by Barbara Lohr
“No, no.” Harper pushed her hands away. “I haven't been pregnant so I don't know how this works, but my mother never likes to see pregnant girls lifting anything.” Closing the back of the SUV, she lugged the tub toward the house.
With a laugh, Julep followed her. Inside, she took off her hat and left it on the hat rack in the foyer. “Why don’t you leave this stuff here, and we’ll head for the back. Let's sit down and have some sweet tea before we start. I want to hear all about your Thanksgiving.”
Heaving the container onto the foyer floor, Harper agreed. “Sounds good, even though I just finished having coffee with Adam.” Following Julep into her spacious kitchen, Harper sat on a stool, pivoting so she could see the yard.
“Did Adam go home to see his family?”
“Yes, I guess the holidays mean families.” Feeling a bit bereft, Harper stared out through Julep’s wall of windows and onto her perennial garden, neatly sectioned off with pavers.
Pouring sweet tea over ice cubes, Julep gave her a commiserating smile. “Missing your family, Harper?”
Her head was such a jumble. “I guess so. Oh, Julep, everything seems to be such a mess right now.”
Sitting down next to her, Julep pushed a frosty, tall glass her way. “Anything you care to share?”
Even though Julep was a new friend, Harper let down her guard. “We’ve decided to have the wedding here in Savannah, and of course there’s a ton to do.”
Clapping her hands together, Julep squealed, “Oh, yippee! Can we come?”
That was another benefit of the change. “Of course you can. It makes me feel good that someone actually wants to attend our wedding. Do you believe that Cameron's mother still refuses? Cripes, it’s only two hours away. And here I thought this change would solve everything.”
“It didn’t?”
Harper shook her head, her throat swelling. “Nope. Granted we didn’t make the decision just because of her. The mansion where we were originally having the ceremony was damaged when the pipes froze and split open. Up north that happens.”
“Mercy.” Julep pressed one hand to her ample chest. When the sun hit her ring, the sparks were enough to set off a campfire.
“Just seemed like a perfect solution to have the wedding here. But it's not.” She couldn’t stop the disappointment that crept into her voice. “Mrs. Blodgett still won’t come.”
Wearing a thunderous frown, Julep held up a hand. “Pardon me. Mrs. Blodgett?”
“Right. I told you Cameron changed his name after he graduated from college.”
Shaking her blonde curls, Julep said, “Yes, you did tell me that. But I'm more concerned about the Mrs. part. Do you really call your future mother-in-law Mrs. Blodgett? We may be formal in the South but not that formal.”
Feeling like such a failure, Harper shook her head. “Is that a bad sign, Julep? As a southern girl, please tell it to me straight. All my brothers’ wives and McKenna’s husband call my mother Mom or Reenie, her nickname. I just haven't been, what, invited to the club.”
Julep's eyes narrowed. “Sometimes I think the War of Northern Aggression still smolders in southern hearts.”
“Shucks, Julep. Can’t I just marry into the South and become one of y'all.”
They both had a good laugh, one that Harper desperately needed. Then they sipped more tea and sized up the situation. “So I have this perfect opportunity to move my wedding to Savannah where it probably should've been in the first place, but my future in-laws still won’t come. This wedding is turning into such a mess.” She didn’t want to cry but the tears came anyway.
Clucking, Julep looked at her with concern. “Girlfriend, you are one hot mess. But I know what you mean about in-laws. Mine are always screaming bloody murder about some imagined slight and my husband—well, he wants to accommodate them.” Julep’s lips thinned. “I might have to go to Vidalia for Christmas.”
“Oh no. Does that mean you won’t want all these decorations? Your place was going to look so beautiful.”
“I know. Tuck and I would sleep in and then come out to have coffee while I opened up the gift that he'd chosen for me. You know, the one from One Fish, Two Fish, where I place my order.”
They both giggled and Harper completed the picture. “You would take your gift from under the tree adorned by oyster shells, starfish and palmetto leaves. But now, who knows?” The two of them stared glumly at the adjoining family room that had been robbed of a memorable Christmas.
