Cart Before The Horse (22 page)

Holly let out a sigh.
She was happy with the way things were turning out. In four days she’d be a Maguire and, having met the others, she would be proud to be one.

Gabe’s family had found refuge in nearby hotels.
Holly had apologized over and over for not having room for everyone. Gladys had patted her hand and told her to never worry about them. They knew their way around.

His sister Margaret had been the first to ask about a bridal shower and was appalled to find out that Holly hadn’t had one.
Limited time was no excuse, Margaret had assured her, and by the end of dinner a party in Holly’s honor had been planned for Wednesday night. They had even finagled Tracy’s phone number from her, and of course, her boss was pleased to help and extend the invitations. Excitement buzzed in Holly’s head as

she closed her eyes. Fusses were always made about how smart she was and how far ahead of the pack she’d gotten. But until today, no one had ever fussed over her being…well, just her. Happiness and pride swelled inside of her. It was a fantastic feeling

Chapter Thirteen

Holly closed the door to Gabe’s apartment Tuesday evening after returning from a day of shopping with her mother, again. They had spent the day making sure everything was in place for the wedding on Friday. The only thing Holly had to do was buy a new pair of shoes to go with her wedding dress. Luckily, the dress had been at the store during the fire, but the shoes had not fared as well, prompting the shopping trip.

Her arms were laden with more bags, including a splurge of M·A·C makeup for her big day.
She was headed to the bedroom to dump the load of bags on the bed, but as she passed Gabe’s recliner, she took a step back. That stupid frame that kept haunting her was there, but something was different.

Holly dropped the bags and sat down in the chair.
The picture of Gabe and Jasmine was gone. In its place he’d put the ultrasound picture. She lifted the frame and laid a hand on
her chest.

Tears stung her eyes again, and there was a bubble of pride in her chest. Those stupid emotions kept getting the better of her.
Was she going to cry about everything for the rest of
her life?

She heard the footsteps on the stairs.
She quickly replaced the frame on the table, picked up the bags, and hurried to the bedroom. It wasn’t but a moment later Gabe was in the doorway, looking at her with those admiring eyes.

“Tell me you don’t shop like this usually.”

“Your credit card is safe.”

“I’m not worried. He strolled into the room and sat down next to her on the bed. “The restaurant is ready for your shower in the morning. My sisters are having the time of their life with this.”

The bubble of pride disappeared and a ball of regret took its place in her stomach. “I don’t feel right about you closing the restaurant for three days just for our wedding.”

“We’re having Thanksgiving too.”

Holly laughed.
“The Maguire clan and the three Jacobs.
It’s pathetic.”

“Family is never pathetic.”
He lifted his hand to her cheek. “You’ve been crying. Hormones again?”

She nodded.
“I saw the frame by your chair.”

“It was exactly the right picture to put there.”
He kissed her gently, and a warmth took over the regret. “I gave Chandra the night off, so I have to get back downstairs. Come down for dinner. My family is doing their own thing tonight, so it’s just you and me. I’ll reserve our special booth in the corner, and we can hide there and kiss all night long, or until someone has a crisis and needs me.”

Holly laughed.
“That sounds perfect.”

The impromptu bridal shower, arranged by Holly’s soon-to-be sisters-in-law and her maid of honor, was to start promptly at ten in the morning at the restaurant, which had been closed just for the event. Holly, however, was not to leave the apartment until ten fifteen.

She occupied herself by washing Gabe’s coffee mug and watering the one sad plant by the window.
Gabe had left early with his father, her father, and his brothers-in-law for a day at the casinos in Black Hawk, and if she knew her father, he’d probably convince the other men to stop by the river for a few minutes of fishing.

At ten fifteen Holly checked herself in the mirror. She’d

pulled her hair into a tail low on the base of her neck and had picked out one of the dresses her mother had bought for her.
It was a beautiful flowing cotton dress, which she could wear well into her pregnancy and after.

When she stepped through the door from the kitchen, the restaurant was filled with women’s voices.
Streamers and bells hung from the fixtures and were draped over the walls like a room decorated for a princess, and she covered her mouth with her hand. There was a beautiful sheet cake with real flowers atop it on the bar, and an ornate crystal punch bowl with a fountain. Mints sat on plates in the centers of the tables, along with beautiful floral bouquets.

“There she is.” Meghan saw her first and moved right to her.
She kissed her on both cheeks and then took her by the hand and led her to the party.

Her mother was seated next to Gladys, their heads close together as they whispered, smiled, and stared at her with such admiration.
There was a moment when Holly thought of turning back around to see what was behind her. She wasn’t used to her mother admiring her as she often had other fine things in a room. Tracy and all of her female coworkers sat close to each other, and the rest of Gabe’s family filled the other chairs.

Meghan had a special seat for Holly. They’d decorated it with flowers, ribbons, and lace.
It was absolutely precious, and she could feel the tears burning her eyes.

The morning was as perfect as Holly could have imagined.
The women spent the better part of an hour just talking and laughing.

Any secrets Gabe might have thought were safe were shared by his sister.

Meghan and Morgan enlightened Holly on Gabe’s enjo
yment of stilettos.

“Oh, when he was little, he could run the length of the backyard faster in those stupid shoes than he could in his tennis shoes.”
Meghan laughed so hard, she snorted.

“And he couldn’t figure out why we would laugh when he headed toward the baseball diamond with them on.” Morgan bent over with a laugh.

“Girls, don’t humiliate him completely when he’s not here to defend himself.” But Gladys laughed along with the rest
of them.

When it was time for Holly to open her presents, she was overwhelmed.
There were so many. There were dishes and cookware. Towels, sheets, and bathroom decor. She’d once owned all these things; now she was starting fresh. A new husband. A new house. A new life. And with that life, an entire house full of beautiful things.

