Longing for Home

Alex made a mental note to talk to the pastor, Matthew Wilde, at some point over the next two weeks. Just so the guy knew that someone was looking out for Abby’s best interests.

“There you are.” Abby glided into the room, clutching the gaudiest shoes Alex had ever seen, a pair of white sneakers crusted with sparkling beads and pink sequins.

She smiled at Alex before zeroing in on her fiancé. “Could I talk to you for a minute, Quinn?”

“Sure.”

“In the kitchen?” Abby bit her lower lip.

Alex recognized the gesture. Obviously Quinn did, too, because they both came to their feet at the same time.

“What’s wrong?”

Abby smiled at Quinn. And frowned at Alex. “Nothing. There’s always a few last-minute…glitches…to work out when it comes to weddings.”

Alex looked at the shoes in her hand. “I see what you mean.”

Abby chuckled. “I’m not talking about the shoes.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. These are for Faye. She can’t wear heels because of the arthritis in her feet, so Kate bedazzled her favorite pair of Keds.”

“Bedazzled?” Alex looked at Quinn.

“I have no idea, but it sounds like something Kate would do,” he said with a shrug.

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “So does causing a glitch.”

Abby cast Alex a meaningful look, silently reminding him of their conversation the night before. “Don’t worry. Everything will be…everything is fine.”

Where had he heard that before? Oh yes, in the Grapevine Café that morning.

“Does this have something to do with the chicken?” he demanded.

Abby’s eyes went wide. “Kate told you?”

Actually, the tattooed, pie-eating truck driver had. He’d also told Alex—between bites—that the café’s walk-in freezer had died and she’d lost a good portion of her inventory.

“I heard the order didn’t come in.”

Abby nodded. “Kate called about half an hour ago. The order was supposed to be on the truck, but she found out the supplier wrote down the wrong date. The chicken will arrive on time—a week from now.”

“I hope that doesn’t mean you want to postpone the wedding?” Quinn wrapped an arm around Abby’s slender waist.

She smiled up at him. “Not a chance. It’ll work out. Kate just wanted to let me know that she’ll be a few minutes late for the rehearsal dinner. Thor is giving her grief again so she’ll meet up with us at the restaurant.”