Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Instead of a vacation, I had a store to restructure, the Memorial Day holiday festival to deal with, as well as a visit from Sasha and Olivia. Seeing them boosted my spirits as I crossed things off my to-do list. They were staying with Evie at her new house, so I got a lot of time with Olivia and Evie's dog, Homer, that week.

By the time we were driving to the farm for Josh and Mandy's wedding, I'd even talked Greg into registering with a department store in Bakerstown. We'd picked out a list of items that if given to us would increase our satisfaction with our lives. Like the Belgian waffle maker that I'd always wanted.

"Just think, in four months, we'll be doing this wedding thing." He took my hand and squeezed it. We'd taken the Jeep instead of his truck, since I was in a sundress and he had on his nice suit.

"Doing this wedding thing? What about pledging our lives to one another? Or taking our vows?" I turned to watch his reaction. "Are you sure you really want to marry me?"

"As sure as I am the sun is going to rise tomorrow morning. I've been waiting to marry you for years. Now, it's finally happening." He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it.

"Nice save, buddy." I squeezed his hand, then pulled away as my phone rang. "It's my aunt."

When I answered, I knew what she was going to ask. And she didn't disappoint me.

"Jill, did you remember to take my and Harrold's gift with you to the wedding?" Aunt Jackie asked.

"It's in the back seat next to ours. But they aren't taking gifts until we reach the reception." I pointed to my phone while Greg grinned.

"I know, but I just wanted to make sure they get it. Josh can be sensitive if he thinks there's an issue. And I don't want him or Mandy to think I hold any bad feelings for the two of them. We should have rescheduled this cruise to Greece."

"No. You got a great deal on that." Someone Lille knew had bowed out of the cruise, so my aunt and Harrold had gotten in for a steal. Or Lille had told them that and paid part of the cost herself. You never knew what the truth was with that woman. "How's it been?"

"It's lovely. You and Greg should come next time we go to Greece. You'd love it."

I probably would, but traveling with my aunt, that was a little too close for my tastes. "We'll consider it. You know Greg's work schedule is unpredictable."

"Well, whatever you think. But the water is such a beautiful blue." The phone started to crackle. "Jill, I've got to go. We're losing the connection."

And with that, she was gone. I put the phone away. "Aunt Jackie thinks we should go on a cruise to Greece…"

"That would be lovely." He pulled off on the road to the farm.

"With her and Harrold." I finished my statement.

"I might be busy that week." He laughed as we pulled the Jeep off into a field where a man in a tuxedo was directing traffic. After we got out and he took my arm to walk the rest of the way, he said, "I'm just kidding. If you want to go on a cruise with your aunt, I'll take one for the team."

"It wouldn't be that bad. But we still haven't decided on where we're going on our honeymoon."

Greg smiled as he turned his head.

"Or have we?" I tried to watch his face. He had a tell when he lied.

He shook his head. "It's a surprise. And you have four months to try to figure it out."

I greeted Darla and Matt, who were sitting on the groom's side, as well as several other couples from South Cove. The bride's side was filled with her family. Josh had told me that her uncle was giving her away. Whatever she'd said to her family that day we were almost killed must have worked, since it looked like everyone was there.

The rest of South Cove would be at the reception. Josh and Kyle, his best man, were walking up to the altar with Bill, Sadie's pastor boyfriend, who was officiating the ceremony. Behind them, the old olive tree that had been the sight of so many tragedies in the past was leafing out against the blue sky. It wasn't dead. Mandy had been right. The tree had just needed a reason to live.

Like many of us. I looked over at Amy and Justin, who sat in the same row as us. She waved at me, and as the music started, I settled in for the ceremony. Life was filled with beautiful moments like this one. And weddings were the best part. As long as I didn't have to do the planning. My wedding in four months was the last wedding I was ever planning. Greg was just stuck with me.

I didn't think that was a bad bargain at all.