Wander Canyon Courtship by Allie Pleiter

Author:Allie Pleiter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-04-10T18:36:15+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Two hours later, Yvonne stood next to Pauline at the wedding reception. They’d both put on happy faces for the event, offering good wishes for the bride and groom, but it still felt bittersweet to be admiring the wedding cake.

“This one is beautiful, honey,” her aunt said. Her words lacked their usual sparkle. “You always make such beautiful cakes.”

Yvonne swallowed back the lump in her throat. It felt wrong for this to be the last cake of the season. That was supposed to belong to Hank and Pauline. This was a lovely cake, but theirs would have been even lovelier.

“I don’t blame you, you know,” Pauline said after a deep breath. “Your mama and I raised you to speak your mind. And you didn’t say anything I wasn’t already thinking. You just sort of woke me up to how deep a rift is going on in that family.”

Yvonne clasped Pauline’s hand. “I’m still sad.”

“You and me both,” her aunt said.

Yvonne noticed the ring still on Pauline’s finger. She raised the hand, nodding toward it. “Still wearing it?”

Auntie P. touched the lovely jewel. “I’m trying to talk my ‘no’ into being a ‘not yet.’” She gave Yvonne a sad smile. “It may sound funny, but I think maybe Hank and I have some growing up to do.”

Yvonne leaned her head against Pauline’s shoulder. “Mama told me once you should never marry a man until you’ve had at least one good fight with him.” It had turned out to be true where Neal was concerned. That horrible night of arguing over the dog in the road, a side of him had emerged that she’d never seen before. It was months of pain and disappointment until she could look at that discovery as a blessing. She would wish such pain and discovery away for Hank and Pauline, but it didn’t work that way. Can you make a way for her to be happy, Lord? she prayed. Show them the future You have for them?

Contrary to Neal, the arguments she’d had with Chaz—if you could call their spats arguments—had made her admire Chaz more, not less. His true self that showed up in frustration or disappointment was a man of loyalty who felt his obligations deeply. She surprised herself by adding another prayer. While You’re at it, show Chaz the future You have for him.

“Where is he? With Chaz?” Pauline asked as she walked away from the dessert table. She didn’t need to clarify whom. Most of the guests noticed the empty place at Pauline’s table. No one asked Auntie P. outright—town and family gossip had traveled fast enough to render the topic off-limits—but Hank’s absence seemed to hang heavy in the air.

“I doubt he’s with Chaz. Those two didn’t strike me as ready to talk to each other this morning.” Chaz had disappeared soon after the cake was transported and set in place at the venue. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he wrestled with the idea of Hank’s offer of a visit.

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