Walker Bride

by Bernadette Marie

  “Of course.”

  “Then I can be humored,” he joked, and she laughed. That made him happy. His mother deserved to smile and laugh.

  ~*~

  Donald was an expert at many things and picking out fine wine, and excellent restaurants were one of them. He’d asked for a booth with good lighting and in a corner so they could work. Pearl was fairly sure he just wanted to scope out the restaurant, but all she cared about was the plans he’d drawn up for the store.

  He set his drawings in the middle of the table.

  “You will have so much light,” he said as he raised his hands in the air. You’ll have two banks of windows. Not just one big one. Natural light is going to be an amazing addition to what you can offer.”

  “It looks like there is one less dressing room.”

  “There is. Personal touch, sweetheart. Do you need four dressing rooms? Work with three and then it won’t seem so crowded. I like what you have in your store now. The little sitting area. Grow on that, honey.”

  She liked it. “What is this corner?” she asked as she pointed to the area he’d put a crown on and added glitter.

  The smile on his face could have lit the room when she’d asked. Donald scooted out of his seat and around to her side. He draped his arm over her shoulders and put his head against hers. “Darling, that’s the tiara corner.”

  “Tiara corner?”

  “Okay, the veil section, but, honey, you need more tiaras. Every girl wants one.”

  The man was an adorable genius, she thought as she pressed her hands to his cheeks and kissed him quickly on the lips.

  Donald flipped the page of his sketchbook and pointed out his design for each dressing room.

  “Pearl, what are you doing here? I never saw you walk in.”

  Pearl looked up and saw Lydia standing at the table.

  “We’re going over the drawings for my new store. This is Donald Jefferson, my interior decorator.”

  Lydia held out her hand to shake his. “Nice to meet you. Lydia Morgan. Pearl’s business partner.”

  “The building is magnificent,” Donald beamed. “Sit. You have to see what I’ve done.”

  Lydia smiled and took the seat where Donald had originally occupied.

  Pearl took a moment to look around. “Who were you here with?”

  “My mom and her fiancé.”

  “Your mom is getting married?”

  Lydia nodded. “Tyson had never met Les. So it was time.”

  Pearl felt the blood drain from her head. “Tyson was here with you?”

  “Yeah. He just left.” She shook her head. “He’s such an ass sometimes. He’s more like my grandfather than I think he’d like to admit. One minute we’re having a nice meal and then once the check was paid, he all but bolted out of here.”

  Pearl clenched her hands under the table. Had he seen them and he didn’t stop? She grit her teeth. She hated drama in relationships—if that’s what it was. Why didn’t he talk to her? Then she looked at Lydia, who was listening to Donald speak of the store.

  They had to tell her. They couldn’t go on like this anymore. It wasn’t fair to any of them. Really, would Lydia make that big of a deal about it?

  She sat back in the booth. Maybe right now wasn’t the time. It would be better to be established in her store before she got into her first big fight with her partner.

  However, she did need to talk to Tyson. If he did see her, why didn’t he stop and say hello?

  Chapter Nineteen

  The moment Tyson hit the county road, his foot pressed down on the gas.

  What in the hell had he thought was going on?

  One minute he’s having a meal with his family and the next he’s watching the woman he’d just slept with kissing some other man.

  He wasn’t going to have it. That was that. Pearl Walker had a reputation and damn it if he didn’t walk right into his own heartbreak.

  He slammed the heel of his hand against the steering wheel. What had he been thinking? He knew what she was like. He knew her reputation.

  She was all business on the outside, but she was a Walker—Byron Walker’s daughter. That alone should have had him running from day one. No, he took her out for drinks. He let her feel him up while she measured him. He kept showing up at her doorstep.

  Tyson knew he was the idiot. He’d gotten to that age where he shouldn’t even give a crap about wanting someone in his life. Damn it, he was there. He’d been there for years.

