Walker Bride (6 page)

He’d come for her. He’d come to the door,
bought her coffee, and was running errands. How had this
happened?

Pushing herself away from the door, she
walked to the back of the store and set her bags on the small table
in the back room.

She knew how this happened. She’d willed it
to happen and then acted on it when she’d measured him for that
tux.

Each muscle of his arms had rippled under her
fingertips. The massive expansion of his chest had been wrapped in
her arms.

No matter what, he’d enjoyed her presence
near him too. A woman didn’t run her hand down a man’s leg and not
notice what it did to him.

Pearl fought to catch her breath just
thinking about him. And then she’d kissed him.

She had to sit down. What was going to
happen? What was going on between them?

Her father wasn’t going to like it, and she
was damn sure his grandfather would reject the thought of the two
of them. But she couldn’t think of anything else.

Then reality hit. He was a gentleman who was
making sure she could get to work. He’d taken her home when she
shouldn’t be driving. He bought her coffee and was helping her out.
That meant nothing in the realm of falling for her. She’d pawed all
over him and then threw herself at him when he’d dropped her off.
That hadn’t been fair.

Sulking was going to ruin the pristine look
she’d put together that morning. There was work to do, so she
needed to lift her chin and get to it.

She let the smile form on her lips. Nothing
could happen between her and Tyson Morgan. She’d have to deal with
that and she would. But it was nice to know that they could be
friends, and he’d help her when he could.

The beating of her heart slowed to normal,
and she felt the cloud lift from her head. She stood, took the
coffee with her, and headed out to sort through the dresses.

***

Tyson stood in line at the bakery while a
young boy and his mother tried to choose twelve donuts. How hard
could it be, he wondered.

When the door opened again, Tyson turned to
see his sister walk in. She smiled at him as though she knew
something.

She walked toward him and kissed his cheek.
“You’re in town again? I saw your truck outside.”

“Yeah, so?”

“You don’t eat donuts.”

He tousled her hair, which she despised. “I’m
not here for donuts.”

The woman and the boy finally moved, and
Tyson approached the counter.

“I’m here to pick up an order for Pearl
Walker.”

The woman nodded. “She called and said you’d
be here. Hey, Lydia.”

“Good morning,” his sister chirped. Did she
know everyone?

“Usual?”

“Please.” She turned toward him. “You want
anything? My treat?”

“I have coffee in the truck. I have to get
these to Pearl.”

Her eyes grew wider, and though she wasn’t
smiling, he knew it was straining to come to the surface.

“You’re running errands for her? That’s not
like you either.”

“I’m just helping her out. She got a late
start.”

Lydia bit down on her bottom lip. “Just what
time did you get into town? Why did she get a late start?”

He narrowed his eyes and groaned. “I’m not
the reason for her late start. And don’t give me crap about helping
her out either.”

His sister’s cheeks had become rosy with
whatever she was thinking. “I’m heading that way. I can drop them
off for you,” she offered and then the smile peeked through.

What the hell did she think she knew? The
truth was, she knew nothing.

“That would be great. I got stuff to do at
home,” he said wiggling out of whatever fantasy his sister had
about him and Pearl. That would teach her to stick her nose in
things.

“Then why are you here?” The smile was wider
now.

“I took her home last night, and I wanted to
make sure she had a ride to work. That’s all. I’m a gentleman,
remember. Mom would kill me otherwise.”

The woman handed him the box and he, in turn,
handed it to his sister. “Here, you take them to her.”

“Are you sure? Did you need to see her?”

He shrugged. “I did what I needed to do,” and
with that, he left his sister in charge of the box that would have
given him five more minutes with Pearl. All the more reason to head
back home. Pearl was becoming a distraction.

The strawberries were defrosting on a plate.
The champagne flutes were set out. And because it was before noon,
a glass pitcher of orange juice chilled with the champagne to make
mimosas.

Dresses filled the rack in the bride’s size
and, according to the interview, as to what style suited her.

