I continue to rock a now-sleeping Londyn. “Should I wear white?”
“If you wish. Just us. Me and you. They’ll provide witnesses for us.”
I nod, even though he isn’t looking. No siblings at our marriage ceremony. And I get it. This isn’t real. There’s no reason to create a memory with our loved ones.
His breaths deepen as his chest rises and falls.
“What are you wearing? So we can match,” I murmur.
“The mayo suit.”
I kiss Londyn’s head. “Mr. Cream,” I say under my breath, and Graham doesn’t seem to hear me. A soft snore comes from him.
I pick Londyn up, remove her bib, and cradle her on my shoulder as I go back to her room and put her in her bed. She rolls over with a sigh, and all feels right in the world.
I ease back into the den and cover Graham up with a blanket, then leave a note out on the door telling Andrew and Jane to be quiet when they come in and not be startled by the giant man on our couch.
Chapter 17
EMMY
The last person on my schedule to interview leaves my office, and I groan as I pinch the bridge of my nose. Only one of the applicants today would be a good fit, and she can’t start for two more weeks.
The bookstore phone rings, and I pick it up. “Emmy Darling from A Likely Story Bookstore. May I help you?”
“Emmy! It’s been forever. How are you?”
“Great.” If I could just find more workers.
“It’s Angela from the Times. I thought you guys were closing; then I heard you weren’t. Good news. Does this mean you’ll have a new window for us soon? I’d love to see it and feature it in our summer roundup photos.”
Right, ugh. My anxiety shoots up. I’ve been so busy with Graham that I haven’t thought about the window lately. I need to get the new display up. “Hi, and yes, we’d be so thankful if you’d feature us. We put a lot of time and effort into our displays. We’ll have it ready by the second week of June. How does that sound?”
“Awesome. What time would be good to come by?”
I schedule a slot for her, and as I’m getting off the phone, a photo comes through on my cell. It’s Graham, replying to the text thread I’ve entitled Things We Should Know About Each Other. We’ve been texting on and off since our date, usually first thing in the morning and then in the evenings.
I squint at the pic he’s sent. It’s one from a college party where he’s standing on top of a bar inside a fraternity house as he holds up a trophy. A wide, broad grin is on his handsome face. His hair is short and spiky, his face young and free. He’s wearing Florida State gym shorts and no shirt. His chest is a work of art, an eight-pack glistening.
You were trashed, I send.
We’d just won the national championship over Alabama.
Did you have a serious college girlfriend?
No. I was too focused on football.
Hmm, Divina was his first serious relationship. It lasted for years. And then she cheated on him.
Send me a pic of you from the past, he sends.
I scroll through my pics and send one of me from a birthday dinner at the bookstore, after hours. Whoever took it, probably Babs or Terry, caught me in the middle of an eye roll as I attempted to blow out candles on a four-layer coconut cake Gran had baked. Andrew and Jane, ages twelve and thirteen, sit on either side of me, laughing, and Gran is behind me, a serene smile on her face.
I dig the pink streaks in your hair. See you soon, he replies.
Tucking my cell away, I finish my tea, then check my hair in the mirror. It’s up again, the length braided and twisted around a bun in the back. Little curly wisps dangle from the side. I reapply my red lipstick. I get on the PA system and ask for Jane to come to my office.
She waltzes in, and I smile nervously. “It’s time. Will you help me?” I ask as I nudge my head at the dress hanging from a sconce on the wall.
She nods, her face impassive as she helps me change out of my slacks and blouse and into a tea-length dress that Brody insisted I get yesterday. He and Cas showed up at the store yesterday at closing time. Jane and I went with them to a bridal store in Tribeca. The place was appointment only, but Brody said his family knew the designer, and he was able to get us one after hours.
We lounged on a couch and watched as models showcased tea-length bridal gowns. I chose a champagne-colored, figure-hugging slip dress. Small sparkling beads adorn the material. My favorite part is the corset bodice with silk ribbons that tie in the back. I balked at the cost, but Brody insisted Graham wanted me to have a new dress. After a few alterations that only took minutes, we left the boutique.