The drive to Kentucky is uneventful. I thought for sure with it being Friday I would run into traffic, but it’s been light. The weather is clear though, so maybe everyone called in sick or took a vacation day like me.
I’m just about an hour away from my best friend, Whitney, and her new hometown. This three-day weekend is long overdue for me. Six months is too damn long. I can’t wait to see their house. I’ve seen pictures, and it looks just as beautiful as Whit described. And the ring, I’m sure the pictures don’t do it justice. Aaron Mills holds nothing back when it comes to my best friend. There is no question how much he loves her.
Cranking up the radio, I settle in for the final leg of this trip. Excitement bubbles inside knowing I get to see Whit soon. I miss her so much.
I might also be a teensy bit excited to see Mike. It’ll be good to see if this fantasy I have of him from that weekend holds true. When I was here six months ago, I was dating someone. It was casual, but dating nonetheless. I broke things off not long after my trip. It just didn’t feel right. Seeing how devoted Evan and Aaron, and even David are to their girls, I wanted that. I didn’t see the point in wasting my time with someone who was never going to deliver. After three months of dating, you just know.
As soon as I pull down the long lane taking me to the farm, I unbuckle my seat belt and sit up a little straighter. Following the directions Whit gave me, I drive past the main house and the barns and follow the gravel road around a bend. When the house comes into view, I almost slam on my brakes. It’s a beautiful two-story with a full wraparound porch.
It’s definitely country, and I never thought I would say this, but so Whitney. Kentucky has changed her; her family, both old and new, has brought life back to her. She’s happy, and I couldn’t ask for anything more for her. I was really worried after her mom passed; she was so depressed and… lost.
I smile as I pull up behind Aaron’s truck, knowing she’s not lost anymore. She’s found herself an amazing man who brings with him friends and family who are equally as amazing. I’m both happy for and envious of her.
Before I can climb out of my car, the front door flies open and Whitney comes racing out on the porch and down the steps. I hurry and climb out just in time to accept her hug.
“I missed you!” she says, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
I laugh. “I missed you too.” I spy Aaron over her shoulder. He’s leaning against the post on the front porch, arms and legs crossed with a smile spread across his face. He’s happy she’s happy. Good man, that one.
“Come inside, you two,” Aaron calls out with a chuckle. “You’ll freeze to death.”
It’s February in Kentucky, so yeah, he has a point. Although, compared to a Chicago winter and our winds, this is nothing.
Whit grins, grabs my hand and pulls me toward the porch.
“Wait, I need to get my phone,” I laugh.
She stops, placing her hands on her hips and giving me a “hurry the hell up” look. Quickly, I swipe my keys from the ignition, grab my purse and my phone that’s sitting in the cup holder and close the door. Whit links her arm through mine and leads me up on the porch.
“Good to see you, Jamie,” Aaron greets me.
“Thanks for having me. Sorry for the change of plans.”
“Don’t be sorry. I get more time with you. Six months is just too long,” Whit scolds me.
“Hey, that goes both ways there, sister,” I tease her.
Her face falls. “I know. I’ll do better, I promise.” She squeezes my arm before letting me go once we’re in the house.
“You could just move here,” Aaron suggests.
“Look at you, trying to think of ways to keep her close,” I tease him.
“Damn right. But I also know that would make her happy, having you here.” Aaron places his hands on Whit’s hips and pulls her back against his chest.
“I don’t know if I can hack country living all the time,” I admit. What I don’t tell them is that this place, the serenity and peace of being in the country, is all I’ve thought about since I left. I’m anxious to see if it’s just the way I’ve built it in my head or if it really is as great as I remember.
“Oh please, you could and you know it,” Whit says. “Anyway, we invited the crew over tonight, just to get together and hang out. Tomorrow we’ll meet up with Kinley and Olivia and go dress shopping.”
“Sounds like a plan. Do you know what you’re looking for?”
Turning to look over her shoulder, she glances at Aaron before turning back to face me. “I do. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“Babe, you could wear a feed sack and I’d still think you were the most beautiful woman around.” Aaron doesn’t miss a beat.
“All right, buddy, hand her over.” I hold out my hand for Whitney. She giggles and steps out of his hold.
“We’re going down in the basement,” she tells him, pulling me behind her down the hall and then the basement stairs.
