by Dylann Crush
“He sure is. I can’t wait to see him running loose out there.” Gramps reached down and ruffled Herbie behind the ears. The dog rewarded him by jumping up and swiping his tongue across the older man’s chin.
“Can you take him out of here? We don’t need anyone catching sight of the dogs when the wedding party arrives, right?”
“We’re going. Any idea when we’ll be moving out to the ranch? Zeb’s in. I told him he could take your grandmother’s old sewing room. We’ll have our work cut out for us fixing the place up. I figure you’ll need a few days to ship the penguins back, but—”
“What?” Alex had already turned his back but now his grandfather had his full attention.
Gramps patted his forehead with a hanky. They’d sacrificed the portable air conditioner so Zina could run it out to the tent. The humidity hung in the air, making everyone glisten with a fine sheen of sweat. “When we move. You said you were going to stick around. I assumed you’d be moving into the ranch house with me. I suppose if Zeb’s there it’ll satisfy your sister, but where are you going to stay then?”
Alex closed his eyes and counted to three in his head. When he opened them again, he hoped he’d realize he’d inhaled too many paint fumes and was hallucinating. But no, Gramps stood in the same spot, the same furrow bisecting his brow. “We don’t have time to talk about this right now. Let’s just get through the wedding and then we’ll figure out a plan, okay?”
“I know it’s going to take some cash to make the improvements. I’ve got a little bit of money saved. Is it about the cash?”
“Gramps. You’ve got to get the dog out of here. We’ll have to talk about it later.” What was going on with everyone? First Zina confided how lost she’d be without him. Now Gramps wanted to talk about having Zeb move in with them and remodeling the ranch house.
Gramps shook his head and stomped toward the warehouse. Alex gritted his teeth and started to move toward the tents.
“There you are.” Char caught up to him as he reached the larger of the two tents, the one they’d designated as the reception area.
“What do you need?” He didn’t mean to lash out, but he was feeling backed into a corner. All of a sudden it seemed like everyone had plans for him, everyone but him.
“Nothing. Geez, what’s wrong with you today?” Char grinned as she elbowed him in the side. “I figured you’d be in a good mood seeing as how you’re almost ready to give up the penguins and get back to normal.”
Normal. His normal had been globe-trotting around the world. Meeting new people and taking part in amazing adventures. “What do you mean ‘normal’?”
“You know, sending the penguins packing, settling down . . .”
His stomach twisted into knots. Why was everyone assuming he was going to be settling down? “Settling down?”
“Yeah. Gramps told me you decided to move out to the ranch with him. With the way things are going between you and Zina, it seems like there might be another wedding in the not-so-distant future if you know what I mean.”
The edges of his vision went fuzzy. Like he was staring down a long tunnel and Char stood at the end, yapping her mouth. But no words came out. A buzzing rang in his ears. He shook his head to try to knock it, but all he could think about was how everyone had already seemed to figure out his future. Everyone but him.
“I’ve gotta go.” He wasn’t even sure if he’d managed to utter the words out loud but he didn’t wait around for Char to respond. His boots crunched on the gravel as he stalked toward the truck. Every fiber of his being urged him to do one thing . . . flee.
* * *
* * *
“Where’s Alex?” Zina checked her watch. He should be there by now. Chyna would be on-site in less than ten minutes and the first thing they’d planned to do was show a united front by meeting her in person and walking her through the events of the weekend. Zina had checked every detail herself. The only update she needed was from Alex regarding the penguins.
At least that was one area she didn’t need to worry about. Alex had surprised her by how dedicated he was to making sure the wedding went off without a hitch. It was nice to not have to do everything all alone and be able to depend on someone for a change.
While she waited, her phone rang. Lacey. She’d lost count of how many times Lacey had called, but it had to be in the high double if not triple digits by now.
“What now?” Zina asked.
“Please tell me you didn’t give Kirby the go-ahead to pick the wedding party up at the airport in his hearse.”
“What?” Zina gasped. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
“Because he just tagged the Phillips House on social media saying he was waiting for the bride and groom.”
“No.” All the breath left her lungs. Why would Kirby have taken it upon himself to fetch the bride and groom? “I set it up with an outfit from Houston. Let me give them a call and I’ll call you back.”
Lacey disconnected and Zina tried to take a few deep breaths as she looked up the phone number for the limo service she’d booked.
By the time they answered and explained someone had canceled the limo service, Lacey was calling again. Zina clicked over, with no idea how to explain that Kirby had gone rogue.
“He’s got them,” Lacey shrieked through the phone. “He just updated his status and he’s on his way. What’s going on?”
“I’m sure it will be fine. Kirby knows how important this is. He’s not going to do anything to put the wedding in danger.”
“Danger?” Chyna’s voice rang out from the back of the tent. “We’re all going to be in danger if we can’t turn the air up in here. The whole wedding party will roast.”
“Chyna’s here.” Zina eyed the wedding planner as she made her way down the center aisle. “Can you call Kirby and see what’s happening? I’ve got to go.”
