Read Online An April Bride by Lenora Worth - Free Book Online Page B

house. And for just a minute, everything seemed right in Stella’s world.
    She had some memories she planned to cherish too. And this would be one of them.

T hat is a really big mixer,” Marshall said. “It looks like it could mow the lawn too.”
    Stella touched a dainty hand to the bright red monstrosity. “Oh no, buddy. This stays in my kitchen, right there on what I call the baking counter.”
    “You did mention you like to cook.”
    “Doesn’t every Southern woman?”
    “I guess so. Y’all sure do know the way to a man’s heart.”
    Her smile was as brilliant as the big mixer’s shine. “So we’re getting to you, right?”
    He rubbed his stomach. “That pot roast is calling my name.”
    She ran her hand over the shimmering silver bowl that went with the mixer. “We also have banana pudding. And not from a box. My mama makes her pudding from scratch. Cooks it on the stove and adds fresh bananas and crisp vanilla wafers.”
    “You are seriously killing me.”
    He grinned at her and was rewarded with that cute smile again. Her green eyes were the color of fresh grass.
    “So, a mixer, a food processor, a fancy cookware set, plus several dish towels too pretty to actually use. And all these other gadgets. That’s called a kitchen shower.”
    “Yes.” She moved on to comforters and blankets, cushions and pillows, or “linens,” as she called them. “I’ve had five showers so far, each with a different theme—kitchen, garden, linens, recipes and cookbooks, and china and every-day dishes. According to proper etiquette they have to all be done and finished several weeks before the wedding so I won’t be distracted, but who’s counting?”
    “I think you have more than enough distraction,” he said on a soft note.
    She didn’t miss a beat. “Moving on. You have to see the fine china.”
    He followed her to a long buffet cabinet where the “fine” china was being displayed. He listened while she discussed the pros and cons of Lenox versus Wedgwood or Waterford.
    “So finally, I went with a Wedgwood pattern.” She pointed to the butterfly floral design. “It made me think of the gardens here at Flower Bend. And Wedgwood is traditional in my family, so I would have caused a scandal if I’d picked something else.”
    The china was beautiful, delicate, and dainty, just like her. He didn’t really understand, but if this stuff made her happy then he’d go with it. “So I missed out on all that.”
    She gave him an indulgent smile. “Most men would be more than glad to miss out on a bunch of chattering womenadmiring all these beautiful gifts. The whole trousseau part involves registering for what you’d like and then allowing your friends and family to throw showers and buy you gifts. Then it’s all about lime green sherbet punch and lots of delicate finger sandwiches and a themed cake. The one for the kitchen shower had the cutest design on it—forks and spoons and spatulas in all colors and all edible.”
    He snapped his fingers. “I really hate I missed that one.” Then he laughed. “But you were holding out about the punch and cake. I don’t think I’ve ever turned down either.”
    “Don’t worry. We’ll have that at the wedding. We haven’t had a couples’ shower, where there would be plenty of food. But that’s okay. We don’t need to face another crowd.”
    She stopped, put a hand on a fluffy, embroidered white bath towel, her eyes on the big H monogram scrolled in black. She lifted her gaze to him, her eyes doing that misty thing. “It’s amazing how much I took all this for granted. How much I took you for granted.”
    “You didn’t do that,” he said, coming around the big table to take her hands in his. “You were planning our wedding just as you should have been doing. I’m the one who messed up.”
    “Going to war and then being wounded isn’t messing up, Marshall. I’m so glad you made it home.” She shrugged and then lifted an unopened package wrapped with