Page 114

“What’s up?” Cat said, walking with Cory to the back of CeCe’s salon.

“Sisters meeting,” Cory said, opening the door to CeCe’s break room.

“Hey,” CeCe said when they walked through the door.

“Is something wrong?” Cat asked, eyeing her sisters.

“No,” CeCe said, patting the couch next to her.

Cat sat down and waited, wondering what her sisters were up to.

“We wanted to talk to you about the wedding,” Cory said tentatively.

“Okay,” Cat said, her voice trailing off.

“But first, have you heard from Hattie?” CeCe asked.

“She hasn’t been in the bookstore, but she’s texted me a couple of times.” Cat noticed the usual dread that accompanied talking about Hattie was gone. Elena had given her more than something to look forward to. She felt like she was living again, not just trying to get through the day.

“What about the house?”

“She’s thinking about it. I hope she decides to sell, but I’ve decided after the book signing I’m putting it on the market. I’d rather her agree to it, but it’s not going to change things between us.”

“So she believes the fake relationship thing with Elena?” Cory asked.

“Yep. It helps that nearly every time she’s come into the store Elena has been there.” Just thinking about Elena made Cat smile.

Cory nodded and furrowed her brow. “You two are believable. If I didn’t know what was going on I’d think y’all were together.”

“That’s the way it’s supposed to look,” Cat said with a grin.

“Uh, we wanted to reassure you that our agreement still holds on the big wedding Mom won,” CeCe said.

“Yeah, we’re in no hurry to get married and we were afraid Mom might say something to you,” Cory added.

Cat smiled. “I love you both very much. But there’s no way I’m going to get married just so we can have this big wedding for Mom.”

“We know that!” CeCe exclaimed. “We just didn’t want you to feel any pressure or feel bad because now we are both engaged.”

“I still can’t believe it!” Cory exclaimed.

Cat chuckled. “It is a bit surreal. Mom thinks Dad had something to do with it.”

“Wait, what?” Cory said.

“The night of your party she told me and Elena that she thinks Dad is with us and knows we’re happy.”

“Hmm, that’s interesting,” CeCe murmured.

“I didn’t think there was any way Mom would get her wish, but here we are—CeCe and I both engaged within a few months of each other.”

“Maybe she could talk them into doing it for the two of you. That’s still a pretty big deal,” Cat said.

“She could talk anyone into doing just about anything.” CeCe laughed.

“It’s okay, y’all,” Cat said. “I’m happy for you both, but if you want me to be your maid of honor maybe we could do it at the same time.”

“We haven’t even talked about the wedding yet,” CeCe said. “Alexis and I are enjoying being engaged.”