“When you’re an adult. I saw the responsibilities your family piled on you at age twelve because your mother was too frail to continue to run her household.” She squeezed Carolyn’s hip. “Your father and your brothers would’ve let you slave away for them and not thought twice about it. Without you here they had to step up. With your mother’s failing health…your father had two built-in housekeepers and caretakers. Even your mother didn’t want that for you. She’s the one who asked for you to be educated not only in the Catholic school, but for me to teach you a useful skill.”

Carolyn twisted her ring around her finger.

“You’ve been a blessing to me, child. I always hoped with as talented as you are that you’d take over my business one day.” She paused. “So if this marriage doesn’t…work out, remember you can always come live with me.”

“You sound like you don’t expect it to last.”

“Physical attributes change. I hear he’s a handsome man. You sure you’re not in love with the way he looks? He won’t look like that in ten, twenty, thirty years.”

“I’m not in love with his looks. Though it certainly helps that he’s nice to look at.”

“It’s more than lust and passion between you two?” her aunt pressed.

Carolyn blushed. But she wouldn’t back down. “What do you know of lust and passion?”

Her aunt laughed. “I got a priest to leave the church and marry me, so I know plenty—plenty—about lust and passion. We only had ten years as husband and wife before he passed on, and God didn’t see fit to bless us with children, but they were ten good years. I want you to be certain you’re choosing the man you see yourself spending the rest of your life with and not him just because he’s close by.”

She locked her gaze on her aunt’s. “Do you know what my father said to me? I’m an idiot to fall for the first man who pays attention to me. Now you’re saying the same thing.”

“No.” She reached for Carolyn’s hands and repeated, “No. I’d be remiss in my duties as your godmother if I didn’t question you from every angle about this major step in your life.”

“Did I pass the test?”

She managed a small smile. “Yes. You’ve got a bumpy road ahead. Let’s pray your love will hold you together. Now let’s get this dress gussied up for your big day, hmm?”

The next two days were a blur.

The wedding had been small. Just her family and his. Not all of her family. Her father hadn’t shown up. She’d hoped he’d have a last minute change of heart—but he’d stayed away. As had her brother Harland. It surprised her to see Harland’s wife, Sonia, in the church, sitting next to Darren’s wife, Tracy. Darren, Marshall and Stuart filled up the front pew with their mother, who sat next to Aunt Hulda.

Maxine, Beverly and Mike rounded out Carolyn’s side of the church.

Carson’s side was even sparser than hers. His dad hadn’t come either, just his brothers. Agnes and her husband Ed were in attendance as well as an older couple who lived across the road from Carson’s trailer. Plus a few of Carson’s drinking buddies had shown up, acting as if they were attending a funeral, not a wedding.

Because Thomas walked her down the aisle, Father Dorian skipped the “who gives this woman to this man” spiel.

Her gaze briefly registered on her sister Kimi, serving as maid of honor, and then she looked across the altar to see Carson’s twin Cal flanking him. Then her eyes locked onto Carson’s and that’s all she’d seen. Him. Standing there in his western cut suit, hat and boots, looking so proud and yet anxious as he waited for her, ready to pledge his forever love for her in front of God and everyone.

After they’d repeated their vows and were introduced as husband and wife, they’d had a small cake and coffee reception in the church basement.

And now here they were. Home. Their home.

“Caro? You all right?”

She turned and smiled at her husband. She couldn’t believe this black-haired, blue-eyed handsome devil was completely hers. “I’m perfect.”

“Yes, you are.” Carson picked up her hand and kissed it. “As beautiful as you look in that dress, I need to strip it off you.”

“Now?”

“The second we get in the house.”

Her belly fluttered as it always did when that wicked gleam entered his eyes.

“Stay right there.” In a flash he was out of the truck and on her side, opening the door. He slid one arm under her knees and the other around her waist, lifting her out with ease.

Carolyn wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. Pressing a kiss to that strong jaw, she murmured, “Carrying me across the threshold is romantic.”

“Mmm-hmm. And it’s also tradition that brings good luck.” He managed to hold the screen door open while opening the inner door. He kicked the door shut behind him and kissed the top of her head. “Welcome home, Mrs. McKay.” Keeping her in his arms, he headed down the hallway to the back bedroom. He hesitated inside the doorjamb. “What’s all this?”

“I added a few things.”

Since Carson had stayed at Cal’s last night, Carolyn and Kimi had shown up early to redecorate the bedroom. Carson had already cleaned out half the closet and given her half the drawer space in the built in cabinets.

Since this was now her home too, she wanted the bedroom to reflect them, not just him. She’d bought new sheets, cream-colored linen with pale lilac and mint green flowers, and added a chenille bedspread in the same soft green. Then she’d rummaged through the closet that held her mother’s abandoned sewing projects and found four fabric panels that she added to the front side of an old, tattered quilt. She made matching pillowcases and a new curtain out of the leftover scraps. This morning she’d finally assembled all the new pieces: the layers of bedding, window coverings that actually covered the windows. The space did look very Better Homes and Gardens, if she did say so herself.