Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
After dinner, Carissa offered to help with the dishes, but Steven and Nate shooed her and everyone else out of the kitchen.
“Since we didn’t help with the cooking, the least we can do is the cleaning,” Steven said as he filled the sink with soapy water.
Rose and Lanie claimed the couch and talked excitedly in low voices. While Max sank heavily into his recliner, he kept his gaze on Carissa.
“Take a load off,” he said, gesturing to the other recliner.
But she couldn’t sit still. As happy as she was not to have to spend another holiday alone, she couldn’t ignore the last time she’d been in that house with Max and all the things they’d said. They needed to talk.
“I need to burn off some calories,” she said with what she hoped was a lighthearted smile. “Want to go for a walk with me?”
To her surprise, he jumped out of his chair. “Absolutely.”
She started for the door. Don’t be rude. With a sinking heart, she turned to Lanie and Rose. “We’re going for a walk. Do you want to join us?”
The two women exchanged a glance then looked at Max. Their eyes widened, and they shook their heads as if Max’s expression had made their decision for them. But when Carissa glanced at him, he had a pleasant smile on his face.
“Shall we?” he asked.
They grabbed their coats and headed out the front door. Once they were safely on the sidewalk, Max tentatively took her hand.
“I’m glad you came tonight.” He kissed her cheek. The slightest peck, but it sent shivers down her spine. “I don’t like how we left things the last time.”
“Me either,” she breathed, momentarily forgetting her apprehension about the evening.
“I should have reached out.” His eyes were filled with sorrow. “Our first contact after the argument shouldn’t have been in a supermarket, though I hope to make it up to you.”
Her heart fluttered. “What did you have in mind?”
A slow smile stole over his face, but he shook his head. “We’ll get to that later. For now, we should probably talk.”
“I’m sorry for what I said about you wasting your time with the arch,” Carissa began. “I’m concerned we either won’t be able to fit it into the church or it won’t be done in time to do so.” She frowned. “I wish you had told me before you started working on it. I could have helped you.”
Max sighed. “In retrospect, I should have included you in my plans. I was so focused on keeping it a secret from Lanie, I didn’t think about the impact it would have on your work.”
“I appreciate that.” They strolled through Max’s neighborhood, and Carissa took a deep breath of cool air. “Before I leave tonight, I’d like to get the measurements of the arch. I can take them to the church tomorrow.”
“As long as we can wait until Lanie is otherwise distracted, that sounds fine.”
She gave a short nod. While she appreciated how much Max wanted to surprise his daughter, logistically, he couldn’t keep it from her for much longer. For one thing, he was storing the arch in their garage, and it wouldn’t take much for Lanie to stumble upon it. Then there was the fact he’d promised to tell Lanie before the wedding, and as they were approaching the end of November, time was running out.
Carissa supposed she could come back on Monday when Lanie would be at school, but the longer she put off measuring the arch, the less time Max would have to make something else. Though at that point, she wasn’t sure he could do something else even if he wanted to, which he clearly didn’t.
When they got back to the house, Lanie and Nate were already cutting into the pies. Steven and Rose sat at the table, enjoying a glass of wine.
“Welcome back,” Lanie said as Carissa and Max entered the kitchen.
Carissa detected a hint of suspicion in Lanie’s eyes, but she only asked, “Pumpkin, apple, or pecan?”
“Apple,” Max said without hesitation.
“I’ll try the pumpkin.” Carissa had never been a fan of apple pie.
After Lanie handed them their plates, they took their seats at the table and dug in. The pie was the perfect blend of sweet and savory. She was surprised at how quickly she gobbled it up considering she was still full of dinner.
When everyone had finished their desserts, their little group began to break apart. Steven and Rose said their farewells and headed home. Lanie and Nate finished cleaning the last of the dishes.
As Carissa left the kitchen, Max took her hand. “Perhaps now is a good time for you to measure the arch.”
She allowed him to lead her into the garage. The moment he removed the sheet from the arch, she gasped at the progress he’d made. One side was almost finished, with intricate roses and vines. The only part he hadn’t carved was the top of the curve.
Without a word, he handed her a tape measure, a notepad, and a piece of paper. She got to work measuring the arch and comparing it to the measurements she’d taken at the church.
“So, what’s the verdict?” Max leaned against one of the finished nightstands.
She flicked her gaze back and forth between the measurements she’d scrawled on the paper and the ones from the church. It didn’t look good.