  Women were just trouble. And now, here he was, thinking more about a woman than he should have. He’d gotten involved, and it pissed him off that he’d even thought there was more to it than there was.

  He’d had moments in the past week where he missed her. It had ached—he’d missed her so much when he wasn’t with her.

  Hadn’t he even told his mother, he’d been thinking of moving to town? That was all because of Pearl.

  She’d brought out things in him he thought were long dead. Feelings had been resurrected—and now stomped on. When he had her wrapped in his arms, and she gently smoothed her fingertips over his skin, there had been a moment where he thought he could have stayed there the rest of his life. He hadn’t wanted to leave. He’d have married her at that moment if he’d thought to ask.

  Tyson’s truck tossed him in his seat as he flew over the first cattle grid. It was then he reminded himself to slow the hell down. What good was it going to do to kill himself on a dirt road? No woman was worth that.

  It shouldn’t be a big deal. So, he had a fling with his brother’s cousin—his sister’s business partner—his business partner. It happened.

  They were both adults. No need to get all bent over what he’d seen or what she’d done.

  They’d had a few hot times. They’d had a few sweet times too.

  Sure they’d cross paths for the rest of their lives, but who didn’t have at least one awkward moment during family events?

  His foot lifted from the gas pedal more, and his breathing began to calm. Maybe it was time to think about taking a date to Eric’s wedding.

  The house was dark, as usual, when Tyson pulled up to it. He’d grown up in that house, but it certainly didn’t feel like home. He wasn’t sure it ever had.

  He rubbed his eyes and ran his hand over his unshaven chin.

  Tonight he’d begin to make changes, he thought. He’d worked to have the perfect setup in the barn, and that might as well be his home from now on.

  He drove past the big house and out to the barn wondering if his grandfather would even notice that he hadn’t returned to the house. How many days would it take him?

  The barn was dark too, but it didn’t seem cold as he pulled up in front of it.

  Tyson parked his truck and climbed out. Walking toward the door, he pushed it open. That felt like home.

  He flicked on the light switch and suddenly he swore he could smell her. He winced. Of course, he could. They’d been intimate in nearly every corner of the room. It should be a good memory, and he was going to store it in his brain as such. There wasn’t any reason to dwell on it.

  Throwing his keys on the table, he kicked off his boots and then fell onto the couch. Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he turned it off. No need to be disturbed for the rest of the night. He didn’t want to think again until the sun came up the next morning.

  ~*~

  Donald loved to talk. He was full of ideas for everything, and he’d engaged Lydia in a deep conversation about the building.

  They had sat at the restaurant for nearly three hours discussing new plans. He had a few ideas for the garden room as well.

  But somewhere, mid-presentation, Pearl just wanted to go home.

  Checking her phone every five minutes wasn’t helping her anxiety either. She wanted to talk to Tyson, but it was nearly ten o’clock, and he hadn’t called or texted. Maybe he just went home.

  As they were wrapping it up, she excused herself to the bathroom and texted him. If she didn�
��t have to be at work in the morning and didn’t have a fitting at nine o’clock, she’d drive out to his place.

  That too, was a bad idea. Lydia would certainly know what was going on if she followed her all the way out of town.

  She’d just wait for his call.

  ~*~

  The morning had attached itself to the night before. Pearl hadn’t slept at all, and as she passed in front of the trifold mirror, she realized it showed.

  She smiled at the mother of the bride that sat on the small sofa drinking a cup of coffee. Her professionalism wasn’t about to be displaced by the bags under her eyes.

  When the bride came out of the dressing room, Pearl saw the tears well up in the mother’s eyes.

  “Oh, honey, you look beautiful,” the mother cried.

  “I like this one, Mom. It’s like yours. Look.” The woman in the dress showed her mother an intricate piece of lace embedded in the dress and that had sent the woman into a full cry.

  Pearl gracefully picked up the box of tissues and handed them to her.

