Second Chance Girl (Happily Inc. #2)

“All right, pretty girl. Let’s get you wedding-ready.”

Violet joined her and together they got the wiggly dog into her bridesmaid dress. Carol had to admit Violet had done her usual stellar job, fitting the garment to the beagle’s muscular shape. The dress hung low enough under her belly to be dress-like but didn’t get in the way of her walking. Sparkly buttons decorated her back.

“You’re beautiful,” Carol told Sophie who thanked her with a quick lick.

Pallas walked into the bride’s room and took in the activity. “Maya, you are the most beautiful bride. Your photographer friend has finished with Del and his brothers, so it’s time for him to immortalize you.” She saw Carol and Violet with Sophie. “I see your canine attendant is ready to go, as well. Excellent. Sophie’s already met the dog sitter, so when the ceremony is over, she’ll go have her own private dog party.” She smiled at Eddie and Gladys. “You two are going to steal all the attention, but Maya swears she’s totally fine with that.”

“Del will only have eyes for his bride,” Gladys said with a sniff. “Maya, you’re lovely.”

“Thank you.”

Maya stepped back from the mirror. Her dress was done up the back and fit her perfectly. Her hair had been styled in an updo and her veil was waiting to be slipped on.

Elaine stood behind her, gazing at her in the mirror. “I have a surprise for you, Maya. It’s your something borrowed.” She drew a flat velvet box out of her tote and opened it. A diamond necklace winked back at all of them.

“Ceallach gave it to me after Mathias was born,” Elaine said with a sigh. “He’s always been so sentimental.”

Violet and Carol exchanged a look. Sentimental, Carol wondered. Or maybe just feeling guilty because his long-term mistress was also pregnant and about to give birth. But if it made Elaine happy to think there was another reason for the gift, then she should go with that.

Elaine fastened the necklace around Maya’s neck. The diamonds sparkled against her skin. Violet walked over and adjusted the bride’s dress. “You’re perfect,” she murmured. “Enjoy every second of your day.”

“I intend to,” Maya said with a laugh.

Carol and Violet took Sophie’s leash and led her out of the bride’s room. Their job was to walk the beagle down the aisle in front of Eddie and Gladys, then hand her over to the dog sitter. Once the pet portion of the event was finished, so were their duties. Mathias had already promised to save her a seat next to him. Carol knew that Ulrich would be doing the same for her sister. There was no reason to worry, only she couldn’t seem to quiet her head. Thoughts kept swirling as she wondered about the real reason she hadn’t seen Mathias the night before.

She reminded herself that right now, there was no way to ask. She would get through the wedding, then deal with whatever was going on later. With luck, Mathias would laugh and tell her she was being silly. That everything was fine and as soon as they could get away, he would take her back to her place and prove it over and over again.

She crossed the first two fingers of her free hand and hoped she wasn’t wishing for the moon.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

DESPITE LIVING IN a destination wedding town, Carol rarely got to attend any weddings and she almost never participated in them. So it was fun to walk Sophie to her place by the bride, then hand over her leash to the dog sitter waiting just by the urn of flowers. The woman would stay there until after the ceremony, then lead Sophie out the back way and take care of her until Elaine and Ceallach returned to Mathias’s house.

Mayor Marsha Tilson of Fool’s Gold was standing with Del, smiling happily as they waited for Maya to start down the aisle. The petite older woman wore a pale pink suit and pearls.

Carol had already found where Mathias was sitting. She tried to catch his eye as she walked Sophie down the aisle, but he wasn’t looking at her. When she sat next to him, he gave her an absent smile—one that dropped the temperature in the room about fifteen degrees. Where was the handsome, happy lover she’d known just yesterday?

But this was his brother’s wedding and there was no way to ask. Carol faced forward and tried to focus on what was happening. She watched Del and Maya exchange vows, then a kiss. As they started down the aisle, Eddie and Gladys threw rose petals at them.

“Are you staying for the reception?” Carol asked as she and Mathias joined the stream of people walking toward the open double doors.

“Sure. Del wants us all there.” He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the tables and chairs set up under an open canopy. “How about there?”

He pointed to a round table far from the center of the room.

“Is there going to be a head table? Do you have to sit with family?”

“Nope. I’m all yours.”

Words to ease her growing tension. Maybe she was imagining things, she told herself. Maybe everything was fine.

She took the seat he held out. When he sat next to her, she reached for his hand. But instead of lacing his fingers with hers, he gently withdrew from her touch and put his arm on the back of her chair.

“I’m going to stay at my house tonight,” he told her. “Everyone’s heading out early in the morning, so I should be there to say goodbye.”

“Of course.” She spoke as calmly as she could and did her best to keep her face from betraying her turmoil. “I’m sure you’re looking forward to getting your life back to normal. Family is always a challenge.”

“Not yours.”

“That’s true. We’re drama free in the Lund household.”

“The Mitchells have drama enough for all.” He glanced around. “It’s great to see Eddie and Gladys. They’re cool old ladies with very quick hands.” He chuckled. “Back in Fool’s Gold they’re known for taking advantage of any man not smart enough to stay out of their way.”

“What does that mean?”

“They hug, they pinch, they give butt pats. On their best days, they’re more than willing to ask a guy to take off his shirt. More, if the man in question is willing. They have a cable access show that rates the butts of men around town.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “Naked butts. You text in who you think it is.”

By comparison, Happily Inc seemed really tame, she thought. “And all we have is a wild animal preserve. Did you ever, um, model?”

“They asked, but Ronan and I never got around to sending in pictures.” He frowned. “Or taking them, because how do you get a picture of your own butt? You’d need someone to do it for you.”

Carol glanced at the two old ladies sitting with Ceallach and Elaine. “And they look so sweet.”

“Don’t let that fool you.” He pointed. “The bar’s open. Want to get something to drink?”