The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop (Cadillac, Texas #3)(95)

“If your neighbors saw me barrel into this house, there’ll be talk before the ball,” he said. “But I do like the gleam in your eye.”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “I thought that one morning with nausea was something I ate and that the lack of my period was stress and the pill is supposed to be ninety-nine-point-whatever effective so I didn’t think I could possibly be pregnant but the test is over there and you can see for yourself . . .”

He picked her up and swung her around the kitchen floor until she was even more breathless than ever. “This is the best wedding present ever. I feel like I’m floating on air. I love you, Mrs. Tucker, and now we’ve got a double announcement to make.”

“I love you, Jed. Are you sure you’re not disappointed? We talked about waiting two years to start a family.”

“No, my darlin’, I’m so happy that my heart is about to explode.”

With her feet dangling off the floor, Stella felt as if she was floating on air for real. Gossip, scandal, malicious lies. None of it could touch her when she was in Jed’s arms.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The camo limo left the church parking lot and drove slowly out to the Prescott place. Stella had purposely sat beside her mama at the back of the limousine, and while the rest of the ladies carried on a lively conversation, she took Nancy’s hand in hers and whispered in her ear.

“Mama, I want you to know before the announcement is made at the ball. I’ve been married to Jed Tucker since May.” In her wildest dreams she’d never thought that it would feel so good to say the words.

Nancy’s quick intake of breath was so loud that Stella looked up at the other passengers to make sure they hadn’t heard.

“Holy hell, Stella! The preacher,” she gasped.

Stella nodded. “I fell in love with him, but all that scandal when I was young—and don’t tell me you didn’t know—scared me. I was afraid the church wouldn’t give him a contract if they knew we were married.”

“I’m speechless. Does your daddy know?”

Stella’s head moved from side to side. “Not yet. You want to tell him or should I?”

“News that big should come from you. I can’t wrap my mind around it. You were married when he came to the backyard parties?”

Stella nodded.

“When he danced with you? Hell’s bells, girl. I’m losing my inner sense. I should’ve seen it. Lookin’ back, he had a special way with you. I should have seen it, but he’s the preacher.” Nancy’s voice got louder.

“Shhh. This is for you only because I love you and want you to know before we get out of this limo.”

Nancy squeezed Stella’s hand. “I’m fighting tears of joy. I’d go on and cry, but I spent an hour on this makeup.”

“Me, too, Mama. It feels so good to tell you. I wanted to say something before, but . . .”

“You deserve the big announcement after everything that has happened, including that rotten sign. I hope it’s taken down by morning.”

“Oh, it will be. Jed promised.”

The limo arrived amid flashing photographers’ lights and rolling cameras from the television station in Sherman. Rhett stepped up to the doors and lifted Piper down like a gentleman helping a lady out of a chariot, his hands firmly around her waist and hers on his shoulders.

She whispered something in his ear and he nodded. Then he turned, took Agnes’s crutches from her hands and handed them to Boone, and picked her up like a bride, carrying her to the door of the barn and setting her down gently before handing the crutches back to her.

“You are a gentleman and I never did believe all that shit about you,” Agnes whispered.

He blushed and said softly, “It was probably all true, ma’am, but sometimes a leopard can change its spots if the right woman comes along.”

It was Boone’s turn to help Charlotte from the limo next and he did so with a flourish, kissing her fingertips when he set her down. “Oh, my!” she said.

“You are lovely tonight, m’lady. Shall we?” He crooked his arm.

She slipped hers inside it, and Agnes held the filmy curtain back for them with the tip of one of her crutches.

Rhett picked up Piper’s arm and tucked it inside his. “I hope my little brother knows what he’s doing. I’ve never been to something with a princess before and I’m following his lead.”

Piper smiled. “That, Sir Rhett, is the best pickup line I’ve ever heard.”

Everett poked his head inside the limo. “Well, I’ll be damned. This thing looks like a hooker wagon to me. Where’s my lovely wife?”

“She’s right here, Daddy, and you are so right. I was just whispering secrets to her before we go inside,” Stella said.

“I might have known it. Y’all been thicker’n thieves since the day we brought you home from the hospital. Well, come on, woman. Let’s go see what in the hell them prayin’ women done got cooked up inside there. I’m hungry and we got to wait until they get the names all called before we can eat. That Heather girl is out there talkin’ to some reporters, but they’re more interested in this big contraption than they are what she’s got to say,” Everett said.