Tumbleweed Weddings (25 page)

Murray glanced around the large oval dining room table. Jake Brandt, as patriarch of the family, sat at the head with Tonya and Derek seated on his right. On the left, Murray sat beside Mrs. Brandt—Yvette. She insisted he use her first name, but habits were hard to break. He enjoyed eating with other church families, but his favorite place was right here, at the Brandts’ table. Passing the food around, he half listened as Jake told about the rare visitor at church that morning.

“He lives up in Canada—Saskatchewan, just over the border from Montana.” Jake took a helping of mashed potatoes and passed the dish to Murray. “I invited him for dinner, but he’s driving down to Denver this afternoon.”

As the conversation flowed around him, Murray took a spoonful of potatoes from the dish and passed it on to Yvette. He was content to eat and listen—and reminisce.

He sat in this very spot one summer as a ten-year-old boy. Callie, who was also ten, sat across the table beside Derek, a year younger. Their twin sisters, Molly and Melissa—whom he could never tell apart—must have been around thirteen, and joined them at the table for warm cookies and milk.

And then there was Tonya, who turned seven years old that July. Her sisters called her
baby sis
, and she was still the spoiled baby of the family.

Murray took a bite of potatoes, glancing up at Tonya as she elaborated about the secret pal idea.

“So I wrote on the card that I was interested in old movies and classical music and that I like the colors blue and purple.” She thought for a moment. “I should have put down that I love poetry, too, and also cooking and sewing but—oh well.” She raised one shoulder in a slight shrug. “So some guy—or girl—will send me gifts and encouragement, and even pray for me, but that person will remain a secret for six weeks. Isn’t that a great idea? I just love surprises.”

Murray stopped chewing.
It’s all about her
.

Tonya’s dark eyes glowed. “I already have some thoughts on what I’m going to do for my secret pal.” She turned to her brother. “I’m surprised you thought up that idea, Derek.”

He shrugged. “I had a little help.”

Tonya giggled. “I know. Cheyenne told me.”

Murray popped a piece of roast beef in his mouth. As Tonya continued to dominate the conversation, he thought back to the way she had dominated the song service that morning. Instead of following his lead, Tonya insisted on having her own way, playing the tempo way too fast. It shouldn’t be surprising that she’d break the speed limit and then try to argue her way out of a ticket.

He took another bite of meat, savoring the flavor. He had always wanted to belong to this family. Maybe that was why he wanted to marry Callie. But Tonya was the only girl left, so he’d never belong to the Brandt family now. No way would he marry Tonya, no matter how beautiful her face was.

O
n Friday evening, Tonya glanced out the living room window. Two headlight beams cut through the darkness, lighting up the snowflakes that floated down to the long driveway. “Mom? Are we expecting company?”

Her mother’s voice wafted from the kitchen, along with the aroma of chocolate chip cookies. “Oh, that must be Molly. The nursing home hired a couple extra nurses, so she got the weekend off.”

“Really?” A spark of excitement surged through Tonya. “I’ll help her with her stuff.” She ran to the front closet and pulled on her boots. Grabbing a coat, she threw it on as she sprinted down the snowy steps of the front porch.

Molly parked her car by the door and got out. Long auburn hair flowed over the shoulders of her gray winter coat.

“Molly! Welcome home!”

Her sister looked up. Tiny pricks of the porch light shone in her brown eyes. “Baby sis!”

Tonya hugged her. “You were just here two weeks ago for Callie’s wedding. I can’t believe you’re back so soon. That’s a long drive in this weather.”

“Yeah, sixty miles on icy, snowy roads. I’m exhausted.”

“You do sound tired.” Tonya shivered in the cold evening air.

Molly opened the trunk and took out a suitcase. “I’m glad I could get away this weekend. After all, I have my own wedding to plan.”

“Oh, Molly, I’m so excited for you.” Tonya hugged her again, suitcase and all.

“Thanks. I thought Jonathan would
never
ask me. But when he said he thought it would be nice to get married on Valentine’s Day, since it’s on a Saturday, I agreed before the words were out of his mouth.” Molly giggled. “I think I shocked him.”

Tonya took the suitcase from her sister, and they clomped up the front steps together. “You’ve sure been patient. Haven’t you two been going out for five years?”

“Six. At least, it’s going to be six years on Valentine’s Day.” Molly opened the front door. “Our first date was for a Valentine’s party at the church in Douglas.”

“I didn’t know that. So now you’ve come full circle. Your first date was in the same church where you plan to tie the knot.”

“Yep.” Molly took off her coat. “And that knot is going to be really tight.”

“How can you plan a wedding in two months?” Tonya sat across from her sister at the dining room table. Both she and Molly flipped through bridal magazines looking at bridesmaid dresses.

“A girl has to do what a girl has to do.” Molly grinned. “Of course, I’ve been thinking about my wedding for years just in case he popped the question. But Jonathan always wanted to wait and get his medical degree first.”

“I wonder what changed his mind.”

“Callie’s wedding. He said when he saw me walk down that aisle as a bridesmaid something hit him.”

Tonya smiled. “Must have been one of Cupid’s arrows. Callie’s wedding was so beautiful, I got hit myself.” Her smile faded. “But I have no idea who my groom will be.”

Molly reached across the table and patted her hand. “All in good time, baby sis. You have plenty of time.”

“No I don’t.” Tonya pulled her lips into a pout. “I’m twenty-three—practically an old maid.”

“So what does that make me? No one else in the family hit twenty-nine before they got married.” Molly flipped a page. “That’s another reason I jumped at the chance to marry in two months. I want to have six kids, just like Mom.”