“I’m so glad you decided to come in a day earlier,” Whit says as we take a seat on the oversized couch.
“I missed you,” I tell her. “Whit, this house is gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” She blushes but with a blinding smile. “Aaron insisted I have input. I really love it.”
“As you should. You’ve done well. You’re glowing with happiness. I miss your ass like crazy, but it’s easy to see that this is your home now. Not just the house but here in Kentucky.”
“I am happy.” She closes her eyes and takes deep breath. “I think Mom led me here. I know it sounds crazy, but that’s what I like to believe. She brought me to him.”
“No judgment here,” I say, raising my hands. “She loved you and I know she’s looking down on you smiling.” I pat her leg. “Right, enough of the heavy. Tell me about this dress.”
Another beaming smile. “I want simple, you know. I just want it to be close friends and close family, and just… simple. To me it’s not about the day. It’s about promising to love him for eternity, to live the rest of our lives together. I don’t want all the fanfare. I want a small, simple country wedding.”
“So this dress?” I prompt her again.
“I’m not really sure. I mean, I have this vision in my head. I just want simple, sleeveless maybe, since it’s going to be hot as hell in June. I’m thinking long, but no big train or anything like that. Oh, and I need to find a pair of white cowboy boots.”
“O-kay,” I say hesitantly. “What for? Don’t you already have boots?”
“I do. Aaron bought me my first pair and well, he loves it when I wear them. I was insistent the day he bought them that I didn’t need them, but he insisted that I did. I never thought I would need them, you know? That I would be living life here on the farm and riding as much as I can. He was right.”
“So it’s like a payback?” I ask her.
“Yeah, I mean, you should see the way he looks at me when I’m in my shorts and those boots. I just thought, you know, wedding night and all that.”
“Look at you, you dirty girl,” I laugh.
“You’ve seen my future husband, right?”
“Definitely. I’ve never seen so many good-looking guys in one location in all my life.”
“Speaking of, Aaron called Mike and invited him tonight.” She waggles her eyebrows up and down.
“Oh yes, Mike. How is he these days?”
“Working. I swear he lives at the Tavern.”
“Easy on the eyes and a hard worker, nice.”
“You excited to see him?” she asks.
“Let’s see. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes and a body to kill for. How could I not?”
“Jamie,” she scolds me.
“Nothing happened,” I say for what feels like the ten millionth time. “We took a walk, swam a little and then called it a night. I was seeing someone, remember?”
“I do. I also remember you calling me, what, two days after you left, telling me that it just wasn’t going to work out. I also seem to remember you asking me about Mike, what he does, if he was seeing anyone?”
“I was curious. I mean, come on. I spent a lot of time with him that weekend when all the couples disappeared. He’s a great guy. I just wanted to know more about him.”
“Mmhmm,” she chuckles.
“Okay, so dress shopping tomorrow. What else?” I ask, changing the subject. I know she can see right through me, but she lets it slide for now.
“The boots. Honestly, I’m more worried about the boots than I am the dress,” she laughs.
“Okay, so do you have some shops picked out?”
“Yeah, there’s a shop in town that Kinley says can even do some custom ordering. I want to go there tomorrow as well. Now, we have all day tomorrow to talk wedding. I want to know what’s going on with you.”
“Same old. Mom and Dad are good. Work is good, although I get the feeling he’s going to be retiring soon.”
“What will you do? Is he going to sell the practice?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t bring it up and neither does he. He probably should’ve retired years ago, and I can’t see that he would want the headache of the transition. He’s been wrapping up his cases, and lately we’ve not taken on anything more than just consulting and letters. That’s why I think it’s coming to an end.”
“Sounds like you’ll be in the market for a job, then.”
“Yeah, but I’ve got money saved up, so it’s all good. I’m not worried yet. Not to mention he’s such a great guy to work for that I can’t see him not offering some type of severance.”
“That would help for sure.”
“Babe!” Aaron calls down the steps.
“Yeah,” Whit calls back.
“Evan and McKinley just got here. David just texted me and said they’re on the way.”
Whit looks down at her watch. “Yikes! I didn’t realize we’d been down here that long. We’ll be right up,” she yells back to him. “Ready to see the crew?” she asks me.
If she only knew. “Lead the way,” I say, standing to follow her back upstairs.