Instead, I settle for, “I’m so glad we’re all on our best behavior to make Cricket’s wedding as wonderful as it can be.” I scan all the faces in the room and find Asa staring at Karma.

He doesn’t pull any punches. “Might want to reel in that attitude before you embarrass your sister, Karma.”

Karma rolls her eyes. “Save it. You’re barely ever here, and you don’t know shit about shit.”

My brother’s posture stays stiff, and I’m almost worried that we’re going to have a face-off between him and my cousin.

Jackie steps between them. “Enough, all of you. This is about Cricket. Let’s go act like we’ve got some manners and sense.”

I scan the room and find Cricket missing. I slip into the bedroom to find her sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Are you okay?” I ask as I sit beside her.

“I’m nervous. I hate being nervous. I’m afraid I’m going to do something wrong. Or Karma’s going to say something, and then Mrs. Havalin is going to tear me apart for making her look bad.”

I remember what Aunt Jackie said when I first got home—that Cricket needs backup against her future mother-in-law. Since I still haven’t seen her, I’ve forgotten.

“I’ll manage Mrs. Havalin. You worry about enjoying yourself and being in love. No one is allowed to ruin this for you. No one.”

Cricket gives me a weak smile. “I wish we would’ve eloped.”

Thirty

Lincoln

The patio where the rehearsal is supposed to take place is unusable. The best man’s flight was delayed due to weather. And now I’m bracing for whatever else might be coming next, and praying we don’t have a runaway-bride situation on our hands, because that would be about as bad as it could get.

But this is Cricket we’re talking about. She and Hunter are crazy about each other. There’s no way that could happen.

My faith is rewarded when Cricket, Jackie, Whitney, Karma, and Asa Gable all follow a majordomo into the rehearsal area.

Hunter strides over to Cricket. “You look beautiful,” he tells her, and a little of the stiffness disappears out of Cricket’s posture.

Whitney stands protectively near her cousin, and I move across the room toward them as Hunter presses a kiss to his bride’s pale forehead.

“Everything okay?” I ask Whitney quietly.

“I hope so,” she replies, and her response doesn’t fill me with confidence.

Hunter breaks the news about the best man to Cricket.

“What are we going to do?” she asks, looking around the room, her lips pinched.

“Lincoln said he’d stand in, if we don’t mind.”

Cricket’s worried face turns my way.

“Or you can have Asa stand in,” I tell her. “Whatever you want to do, Cricket. It’s your choice. We just want to make this as easy for you as possible.”

Whitney squeezes my hand with approval.

“Asa’s going to walk me down the aisle, so thank you,” Cricket says. “We’d appreciate you standing up for us tonight.”