Always the Baker, Finally the Bride Read Free Page B

the greatest guy in the world convinced that you’re a catch. So like, maybe, you should, you know, pitch or get off the mound.”
    “Don’t say that! How could you say something like that?” Emma groaned and tossed herself into the thick cushions of the couch.
    “Okay,” Sherilyn said, licking the chocolate batter from her finger before setting the bowl on the table in front of her and struggling to stand up. “Okay, that’s good. We’re communicating. We have a dialogue going.”
    Emma shook her head, her sigh morphing into the
Pffft
sound of a deflating balloon.
    “But . . . Fee . . .” Sherilyn continued with caution, “maybe a little less aggression in our communication would better suit what we’re trying to accomplish here. How about this? Can I get anyone some more iced tea? The muffins should be out of the oven soon, shouldn’t they? Do you want me to make coffee?”
    “Just stop it, Sher. No need to play nursemaid here, okay? Just drop into a chair and prop up your feet before they spring a leak.”
    Sherilyn stood there, in the center of the room, her swollen pregnant frame wobbling from side to side as she glanced from Emma to Fee and back again.
    “Relax, will you?” Emma said, more softly this time, punctuating her words with a smile. “Let’s focus on the things we can accomplish, okay?”
    Sherilyn sighed with relief and waddled over toward her. “Really?”
    “Yes. I can’t think about the cake. It’s too much pressure. But how about we look at those flower pictures you mentioned on the drive down here?”
    Sherilyn’s blue eyes shimmered as she plopped down on the other side of the sofa, and a grin pushed her plump cheeks upward. “Great! Yes, let’s talk flowers.”
    “I’m going for a walk on the beach.” And with that, Fee hopped to her feet and headed out the door.
    “Turn on the floodlights,” Sherilyn instructed. “It gets really dark out there at night. The switch is on the—” With a single thump, the door closed, cutting her helpfulness in two. Deflated, she sent the rest of her words into the air over Emma’s shoulder. “—wall by the door.”
    “You know Fee,” Emma comforted. “She got married in a hallway at the hotel, for crying out loud. The details just aren’t her thing.”
    “I know.”
    Sherilyn’s pouty face made Emma chuckle. “Let’s have a look at those flowers of yours, my wedding planner friend”
    “Oh. Right.”
    Emma watched as Sherilyn struggled to balance the neon-pink laptop on her beach-ball belly. A few clicks later, shesurrendered the fight and set the computer on the coffee table in front of them.
    “Here. This will be easier.”
    Emma leaned forward and peered at the screen as Sherilyn arranged four rectangular photographs into symmetry.
    “I thought because you chose such a lovely, simple silhouette for your dress, the flowers should—”
    “Simple?” Emma interrupted. “Do you think it’s too simple?”
    “Not
too simple
, no. It’s beautiful, Emma. It’s just not one of those elaborate numbers where the flowers have to be bold and make a statement to stand out.”
    “Do you think Jackson will be disappointed? Because you know his family would so prefer some big extravaganza with three hundred guests and—”
    “Emma Rae, of course not. Stop it.” Sherilyn reached out and grabbed Emma’s hand and shook it gently. “This is about what the two of you want. And I think you chose the ideal dress for an elegant, intimate ceremony. You’re going to look so beautiful in your gown, Em. Timeless and perfect. Jackson is going to have to work to catch his breath when he sees you in it.”
    “Really?”
    “Really.”
    Emma sighed and glanced down at the stunning platinum and diamond ring on her left hand. She heaved one more sigh. “You’re a good friend.”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “And the flower choices are all really beautiful. What do
you
think, Sher?”
    “Well, I love the calla lilies. Simple.