Hometown Proposal by Merrillee Whren

Author:Merrillee Whren
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-10-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Elise rushed into Keller’s Variety as her dad was turning out the lights at the front of the store. “Are Val and Carrie here?”

“Well, hello to you, too.” Ray chuckled as he pulled the shades on the front doors.

“Hi, Dad.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “Didn’t mean to ignore you, but I’ve been in a rush. Had my first final.”

“How’d that go?”

“I think I did pretty well.”

“Great. And to answer your question, no, Val and Carrie aren’t here. Neither is your mother. She called and said she and your aunt Charlotte are running late, but your sister’s in the back, unpacking the dresses.”

“Good. Aren’t you going to stick around to help?”

Chuckling, Ray knitted his shaggy eyebrows. “What would I do except get in the way? I’m not hanging around for this hen party. Besides, isn’t it bad luck or something to see the wedding dress ahead of time?”

“I think that’s supposed to apply to the groom, not the father of the bride.”

“Oh, I see. Guess I’d better get this wedding thing down. I’m thinking it looks like I might be footing the bill for another one soon.” Ray gave her a speculative glance.

Her stomach sinking, Elise shook her head. “I don’t know where you’re getting that idea.”

“Observation.”

Elise wasn’t sure she wanted to know what her dad was observing, but her curiosity won out. “What observations?”

“You and Seth.”

“Dad, I don’t know what you think you’re seeing, but you’ve got it all wrong.”

Ray nodded his head. “Okay. I’ll take your word for it.” He waved a hand at her. “I’m out of here. I’m going to let you girls handle it.”

“Okay, Dad. See you later.” Elise watched him go, glad that he wasn’t interested in pursuing any discussion about Seth. But she had a feeling he really didn’t believe her when she’d told him he was wrong.

Hoping to erase any thought of Seth from her mind, Elise hurried to the back of the store, where she found Juliane. “Did all the dresses come in?”

Juliane looked up from the group of boxes she was inspecting. “Yes, and I’m getting ready to unpack them.”

“Let’s do your dress first.” Elise stepped closer. “Is your dress in this box?”

Juliane nodded. “Help me get it out.”

Elise held the flaps of the box back as Juliane took out the packing material and unfolded the wedding dress. Elise ran her hand over the white beaded chiffon. “Juliane, the dress is beautiful. In the months since you ordered it, I’ve forgotten how pretty it is.”

Juliane put it on a hanger and held it up. “It’s even better than I remembered. Help me get into it before Aunt Charlotte gets here to measure for the alterations.”

“Sure.” Elise watched Juliane disappear into the dressing room. “Do you want me to open the other boxes while you’re getting ready to put the dress on?”

“Okay, but listen for Val and Carrie. They said they’d be here as soon as their husbands got home to babysit.”

“I will.” Elise opened the remaining boxes and took out the slate-blue chiffon-and-satin bridesmaid dresses.

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