12. Let Them Eat Pie
LET THEM EAT PIE
REX
“Everything all right?” Chelsea’s hand on my arm jolted me right out of my thoughts about the prenup situation. Our eyes locked, and her emerald beacons of concern blazed a path right through my heart and into my soul.
“Absolutely. You know Miriam, always something.” I shrugged and guided her down the street, placing her hand in the cook of my elbow. My hand rubbed my stomach. “Damn, the cake was delicious.”
“Hmm. It was.” Her small smile didn’t sit well with me. “I hope you saved room for lunch with my mom, and don’t forget after that we’re meeting up with my friend Sadie at Choco Dee Lites to taste test the chocolate wedding favors. Her champagne white chocolate truffles are to die for. Then we have?—”
“I know, I know it’s a full day of it here in Holly Creek.” I stopped us right there on the sidewalk, just feet away from Flora’s Diner. “What’s really going on with you, sweetness? And I know you well enough by now, so don’t say it’s nothing.” I brought her hand to my lips and placed a few kisses on the back of it.
Chelsea squared off with me. “Fine. I’m wondering if you really mean what you said. What I want, I get? Because I prefer pie over cake, cocoa over cocktails, and roses over bird feathers. I feel like there’s constant pressure around every wedding decision to have things Miriam's way. Even my engagement ring was hers.”
She sucked in a quick breath, covering her mouth with her hand, and stared at me with enormous wet eyes. “Oh, I didn’t mean to say that.”
“You…don’t like my mother’s ring?” Stunned, my eyebrows shot up.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry. The ring is lovely. Don’t get me wrong. When you first proposed to me with it, the sentiment of it meant everything to me because of how your dad proposed to her with it. But that’s just it. More and more, I worry that this is Miriam’s wedding, and her day to shine in front of four hundred guests , only twenty of whom I’ll even know.”
I rubbed her shoulders and tried to put myself in her shoes. Suddenly thrust into the big role as a Buchanan bride for a day couldn’t be easy, like being crowned my young queen with the gates to the castle opened and the entire kingdom invited to watch the celebration, when all she wanted to be was simply my wife.
I loved that about her. Chelsea, the small-town girl, modest, hard-working, and not once did she give me any reason to think of her as a gold-digger. Doubtful she’d ever turn into a wife taking advantage of my money at all.
Forget Miriam questioning me about a prenup. Plenty of questions also came to my mind for her about the growing guest list.
“Your mother and Agnes make these decisions for us and never think about asking what I want or we want,” Chelsea continued. “And the worst of it is, I’m trying to be grateful because your family is paying for everything to make this wedding day happen. Every time I open my mouth I just keep thinking, don’t complain or you’ll sound like an ungrateful bridezilla. ”
A tear escaped from the corner of one eye as she crumbled into my arms. Upset I had let things get this sad for her, I tucked her under my chin. “No, don’t think that. You have every right to feel this way, Chelsea. I guess that explains a lot. You’re usually my sunshiny baby, but lately…half the time I’m not even sure if you’re excited about this wedding or even about marrying me.”
“Oh Rex, no. I don’t mean to come across that way at all. Of course, I’m looking forward to the day I become your wife. I love you.”
“And I love you, sweetness. I just wish you were having more fun with the wedding planning. I thought brides were always supposed to be happy putting together the one day to celebrate their love?”
“I am happy, really.” She reached up on tiptoes and captured my lips in a sweet, sensual kiss, until a horn honked on Main Street. We parted and the serious plea in her eyes tore my heart to shreds. “Just please tell me Miriam will not dictate when we have children.”
After a good laugh at that, I assured her. “There’s no way in hell she’ll have any influence on our baby making. It’s only you and me in this marriage, I promise. And tonight, I can’t wait to get back to practicing baby making with you in bed. Chelsea, this day is about us. Forget the money and who’s paying for it. Just enjoy the process. Okay?”
She nodded, and we joined lips again. But her ring comment stayed with me and kind of stung.
I’d picked an expensive ring for her the first time, but threw it off the top of the building when she turned down my offer to marry for my convenience. The second time I asked her, it was because I knew she was the woman I loved and couldn’t live without.
Miriam had helped me see the light about Chelsea and had suggested I propose to her with it. The ring was so special to her and Dad and brought them good fortune. To me, that meant it was priceless, so I thought, and perfect for Chelsea, who said money couldn’t buy happiness. But I didn’t know it’d become a symbol to her of how much this wedding was spiraling out of our control into something bigger than the two of us.
Flora knocked on the window from inside and waved at us to come in, breaking our kiss. Time wasn’t on my side, and I’d have to ponder a bit longer on the ring situation.
“Now, if it’s pie you want, I hear Flora’s Diner in Holly Creek makes the best pies around.” I thumbed toward her mother’s restaurant. “Oh, look at that. We’re standing in front of her place.”
At this, Chelsea chortled and swiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I can smell Mom’s pecan pie and we haven’t even entered yet.”
“Tell you what. I’ll make all the arrangements with your mom for the grandest pie table at our wedding anyone will have ever seen. Let our guests eat cake, cupcakes, pie, and chocolates. They’ll leave high on sugar and happy as can be.”
“A pie table at the Plaza? Are you sure Miriam won’t have a fit?” She snorted.
“Leave it to me. I’ll make all your dreams come true, Chelsea Calhoun-soon-to-be-Buchanan. Wait and see.” For viewing the brightest smile gracing her lips once again, I would keep that promise forever.