box in his hand made her mouth drop open. The breath hissed from her lungs.
“Josie, I love you. I’ve loved you for so long I can’t even remember a time when I didn’t. I don’t want to imagine being without you.” He cracked open the box to reveal the glittering diamond ring inside. “Will you marry me?”
The front door opened at that moment, spilling bright light and squawking children out on the stoop. The wig and beard fell from Josie’s limp fingers as she put her hand over the one Jack held. From the corner of her eye she saw her family and friends pushing out onto the porch to welcome Elijah, and she had time to smile at the surprise they were going to have instead.
“Of course I will,” she told Jack.
From the stoop she heard her mother murmur, “Look at the lovebirds.”
Mim cried out, “I knew it!”
Francine began to sob with joy, or so Josie hoped, and the children hooted and hollered for their candy. She ignored all of them.
The only thing that mattered was the man in front of her. The man she loved. Jack got to his feet and swept her into his arms. His kiss was the sweetest thing she’d ever known.
“The door’s open,” Jack whispered against her mouth, as though he’d only now just noticed.
“I know.” She kissed him again. “Now all we have to do is walk through it.”
As usual, she didn’t have to explain what she meant. He already knew. Josie glanced toward the windows, where at least a dozen people were pretending not to watch.
“It’s going to be interesting,” she said with a sigh.
Jack looked at their audience. “Yeah. But we’ll make it. Together.”
Then he kissed her again, and Josie didn’t bother to worry anymore.
White Wedding
Chapter 1
“Hey, little sister. What have you done?”
Josie Levine made a face at her sister’s awful Billy Idol impersonation. “Nice, Mim.”
Mim grinned and pulled the veil off her head, then put it back on the rack. “It’s not you. Too frou-frou.”
Josie sighed, staring at her reflection in the boutique’s full-length mirror. “Can we just go?”
Frowning, Mim turned. “Why? We just got here.”
Josie gestured at the cascade of ruffles and lace adorning the pristine white gown. “You’re right, Mim. This is so not me.”
“I know.” Mim fluffed one of the leg-o-mutton sleeves. “But there are others.”
Josie sighed again. “I’ve tried on every dress in this shop. I’m just ready to go home.”
Mim smiled and patted Josie’s arm. “Want to go get some coffee?”
Thank heavens for older sisters who know just what to say, Josie thought as Mim nodded and gestured for the boutique attendant to come over and help Josie out of the dress.
All at once, Josie’s throat had closed so tightly she could only nod.
At the coffee shop, firmly ensconced behind a plate of cheesecake and an extra large chocolate raspberry latte, Josie felt better. Or at least, no longer like she was going to burst into horrified tears at the sight of herself in a wedding gown.
Mim sipped her own drink and watched her sister before saying, “So, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, Mim.” Josie sighed. “Nothing. Everything.”
“Is it Jack?”
Josie shook her head. “No. Jack’s still Jack.”
“You’re having cold feet?”
It wasn’t that…exactly. She and Jack been friends since childhood, lovers for just about a year, and if she was going to marry anyone, it would have to be Jack. She didn’t mind the thought of being married. It was the getting married that had her sweating.
Mim smiled in sympathy. “Is Mom giving you a hard time? Remember, I’ve been through this already.”
“Mom’s been…fine.” Josie smiled. “And Mrs. Gold’s been…fine.”
Mim laughed. “Mom and Mrs. Gold both planning a wedding. God help you, Josie, because nobody else can.”
At least she could still laugh. For now. “Mim, if it’s not one of them on the phone, it’s the other. And the emails, oy!” She put her face in her hands. “Mrs. Gold even instant messages me!”
“No way!” Mim laughed, as though imagining Jack’s mother at the computer. “What’s her username?”
“Hopefulgranny1241.” Josie rolled her eyes. “Like that’s subtle.”
“Sorry,” Mim said, wiping her eyes. “I’m not trying to laugh at you. But…”
“Go ahead and laugh,” Josie said. “If I can’t laugh at it, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“You’ll get through it,” Mim promised and squeezed Josie’s hand. “I did.”
“I’ve got four more months,” said Josie with a sigh.
“It will be over before you know it.”
“I hope so.” She wasn’t sure she could survive much longer than that.
Chapter 2
“To the left. Yes, right