“At least you had someone to marry all these years.” Tonya sighed. “I’ve had plenty of dates, but no one sticks.” She thought of Reed Dickens. “Although I have my eye on someone—a really hot guy. I think he’s a doctor, Molly. Wouldn’t that be something if we both ended up marrying doctors?”

Molly turned another page. “He and Jonathan will probably talk shop at every family reunion. Hey, here’s a pretty dress.” She turned the magazine around to show Tonya. “What do you think about this one in pink?”

Tonya gazed at the sleeveless gown. “That would be beautiful and perfect for a Valentine’s wedding. But maybe it should be a darker pink or even a fuchsia.”

“Good idea—if we can find satin fabric in purplish-red. Do you think we could get fuchsia flowers for the bouquets?”

“Maybe, but that color would look great with a bouquet of light pink roses.” Tonya gave the magazine back. “I’m not going to have a winter wedding. I always wanted to get married in June, with pastel dresses for my bridesmaids. Each one will wear a different color.”

“Ooh, pastels. I like that. How many bridesmaids will you have? Just the sisters?”

“Plus five or six more. I’d really like ten or twelve girls.”

“Ten or twelve?” Molly shook her head. “Really, Tonya—”

“The wedding pictures will be fabulous.”

Molly laughed. “Dream on, baby sis.”

Tonya sighed. Right now her wedding was nothing
but
a distant dream.

Ten minutes later Tonya opened the front door with the sound of the doorbell still reverberating through the house. Callie and Lane stood on the snowy porch.

“Hey!” Tonya pulled Callie into the house with a hug. “When did you guys get back from your honeymoon?”

“Yesterday.”

“Yesterday?” Tonya took a step back. She still couldn’t get used to Callie without her glasses, which she had worn almost all her life. Her husband, Lane, had paid for laser eye surgery as a wedding gift. “You got back yesterday? Why didn’t you call us? Are you staying at Lane’s house in Cheyenne?”

“Nope.” Callie glanced up at her husband and smiled. “We spent the night at our new house on Little Deer Road.”

Tonya didn’t miss the look of love that passed between the newlyweds. But before she could even give a wistful sigh, Mom and Molly were there, hugging Callie and Lane. As Callie exclaimed over Molly’s new engagement, Dad and Derek joined the group.

“Derek and I are watching an old rerun of
Columbo.”
Dad slapped Lane on the shoulder. “Why don’t you come on back, Lane? I’m sure the girls will only talk about wedding plans.”

“Columbo
sounds good to me.” Lane winked at Callie. “I guess I’ve spent enough time with my wife this week.”

Callie’s face tinged pink as she smiled back at him.

The blushing bride
. Tonya hoped she would be next.

Soon Tonya joined her sisters and her mom around the kitchen table where they feasted on warm chocolate chip cookies. Callie described the wonders of Yellowstone National Park in the wintertime and the snug cabin they had rented.

Tonya propped her chin in her hand with a wistful sigh. “I can’t wait to have my own wedding.”

Molly nodded. “Tonya said she’s going to have ten or twelve bridesmaids.” Mom raised her eyebrows. “That many, Tonya?”

“Well …” She shrugged, not wanting to change her girlhood dreams. “I want to include everyone. Besides, think of how it would look—my husband and I flanked by a dozen girls in beautiful pastel colors. Like a flower garden.”

Molly laughed. “That’s just like you, baby sis. My three sisters will be enough for me.” She picked up the magazine and showed the picture to Mom. “Do you think you could sew three bridesmaid dresses like this in fuchsia for Tonya, Callie, and Melissa?”

Mom studied the picture. “If Tonya helps me, we should have plenty of time to finish them.” She picked up her teacup. “But what about your dress, Molly? Are you going to sew it yourself?”

Molly shook her head. “No time. Melissa is going to let me borrow hers. We did some planning last night over the phone.”

“Don’t you want your own dress?” Tonya couldn’t imagine borrowing someone else’s bridal gown, even if it was her sister’s.

“I love Melissa’s dress. We picked it out together, and she doesn’t mind sharing.”

Mom nodded. “You two always liked the exact same styles.”

“That’s what happens when you’re twins.” Callie grinned. “Tonya and I have the opposite tastes in clothes.”

“That’s for sure.” Tonya picked up another cookie. “By the way, Molly, who are we walking down the aisle with?”

Molly counted on her fingers. “Melissa is my matron of honor, and Derek will be the best man.”

“Derek?” Mom, Callie, and Tonya said his name in unison.

“What about Jonathan’s brother?” Mom took a bite of her cookie.

“He’s not coming. It was too hard for him to get away from his mission in India.” Molly paused. “I’ve always wanted to have all my siblings in our wedding, and since Jon’s brother couldn’t come, he decided on one of my brothers as his best man.”

“Why didn’t he pick Ryan?” Mom asked. “He’s the oldest.”

“Jon doesn’t know Ryan that well. On the other hand, he and Derek are good friends.” Molly resumed her counting. “So, it’s Melissa and Derek, Callie and Ryan, and Tonya and Murray.”

Tonya’s mouth dropped open. “Do you mean Murray Twichell?”

Molly raised her eyebrows. “What other Murray is there? He’s Jonathan’s cousin, so Jon wants him in the bridal party.” She looked concerned. “Is something wrong?”

Tonya dropped her head in her hands. “I cannot get rid of that guy.”

Mom placed her arm around Tonya’s shoulders. “He gave her a speeding ticket last week, so she’s upset with him.”

Tonya folded her arms. “Besides that, he’s an inch shorter than me, and I know you’ll want us girls to wear heels. The pictures will look terrible.” Of all the people in Wyoming, she had to get stuck with Murray!

“Jon and I talked about that.” Molly rested her chin in her hand. “After all, Jon and my two brothers are all over six feet tall, and Murray is … what?”