  “Thank you. Oh, to see your daughter get married…” she dabbed at her eyes. “This must be old hat to you, to see such beautiful women each day.”

  Pearl smiled. “It’s what I love about my job.”

  And she did, but every once in awhile a mother, much like the one to her side, got under her skin.

  It wasn’t that the woman was now a babbling mess, it was that hers wouldn’t be. Oh, her mother would have opinions on what she should look like, sure, but she wouldn’t be emotional in the least.

  Pearl batted back tears that began to sting her own eyes as the woman moved to her daughter and stood with her, looking in the mirror.

  For the first time in her life, Pearl wished for that happiness. She wanted it. She craved it.

  It would be different. She knew that. Her mother would make the day all about her. Her father, if he bothered to show up, wouldn’t even be her first choice to walk her down the aisle.

  Oh, she’d want a dress and a formal setting, but she had come to the conclusion, she only wanted to share it with the man she would marry.

  Discretely, she excused herself to the front of the store and pulled her cell phone from her purse. There was still no call or text from Tyson.

  Something had happened. Why wasn’t he responding to her?

  Chapter Twenty

  Pearl was dressed and ready for Susan’s bachelorette party. They had agreed to a tea party, and her sisters had both called and made sure she hadn’t hired a stripper.

  It bothered her that they’d think she would. Of course, ten years ago, maybe she would have. But she’d grown up. So why did everyone have to think she was going to cause trouble?

  The Garden Room was set up for high tea, and the twinkling white lights on each of the trees illuminated the outdoor venue. She wondered, in the end, what the reception room at their new location would look like. Lydia certainly had a way of making it warm and unique.

  Pearl stopped just short of the room and took it in. There was Susan, and unmistakably Susan’s mother and her sister. Her sister looked just like Susan, only with blonde hair. Pearl had heard that Susan’s parents were hippies, but she’d have to admit, she thought that meant ‘were’. Her mother’s hair was bright silver, straight, and hung to her waist. The dress she wore was bright in color and perhaps handmade. Each finger adorned a ring, and her arm clamored with bangle bracelets. But what Pearl noticed most, was the sparkle in her eyes. Susan’s mother adored her, and she was genuinely happy for her daughter. It came through louder than any words ever could.

  “Aren’t you going in?” Her mother’s voice came from behind her.

  Pearl turned to see her mother standing beside her. Her hair was perfect, and so was her makeup. The suit dress was pristine, and the jewelry she’d chosen accentuated it perfectly.

  “You look beautiful,” Pearl complimented.

  “Thank you, darling. Who is that in the sandals?” Her mother’s voice dipped.

  “Susan’s mother.”

  Her mother hummed, but Pearl understood it. It was a displeased hum. Leave it to her mother to be judgmental on someone’s looks.

  Lydia saw them lingering in the corner and moved to them. She pulled Pearl into a warm hug.

  “I loved meeting Donald,” she told her. “He came by the building today, and we drew up plans for the reception hall. You’re going to love them.”

  She knew she would. “He’s very talented.”

  “C’mon. Let’s get this party going.”

  Because Lydia and Bethany had been in charge of the tea, it was exquisite. The selection of drinks was just right, and the tea sandwiches were incredible.

  “Susan,” her mother began somewhere into her second glass of champagne, “you didn’t cater your own bachelorette party, did you?”

  Susan laughed and shook her head. “I had nothing to do with it. Bethany, Lydia, and Glenda did it all. They even made the sandwiches.”

  Bethany giggled. “I give all the credit for the food to Glenda. She’s truly the master of the tea party.”

  Lydia raised her tea cup. “I’ll second that. You are a genius when it comes to this sort of thing.”

  Glenda blushed. “I love to entertain. Thank you for letting me.”

  Pearl watched Lydia’s face as Glenda spoke about teas and pastries. The woman was wild with ideas and they lit up her face when she had them. Pearl didn’t have to ask her what was on her mind, she could read it. She thought Glenda’s tea parties would be the perfect fit in their wedding mecca.