“So help me, if he ruins this for us, Bodie may have to book me for manslaughter.” Lacey groaned.
“Everything’s going to be fine. Text me and let me know what you find out.” Zina disconnected and took in a breath, trying to center herself. She’d been in war zones before, she could handle a little last-minute chaos for a wedding. Then she pasted the most patronizing smile on her face she could summon under the extenuating circumstances and turned to face Chyna.
“Chyna, I’m so glad you made it. How was your flight?”
“Fine. Now fill me in. The Munyons will be here soon.” She looked striking as always, in a designer ensemble complete with a trendy pillbox-style hat she wore over a new shade of bright pink hair.
“All right then. Here’s the schedule.” Zina ran through the timeline of events, starting with the arrival of the wedding party and ending with the fireworks they’d arranged to go off as the bride and groom departed the next night.
Chyna nodded along, adding a comment here and there until they reached the end of the itinerary. “Looks good. I have to say, I had my doubts about this place but you and your boss came through.”
Zina didn’t bother to set the record straight that Lacey was not, in fact, her boss nor was she employed in any way, shape, or form by the town. What mattered was that the next two days were the happiest, most joyful days of the lovebirds’ lives.
Chyna cleared her throat. A tall man in dark jeans, cowboy boots, and a straw Stetson appeared at the entrance of the tent.
“Tad, darling.” Chyna floated down the aisle, her hands already reaching for his. “Come in, let me show you what I’ve done to create your daughter’s dream winter wonderland.”
“Who’s this?” Tad smiled at Zina. “Are you one of Chyna’s helpers?”
Before she could answer, Chyna beat her to it. “She’s local staff.”
“In that case, well done.” Tad held his phone out. “My daughter just sent me a text of the limo y’all sent to pick them up. I’
ve gotta say, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Zina clutched her hands together. She didn’t want to look.
“Genius.” Chyna’s excitement made her voice vibrate.
Kirby had revamped the hearse into a convertible limo with a clear dome on top. It looked just like the popemobile she’d seen on TV. The new white paint job sparkled. Zina bowed her head. She couldn’t wait to tell Lacey that Kirby had come through for them.
“Let me show you around. Zina, can you find the man who trained the penguins? Tad’s going to want to see a demonstration. They are, after all, besides the bride and groom, the main attraction.”
“Sure, let me see what I can do.” Zina exited through a flap in the back of the tent while Chyna prattled on about all the plans she’d put into place. Lacey might not mind sharing the spotlight with the presumptuous wedding planner, but it irked Zina to the core to hear the woman claim responsibility for all the hard work they’d put into the event.
Didn’t matter now. She fired off a text to Lacey to set her mind at ease. The only thing that mattered was getting through the next two days.
* * *
* * *
Alex had just secured the penguins when Zina entered the warehouse.
“Where have you been? Mr. Munyon’s here. He wants to meet you.” Zina reached for his hand and twined her fingers with his.
He’d usually welcome her touch but with everyone dumping demands on him, he was feeling the stress of the culmination of weeks of preparation and not even Zina’s presence seemed to make him feel better.
“Yeah, of course. Just wrapping up and getting the penguins settled. Where is he?”
“In the main tent. I was going to go check on the food for the rehearsal dinner up at the house. Want me to come with you?”
He shook his head. “I’ve got it.”
“Have you officially turned down his offer of employment yet?” She clasped her hands around the back of his neck and rose to her tiptoes. “He doesn’t look like the kind of man who likes to be refused.”
Alex pulled her against him as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I figured I’d wait until the wedding was over. Don’t want to rock the boat, right?”
“Good call.” She ran her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck.
He could stand there for hours, lost in her touch, the way she looked up at him with love and hope and the promise of a future in her eyes. But that wouldn’t get him through the next two days. “I’ll see you up at the house later?”
“Later.” She let her hands slide down his body before she turned away. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Luck was something he’d been without for a very long time. If ever there was a time he could use it, today was that day.
He entered the tent where the ceremony would be taking place. A few of the townspeople were making last-minute preparations. Chyna and Mr. Munyon stood at the front of the tent, where the bride and groom would say their vows.
“Here he is.” Chyna sprang toward him, a huge smile pasted on her lips. “Tad, I’d like you to meet Alex Sanders, your penguin handler.”
Tad thrust his hand forward. “Nice to meet you, Alex.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, sir.” The man looked younger than Alex expected.
“Call me Tad. We’re going to be working together, aren’t we?”
Alex inclined his head. Now wasn’t the time to bring that up.
“I’m so glad you’re coming on board. I’ve got plans for the international arm of my business. Big plans.” He pumped Alex’s hand a few times, then let it go. “Chyna tells me you’ve been doing an incredible job with this event.”
“It’s been a pleasure working for you, and the penguins, well, they’ve been a very accommodating group.”
“That’s good to hear. Listen, about that job we talked about. I need someone on the ground right away. Think you can leave Sunday morning and head down to the Caymans to take a look at a property?”