“But wait.” Julep’s face brightened. “What’s the plan for your house? You know, for Christmas and the event?”
Another weight had just been added to her shoulders. “Oh, Julep. I haven't even thought about it. Poor Bella. She’s been telling us how the other kids at school have been bragging about their trees.”
“Not that you haven’t had other things on your mind, like Cameron’s broken leg...”
She waved a hand. “Ankle. Doesn’t matter. Just as bad.”
Wearing a mysterious smile, Julep gazed down the hallway toward the foyer. “Good thing you only lugged in one of those containers.”
“Why? What are you thinking?” And Harper’s eyes flicked to the green plastic tub that held a gorgeous wreath decorated with shells and tree garland festooned with starfish. Magical decorations that she’d worked on for hours.
“Take them home. They are yours. Merry Christmas.” By this time, Julep was clapping her hands with delight.
The idea felt wickedly appealing. “But how can I steal your Christmas? You must want something around to remind you it's the holidays.”
“This is how I look at it. I don't need to be fussing about decorations this year. I’ll have to dust around the mantle pieces...or Patricia will.” Eyes dreamy, she rubbed the top of her tummy. “After all, I'm a lady-in-waiting. But you, my friend...” She wiggled her brows. “...are in dire need of the decorations you planned so perfectly. What do you think of this aqua and lime color combination?”
“Love it. Always have.”
“Will it go with your dress? The one your mother has tucked away for you?”
Harper made a face. “How do I know?”
Julep drew back. “That doesn't sound like you.”
“The dress is my mother’s. My mother loves it so...”
“Do you have your mother’s taste?”
“Oh, not at all.” Harper let her own words sink in. “You know what? It just hit me that we’re planning the wedding my mother would've liked. Not one that’s mine. And I'll never have another one.”
Julep’s eyes sparkled wickedly. “Not if you play your cards right. So, terrific, consider this your one chance to set everything right. After all, Georgina and Brittany are all set. I believe you mentioned you didn't take on any more clients before Christmas because of the wedding. You can spend your time decorating and get your gown down here. I stand ready to assist you in any way.”
The sun beamed through the glass panes, and for a second, everything seemed clear. The wedding sounded bright and beautiful and could be everything Harper's heart desired. Then the sad truth came back to haunt her. “You know what? I still won’t have Cameron's family there to bless our wedding. His sister might come, but she’ll be standing in for the whole Blodgett contingent.”
Julep rubbed her forehead. “Now tell me again. Your mother-in-law wasn’t attending the wedding when it was in Chicago because of the weather. Now it’s been moved to Savannah and she’s still hesitating?”
“Crazy, right? Cameron's furious. But it won’t do any good to call her again.”
A devious expression formed on Julep’s face. “Not unless you ask for her help.”
“Her help?” Asking Esther Blodgett for help seemed ridiculous. “That’s crazy.”
“That’s how it’s done. What kind of wedding are you having? Are you thinking that you're going to drag this Chicago wedding down into that southern mansion? Are you going to serve roast beef and browned potatoes, God forbid, to your guests?”
Harper blinked. “I hadn't thought that far ahead. I think we were going to have tarragon chicken and green beans.”
Bringing the back of her hand to her forehead, Julep closed her eyes. Such a drama queen. “The very idea gives me the vapors.”
“Okay, Scarlett. You’re too much.”
Harper had a lot to think about on her way home.
Chapter 13
Harper waited until Bella was in bed before bringing up the issue that had been bothering her since visiting Julep. She wanted to choose her time. In the past, Cameron would charge through the door at the end of each day, eyes snapping and humming. Not anymore. With clients breathing down his neck and the ankle cast slowing him down, he dragged in, exhausted. He hated any sympathy, so she gave him time to recharge, extra hugs and casual kisses.
Her idea percolating in her head, she returned after reading Bella a book. He patted the sofa next to him. “Hey, sweet thing. How was your day?” The stress lines bracketing his lips were new, and even the grin looked tired.
