place where we could effectively tie in the repairs.”
“You found another problem,” Trey guessed.
“A mac daddy of a problem. There’s massive termite damage. From my analysis, three-quarters of the structure is impacted. It’s going to take far more extensive repair, and there’s just no way it’ll be ready in time for the wedding.”
“Well, shit. The wedding is five days away.”
Brody spread his hands. “I wish I had better news. I know it took forever for Cam and Norah to set a date around work schedules and town projects. At this point, they may just go down to the courthouse and have done with it.”
Trey wanted better than that for Norah. “There’s got to be something we can do.”
“With all due respect, sir, I don’t know that this is a problem you can fix with money and connections.”
He heaved a sigh. “Well, I’m not ready to give up just yet. Hang on a minute.”
Sandy answered after the first ring. “Miss me already?”
The smile in her voice tugged one of his own. “I do, but that’s not why I’m calling. Brody’s in my office.” Trey glanced up to find his former project manager brows up and knew he’d heard her side of the conversation. Ignoring that, he relayed the problem.
“Damn,” she muttered. “Okay, time for plan B.”
“There’s a plan B?” First he’d heard of it.
“An inkling of one.”
“And what might that be?”
“Norah and Cam saved the town. Now it’s Wishful’s turn to return the favor.”
~*~
The din of voices filling the community center was enough to make Sandy’s head pound, but the noise was worth it to see the turnout of those who’d answered her call for aid in pulling off Cam and Norah’s wedding. Her heart swelled at the sheer number of people filling the bleachers and overflowing into standing room at the periphery. God, she loved her town.
She scanned the faces, looking for Trey. He’d been tied up in meetings all day and wasn’t sure he’d be able to get loose. Seeing no sign of his dark head, she opted to get the ball rolling. So far, she’d managed to keep this meeting on the relative down low, but her niece, Miranda, would only be able to run interference with the bride and groom for so long. Nodding to Jay Quimby, their county tech guru, she accepted the microphone and took her position at the front of the gym, beneath the basketball goals.
“Thank you all for coming, and so quickly. By now, you’re all aware that the Episcopal Church has not only suffered storm damage but that the repair efforts headed up by Jensen Construction have uncovered extensive termite damage. Numerous invitations have been extended around town to see that the congregation is welcome for services, but we’re left with the issue of a wedding without a venue, set for this weekend.” Sandy strode out toward the center of the gym, meeting the eyes of friends, neighbors, business owners she’d known for years. “My question for all of you is what we’re going to do to see that Cam and Norah’s wedding still happens on time.”
“They can have my barn!” Abe Costello piped up. “It hasn’t had animals in it for a good three years, and could be done up right cute with a good cleaning and some twinkle lights.” The idea of the cantankerous owner of the Wishful Co-Op and Farm Supply handling twinkle lights was enough to warm Sandy’s heart. But he had, after all, made a pretty penny when Norah purchased more than two hundred acres of his family land.
“But is there space for all the guests?” Babette Wofford, owner of Brides and Belles, asked. “How many are y’all expecting?”
“Two hundred at last count,” Sandy announced. “Many of whom are coming from out of town.”
“What about a backyard ceremony? I’ve got space for a bunch of folding chairs and a pretty little spot at the edge of the woods,” Lorna van Buren offered. “And Cam put in such a sweet garden back there last summer.”
Molly Montgomery, co-owner of Wishful Discount Drugs and head of the citizen’s coalition Norah founded nearly two years before, stood up. “If you’re going outdoor ceremony, why not have it out at Hope Springs in the park? Cam designed it, and Norah donated the land, so it seems fitting.”
Sandy felt hope begin to stir. This was the beginnings of a plan. “It’s a thought. And certainly, the location is plenty meaningful to them both.” They’d fallen in love during the fight to save the land around Hope Springs from GrandGoods, the big box warehouse store that had wanted to set up shop right on its banks.
Cassie Callister, owner of the Daily Grind, clapped her hands with enthusiasm. “We could certainly rent enough chairs, set up an arbor or something with flowers right by the lake. It could be beautiful.”
Tyler Edison, Brody’s fiancée, spoke up. “There’s no power source out there, though. You’d be working off generators, which would be pretty noisy.”
“And what about rain?” Mama Pearl asked. “Ain’t nobody know what the weather’s gonna do this time of year. Could be gorgeous, could be a monsoon.”
“The green.” A low, male voice carried above the babble of the crowd.
Searching it out, Sandy pivoted toward the door to find Trey standing, suit jacket draped over one shoulder, shirtsleeves rolled up, and his tie loosened. Everything in her wanted to stride over and bury her hands in his thick hair and kiss him. The image was so strong in her mind, she entirely lost her train of thought. “What?”