Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride (27 page)

Sherilyn considered that and asked, "Do I?"

"Of course. Emma Rae and me, and my Avery, and Gavin." She didn't quite understand. "Do you know the Scripture verse that says God sets the solitary down into families?"

Sherilyn sighed. With a smile, she replied, "Yes."

"That's what He's done with you. But you don't have to give us back," she whispered. "We can be for keeps."

"If you like these guys as much as I do, maybe we can go and visit the church Miguel pastors."

Sherilyn felt happy that Andy had begun to connect with new friends, knowing she had Jackson to thank for it.

"It might be nice to attend the same church as Emma and Jackson," she said, and she dunked a potato chip into the bowl of clam dip and held it up for him to taste.

Andy groaned in ecstasy through a full mouth. "It's
fantash-
tic!"

Jackson had asked Andy to host the group for Sunday's game because their family room would certainly hold more people than his, and Andy quickly agreed.

"We'll grill up a bunch of man food," he'd said, and Sherilyn had laughed at him.

"
Man food!"
she repeated. "What, like chicken wings and jalepeno burgers?"

When three inches of snow had fallen overnight, with several more on the way, Andy finally admitted defeat. Since the weather had deterred him from the idea of barbecuing, Sherilyn and Emma had created a sort of cook-a-thon, starting early that morning with a massive pot of chili, some cornbread, three trays of chicken wings, and myriad snacks.

"How many hundreds of men are descending upon us again?" Sherilyn asked.

"I think Jackson said there would be eight from church, plus Sean."

"Well, we can feed them and all their friends, from the looks of things!"

Several of the guys arrived while Emma cleared the dining table so they could set up a smörgåsbord of
Man Food,
and Sherilyn greeted them and tried to remember the names Andy and Jackson tossed at her while she arranged a row of plates, bowls, napkins, and utensils on the counter. The door

bell chimed for a third time, and Andy went to answer it as Sherilyn began setting frosted glass mugs from the freezer onto a large tray.

She managed to fit the last one into place and when she turned around, Emma stepped in front of her with wide open eyes, her mouth frozen in the shape of a large O.

"What?"

Emma cleared her throat. "Umm, hand me the tray."

"I've got it."

"No. Sher. Hand me the tray."

Sherilyn laughed her off and sidestepped Emma, heading for the counter.

"I said I've got it," she told her.

But as she looked up into the face of one of Andy's guests, she froze. Suddenly, her feet were made of cement, and her arms of rubber, and she forgot all about the tray in her hands. Her heart began to pound so hard against her chest that she felt her sweater moving with each thump, and a splash of warmth doused her like a bucket of firewater.

"Sherilyn."

And with that, the tray of glasses dropped from her squishy hands, shattering against the marble countertop and splintering further as they crashed to the wood floor.

"Cristián?"

Andy flew around the corner, two of the guys' coats still in his arms.

"Sherilyn, are you all right? What happened?"

Sherilyn tried to form some words, she really did, but they ended up jumbled against her tied-up tongue. What was worse, she couldn't take her eyes off Cris, no matter how hard she tried. She was stuck there in the path of his eyes, trapped.

"I'm afraid I took her by surprise," Cris finally said.

"Sher?" Emma asked from behind, her hand resting on Sherilyn's shoulder.

"I—I—"

"Is it your allergies again?" Andy asked her, placing his hands on both her shoulders and turning her toward him. "Do you need your inhaler?"

She shook her head, dragging her gaze back to Cris. Was he really standing right there in front of her? In the kitchen of her new home? The one she would soon share with Andy?

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she finally managed.

"Andy invited me."

She jerked toward Andy and asked, "Wh-why would you do that?"

"Why?" he repeated. "Cris is part of Miguel's men's group."

"How did you—How—?"

She felt Emma's hands guiding her away from the counter, and she numbly allowed her to lead her to one of the chairs at the dining table where she plunked down. A rush of heat moved over her as her pulse continued to race.

"She's just a little taken aback," Emma said as Andy joined them at the table. "Just give her a minute?"

Andy considered it, then scraped another chair up in front of Sherilyn and sat down. Leaning forward, he cupped her face in his hand.

"Honey? What's going on?"

"Andy—" Emma started.

"Give us a minute, Emma? Please?" he asked, and she reluctantly backed away.

Sherilyn looked into Andy's eyes, and she thought the concern there had colored them bluer than usual.

"I—I'm sorry."

"For what?" he asked her. "What's going on?"

She didn't see Cris approach them, but she felt him there. She looked up over the top of Andy's head and blinked hard to make sure she wasn't dreaming. About thirty seconds of imprisonment, her eyes stuck inside of Cris's, and she finally hopped to her feet and ran to freedom, straight past them all, through the shattered glass, down the hall and up the stairs, praying all the way that Emma would follow.

She didn't. But Andy did.

RECEPTION DECOR

Black tablecloths with white china service

Black napkins might be embroidered with white replicas of the wedding flower

Since silver works in nicely to the theme, centerpieces can be created by an arrangement of silver candlesticks holding white candles tied with black ribbons

FLOWERS

Bouquets of white flowers, such as calla lilies, orange blossoms, and/or orchids, bound and tied with black ribbons

Some flowers, such as white carnations, are hearty enough to be tipped with black for a dramatic effect

THE CAKE

Clean lines are best, as with a stacked square cake

White fondant with black floral designs

Black and white candy crystals can be used to create an unexpected sparkle