Chapter 5: A Choice Before the Wedding

Joelle brought a sun hat to our discussion about the wedding.

She put it beside Tate's cream one on his kitchen table.

Her hat was enormous, striped, and entirely unsuited to a Colorado autumn.

"I want everybody to see this before anybody books me," she said.

Della moved her cup away from the brim and studied her daughter.

"We have not booked you for anything," she replied.

Joelle tapped the striped crown with one finger.

"Excellent," she said.

"Then the visual aid is working."

Tate laughed into his coffee, and I liked him too much for an easy exit.

We had agreed to wait several days before making the final decision.

Neither of us had used those days to find a better reason against it.

That did not mean we had found a sensible reason for it.

I looked at the big table still leaning beside the back door.

It had become an awkward reminder that I could overpay for relief.

Della followed my glance and offered to take it for her shed.

I nearly thanked her before she reached the rest of her sentence.

"If Tate can move the old shelves first," she added.

He put his cup down, ready to agree without considering tomorrow.

Joelle lifted her sun hat and placed it on top of his.

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