Hummingbird Lane by Brown, Carolyn (good books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

a pan of rolls and told him that if he ate two of them, he would sail through his vows.”

“Then I’d better eat three,” Sophie said, “because I’ve been terrified of the same thing.”

Emma patted her friend on the back. “Don’t practice or write down anything. Just say what’s in your heart. That’s more important than all the rehearsed words in the whole world.”

Sophie gave Emma a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re here to share this day with me.”

Emma couldn’t imagine being anywhere else that day, and someday she hoped that Sophie would be her matron of honor when she and Josh had a ceremony. “Not as glad as I am,” she said. “Think about it. I could be a permanent resident of a mental institution.”

Rebel shivered.

“Cold?” Emma asked. “I can turn up the thermostat if you are, but I didn’t want Sophie’s makeup to melt.”

“No, honey, I was thinking about you being in a place like that for the rest of your life,” Rebel said.

“Well, thank goodness, we don’t have to worry about that these days. She and Josh are living together, and Josh is happier than I ever hoped to see him,” Filly said. “Y’all enjoy those cinnamon rolls. I’ve got some last-minute touches to do on the cake. I’ll see you at the arch at ten o’clock sharp. I’ll be the one in the pink-and-orange hippie skirt, and I’ll be handing you girls your bouquets. Rebel, is your corsage to your liking?”

“Filly, you’ve done an amazing job of everything,” Rebel said. “Please, let me reimburse you for part or all of it.”

“Posh!” Filly waved the idea away with the flick of a hand. “This is my pleasure. I won’t be around when the granddaughters get old enough to get married, so you can handle that.”

“Bull crap!” Emma said. “You’ll still be making jewelry and feeding hummingbirds when you are a hundred and ten. You can’t leave this earth until we say so, and that won’t be for a long time.”

Filly giggled. “It’s good to be loved. See y’all in a little while.”

Rebel cut out a roll and put it on a plate. “Today is the bride’s day, so you get the first one. Milk or coffee?”

“Coffee,” Sophie said.

“Milk for me, but help yourself first,” Emma said.

“My heart is absolutely bursting with pride today to see you girls so happy.” Rebel sighed. “That day when Sophie and I pulled away from your house, and both you girls were sobbing, I thought I’d never see a day like this. I only wish Victoria could see you this happy, Em.”

“I don’t think she cares if I’m happy. She needs to find peace in herself before she can care about others,” Emma said.

“Amen, darlin’ girl, amen!” Rebel nodded.

Josh and Teddy stepped out of the trailer at exactly ten o’clock and made their way to the arch. Arty had set up chairs so that Rebel and Jonathan, Teddy’s father, who was the image of Teddy, only thirty years older with a little gray in his hair and maybe thirty pounds more on his frame, could have a place to sit during the ceremony. He and Filly took their places in the other two chairs. Josh hit a button on a remote control, and Shania Twain’s voice filled the park with “From This Moment On.”

Josh’s pulse raced when Emma stepped out onto the porch and walked slowly down the stairs. She looked so beautiful in her flowing light-green skirt and matching tank top. She wore a necklace that Filly had designed with a hummingbird on a special stone that Josh had found that very week when he and Emma had been out walking. Her dark hair had been braided into a crown with yellow daisies that seemed to float in between the folds of hair.

Sophie came out next in her pretty off-white sundress that swept the ground. Teddy stepped to the bottom of the stairs and took Sophie’s hand in his. Together, they walked up to the arch. Sophie handed her bouquet to Emma and took Teddy’s hands in hers. She said her vows loudly and clearly. Rebel and Filly both sniffled when Teddy put the wedding band on her hand. Then he said his vows, and danged if Josh didn’t have trouble keeping the tears at bay.

Josh pulled the remote from his pocket and hit another button. Naomi and Wynonna Judd sang “Mama He’s Crazy” as the couple stepped through the arch, and together they jumped over the broom Emma had decorated with lace, ribbons, and flowers in light green and bright yellow.

Josh took a couple of steps forward and looped Emma’s arm in his. “You are beautiful today.”

“Thank you, but what I am mostly today is jealous,” she whispered as they walked through the arch to be the first ones to congratulate the newly wedded couple.

“Well, the decorations are up, and I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I’d say to you,” Josh whispered.

“This is Sophie’s day,” Emma said as she wrapped her arms around her best friend.

“What are you talking about?” Sophie asked.

“I was thinking that, since everything is already decorated . . .” Josh shrugged.

“I can’t steal her thunder,” Emma said.

“Honey, I can’t think of anything I’d love more than making this a double, but only if you’re ready,” Sophie said. “Here, you take my bouquet and give me yours.”

“But . . .”

“Hey, Filly, will you please go in my trailer and bring me the broom?” Sophie yelled.

“What for?” Filly asked.

“This ain’t the time to ask questions, woman.” Arty got up and brought out the broom.

Sophie picked up her broom and laid it to the side, then laid the undecorated one in its place. “Josh and Em have something they’d like to say to each other.”

“Holy smoke!” Filly gasped.

Josh and Emma followed Sophie and Teddy back through the arch, then turned to face each other. Josh leaned forward and kissed Emma on the forehead. “Like the song says, from this moment, life has begun for us, Em.