Ain't She Sweet (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers #2) - Whitney Dineen Page 0,92
unless someone complains,” she answers. “And even then, she’s my grandpuppy and I say she stays.”
I put Penny on my lap, but she has other ideas. She jumps down and runs across the room before I can grab her. When she gets to Cash, she stops, lifts her leg, and treats the model’s foot like her own personal fire hydrant. I’m pretty sure everyone got a picture of that.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Gwen
Thanksgiving has always been meaningful to Gwen, but this year is more so than ever. Rushing around Tara’s house, she grabs her jacket and hurries to put on her lipstick. Then she heads out to her rental car to go up to the lodge.
Her thoughts are solidly on last night with Billy. Who knew finding romance after sixty was possible? Gwen decides the best part is that she and Billy have both reached the age where they know what truly matters.
They’ve reached that stage of life where they’re closer to the end of their days than to the beginning. With that comes perspective and gratitude for things once so easily taken for granted. Every day brings hope and possibility, every morning an offer of redemption.
Even if Tara doesn’t wind up staying in Spartan, Gwen feels strongly this is where she belongs. Once upon a time she may have made judgments about someone who was willing to uproot their lives for a person they’d only known for such a short time, but no more.
Life is sweet, and fragile, and full of wonder. If you can’t occasionally release yourself from the chains of societal norms, what’s the point? Once she gets to the lodge, Gwen sits in her car until Led Zeppelin’s “Thank You,” ends on the radio. It’s the perfect song for this Thanksgiving.
Tara
I give James a quick kiss before getting out of the booth to go to the restroom. Things could not have gone smoother this morning and I feel like doing a little cheer.
As soon as I walk out of the restaurant, someone rather viciously grabs my shoulder to turn me around. Cash! Once upon a time I would have punched her lights out for accosting me like that, but I’m not about to give into my baser nature with the lodge full of press.
“What do you think you’re up to?” she hisses.
Instead of answering right away, I wave over a reporter who’s lurking close by. He runs over in time to hear me say, “You are so lovely to ask me to be your maid of honor, Cash, but truly, I don’t want to take any of the attention away from you. It’s your day, after all.”
If looks could kill, I’d be pushing up daisies. The strategy James and I came up with last night is like my birthday and Christmas all wrapped up into one. I’m coming off looking gracious and lovely and as long as Cash wants to look good, she has to go along with it.
My mom comes through the front door of the lodge, so I wave to her. I didn’t have a chance to fill her in on my little plan and I don’t want her to blow it by making a scene with Cash. So, I call her over and say, “Mom! Cash just asked me to be her maid of honor. Isn’t that sweet?”
My mom looks confused, so I add, “I’m so glad I suggested they get married here.”
She catches on as more reporters make their way in our direction. She smiles brightly at Cash before throwing her arms around her and loudly declaring, “You’ll be such a lovely bride. Tara and I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“Let me go,” Cash says quietly. She turns to me and spits, “I hate you.”
I yell back, “I know! It’s going to be the best day ever!” Then I pull her back into my embrace and whisper, “Cross me and I’ll take you down.”
“Your dog peed on me.” She looks like she’s about to cry.
“You’re lucky that’s all she did.” In a louder voice, I add, “Go on back to Romaine. I’ll see you later today.” Cash is converged upon by reporters as she walks away.
“What was that all about?” my mom asks once we’re alone.
“That was my way of taking the power away from Cash. She thought she could come here and publicly rub my nose in the fact that she’s marrying Romaine. So, I hijacked her plan and told everyone it was my idea that they get married here so I could make