Four

Link

" H ow did it go?" May, Andy's mom, asked as soon as I walked into the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning.

"It was perfect. He was shocked but happy. Now hopefully everything goes smoothly on Saturday." I had been over the to-do list so many times, I knew it by heart. Andy's parents had done all they could, and Toni, Erik, and Sam had been decorating the barn for the past few days. We were lucky it had been cooler lately so the flowers we'd bought would still be fresh. Everyone had helped, and I couldn't think of anything we hadn't taken care of.

Andy's dad, Darren, had gotten a certificate online so he could perform the ceremony. I hadn't considered having him do this, but he'd volunteered, and the more I thought about it, the more perfect it was.

"It will, Link. Everything has been planned out, and everyone we know has pitched in to help. He's going to be amazed," May said, and patted my hand from across the counter. "Now get in here and put the turkey in the oven for me, it's too heavy for me this year. Where is Andy anyway?"

"He'll be here soon. He wanted a little extra sleep this morning. You know how it is for him the week before a holiday. Everyone needs their hair done." I picked up the pan the turkey was in, and when she opened the oven, I slid it in trying not to strain. "Do you think you got a big enough bird?" It had to be close to thirty pounds.

"Oh hush. You two will take leftovers, and you know Morgan and Stu will too." Morgan was a fairly new addition to the family, but May and Darren had accepted him from the beginning, and he returned their acceptance with kindness. He loved to spend time with both of Andy's parents and did so whenever he wasn't busy working with Stu or helping out with Mariah, Stu's daughter. I didn't know his whole story, but Stu had said it wasn't good, and that was all I needed to know. "Are your parents going to make it?" she asked.

"They said they'll try. Since they moved out of the area they're not here very often." My parents were a whole other story. Dad had decided he didn't want to farm and once he finally let me buy the ranch from him, they were gone, traveling nearly full time. They now lived in Arizona and when it got too hot, they'd go somewhere cooler. "I'm not really counting on it. If they make it, they make it."

She patted my cheek and gave me a sad smile. Andy's parents had felt more like my own for most of my childhood, and the past few years even more so. They were both very happy for Andy and me, and I had to admit to myself I couldn't wait to be that much closer to him and his family. "Everyone that matters will be there," she said. "And it will be the most beautiful wedding we've ever seen."

"Thanks, May. Did Mariah get her dress?" Mariah would be the flower girl for the ceremony. A job she took very seriously and practiced any chance she got. Even though the wedding wasn't a secret, Andy didn't know all the details and I wanted to keep it that way. We'd talked to Mariah about not telling Uncle Andy until the day of the ceremony, and I hoped she was able to do it.

"She did, and it's beautiful. She's very excited," May said while I sipped my coffee and watched as Darren chopped up onions for something. May stood next to me and watched him.

"What time are we eating?" Lance, Andy's younger brother, asked as he stomped down the stairs. He was out of high school now and going to college, but he still acted like the moody teenager we'd all known the past few years.

"We just put the turkey in, so it'll be a while. Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't starve before it's done." She smiled at Lance who immediately went to the refrigerator and started digging around.

"How's school going?" I asked him.

"It's okay. It's different not knowing every person in class." He smiled before taking a bite of an apple.

"Once you're away from town for a while, you realize how small it is," I said, and he nodded.

"How long until we eat?" Andy asked as he walked through the door followed by Stu, Morgan, and Mariah.

"It's going to be a while," May and I both said at the same time making us laugh. "Go watch football or play a game. I'm sure you can find something to keep you busy," she said.

When Andy had moved to Sacramento there were a few years he didn't come home as often, but since we'd been together, he moved back to Occident and seemed much happier than he'd been in years. He'd explained to me that he loved living here, but he really wanted to work in the city. So far, it had worked out, but after the way he talked about the traffic last night I wondered if he'd considered working around here.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked when he walked over to me.

"Just doing what I can to help," I said, and kissed his cheek.

"Go on, Link, we've got this," Darren said. Andy and I walked into the living room where everyone else had already turned on the television and were now fighting over what to watch. I thought of suggesting a game but then I remembered how competitive we were and didn't want to get everyone riled up before dinner.

"So, how many people do you expect on Saturday?" Andy asked as we settled onto the couch.

"I'm not sure exactly, but all our friends will be there." Every time I thought about us being married it brought a smile to my face. I considered Andy my husband in every way, but now it would finally be official. We'd been engaged for way too long. But neither of us had looked forward to organizing a wedding, so we just enjoyed each other and put it off.

"I still can't believe you were able to get everything organized without me knowing," Andy said, and settled his head on my shoulder. "You're the best boyfriend ever."

"Fiancé. I'm the best fiancé ever," I said and slipped my arm over his shoulders.

"Husband. You're the best husband I could have ever dreamed of," Andy whispered just loud enough for me to hear, and I couldn't wait for the moment I'd slip a ring on his finger and he really would be my husband.