Maybe This Time(24)

“It’s not going to rain.” I was 70 percent sure of that. Or at least the weather app on my phone was. It claimed 30 percent chance of rain, but the sky wasn’t supporting that prediction. The sky looked straight out of a horror movie.

“We could use some rain,” Minnie said. “The heat is stifling. Last time it was this hot, there was a five-city-wide power outage and poor Mrs. Frieson, bless her heart, lost her entire fridge full of meat for her party.”

Janet’s eyes became panicked.

“The power is not going to go out. It’s not that hot,” I said. “And these overcast conditions will make for beautiful pictures.”

“But rain does not make for beautiful pictures. It makes for drippy, soggy, wet pictures.” Janet pointed to her hair. “These curls took two hours to perfect.”

“You look gorgeous.”

Minnie stood, hung the wedding dress up on the wardrobe door, and tucked her supplies back into her bag. “You’re all set.” With that she headed toward the door.

Micah elbowed me in the ribs; apparently I was still scowling.

“Nice to see you, Ms. Baker,” Micah sang.

“And you as well, ladies.” Minnie let herself out of the room.

I set the box I was holding on the white lace coverlet on the bed. Janet needed a major distraction and I was glad I had it.

“I have your bouquet!” I announced. I pulled it out of the box. Between thinking about the bouquet, being trained by Caroline, doing several practice versions, and finally picking out the best roses and placing each one perfectly into the foam holder, I had spent basically the entire month on it. I had added zero designs to my sketchbook in that time, but apparently I was an expert bouquet maker now.

Janet gasped. “Sophie! It’s like you knew exactly what I wanted when I didn’t even know.”

I had been cursing flowers all month but now I was relieved. “I’m happy you like it,” I said, meaning it. Janet’s expression made me smile.

“I do. I love it.”

“It’s really pretty, Soph,” Micah said.

Janet picked up the rose bouquet and cradled it in her arms. “People still save these, right? How do I save it? Put it in the freezer or something?”

“No, that’s what you do with the cake. This you can just hang upside down and let dry out.”

She raised the bouquet to her nose and inhaled. Her eyes fluttered closed and she let out a happy sigh. “It smells amazing. I just love roses. Don’t you?”

“Yes, they are nice.” I picked up the box. “Did you need anything else?”

“I need for the rain to stay away.”

“Do you want us to put the tents up?” I offered. “We brought the tents.”

“The tents are so intrusive. I want to see the stars tonight.”

“You’ll see the stars.”

She smiled her perfectly painted lips. “Will you send my mom in if you see her? She’s supposed to help me put on my dress.”

“She’s in the kitchen,” Micah said. “Talking to Jett.”

“Jett Hart,” Janet said. “Do you believe Jett Hart is catering my wedding?”

“Pretty unbelievable,” I was able to cough out with effort.

“I hope the food is good,” Janet said worriedly. “He talked me into this weird thin-cut, seasoned meat when I just wanted pulled pork on buns.”

“The food is amazing,” Micah said. “You’ll love it. And I just had one question for you …”

I squeezed Micah’s arm and went out into the hell. Several women in matching maroon dresses—bridesmaids, no doubt—poured out of the room across the hall and swept past me into Janet’s room.

I took the stairs and poked my head into the kitchen. Jett was at the stove, and sure enough, Mrs. Eller was on the other side of the counter. She was giving him a second-by-second accounting of the day.

“Mrs. Eller,” I said. “Your daughter is looking for you. She’s ready to put her dress on.”

“Oh! Yes, it’s time! Thanks, Mr. Hart!” She whirled around and flew by me.

Jett gave me a curt nod, like I had done that for his benefit. Of course he thought the world revolved around him.

I had basically given up on climbing out of the hole I’d somehow dug with him. If we were going to have a good working relationship, if he was going to see my worth at all, it would have to happen naturally. I still hoped it might, but I wasn’t counting on it. I couldn’t count on it.

I took a step back and let the kitchen door swing shut. I had plans before he came and they would still be the same after he left. I didn’t need him.

Minnie was right; outside felt like a sauna. The dark clouds hanging overhead had turned the air muggy. I questioned my own sanity at wearing a silk blouse. I should’ve gone with cotton. Understated was best for weddings, I’d learned. So I wore a pale pink top with a black skirt and black heels. I had been tempted to sew a ruffled flare to the bottom of my skirt, and my red heels had been calling my name, but I’d resisted. I hadn’t resisted the line of small pearls I’d sewn along the pocket of my blouse. But they were subtle. The only person people should be looking at today was Janet.

“Hey, Soph, where can I plug this in?” Kyle stood on a makeshift stage, holding the cord to his amp. Janet was Kyle’s cousin, so it shouldn’t have surprised me that he and his band were playing tonight. But his music was not wedding material at all.