He raised an eyebrow. “Does it pass muster?”
To buy herself some time, she remeasured a few sections just in case, but they only confirmed what she already knew. Her mind raced through different tactful ways she could explain her concerns.
“I need to go to the church to measure the doors and one other area where it might work,” she began before shaking her head. “But I can tell you that even if we can get the pieces inside the church, it’s not going to fit.”
“Even though the pieces can be separated?”
“It’s too wide.” She handed him both the paper with the arch measurements and the church measurements. “The church’s aisles are narrow. It would fit near the handicap entrance, as that is wide enough for a wheelchair, but that’s on the other side of the stage from where the ceremony will take place.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “I’m sure we’ll find a way, but I’m happy to come to the church with you to troubleshoot.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she said quickly. “Besides, it might look suspicious if we’re both there. Wouldn’t want it getting back to Lanie and ruining your surprise.”
His eyes narrowed in apparent suspicion, but he nodded. “Fair enough. Let me know what you find.”
“I will. I promise.”
Carissa wasted no time getting to the church the next day to compare the measurements. The church was empty when she arrived, though she assumed most people were Black Friday shopping. She’d called ahead to Reverend Patrick to make sure the building was open, and she’d hoped she could get in and out without too much fuss.
After setting her purse on a pew, she walked to the railing that separated the sanctuary from the congregation. At Steven and Rose’s wedding, they had stood on one side of the railing in the center, and Reverend Patrick was on the opposite side on the slightly elevated platform.
Lanie wanted to be married at the small opening to the right of the elevated area near the choir loft, but Carissa might be able to convince her to move to the center. Best to measure both to be safe.
After surveying the measurements and looking at the spaces, Carissa determined the arch would fit better nearer the congregation, but it wouldn’t leave much room in the front pew for people to sit. As she’d suspected, the only other place it would fit was near the handicap entrance, which would allow it to be in the church but not part of the ceremony.
On the other hand, if Max could narrow the arch, it would fit in that small opening by the choir. The preacher could stand on the step, and the arch could be placed where Lanie and Nate would stand. She tilted her head. Though they might have to stand in front of it if it’s too narrow.
With a sigh, she headed to the back of the church and measured the entryway just to be sure. The moment she began measuring, the door to the church opened, and in walked Lanie.
“Carissa, I’m glad I ran into you. I want to—” Her eyebrows pulled together. “What on earth are you doing?”
“Uh, I-I needed to measure the church.”
“For what?” Lanie asked, her frown deepening.
Carissa’s mind raced, but she couldn’t come up with a lie fast enough. Besides, she didn’t want to lie to her client, even if it meant breaking her promise to Max. Her reputation was built on being forthright and honest no matter the circumstances.
Lowering her arms in defeat, Carissa took a deep breath. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I imagine you’ll find out soon enough anyway.” She gestured to a pew, and Lanie sat, her bewildered expression growing more pronounced.
“Your father is building you a wedding arch.” Carissa sank into the pew beside Lanie. “I tried to talk him out of it, but it’s a surprise wedding gift for you.” She then explained why she was there and what she was doing by measuring the church.
“And he didn’t think to discuss this with me?” Lanie’s face reddened.
“He was going to tell you when he finished it.” Carissa put a hand on Lanie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you.”
“No, you did the right thing.” Lanie’s eyes flashed as she glared at the front of the church. “Of course he would pull something like this. First, he bullies his way into paying for Steven’s rehearsal dinner. Then he has to put his two cents into everything we’re doing, despite repeated requests from both of us that he back off. And now, he’s completely changing the decor of my wedding without even asking me.” She scowled. “Clearly, we need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting.”
“He’s not going to be happy I told you,” Carissa warned.
“Is he working on it in the garage?”
“Yes. He covers it with a sheet, but its height is impossible to miss.”
“Then it’s easy enough for me to happen upon it myself.” Lanie glanced at Carissa, her expression softening. “He never needs to know you told me.”
At first, Carissa breathed a sigh of relief, then she shook her head. “No, it’s better if you tell him the truth. I’ll deal with any fallout later.”
With a nod, Lanie stood. “All right. Well, wish me luck.”
Carissa blinked. “You’re going now?”
“I’m hoping to catch him in the act.” Without another word, Lanie spun on her heel and stalked out of the church.
Lord help us. Bowing her head, Carissa sent up a prayer she hadn’t just blown up two relationships. But she wasn’t holding out much hope.