The Strawberry Hearts Diner(72)

“It’s going to be a beautiful wedding,” Andy said right at her elbow.

Vicky frowned. “I’d rather the wedding was in a church.”

“There’s more room in the parking lot, and we get tarts for the reception. We can bring tables from the church and set them up between the diner and the house so folks can take their cake and tarts around there. How does that sound?” Ryder asked.

Emily nodded. “We could put candles in fruit jars to light up the place. It will be so romantic.”

“Why not set up a big white tent in that space? I can do that for you. My company can provide the tables, linens, centerpieces, and even air-conditioning so your guests will be cool,” Andy said.

“On such short notice?” Vicky asked.

“Sure.” Andy flashed a brilliant smile. “I’ve got a crew that can take care of it with no problem.”

“Yes!” Emily said. “I’d love that. Mama?”

“What other ideas do you have, Andy?”

“Look at this.” He flipped open a different book and showed her a picture of an outdoor wedding. “We could transform the parking lot to look like this if you’d like. I understand that you have already gotten an arch and chairs. I know that company, and we can work with them. I can supply everything else to turn that parking lot into a magical fairyland. A carpet from the front of the diner so that your dress won’t drag on gravel and twinkling lights.”

“Oh, Ryder,” she squealed. “Andy, you are a genius.”

“And we can shop for a dress?” Vicky asked.

Emily smiled. “You win, Mama. I want a wedding that looks like this.”



Jancy and Shane were sitting on the back porch when Ryder and Emily brought pictures they’d taken with their phones to share with them.

“And look at the twinkle lights leading from the diner to the tent.” Emily’s excitement was contagious. “And Andy’s crew will set everything up for us and it’s going to be beautiful.”

“Like a fairy tale, but, honey, you need to look for a big fancy dress to go with this wedding,” Jancy said.

“I already told Mama that we’d go shopping for one. Do you think she’s comin’ around, Jancy?” Emily sat down on the porch and pulled Ryder down beside her.

“Yep.” Jancy nodded.

She loved the pretty pictures, but she didn’t want anything as elaborate as this wedding was turning into. But then, why was she thinking about a wedding? Shane was the only man in the world that she’d even consider trusting enough for that step, and it was way too soon to think about marriage.

But all little girls thought about their wedding day, so why couldn’t a twenty-two-year-old? Jancy wanted a simple wedding with only a few dear friends in the room and then maybe a reception with cake and punch. Maybe a pretty dress, too. Then a lovely honeymoon in this little white house with two rocking chairs on the back porch.

If it never came true, she could still have the lovely dream.

“Jancy, where are you?” Emily singsonged.

“Daydreaming, I guess. What did you say?”

“I asked what you thought about silver bridesmaids’ dresses?”

“With red rose bouquets, that would be beautiful. And I’m so glad that you took all those pictures to share with us,” Jancy answered. “Andy is pretty great for getting this all done in two weeks.”

“Yes, he is,” Ryder said. “And Vicky was so excited about the dress. I don’t think she wanted Emily to wear the vintage one.”

“Me, either,” Emily said. “We’re going over to our trailer now. See you in the morning, Jancy.”

“Bright and early.” Jancy slipped her hand into Shane’s.

“When you get married, what kind of wedding do you want?” he asked.

“Small and simple. What about you? Something big and fancy?”

“No, m-ma’am. I’d stutter so bad the cerem-mony w-would take hours.” He grinned. “So small and simple?”

She shook her head. “My only living relative is about to be in Germany. I’d have no one on my side.”

“I’ll always be on your side, Jancy.” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed the tips of each one.





CHAPTER NINETEEN


Sunday had always been Vicky’s favorite day of the week, though the hymns usually touched her soul more than the sermons. She could hear all the voices on her pew as they blended together. A few weeks ago there had been three of them—Nettie, Vicky, and Emily—but their little family had doubled when they’d added Ryder, Shane, and Jancy. It made for a full pew and really nice singing.

According to the sermon that night, God worked things out. Whether folks liked it or not was up to them. They could be bitter or they could be better. Bitter had the letter I in it, and every single time people put themselves first, it became a problem that created a bitter attitude.

That part about bitter and better hit Vicky so hard between the eyes that it almost gave her a headache. She glanced to her right at Emily and Ryder holding hands in church. Even with his past, she couldn’t very well ask for more than a man who adored her child and who went to church with her.

There were a few doubts still lingering in her heart, but she’d gotten past that anger business last night at Andy’s cake shop. Looking back, she realized that she’d gone through the same steps when her mother and Creed both died. She’d barely gotten past the denial and shock of the first when her husband of six weeks died. Two funerals that year, and she’d walked away from the last one with nothing but bitter anger in her heart. Nettie, with her love and patience, had helped her through those times. Here it was more than twenty years later and Nettie was helping her again.