Pearl had wanted everything to be ready so
she could spend just five minutes with Tyson and realize that her
giddy buzz from earlier had just been a lack of sleep. That too had
been his fault as she’d replayed that kiss in her head all
night.

But, she knew what he was like. He was
temperamental, unsocial, and a Morgan. That too wasn’t fair. Wasn’t
she considering going into business with a Morgan? There shouldn’t
even be a pause anymore when she thought about it. Morgans weren’t
bad people. Her father had been the idiot that caused the problems,
and the riff between families started with her grandfather and
Tyson’s grandfather. It had nothing to do with them.

When the bell over the door rang, her heart
rate kicked up again. There was something more to all this, she
realized. Otherwise, she wouldn’t act so foolish.

She checked herself in the set of mirrors in
front of her. Pushing back her shoulders, she gave herself a smile
and headed to the front of the store to get the order from
Tyson.

Surely the zap of disappointment that filled
her showed on her face when she saw Lydia standing in the doorway
with the box of pastries she’d sent Tyson for.

“Oh, hi. I wasn’t…”

“Expecting me,” Lydia set the box on the
counter. “I ran into Tyson at the bakery and told him I was coming
this way.”

“Oh good,” she stammered. “He was probably
busy.”

“I think he was. I think he was busy trying
to get your attention.” Lydia smiled a brilliant smile.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lydia placed her hands on her hips. “I think
you do, and I think you owe me an explanation over drinks when you
get done. I’m staying in town tonight at my mom’s. I’ll meet you at
Sam’s at four. Don’t you dare stand me up.”

With that, she walked out of the store still
grinning.

What was there to explain? Pearl didn’t know
what was going on herself.

It was nearing four o’clock, and Pearl was
ready to lock up when a woman walked into Pearl’s store. She had a
garment bag in her hand, and mascara streaked down her cheeks.
Pearl had seen her share of upset brides before, but something told
her this one was different.

“How can I help you?” she asked, but the
woman sobbed as she looked up at her.

“I need to have my dress altered. Can you do
that here?”

“Yes, I have a woman that does that for me. I
send the dresses out and…”

“No. I need it now.”

Pearl forced the smile to remain on her face,
but inside she wished she’d have locked the door earlier. “When is
your wedding?”

That caused the woman to break down in harder
sobs that stole her breath and shook her body. Pearl turned to the
counter and pulled a few tissues from the box and handed them to
her.

“Thank you,” she said dabbing at her eyes and
nose. “My wedding isn’t planned for six more months. I was just
planning on coming in next week to look at dresses. Then this
morning, well, everything changed.” She sucked in a hard
breath.

Pearl moved toward her and took the bag. “Why
don’t we sit down for a moment?”

She escorted her to the small love seat in
the viewing area. The room was dark, but the woman seemed
comfortable with that.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

The woman shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m so
sorry.”

“It’s okay. Wedding planning can have this
effect on people.”

She shook her head. “No. I was ready for
that. I wasn’t ready for the news I got today.” Dabbing at her eyes
again, she looked up at Pearl. “My father has stage four lung
cancer. They don’t expect him to live out the next few weeks.”

Pearl’s heart sank. “I’m so sorry.”

“He has to give me away. He has to see me get
married.” The tears were back. “The dress is my mother’s. She’s
taller than I am, and well, I probably weigh ten pounds more than
she did when she was married. But I want to get married in her
dress tomorrow.”

A battle brewed inside of Pearl. This wasn’t
her problem. She could sympathize, but…

“Let’s look at the dress and see what we can
do for you,” the words escaped before she could think about it.

The woman’s eyes lit up. “You’d do that for
me?”

“Every woman deserves to have her father walk
her down the aisle if she wants him to. It sounds as though you and
your father have a very wonderful relationship.”

She nodded. “Oh, we do. I don’t know what
I’ll do when he goes.” The tears were back. “He’s been my rock all
my life. You know?”