  Pearl looked around the room at the women who had come together to celebrate Susan. Only Susan’s mother and her sister were there from her side of the family. The rest of the guests were people Susan had met in Georgia or were related to Eric.

  They certainly had a big family and an eclectic one at that.

  Pearl’s mother sat next to her brothers’ mother and shared gossip. They’d been best friends before they became the wives of Bryon Walker. Somewhere after they’d become ex’s they became best friends again and had stayed that way. Glenda, Eric’s stepmother, was the perfect mother, in Pearl’s opinion. She doted on her sons, and on Susan.

  Lydia and her mother were very social. Each of them made their rounds from table to table to speak to each guest. Of course, there were Pearl’s sisters, Bethany, and Audrey, but they sat at separate tables.

  Audrey was cordial to Bethany, but she had yet to warm up to her completely. Though Pearl understood it, she didn’t condone it. Bethany had moved to Georgia to be with her family—with them. She deserved to be included as much as possible.

  Pearl figured Audrey was just jealous. Pearl had a great deal to do with the other women in the family. In fact, even Lydia’s mother had already mentioned that she would be stopping in to look at wedding dresses.

  It was at that moment when Lydia’s mother mentioned her wedding, when Pearl froze. Usually, there’d have been no hesitation in setting her up an appointment, but she had realized that this woman was Tyson’s mother too. Sure, not by blood, but she’d adopted him—raised him.

  She talked to Pearl as a woman in need to a professional. There wasn’t the slightest hint that Pearl was something more to this woman’s son.

  Pearl had another glass of champagne as she listened to the friendly banter going on around her.

  She quickly realized the rest of the week was going to be all about getting Susan and Eric to the altar.

  The wedding was on Saturday, so she would have to close her shop. That had taken some arranging too. It had crossed her mind to ask Sunshine to come in and just be present. But appointments worked out in her favor.

  Wednesday, everyone would pick up their dresses and tuxes. The bonus there was, she’d get to see Tyson. Maybe he’d feel different about her “adjusting” the tux than he had about her measuring him.

  Thursday afternoon there was a small spa day planned for the bridesmaids. Manicures and pedicures with the c
oordinating polish color. Audrey had arranged it at the salon she worked at.

  Friday was rehearsal dinner at Susan and Eric’s house.

  Then, bright and early Saturday morning, she had an appointment to have her sister do her hair.

  Just thinking of it all was exhausting. Seriously, she thought as she finished off the current glass of champagne, if she was ever to get married, she was just going to elope. She knew weddings and brides were her business, but there was just too much to think about. Grateful as she was that people went through it on a daily basis, she didn’t want anything to do with it for herself.

  Wednesday morning Eric was waiting outside her store before she had even made it to the door.

  “Are you that anxious to get married,” she joked as she walked toward him. “You want your tux first thing in the morning?”

  He chuckled. “When you rise with the sun, you sometimes forget how early nine o’clock is to other people. I’ve been in town an hour already. Ran into Smythe at the coffee shop and had a cup of coffee with him. His brother died last night,” his voice trailed off.

  Pearl’s heart jolted in her chest. “That’s horrible.”

  “He said he’d been in hospice.”

  Pearl nodded. “Smythe’s niece told me. They had their wedding early so that he could be there.”

  “That’s sweet. What role did you have in that?”

  She shrugged as she unlocked the door and opened it. “I just had some compassion, that’s all. She needed a dress altered, and I made sure that happened.”

  “You’ve always had a sweet side,” he said as they walked in, but she didn’t turn to acknowledge that.

  Her soft side had been shadowed by her need to make her parents suffer through her adolescence and teenage years. But it was nice to know that someone understood her.

  “Are you collecting all the tuxes?”

  “Mine, Gerald’s, Ben’s, Russell’s, and my dad’s.” He numbered off with his fingers. “Dane will be by later, and so will Tyson.”