The Strawberry Hearts Diner(87)

“I’ve had the best role model in the world. I only hope I can remember everything that you’ve taught me by example.” Emily hugged Vicky and then went across the hall to her bedroom.

Vicky gave her five minutes and then slipped into her room and kissed her on the forehead. “Good night, my sweet little girl.”

“Good night, Mama.” Emily yawned.

That time when Vicky crawled into her bed, she went right to sleep and there were no dreams or worries.





CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE


Waynette had given Emily a mani-pedi right there in the tent, and now it was time to put the dress on. Jancy took it off the hanger and dropped it in a pile of fluff onto the carpeted floor.

“Just like the lady at the store said, you step into it and then be very still while we take care of all the rest,” Jancy told Emily. “We need to avoid those pretty curls on top of your head.”

“If you’ve got to go to the bathroom, go now, because it’s an hour until the ceremony is over,” Waynette said. “I had to cross my legs the last half of my wedding.”

“I’m fine, but don’t let me have another drop of water.” Emily put one bare foot into the dress and then the other one. “I can’t believe that I let Mama talk me into this thing. I wanted something simple.”

“My granny told me that it wasn’t my wedding”—Waynette helped Jancy pull the dress up—“it was my mama’s affair, and when I had a daughter, I’d understand. We have this idea of what our wedding will be, but we have to remember that our mothers have been saving and thinking about it since the day we were born. My granny said that when she got married she and her mother had a big fight over how wide the ribbons were going to be in her bouquet. That’s when she decided that all she wanted to be was married and she didn’t really care about the wedding part.”

“Yes!” Emily pumped her fist in the air. “Exactly.”

That old familiar green monster hit Jancy right in the middle of her heart. Her mother would never get to argue with her about the width of the bouquet ribbons or whether to wear heels or flats, like Emily and Vicky had done in the bridal shop.

She and Waynette laced the dress up the back, making sure each ribbon was flat and the bow at the top was tied neatly. Then they carefully turned Emily around so that she could see herself in the mirror.

“Oh. My! Mama was right,” Emily whispered. “I feel just like Cinderella, and it’s a wonderful feeling.”

“And she was right about our dresses, too. We talked about silver in the beginning, but this light-green floral is so much prettier for an outdoor wedding.”

“Ryder’s eyes are going to pop right out,” Waynette said. “Now, I’m going to take my place at the guest table. I’ll send Vicky in to put on your veil and put the penny in your shoe for good luck.”

“Thanks for everything,” Emily said. “Especially for my hair. I love it.”

“And for mine,” Jancy said. “I can’t believe you got it to do this.”

“I’m magic with a curlin’ iron.” Waynette waved to them with a smile as she left the tent.

“She’s right about the expression on Ryder’s face when you start up that strip of carpet,” Jancy said.

She’d never wanted a wedding, especially since her mother couldn’t be there, but she changed her mind that evening. To have Shane’s eyes go all wide and to see his smile when she wore a dress like that, it would be well worth a big ceremony.

“Jancy, thank you for everything. For being our friend—not just mine, but Mama’s and Nettie’s. For being Shane’s girlfriend. Ryder and I worried about him ever finding happiness. That’s just the top of the list. I could go on for hours.” Emily hugged her. “And darlin’, Shane isn’t going to be able to blink when he sees you in that gorgeous formal. You look amazing. Sure you don’t want to just have a double wedding today?”

She’d love to, but she and Shane needed more time. She and Shane would have their day, maybe next summer when she’d saved up enough money to buy a beautiful dress and a wedding cake from Andy’s shop.

“Thanks for the offer, but Shane hasn’t even proposed. He’d run away so fast that his tux would catch on fire if we suggested such a thing now,” Jancy answered.

Emily bent to hug the other girls, one at a time. “Y’all have been my friends since my earliest memories. I love you all, and thank you for helping make this day so special.”

“And on such short notice,” Sarah laughed. “Jancy, we will expect a little more time when it’s your turn for this.”

Jancy held up a palm. “I promise I will give everyone more than three weeks.”

“Hey, I hear that it’s time to put on the veil—oh, my goodness. You look like an angel.” Vicky stopped right inside the door. “I knew that was the right dress the minute I saw it on the hanger.”

“And you were so right,” Emily told her. “The ballerina shoes were a great idea, too.”

Vicky beamed. “I can’t wait to see Ryder when he gets the first look at you. And Jancy, your hair is absolutely beautiful. We’ve got to get Waynette to fix it when you and Shane get married.”