Read Online Always the Baker, Finally the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker - Free Book Online Page A

see you again.”
    “You too.”

    “Your wedding invitations are here,” Sherilyn told Jackson as she poked her head through the door. “Would you like to peek, or shall we wait for Emma Rae?”
    She looked harried as she rushed through the door with a small cardboard box under one arm, her infant child cradled across her in a strange sideways sack. She wore a floor-length paisley dress, her hair was knotted into something slightly resembling a ponytail, and a large quilted diaper bag was slung over her shoulder.
    “Emma is having her dress fitting at the moment,” he replied with a grin. “She may not come up for air until who-knows-when. Let’s have a look.”
    “Audrey and Kat are here? Why didn’t she call me?” she exclaimed as she thrust the box toward him. “Here, can you just pull one of those out so I can show it to her? What room is Audrey in? Do you know? Oh, never mind, I’ll call Kat’s cell.”
    Jackson chuckled as he pulled out one of the invitations from the top of the box and handed it to her.
    “I hope you like them,” she called over her shoulder as she scurried out the door.
    Ivory linen set against a black card border held the raised black letters inviting their chosen few guests to join them in celebrating their nuptials. A silk ribbon wrapped cleanly around the invitation, tied in a bow.
    “Pale orchid” was the label Emma had given the light purple ribbon when she’d presented the option to him. “Kind of elegant, very classic. This one’s my favorite.”
    She’d gone on about something having to do with hydrangeas and centerpieces, but he’d zoned out a little on the rest of it. Frankly, she’d sounded more like Sherilyn than his Emma.
    “Then pale orchid it is!” he declared when she’d finished.
    It turned out to be a fine choice he realized as he looked at it, and his stomach squeezed a little as he traced the glossy raised letters of their names on the card.
    Finally. Emma will be my bride
.
    Jackson felt as if he’d been waiting a lifetime to see those two names sharing the same invitation card. He asked himself why he’d waited so long.
    Desiree flickered across his mind with a sweet, gentle smile, and his stomach squeezed again. She’d looked so beautiful on their wedding day, like a princess in a ball gown, a strand ofher grandmother’s pearls around her neck, and a long veil that brushed the floor. He struggled to remember what their invitations had looked like, but he couldn’t quite nail down the image. It felt a little disloyal for a moment before he realized Desiree wouldn’t care in the least whether he remembered the invitations or the flowers or the cake, as long as he remembered her. And Jackson did.
    He remembered every curve of her face, every freckle on her arms, every single one of her always-readable expressions; and as he mentally browsed over each memory, he landed on what Emma had promised him early on in their romance.
    “There’s room enough for all three of us in this relationship, Jackson. There’s you and me, and there’s your memory of your late wife. You don’t have to choose.”
    He’d already known he loved her by then. He just hadn’t known quite how much.
    You’d actually like her, Desi. If you’d have met somewhere, you might have been friends
.
    Warmth surged through Jackson, and he closed his tired eyes for a minute and leaned back until his desk chair creaked. He felt pretty certain that she’d have encouraged him to move on without her. But he couldn’t help wondering about something else . . . hoping that Desiree would understand . . .

Tips for Choosing the Best
Wedding Invitations
    It used to be that all wedding invitations were formal:
white or ivory paper with raised black lettering.
Guests wore formal attire, such as evening gowns
and tuxedos.
Today, however, the wedding invitation is a reflection
of the bride and groom’s personal style
as well as the theme, tone, and location of their wedding.
    • The