She sank down next to him. “Hey, Boss Man. My day was fine. How about you?”
“Not bad.”
Taking one hand, she smoothed his forehead. Sweet move but she was really checking for fever. If he got whatever had been bothering her and Bella... Well, she didn’t want to think about it.
“My clients want to be in by Christmas. Imagine that.” He rubbed bloodshot eyes.
“Any chance of that happening?” She did feel for the family.
“With overtime, sure.”
Turning, Cameron tunneled one hand up under her hair. Smelling like a working man at the end of the day, he looked rumpled and weary. Even then, he was smoking hot. As his fingertips massaged her scalp, she let her head fall to one side. Man, this felt good. “I love it when you do this. Such talented hands.”
“Wish I could put them to better use tonight, but I’m beat, babe.”
What had they ever been thinking when they scheduled this wedding for Christmas? At the time, it seemed like such a good idea because people had vacation time around the holiday. But it created all kinds of scheduling problems for her siblings. Coming to Savannah might complicate things even more. Still, she pressed on.
“You’re tightening again, sweetheart. What’s up?” In the gray T-shirt that showcased his biceps, as well as a chest that was her favorite resting place, he looked hot...and concerned. Would she ever get used to him caring this much for her? She snuggled down into the crook under his arm, loving how she fit there.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“That can be dangerous. Good thinking or bad thinking?”
He sounded so serious, as if he couldn’t take one more bump in their road. Harper almost burst out laughing. “Oh, Cameron. You poor guy.” Yep, she had put him through the wringer, but not intentionally.
The bristle defining his chin tickled when she brushed it with a kiss. “Just trying to make this whole wedding thing easier.”
His eyes crinkled when he smiled down at her. “Got a magic wand? That is not going to happen. From what my friends say about weddings, that train already left the station.” He gave her a tight squeeze.
“Were we crazy to try to pull off a Christmas wedding? Sometime I wish...”
But he pressed one finger softly to her lips. “Stop, darlin’. We agreed and we’re trying to do it right. Now, if we can just decide what ‘right’ is.” A chuckle rumbled in his chest, and she laid one palm against it. “We’ve kept our families waiting long enough.”
She blew out a breath. “I just wanted everyone to enjoy themselves.”
“It’s a wedding ceremony not a party.”
Swinging upright, Harper pressed both hands to her ears. “Oh, I don’t want to hear that. I want a great party everyone will enjoy, especially our families.”
Cameron tugged her back into his arms. The man was just too persuasive, and she melted against him. “It’s your family I’m concerned about. They’re the ones who jumped into the planning with us.” The finger he traced down her nose tickled. “You’re cute when you frown, know that?”
Batting the hand away, she tried to stay on track, never easy when Cameron was this close. “Funny. Your family is the one on my mind.”
Drawing back, he gave her that are-you-kidding-me look. “Harper, we’ve been over this a million times.”
“I know, I know.” Hazel Hurst was two hours away, but it might as well be a thousand miles. And dang, he seemed satisfied having it like that. His life had been so different from hers.
Time and tragedy had weathered Cameron. Aged him somehow. How she wished she could erase those years. She’d hoped planning the wedding and this Christmas together would bring them closer. Nothing could be further from the truth. And his broken ankle hadn’t helped one bit. No way was she going to bring that up. “I stopped at Julep’s today.”
“I’m glad you two are friends. She seems like a lot of fun.”
“And a proper southern girl, who knows how to have a good time.”
“That too.” His fingers twirled a strand of her hair round his fingers. Seemed as if she couldn’t be within Cameron’s reach without him touching her. How she loved that constant contact.
“Julep thinks we should ask your mom for help with the wedding. You know, maybe give us some suggestions for the food. Lord knows, I’m no good at cooking.” She’d nearly poked Cameron’s ex-girlfriend with a meat fork one time when she tried to cook a pot roast and failed.
The scowl brewing on his face told Harper just what he thought of her idea. “But what about Connie? Won’t her feelings be hurt? She’s pretty protective about her kitchen.”
