Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 by Jean Brashear

astonishingly.
    Well, then.
    “You could save everybody an extra trip and make it a double wedding, Penny,” Shirley Carpenter offered.
    Penny froze. Bridger darted a glance at her. She knew what he was thinking and waited for him to agree.
    “Ms. Penelope and I will make our own plans, thank you,” he responded easily, though she felt the tension in his frame. “I’m holding out for a beach wedding. With bikinis. On everyone.”
    They all laughed, and she managed a smile, but she knew he’d be so much happier if she’d pipe up and agree that Shirley’s idea was a great one.
    Jackson studied her, concern in his eyes, but she had some questions for her twin herself. Something was off with him and Veronica, she could sense it in the old twin way that had once made them privy to one another’s every thought, but she couldn’t figure the source of the uneasiness.
    She tuned back in as Jeanette volunteered to fashion Veronica a gown.
    Jackson shook his head. “I know I’ve messed up everything by pushing to do it by Christmas. You can’t possibly have time, Jeanette, as busy as you are. I’ll fly Veronica to New York or Paris or have samples flown in here for her.”
    “I don’t want anything fancy,” Veronica protested.
    It was easy to see that Jackson wanted to give her the world, however. “Abby is set on you having a princess gown like Scarlett, remember?”
    “I can do it,” Jeanette offered. “Come to my house later today, and we can at least talk about it. I can’t produce a billionaire bridal gown, but—”
    “Scarlett’s was absolutely gorgeous,” Veronica said. “I know you’d do a beautiful one, but it’s not fair to you.”
    “You let me be the judge of that.”
    Penny spoke up. “Jackson, you could bring in seamstresses to help once Jeanette’s designed it. That might help her out.”
    “I won’t need—”
    “Jeanette,” Scarlett said gently. “Let Jackson pay his penance if you wind up needing the help.”
    “There are several good seamstresses in town,” Melba remarked. “We can help her just fine.” She turned to Jeanette. “What we can’t do is design like you can. You have no business waiting tables.”
    But what on earth would they do if she left the diner? Penny thought.
    “They won’t let me cook,” Rissa piped up. “But I can smack Harley in line nearly as well as you can. I can take some of your hours.”
    Well. That was unexpected.
    Scarlett spoke then. “One cranky waitress for another. No one will ever notice.”
    The room filled with chuckles.
    As the laughter slowed, Penny heard Jackson again. “No expense spared, Jeanette. Sky’s the limit on fabrics. Anything you need, you ask, and I’ll make it happen.”
    The glow on Jeanette’s face didn’t slip past Ruby or Scarlett, Penny could see.
    “I knew we’d lose her sooner or later,” Scarlett said. “Who could have imagined I’d be sad?”
    “Girl’s needed to leave Sweetgrass for years,” Ruby added. “Hayley’s been after her to come to L.A.”
    “Hayley.” Scarlett’s face darkened.
    Penny snickered.
    “Wait ’til she’s flirting with your man, missy,” Scarlett warned.
    “But she’s got fabulous shoes,” Penny said. “Give the woman her due.”
    Bridger chuckled beside her.
    The planning went on. Brenda asked shyly if Veronica would let her help with the flowers. Jackson insisted that Veronica not be working on her wedding day and promised to get together with Brenda later.
    “Hey! I can bake the cake,” Rissa volunteered.
    With Eric’s lopsided, runny-icing birthday cake fresh in everyone’s minds, laughter erupted again.
    “You’re all heart, babe,” Mackey said, tugging at her ponytail.
    “I was serious,” Rissa grumbled.
    Then laughed straight from the belly.

Chapter Four

    A fterward, when Veronica left to get back to her greenhouses, Jackson headed for the kitchen at Scarlett’s request. He winked as he passed Penny.
    Love looked good on her twin. It softened