“Oh, geez.” Gloria made a disgusted sound on the other end of the call. “I don’t know who told you that drivel — although I have an idea — but it’s simply not true. Marriage is hard. That’s why you should kick it off the right way, with a huge party.”
“We don’t want a huge party,” Harper snapped. “We want a quiet party, with just our closest friends and family.”
“Well ... I still think Blossom Heath is a nice alternative to your fried chicken and beach fiasco.”
“I don’t really care what you want. I care what I want ... and I want a small wedding. If you book that reception hall, you’re going to be stuck with a huge bill and nothing to show for it because we won’t use that place. You’ve been warned.”
“Well, I should’ve known you wouldn’t agree with me.”
“You definitely should have,” Harper agreed. “I think this conversation is done for now. I have things I need to do.”
“Fine. We’ll pick it up when you get back to town.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
JARED FOUND HARPER IN THE TENT when he finished building “the ultimate camping kitchen.” She rested on top of the sleeping bags, her eyes focused out the skylight, and she seemed lost in thought.
“You hate this, don’t you?” He rolled onto the spot next to her.
“No.” She immediately started shaking her head. “I don’t hate this. I love spending time with you.”
“Except we really haven’t had a chance to spend much time together. I’ve been busy doing other stuff ... with Shawn.”
Harper knew what he was getting at and found herself bothered. “I’m guessing Zander told you his theory on us falling in love with the same man.”
Jared chuckled. “He’s a little worked up.”
“He can’t help himself. He’s doing the best that he can. This isn’t the sort of environment he thrives in.”
“I don’t think it’s the sort of environment you thrive in either.” He propped himself on an elbow and studied her. “If you want to leave, we can go. We don’t have to stay here. You don’t have to be miserable.”
Harper made a protesting sound. “I’m not unhappy. I’m just ... thinking.”
“About your mother?” He hated bringing up Gloria but it seemed necessary. “You know that you don’t have to answer when she calls, right? It’s perfectly acceptable to send your mother directly to voicemail.”
Harper couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “Puh-leez. You would never send your mother to voicemail and we both know it.”
“My mother is not your mother.”
“Definitely not.”
“She’s just happy that we’re getting married and she can be a part of it. Your mother is ... different.”
“Oh, let me tell you the ways.”
Jared laughed as he swooped in to give her a soft kiss. “It’s okay,” he reiterated. “Your mother is just a lot of work. We need to suck it up. It’s not as if she’s suddenly going to change. My understanding is that she’s always been like this.”
“And then some,” Harper agreed, her expression darkening. “I’m not kowtowing to her on this. We planned the wedding we wanted. She’s just mad because it’s not the sort of wedding she can brag about to her friends.”
“I don’t want you to give in on the wedding,” Jared reassured her. “I’m a big fan of what we have planned. I think compromise might be in order, though.”
“No way. She’ll take over if I let her do a single thing.”
“Or she’ll also be happy to be involved and put all of her energy into that one thing,” Jared countered. “Have you considered giving her a small but meaningful task?”
“What do you suggest?”
“Like ... we could put in charge of the flowers, or maybe the cake.”
Despite her bad mood, Harper found she was intrigued by the suggestion. “Maybe. I need to think about it.”
“Fair enough. It’s just a suggestion.”
They lapsed into comfortable silence, linking fingers as they stared out of the skylight. Finally, Jared was the one to break it, which wasn’t the norm in their relationship. Usually Harper was the chatterbox.
“I’m guessing we’re not going to be camping a lot with our family down the road, huh?”
The question caught her off guard and she was instantly smacked over the head with a log of guilt. “No, we can go camping.”
“Really? Because you seem to hate it.”
“I don’t hate it.” Harper paused, searching her feelings. “Something feels off here,” she said finally, opting for the truth. “While it’s true that camping might not be my favorite thing in the world, I’m betting we can come up with a compromise that will make everybody happy.”
“Like what?”
“Like ... as a family, we go to campgrounds closer to home. When you want to do the deep woods stuff, then you and Shawn can take all the little kids we amass together, and Zander and I can stay behind and do a spa weekend.”
Jared’s lips curved. “Honestly, I think that sounds like a fair compromise.”
“I don’t mind camping,” she reassured him. “I do feel a little isolated out here. I think that’s just nerves fueling me, though. Maybe after the event starts I’ll settle.”
“Yes, who doesn’t need a little fake murder and mayhem to soothe their tortured soul?” he teased.
“I’m just not used to getting so much attention,” she admitted. “Harris seems desperate for my approval and I feel off my game.” She thought about mentioning the feeling she had in the cemetery earlier and then nixed the idea. Odds were that was part of Harris’ plan. If his intent was to leave his guests unsettled — which seemed likely — he was doing a fabulous job.
“I understand about him making you uncomfortable,” Jared commiserated. “Becky makes me darned uncomfortable. It’s like she’s undressing me with her eyes.”
“Oh, she is.” Harper laughed as she snuggled closer. “We’ll figure everything out. We always do.”
“I agree. I just want you to have a good time ... and you seem to be having the opposite of a good time.”
“It’s the way this thing
