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CAITEY
“Oh, before I forget,” Jenna added when they entered the kitchen and shut the back door. “It keeps slipping my mind to tell you—I’ve reserved a string trio for the garden reception.”
“That sounds lovely,” Caitey told her. “We discussed music, but that was a long time ago.”
“I’ve requested they play Pachelbel’s ‘Canon’ while Logan and Marcus, his best man, walk down the stone pathway and up to the arbor. Then I appear at the end of the walkway, and everyone gasps in awe, of course. But . . .” she drawled, slowing her words. “Um . . . before that . . .”
“What?” Caitey asked. “What did you forget?”
“Well, I, uh, bought a bridesmaid dress for you!” she said, her voice rising with enthusiasm. “Now, before you protestand say no,pleasewear it as one of my attendants. It seems weird not to have at least one attendant, even for a small home wedding. You are not just my cousin but one of my closest friends.”
Caitey bit her lips as she blinked at the sudden emotion. “Wow, Jenna, thank you for that. I consider you to be the sister I never had. I’d be honored to be your bridesmaid. If I can fit into the dress!”
“Of course you will. You never seem to gain an ounce.”
Caitey grinned. “Hopefully I haven’t after eating Gus’s cooking last night and this morning! It will be fun to dress up!”
“I fondly remember dress-up days when we raided our mothers’ closets and put on their costume jewelry.” Jenna paused and then her eyes widened as she clapped a hand across her mouth. “Noooo,I never bought any wedding earrings! How could I forget to take care of that?”
An older female voice spoke up behind them. “Jenna!” Mrs. Hearst said. “Caitey! Are you in the kitchen talking about wedding details again? I’d love to be a part of it.”
“As would I,” Jenna’s mother echoed as she followed Mrs. Hearst inside.
“Hi, Aunt Vicki,” Caitey said. “We didn’t mean to leave the mothers out.”
“I know I’m just the mother-in-law,” Mrs. Hearst said, “but us girls need to stick together against all the men wandering this house. Plus, who doesn’t adore a goodwedding? Especially for one’s own son! One of the biggest days of my life, as well as Logan’s and yours, Jenna,” she added with fondness. “I couldn’t ask for a better daughter-in-law.”
Jenna walked around the table towards her. “Gosh, thank you, Mrs. Hearst, that means a lot to me.”
“Please—Isabella!”
Jenna gave a little laugh. “I’m sorry . . . it feels strange to call you by your first name.”
“I know we’ve only met a few times before now but please, no more formality.”
Jenna turned to Caitey and quickly interjected, “Logan’s parents came to New Orleans to visit us right after he proposed, and the ring arrived. That’s when we chose a date. It’s hard to believe it’s here! I’m getting marriedtomorrow!”
Mrs. Hearst was nodding. “Yourwedding is a beautiful event you’ll never forget for the rest of your life. Please call me Mom—or Mother like Logan does. When he turned fifteen, “Mom” was no longer an option. It was ‘Mother’ just to tease me and sound like a British gentleman who graduated from Eton. And then his teasing happened to stick and that’s what he calls me.”
“That sounds like boys,” Caitey said with a laugh. “My brother, George, as well as a whole slew of male cousins on my dad’s side do the same thing. Drivestheirmothers crazy.”
“Will your brother be able to attend the wedding,Caitey?” Mrs. Hearst asked.
Aunt Vicki shook her head. “I’m afraid my nephew and wife recently had a baby and she’s not up to it yet. Not to mention, traveling with a newborn is difficult.”
“Totally understandable,” Mrs. Hearst empathized. “Weddings are often difficult to schedule with big families.”
“Speaking of fake British accents,” Jenna piped up. “I’ve heard Logan do that British accent thing with you myself!” she exclaimed as if it had just occurred to her. “I’ll have to give him a hard time—or force him to speak that sexy British to me all the time,” she added with a devilish grin.
“After all,Pride and PrejudiceisJenna’s and my favorite movie,” Caitey told her.
Aunt Vicki turned to her hostess. “I must admit that being here at your beautiful home is like stepping into a Regency movie, Isabella. Or visiting a British manor house on tour—except I get to stay in one of those divine bedroom suites. Plumbing and all of the indoor amenities included!”
Mrs. Hearst’s eyes twinkled. “Don’t forget—I’m only here by marriage. Shall we take this meeting to the dining room table where we can spread out more and Gus doesn’t have to put up with our chatter and giggles?”
Gus popped his head out from the pantry where he’d been organizing shelves and unloading groceries for the wedding breakfast and dinner. “Don’t mind me, ma’am, just counting the eggs, so to speak, to make sure we have everything ready for the big day.”
“You’re such a dear, Gus, thank you,” Mrs. Hearst toldhim, rising from her chair. “Even so, seeing what we’re doing might be easier at the bigger table.”
