The Strawberry Hearts Diner(73)

It had been the birth of her precious daughter that had brought her out into the light again. Nodding when the preacher talked about how much a person’s attitude affects those folks around them, she decided that the wedding was going to be just what Andy said—the most magical one Pick had ever seen.

She glanced at her daughter, sitting beside Ryder. From the stars in her eyes, she wasn’t listening to a word the preacher was saying. No doubt the wedding and honeymoon were on her mind. Happiness was what she should have wanted for Emily all along—not a fancy job in a big city. Sweet peace filled her soul as she let go of all the doubts. Emily and Ryder would make it, and she’d be there for both of them.

And she’s going to look beautiful in that Cinderella wedding gown I picture her in. Vicky got a gorgeous vision of Emily getting married with the setting sun behind her.

Emily must have felt her mother staring at her, because she turned and their gazes locked. Vicky nodded and sent up a silent prayer that she got a granddaughter—a pretty little blonde-haired girl who looked exactly like Emily—so that she could watch her grow up to be the confident, determined woman Emily had become.

Emily laid her hand on her flat stomach. In a couple of months, there would be a bump. It would be awesome if she had the baby on Christmas. A picture of Ryder holding his daughter for the first time popped into Vicky’s head, and if there was a tiny thread of doubt in her mind about him, that picture erased it.

Vicky had known Ryder’s folks in their wild days—when they’d partied every weekend. And then they’d suddenly gotten religion and his life had done a 180-degree turnaround. No wonder he’d turned out to be a smooth-talking womanizer—he’d grown up in a party world until he was in his teens. Then, boom! His folks insisted that he go to church. Letting him stay behind when they left was probably the best thing that happened to Ryder, because he got a taste of stability from Shane and his grandpa. Hank always insisted the boys go to church on Sunday evening. He’d told Vicky once that he understood most of the time they weren’t fit for morning services after their Saturday night fun, but according to him, they needed a little blood of the lamb washed over them.

With his wild ways, Vicky wouldn’t have been surprised if Ryder had left Emily high and dry when she got pregnant, but instead of being terrified, he was on top of the world. It sure looked like old Hank’s influence had come through really well.

Vicky’s thoughts went to Shane and Jancy. They were headed toward marriage. Maybe not by the end of the year, but it was going to happen. Shane knew Jancy belonged in Pick, and he was a patient man. In the past few weeks, Jancy had blossomed from a girl who’d felt unworthy of even a decent meal to a young woman who was taking charge of her life.

Whether she realized it or not, her roots were growing deep into the ground in Pick. She hadn’t even mentioned leaving in the past few days. Vicky wondered if maybe Emily hadn’t made her promise to stay until the baby was born.

God or fate or destiny—whatever a person wanted to call it—had been in charge that day when Jancy’s car burned up. Vicky saw Shane slip an arm across the back of the pew and rest his hand on her shoulder. Oh, yes, life was good for everyone that Sunday evening.

“Before I ask Ryder to give the benediction, I have an announcement to make,” the preacher said.

Vicky sat up a little straighter.

“On, June 24 at eight o’clock, Ryder Jensen and Emily Rawlins will be married. The ceremony will take place in the Strawberry Hearts Diner parking lot with the reception starting in the diner and spilling over to a tent in the backyard. All friends and family are invited to the ceremony and to the reception. But Nettie says that the same rule stands about taking more than two tarts out of the diner.”

There were a few giggles and chuckles, but they quieted down real soon when Ryder stood, bowed his head, and thanked God for all his gifts. Vicky didn’t need a dictionary to get the underlying meaning of what he was saying, because she felt the exact same way.

Emily and Ryder were getting all kinds of congratulatory pats and hugs on the way out of church. Lots of folks were texting friends who hadn’t made it to Sunday night services to tell them the good news. It took quite a while for the six members of Vicky’s family to reach the back of the church.

The preacher grabbed Ryder’s hand and shook it firmly. “Congratulations, son. I’m happy for you and Miz Emily.” He finally let go and hugged Emily. “I’ve watched you grow up from a little girl. It’s going to be such an honor to preside over your wedding.” He lowered his voice. “Nettie already made arrangements.”

“I’m going to get the truck, darlin’. I’ll pick you up right outside the door.” Ryder kissed her on the cheek.

Vicky was right behind Emily when they left the cool church and stepped out into the hot night air. The ragged gasp that came from Emily sent chills down Jancy’s spine. She thought for sure something had happened with the baby until she looked across the parking lot to see a brunette with her legs wrapped around Ryder’s waist and her hands tangled up in his hair.

An eerie hot wind blew up from the south as if telling everyone in the parking lot that there was fixing to be hell to pay in Pick, Texas. Jancy let go of Shane’s hand and started across the gravel with Emily right behind her.

“Don’t kill him. Let him explain,” Nettie yelled.