Because I’ve taken to driving her to and from work, it’s easier to time our arrivals back at the ranch each night so we miss seeing any wedding-related activities.
Our arrival back at the ranch one evening a week later is greeted with what looks like a festive road block at the gate.
A pink and gold golf cart awaits us with a perky young woman at the wheel, wearing a black pantsuit and a headset. The woman hops out and approaches the driver side. I roll down the window and she nods. “Mr. Evans, I’m Ally.”
I reach out my hand to shake her hand, and she nods curtly as she takes it, looks past me. “I take it you’re Wren? Come with me, please.”
I look over at my future wife and grin.
“Sam what the fuck is this? I need to shower.”
“Oh, you’ll be showering before you put the dress on, don’t worry. Call it my wedding gift for you.”
Wren stabs me with the daggers coming out of her eyes, but she can’t hide the smile. She goes with Ally and I watch them speed away over the hills toward the ranch house.
Smitty, who had been waiting for us in the golf cart with the wedding coordinator, looks a bit bewildered by this little whirlwind called Ally. He hops in the passenger side of the truck.
“What now?” I ask.
“What? Oh yeah. The wedding. Everything is set up at the barn. The men are getting dressed in the horse stables. The women are getting ready in the house.”
I study him; he seems preoccupied.
“You OK? You look distracted.”
Smitty shakes his head, like he’s clearing away a fog.
“Nah. I’m all good. Let’s go get you married, boss.”
Smitty and Ally have somehow pulled it off.
A dance floor has been erected outside of the barn, hung with party lights and a bandstand. The inside of the barn has been cleaned and outfitted with rows of white chairs facing a wedding arch decorated with purple flowers on the far wall.
Several neighbors, cousins and other relatives have shown up for the main event. I feel a lump in my throat when I think how I wish I had met Wren several years earlier, before my parents had passed. The rest of the crowd is made up of Wren’s coworkers, her brother and his partner, and even her sister who flew in with her family. Knowing how their relationship is still somewhat strained, I see this as progress and feel happy knowing Wren will get to see family today.
I stand under the arch with the judge and wait for my bride.
Things seem to be taking a little longer than expected.
After a few impatient minutes, I see Ally marching up to me. Her completely pleasant poker face reveals nothing.
“Can I talk to you a minute,” she whispers with a practiced smile.
I follow her outside of the barn as I feel my heart sink below my stomach.
“What is it? Is it Wren? What’s wrong?”
Ally puts up a reassuring hand. “Everything is fine with Wren, but her mother is here.”
“What? She was not supposed to—“
“She was not invited by us. Wren’s sister did it.”
“Aw shit.”
“Yeah. So anyway. We tried to bar anybody from going to the house to see Wren before the ceremony, but she got past us. Wren saw her and things are OK between them, for now, but your bride is not happy. And she wants to talk to you.”
It’s a bit of a hike from the barns up to the house, while I listen to Ally explain how the hell that woman made it into the house without anyone noticing.