A part of her was still disappointed that he hadn’t, until she reminded herself of where he stood on all the points she valued most.
On the opposing side. Like always.
“He is quite handsome,” Candy gave her a pointed look. “And single.”
“Unmarried,” Gabby corrected. It was hardly the same thing as single, not that she felt like explaining this to Candy or giving her further cause to read into things.
“Why was he in the shop?” Maddie asked, her eyes gleaming with interest.
“Friendly visit.” Immediately sensing that this had only piqued everyone’s interest, including Brooke, who had stopped pinning for a moment, Gabby added, “And I do sell flowers, as you remember.” Not that he had purchased any. No, his visit was just that. Friendly. Maybe even personal. “We’re friends. That’s all it is.”
Candy wasn’t buying it any more than the others. “You say the same thing about Jackson but I see the way you two banter.” She crossed one leg over the other and said airily, “Just in case you have a change of heart, I’ve left a little wiggle room in the seating chart.”
She still hadn’t told Candy that she was bringing Doug, and now that grand plan was starting to feel like a bad idea, and not just because Candy would read way too far into it. Sure, it might help her to drop the idea that Gabby and Jackson were a perfect match, but it might make her start thinking about planning Gabby’s wedding next, and sadly, that wasn’t going to happen, and not just because she was yet to catch a bridal bouquet, only create them.
After all, Doug didn’t believe he could find love, didn’t believe in trying to make it last for the long term. Wasn’t willing to put his heart on the line again.
And she knew better than to try to change people or expect to transform him. If she’d had that attitude, she would have tried to transform Jackson years ago.
Except… She brushed that thought aside but it kept nagging at her. Except that Jackson had never gotten to her the way that Doug had, or did. With Jackson, she was distanced, objective, and with Doug, it was all emotion, and she never did get to a rational place when it came to him.
All the more reason to try to do that now.
“Well, if you’re going to insist that you’re just friends, then maybe I should tell you…”
Gabby stared at her future aunt in dread. She should have known Candy wouldn’t let this topic rest. “Tell me what, Candy? What did you do?”
Her cousins took that as their cue to scamper back into the dressing rooms. Gabby flashed a pleading look at Brooke, but she was too busy smothering a laugh and muttered some excuse before dashing into the back room. No doubt they’d all be eavesdropping from a safe distance.
“Well, when you insisted on coming to the wedding alone, I made a few calls.”
Oh, brother. “A few calls? Oh, Candy, tell me you didn’t call Jackson!”
“No, no, I see what you mean about that young man. I do think there is hope for him, but I agree, not with you.”
“Gee, thanks.” Gabby almost laughed.
“I was just calling the people who hadn’t yet responded to the invitation,” Candy started to explain quickly, “and I got to chatting with one of my old summer friends. They have a house over on the island, you see. She was a bit older than me, but we kept in touch over the years, not as much as I would have liked, but then, she did the married with kids thing, and I… Well, in many ways, I was like you, Gabby. Waiting for the right man.”
Gabby didn’t know whether to feel touched or fearful, considering that Candy was hardly in the prime of her youth and her Uncle Dennis had four adult daughters from his first marriage. But here was Candy, the happiest bride she’d ever met, even if she was also the pickiest. It was the day she had been waiting for all her life, and it was finally almost here.
And nothing that Candy could say now would make Gabby ruin it for her.
“And then I remembered that she had a son who was just a touch older than you. Turns out he is a doctor!”
Gabby threw herself back in her chair. “A doctor with a pregnant wife on bed rest with kids?”
Candy looked stricken. “No! A doctor with a private practice in Pine Falls. I’ll admit that I haven’t seen a photo despite some internet research, but his mother was always a beauty.”
Gabby groaned. “Candy…”
Candy held up a hand. “Now, you might not even like him. I didn’t screen him as much as I would have liked…”
Gabby heard giggling from somewhere in the dressing rooms.
Candy, however, didn’t seem to notice. She sipped her tea and, after a dramatic pause, glanced at Gabby. “I did seat him at the singles table rather than with his parents. I can change it, of course. Though I really can’t even imagine changing anything at the final hour like this…”
Gabby stared at Candy in disbelief, managing to keep from bursting out laughing, and for a moment she was happy that Brooke had left her to fend for herself. Surely Brooke wouldn’t have been able to keep quiet after this afternoon.
“Actually, Candy, I might bring Doug after all.” There, it was out.
Candy’s eyes went round, and she didn’t even try to hide her smile. “So something is going on between the two of you. Of course, it will be no trouble to fit him in!” Suddenly, her expression folded and she brought her fist to her mouth. “Oh, but then, there’s Billy to consider…”
Or not. The last thing Gabby needed was to spend the duration of Candy’s wedding being set up on a blind date. It would mean awkward, forced interaction, and all under Candy’s watchful gaze.
“Maybe he’ll be a
