An October Bride by Katie Ganshert

Author:Katie Ganshert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2014-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

My lofty goal for the evening? Do not look like an idiot in front of Jake. Which may sound simple enough, unless you’ve seen me dance. I had a few words with Lily over her idea on Saturday. She laughed, until I suggested that the maid of honor and best man should join us. I wish I hadn’t, because now the maid of honor sits shotgun in my Honda and the best man sits in the middle of the backseat, grinning as I recite the complete story of my engagement with as much matter-of-factness as possible.

When I finish, Liam lets out a whistle. “Wow.”

I grip the steering wheel tighter and turn onto the gravel road leading toward our destination.

“That’s a pretty big offer for Jake to make.”

“That’s what I said,” Lily mumbles.

I ignore her. “You know what happened with Ben. He doesn’t want me to feel the same regret that he feels.”

Liam doesn’t look convinced.

“Please, Liam. I know you probably think this is the dumbest idea in the world, but can you please not say anything to anyone?”

“I never said it was a dumb idea.”

Lily whips her head around. “What?”

My grip loosens on the wheel. “Really?”

“It’ll be like one last hurrah for Dad. Family will be there. Friends too.” He leans forward between my seat and Lily’s and props his elbows on our armrests. “Mom and Dad are both thrilled about it.”

“But it’s not real,” Lily says.

“Neither is Santa, but you don’t hear kids complaining.”

Lily makes a face. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I’m just saying that, sometimes, reality is overrated.”

Sitting up straighter, I make eye contact with Liam in the rearview mirror. “So does that mean you’ll behave?”

“Don’t I always?”

It’ll have to be good enough, because we have arrived. I pull up behind Jake’s Chevy and park. Edna Pearl gives dance lessons in her husband’s old barn, everything from your basic box step to the Viennese Waltz, all beneath the watchful eye and occasional commentary of her parrot, Polly. Edna and her husband never had any children of their own, but they did inherit her grandfather’s bird after he passed twenty years ago.

The waning daylight fades in the west as we climb out of my car. Jake’s truck door slams shut. Gravel crunches beneath his feet as he walks over, making our threesome into a familiar foursome. All of us seem to inhale at the same time, creating an awkward pause that has my insides doing some impressive acrobatics.

Liam chuckles, then offers his hand with a bow to Lily. “May I have this dance?”

With a rosy hue blossoming in her cheeks, she slips her hand into his and the two disappear inside the barn, leaving Jake and me alone, at dusk, surrounded by plowed fields and milk cows lowing in the distance.

I fiddle with the hem of my shirt. “Jake, thanks for doing this.” It seems that’s all I can say to him these days—thank you.

“You know, I’m not too bad of a dancer.”

“Liar.” I smile up at him.

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