The Strawberry Hearts Diner(89)

Six months.

In one way, it seemed like she’d never left Pick, yet she was glad for those years, because if she hadn’t had the bad times, then that day wouldn’t be nearly as precious.

She’d opened the last letter her mother had left her that morning. On the outside it said it was to be read on her wedding day. Knowing her mother was there in spirit had brought tears to her eyes and joy to her heart. Then that evening in the dressing room, Vicky brought out the family pearls for her to wear, and she’d shed more tears. For the happiest day in her life, she’d sure had to use a lot of tissues.

“When are you going to give us some more of these wonderful presents, Jancy? You could follow in Emily’s footsteps and start off with a set of twins. These kids are going to need cousins to play with.” Vicky looked down at Hank. “I’d like a houseful of grandchildren by the time I’m fifty.”

“Me, too.” Andy winked. “I don’t mind bypassing the father business and going straight to grandpa status.”

“It fits both of you very well, but you’ll have to wait at least nine months for cousins for Rosie and Hank.” Jancy smiled. “When are you two going to make some kind of announcement about your wedding?”

“As soon as Vicky will let me, I’ll get out the bullhorn and tell the whole world,” Andy said. “But today is about you and Shane.”

Shane tugged on her hand. “Everyone is waiting on the bride and groom to start the food line, darlin’. Are you hungry?”

“Starvin’,” Jancy said.

Nettie looked up from behind the table. “There are two tarts on your table. One for each of you. Rules is rules.”

“Thank you, Nettie.” Shane grinned. “I been too nervous to eat today, but I’m about to m-make up for it now.”

“We have a little midnight snack already made up for you to take with you. Don’t leave without it.” Nettie pointed toward a big basket with all kinds of food in it.

“Thank you. That is so sweet.” Jancy leaned over the table and hugged Nettie.

“Don’t get the sleeves of that gorgeous dress in the salsa. The red would never come out of velvet,” Nettie scolded.

Oh, yes, Jancy was definitely part of the community and the family, and most importantly, she was Shane’s wife, whether she was wearing white velvet and Chantilly lace or her jeans and T-shirts.

“You only have to stay an hour,” Emily whispered when she took her place at the head table beside Jancy. “Ryder and I will take all the presents to your house and you can open them after the honeymoon.”

“I don’t want to miss one single minute of any of this,” Jancy said. “And I’ll let you in on a secret if you promise not to tell.”

“You know I won’t.” Emily’s eyes glittered.

“I didn’t want a honeymoon. I just want to be married to Shane, so we’re going to leave in that vintage car that he got all fixed up, drive out of town so everyone thinks we’ve gone to Galveston, and sneak right back to our house. We’ll be opening presents in our home tomorrow, not next week.”

“Smart woman,” Emily said. “I loved the cruise, but I couldn’t wait to get home to our trailer.”

Ryder tapped his fork against a glass and held it up. “A toast. Shane has been like a brother to me since we were just kids. So I guess that makes Jancy my sister. Here’s to family that isn’t really blood kin but that are related by the heart.”

“Hear, hear!” Shane touched his glass to Jancy’s. “And here’s to a lifetime of love and life together, M-Mrs. Adams.”

Jancy leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I will never get tired of that title.”





AUTHOR NOTE


Dear Reader, I hope you enjoyed your visit to Pick, Texas. As I was writing, the whole cast became so real to me that I could taste the strawberry tarts and smell the aroma of Nettie’s food coming from the kitchen at the diner. I’ll miss the conversations with Woody, Nettie, Vicky, Jancy, and Emily, and even though I could have wrung his egotistical neck, even Carlton! I hope that you fall in love with Ryder, Shane, and Andy as much as I did—all three of them are really good men.

Folks say that it takes a village to raise a child—well, it takes a whole team to take a book from a simple dream to what you hold in your hands today. My Montlake team is totally amazing for all they do—from edits to covers—and each of them deserves more than a simple thank-you. But the appreciation comes from deep in my heart when I say thank you to Anh Schluep, my editor, who continues to believe in me; to my developmental editor, Krista Stroever, who always manages to help me take a chunk of coal and turn it into a diamond; to the whole team that has put together this amazing book; to my awesome agent, Erin Niumata, and to Folio Management; and once again, big hugs to my husband, Mr. B, who continues to support me even when he has to eat takeout five days in a row so I can write “just one more chapter.”

And thank you to all my readers who buy my books, read them, talk about them, share them, write reviews, and send notes to me. I’m grateful for each and every one of you.

Until next time, Carolyn Brown