Pearl ground her teeth together. No, she
didn’t know what it was like to have your father be your solid
rock. Her father was more the rock that was thrown through
someone’s window or a rock around your neck when you were
drowning.

“I’m going to call my seamstress and see if
she’s available. I can do a lot of things, but she can do them
better.”

“I’m Sunshine,” the woman held her hand out
to Pearl.

“Pearl.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“Likewise. Sunshine? I don’t think I’ve ever
met anyone with that name.”

“Oh, yes, it’s unique. My daddy named me. It
was a gloomy day when I was born, and I brought the sunshine to
everyone around.”

Now Pearl felt the tug of tears in her
throat. “That’s precious.”

Sunshine laughed. “That’s my sister’s
name.”

Of course, it was.

Luck seemed to be on Pearl’s side. Emily, her
seamstress, was able to join them at the store. Sunshine had taken
the dress from the bag, and Emily had swooned at it. Not only had
it been her mother’s dress, but her grandmother’s dress from
1960.

There would need to be many alterations to
the dress, but Emily was happy to make them. They had both seen
Sunshine’s cheeks pink when they began the fitting. It felt good to
do something so wonderful for someone.

Pearl knew that she’d be lucky if her father
even showed up for her wedding. He’d missed most of her birthday
parties as a young girl. He’d even forgotten to attend her high
school graduation. At the moment, she couldn’t remember where he’d
been, but it had been important to him—not to her.

Chances were that if Byron Walker were dying,
he’d never even tell Pearl. She’d only learn of his passing when
her sister called. He was much closer to Audrey—and that wasn’t
saying much.

Her sister Bethany had asked him to walk her
down the aisle when she married Kent in a few months. He’d taken
the time to think about it, which annoyed Pearl, but had agreed. A
father shouldn’t have to think about it.

Lydia had texted and then called when Pearl
hadn’t shown up for drinks. Though she had pried for information
when Pearl canceled, she made her promise to meet her for coffee
tomorrow.

Though she’d grown up with Lydia, she
couldn’t have called them friends before—from childhood. However,
now, she’d refer to her as one of her best friends. It was nice to
have a friend she could count on.

Then her mind wandered to Tyson. Could she
count on him too—as a friend? Something told her she could.

Sunshine had filled the afternoon with
stories about her father and the amazing things he had done. He’d
been in the Navy and had met President Reagan when he was younger.
She told them of living in Italy and then in Germany. Precious was
going to be a doctor one day, and Sunshine was a nanny. She loved
to take care of children and be there for them.

Her fiancé was a teacher. A high school
history teacher.

Sunshine’s eyes lit when she spoke of him.
They’d been together for only a year, but she said there was
nothing like meeting your soul mate and falling head over heels in
love.

They’d been planning on getting married since
their fourth date though there was never a need to rush
things—until now. She said it had been her fiancé’s idea to get
married on Sunday. Many of his friends and his family would miss
the wedding, but that didn’t matter. Knowing that Sunshine’s father
walked her down that aisle to him—that’s what mattered.

Pearl listened intently and at times found
herself swooning over the men in Sunshine’s life. What could she
possibly say to someone if they ever asked her about her
father?

Three hours after Sunshine had walked through
the door, she walked out with a wedding dress fit for a
princess—and yet unique to her as it was still a beautiful
hand-me-down.

Emily had refused payment from Pearl—and
Pearl had refused payment from Sunshine. Once in awhile it just
felt good to give.

At eight o’clock, Pearl locked the front door
to her store and walked to her car. The day had certainly taken a
detour from where she’d thought it was going. It had started the
moment she’d opened the front door and Tyson Morgan stood
there.

His eyes had been dark as he looked at her.
All six-foot-four inches of him had seemed small when his shoulders
rolled forward as if he were not sure what had drawn him to her
house.

It was endearing, she thought.

And then the kiss she’d planted on him the
night before wandered into her mind as she opened the door to her
car and slid inside. She pressed her lips together.