“Okay, now for the fun.”
Gladys took Holly’s hand and escorted her to the table that Gabe referred to as theirs. It was draped with a white tablecloth, but obviously the table was covered with rectangular items under the cloth. “Close your eyes.”

Holly did as she asked, and when Gladys told her to open them she did so, and someone had lifted the cloth. The em
otional tears let go. The table was filled with photos. Some were loose on the table, others on scrapbook sheets. Then there were at least fifty pictures of her and Gabe in frames.

“Where did all these come from?” she asked, wiping
away tears.

“We took most of them the other night at dinner.
We knew you didn’t have any of the two of you. You needed some.”

Holly looked down at the pictures of Gabe in his cowboy boots and superman underwear.
There he was smiling that handsome smile with his high-school football team and again in his graduation photo. One photo in particular caught her attention. It had been taken the night of her birthday. She and Gabe were locked in a kiss that must have lasted all night. She’d find out who had taken it, but for now she’d just enjoy that they had a picture of their first date.

“This is wonderful.
I can’t believe you all did this.”

Gladys laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I know all of your things are gone. Your mom brought the ones of you when you were little.”

Holly turned to her mother.
“Thank you.” Then she looked at everyone standing near her. “Thank you all. I never noticed our picture was taken so many times. I will cherish all of these.” Another burst of tears wanted to break free. She held her hand to her lips and did her best to stifle them.

“There are a few empty frames.” Her mother put her hand on her shoulder and moved in close to her.
“One for your wedding portrait and the other for a family portrait.”

Holly laid her hand atop her mother’s.
She’d waited her whole life for the little recognitions, like acknowledgement of her marriage and pending family as a blessing. Having them warmed her.

Thanksgiving morning Gabe stood in the doorway from the bedroom looking at a wide-eyed Holly seated on the couch. She was grinning from ear to ear, and he could barely keep his eyes open.

He scrubbed his hand over his unshaven jaw. “What are you doing?”

“Watching the Thanksgiving Day parade.”

He gave her a slow nod.
“I need coffee.”

“I’m sure whoever is down in the kitchen has some already brewing,” she said with her eyes glued to the television.

“Downstairs. Who’s downstairs?” His eyes opened wide, and Holly smiled.

“I would assume it’s your mother and your uncle.
She said he was going to let her in so she could start dinner. We’re eating at noon.”

“Noon?
Is she crazy?”

“Well I don’t know about you, but there’s a big wedding tomorrow so everyone thought it would be best to have dinner, mingle, enjoy, and then get set up for the wedding.”

“Yeah, that wedding.
I heard something about it.” He gave her a smile. “I’ll take it as a good sign that you’re still sitting on my couch in that oversized T-shirt, which means you’re not running out before the wedding.”

Holly grunted.
“I promise to show up at your wedding if you’ll go down and get your coffee and let me watch my parade.” She slid him a sideways glance. Her eyes shimmered. “I guess these are the little things that we need to explain to each other now. I watch this silly parade every year, and I don’t like to be interrupted.”

“Fair enough.
Super Bowl Sunday is all mine.”

“It’s settled.
Now go.” She turned her attention away from her rumpled fiancé and marveled at the Snoopy balloon making its way down the parade route.

Gabe slipped on a pair of sweatpants and a clean T-shirt. He gave his teeth a quick brush and walked out of the apartment. He wasn’t even sure Holly noticed.

Before he stepped foot into the kitchen, he could smell the coffee and hear the laughter.
There were more people in there than just his mother and his uncle.

“Gabe, did we wake you?” Trudy smiled as she unpacked bags of groceries onto one of the metal prep tables.

“No. Holly did. She ran out of bed to turn on the TV.”

“Parade?” He nodded. “It’s her one thing.
Otherwise I don’t think she cares much for TV.”

Gabe had noticed that.
Most times at her condo the sound was off even if the TV was on.

His uncle handed him a bag of potatoes. “If you’re not into the parade, you could help us out.”

Gabe set them on the table. “Ya know, I should go bond with my bride-to-be. Big day tomorrow and all.”

“I knew you’d back out on us.”
His uncle gave him a slap on the back. “Next year you’re cooking for everyone.”

“I’ll remember that.”
Gabe walked over to the coffeepot, pulled down a coffee mug, and filled it. “What time is everyone getting here?”

“Your sisters will start showing up by eleven,” his mother said as she started one of the big ovens.

“We’ll be down by then and set the table,” he promised and then retreated back up the stairs to his beautiful fiancée still seated on the couch.

Gabe walked around the back of the couch, careful not to block Holly’s view, and sat down next to her.

“Are they cooking?” she asked without looking at him.

“Yep. My parents, uncle, and your parents.”

That had her head snapping up. “My mom is down there with your mom? I didn’t know she was helping cook.”

“They seem to have created a little friendship.”

“I noticed that yesterday. The word is full of miracles.”

Gabe slid his hand over her stomach.
“Yes, it is.”

Though Thanksgiving always started for Holly with the parade on TV, it usually ended with her mother putting on an enormous spread for her and her father. No siblings, uncles, aunts, or cousins.

Sitting among the entire Maguire clan, with the laughter, conversation, and noise was a bit overwhelming.
But it was wonderfully overwhelming.

Gabe stabbed a piece of turkey from her plate.
“You need to eat. Stop sitting there grinning.”

“Sorry,” she whispered.
“I just realized all of this noise is now going to be part of my life.”

He moved in closer to her, his eyebrows drawn together. “You don’t like it?” His voice sounded strained.

“Oh, no. I love it. I’ve never had this before.” She looked down the table where her mother sat between his sister and his other—and Trudy Jacobs was laughing. It was a sight Holly was sure she’d never seen. Sure she’d seen her laugh, but to en-