception here in the backyard. I already looked at three different news stations for the weather. It’s going to be a beautiful day!”

The way she was smiling made me feel like I was floating on a cloud. “Baby, why didn’t you tell me you were doing all of this? I would have been here to help.”

Paige took a few steps down on the ladder, then leaned over to kiss me. “You wanted to talk to your dad. I called your mom and invited her over for breakfast. The moment she found out the wedding was this weekend, plans were put in motion.”

I laughed. “Sounds like my mom. Your dad?”

She looked past me, and I followed her gaze. Phillip was sitting at a table doing something with Jen.

“He’s making decorations for the greenhouse with Jen. He did ask if I was pregnant, and if that was why we were rushing.”

“God, I wish I had been there because I would have loved to have said yes, just to see what he would do.”

Paige frowned. “Was one black eye not enough? Or you feeling spry enough to do another 5k running away from him?”

“Now that I know the old man can run, he won’t be able to catch me next time.”

With another peek over my shoulder, Paige pressed her mouth shut and looked back at me.

“He heard me, didn’t he?”

She nodded. “You might want to run.”

Paige

I STOOD ON the front porch and took in a deep breath. It was the morning of my wedding. The day I had dreamed about since I was twelve years old, when I realized I liked Lucas as more than a friend. It was the first time he held his hand out for me when I was getting off a horse. He hadn’t even realized he’d winked at me when I jumped down and stumbled. He had caught me, asked if I was okay, then winked at me. At twelve, I vowed to marry him someday.

At fourteen, I realized I had more than a crush: I had fallen in love with him. At sixteen, I gave him not only my heart, but my body. At eighteen, he crushed my heart. Now, at twenty-nine he promised me the moon and stars, and I was madly in love with him.

I sat down in one of the white iron chairs I had found in the storage shed, along with a beautiful white iron table. From pictures I had found in Millie’s photo album, I knew this table set had once adorned this front porch. And it was back in its original spot. The large white columns that went across the porch had to be one of my favorite things about the house. It gave it a grand appearance, while still leaving it to look like a country house. I looked up at the chandeliers that my father and Lucas had hung last night. The two of them, spending the night before our wedding hanging light fixtures and drinking beer. Lucas had said it was probably the best bachelor party he’d ever had. I loved that my father secretly made Lucas think he was teetering on the edge of liking and hating him. In truth, my father had always adored Lucas. He had been angry with him, like I had, but he loved him like a son. Last night, when I heard the two of them laughing, it warmed my heart, filling me with so much happiness that I had broken down and cried.