“Um, sure.” Alex wanted to politely decline. But he didn’t want to piss off the father of the bride right before the wedding. Besides, the thought of sinking his toes into the sand forced everything else out of his head. For the first time in days his problems seemed to fall by the wayside as he pictured the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean.
“Great. I’ll have my assistant set it up. Can’t wait to see those penguins in action tomorrow.” He turned a smile on Chyna. “Can you show us where we’re staying? I’d like to get settled in before the rest of the wedding party arrives.”
“I’ve got a fleet of luxury RVs parked just down the road. Right this way.” Chyna linked her arm through Tad’s, leaving Alex standing in the middle of the aisle, wondering why he hadn’t said no.
thirty-one
Strains of classical music drifted over the state-of-the-art sound system Chyna had brought in for the event. Zina stood just outside the front of the tent. Ushers from the wedding party had closed the flaps while the bride and her dozen bridesmaids got themselves arranged in the order they’d walk down the aisle.
The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind of last-minute crises. Zina was dead on her feet and couldn’t wait to get through the ceremony. She hadn’t even seen Alex since the night before. The only thing standing between her being off duty was the quick exchange of the vows. After the penguins finished their procession up and back down the aisle, she’d be off the hook for the rest of the night. Chyna had flown enough staff in with her from LA to handle the party portion of the evening.
While she waited for the music to change and the first bridesmaid to start down the aisle, Alex led the penguins over, the clicker he used to train the birds in his hand.
“How are you holding up?” he whispered.
Zina blinked a long, slow blink and shook her head. “Ready for this to be over. How about you?”
Chyna shushed them. The flaps of the tent opened long enough for the first bridesmaid to walk through, then closed behind her.
Alex leaned closer. “Finish line’s in sight.”
She nodded, hoping he was right. One by one the bridesmaids entered the tent to Chyna’s precise count until only the bride and the penguins remained. Alex signaled Zina that he was going to walk around to the back of the tent like they’d practiced. Thanks to Chyna and her insistence that the penguins take part in the entrance and exit processions, they’d had to find some way to keep the penguins interested in hanging out while the vows were exchanged. Having Alex behind the tent with a bucket of fish had worked during their practice sessions. She had no reason to think it wouldn’t work when it mattered the most.
Zina arranged the birds in pairs by height just as the flaps of the tent reopened. She cast a quick glance at Chyna, who nodded. With her fingers crossed, Zina gave the signal for the first pair of penguins to start down the aisle. A chorus of oohs and aahs rose from the assembled guests as each pair of birds waddled into the tent. Chyna’s lips pursed and Zina couldn’t help but wonder if the wedding planner still disapproved of how waddly the penguins waddled.
The guests didn’t seem to mind. In fact, they began to stand, trying to get a closer look at the birds. Then, just as the music changed to the classic “Here Comes the Bride,” the photographer stepped into the center aisle. He raised his camera to his eye, adjusted the lens, and pressed the button. Bursts of light flashed through the tent, bouncing off the glittery silver and iridescent snowflakes Alex’s nieces had helped Zina string across the ceiling, blinding everyone and everything.
Zina’s heart slammed into her throat. The no she tried to yell didn’t make it past the lump in her esophagus. The penguins hated the light. Alex had specifically requested no flash photography while the penguins were present. Instead of retreating, the photographer actually moved closer to the birds and took another shot. Two of the penguins dove into the chairs.
Guests screamed and tried to get away from the blinded birds.
Gilligan raced toward the photographer as fast as his flippers would carry him. He rammed into the man’s midsection and the photographer went down, his equipment catching on the tulle netting they’d swooped between rows to line the aisle. Chairs crashed to the ground. Zina tried to keep an eye on the birds, but they scattered like buckshot fired through a cannon and she couldn’t track them all.
Chyna climbed on top of a chair, her face pinker than her new hair color. With her hands waving in the air, she tried to stop the swell of people moving toward the exit. “Please return to your seats.”
It was too late for that. Zina swept into the tent and fought the current of the crowd until she reached the front of the aisle. Alex and Morty must have ducked in when the commotion broke out and had corralled several of the birds to a safe spot behind the harpist.
Alex yelled over the chaos. “Where are the others?”
Zina did a quick count. Ten birds were accounted for, including the two that had nose-dived into the guest section. Who was missing? Was it odd she knew all twelve birds by name and could recognize them on sight? After counting them off again, she knew who’d made a break for it. Thelma and Louise were on the loose. They couldn’t get far.
“Thelma and Louise are missing,” she said.
Alex turned to Morty. “Can you go get this group settled in the warehouse?”
He nodded.
“Let’s go find the others,” Alex said.
Confident that Morty could handle the tamer ten, Zina ducked out of the side of the tent and scoped out the yard. Guests milled around, not sure what the emergency contingency plan was on how to handle rogue penguins. She couldn’t offer any suggestions because this was one unforeseen circumstance they hadn’t taken into account when they’d worked up their contingency plans.