She’d expected this. “But don’t you think a wedding is too much for one woman? Connie had to call in extra troops anyway.”
“My mother isn’t a troop, she’s an army. And she’s on the other side.” His frown cinched tighter. “Lily might be the only member of my family at this wedding. You’ve just got to accept that.”
Her throat closed. “Oh, Cameron, that just can’t be. Have you talked to your mother or Lily again without me?”
“No, I haven’t. I just know them.” Palming her chin, he pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’m giving it to you straight, darlin’. Besides, why would you ever want her involved with the food? Remember my father’s funeral? That’s the kind of gathering they’re used to. Plain food heaped on platters with grease dripping onto the floor.”
Thinking back, she remembered that day so vividly. She’d felt totally out of place at the spartan, white house set in the wilds where they fought a constant battle with creeping kudzu. But time with his family helped her understand Cameron so much better. “Everybody brought something. Friends helped with the cooking.”
“Exactly. Can you just see Julep arriving in Tuck’s classic Lamborghini with her favorite casserole?”
Well, that was a stretch and she laughed. “It’s not going to happen. But you have a point. We’ll have to get right on the food. Connie can call caterers tomorrow.”
That wasn’t the solution she wanted.
With a groan, he readjusted his foot on the hassock. The darn thing must be bothering him. “We have to send out new invitations with an explanation. Have you thought of that?”
“McKenna’s taking care of it.” But Harper had been so busy with decoration plans. There were probably more ends to tie up. Still, Julep had a point and Harper wasn’t a girl who gave up easily. “Will you at least call your mother and kind of run this by her?”
Cameron blew out a breath. “You don’t understand, sweet thing. There’s only one opinion that matters to my mom, and that’s her opinion.”
Time to button her lip. He was tired. But she wasn’t giving up. Not by a long shot.
When Cameron nodded off on the pullout sofa, Harper sat in the library and came up with a daunting list. If she hadn’t been so totally drained, all these bullet points would have kept her up all night. But her eyes flagged. She cou
ld hardly drag herself to the third floor. That night she tumbled into bed with the list clutched in one hand.
All the way to school the next day, Bella babbled on about their Christmas tree. When were they going to put it up? Where would they put it this year? Did they have enough ornaments?
Harper had to get with the program. “When you get home, I’ll show you the bins with all kinds of magical things we’re going to set around the house.” Just thinking of it made her arms ache, but Jack and Connie would probably be around to help. And they would take their time. Last year she’d tried to throw everything up in one day. Not this year.
“Bye, Harper!” Bella gave her a wet smooch before she dashed into school. Elaine Powers stood outside in a tailored navy cape, greeting the students. As Harper edged past, she actually waved. When the principal bent to say something to Bella, Harper’s hand tensed on the gearshift. But Bella’s smile reassured her and she pulled away. Cameron had done such a great job of putting everything right. Her turn now. She’d do the same with this dang wedding.
When she reached the house, Jack was outside, trimming the bushes. She pulled into the garage and walked over on her way through the garden. Although winter had brought an end to the lush fuchsias and orange hibiscus that bloomed all summer, the garden still held plenty of greenery. A huge live oak shaded the area, along with smaller trees and bushes. And in the center, stood that mermaid fountain. Cameron and Harper found it soothing to sit on the back verandah while the water splashed below. How he’d laughed when Bella announced she wanted to be a mermaid when she grew up.
“Hey, Jack.” Headphones in place, he moved smoothly over the shrubs. Not wanting to startle him, she waited until he turned slightly and saw her. Stripping off his head gear, he turned off the trimmer. The faint smell of gas hung in the air. “What’s up, Harper?”
“Christmas is up, Jack. Do you believe it?” She hadn’t told Connie or Jack yet that the wedding plans had been changed. In fact, she had to cancel those flights to Chicago as well as their own. “The back of the SUV is filled with tubs of Christmas decorations. Could you bring them inside when you have time? No hurry.”