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her dress.
    As she followed Suzanne down the stairs, she tried to shake thoughts she’d had of how her wedding should be and tried to be grateful for how it was. She was no longer alone, at least, and with this wedding arrangement came her opportunity to be with the only family she had left.
    Lucy and Lily grabbed her hands and pulled her to the waiting buggy.
    “It’s time to go, Aunt Sadie,” Lily said. “Come on, Mama.”
    James patted her hand after he’d helped her into the buggy and loaded his three women.
    “Are you all right?” he said, his voice low and kind.
    She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I’m fine, James. Let’s get going.”
    He squeezed her hand and hopped into the buggy, driving them straight to the church.
    As they approached, the last of the congregation was leaving and her stomach fluttered, knowing that Tripp was inside, waiting for her. Before she knew it, the organ music signaled it was time for James to walk her down the aisle.
    She had trouble focusing her eyes as she walked toward Tripp and he smiled, reaching for her hand as James held it out to him. Her breath caught as she felt warmth and comfort in his hand and wondered how that could be—she barely knew the man, although she would be his wife in mere minutes.
    “Sadie. Sadie…it’s time to say ‘I do’,” she heard the pastor say, aware that it wasn’t the first time he’d said her name.
    Her heart fluttered as she realized she had been somewhere else in her head the entire ceremony. She looked at Tripp, his brow smoothing as she said the words.
    “I now pronounce you man and wife,” said the pastor, and Sadie couldn’t help but notice that Tripp let out a big sigh, as if he’d been holding his breath until it was over.
    He put his hand on her arm, pulling her gently toward him, and placed a quick but firm kiss on her lips. He pulled away, hesitating a moment as his eyes held hers. She felt the heat creep into her cheeks as she looked toward Lucy and Lily, who were clapping and sitting on their mother’s lap.
    Before she could take another breath, Tripp grabbed her hand and led her down the aisle. She took a quick peek in his direction and was pleased to see that at least he was smiling.

Chapter 7
    I t had been a sweet wedding —what she remembered of it—Sadie thought, as her new husband helped her up into the buggy that Suzanne had decorated with ribbons. She laughed as Lucy and Lily threw rice at them as they drove away, knowing full well that they would be meeting back at their house in a matter of minutes for a very small supper.
    She turned to Tripp and said, “Thank you for making this a special time for me, even though it’s just a business arrangement.”
    She was grateful that her wedding—probably the only one in her life—had been lovely, after all. The pastor had said all the right words, Tripp had looked in her eyes with—maybe just gratitude—but she had dreamed of this day when she was a little girl, and so far it was going fine.
    “Oh, you’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
    “I did, and I hope you like the supper I’ve gotten ready,” Sadie said.
    Tripp turned to her and said, “That was awful nice of you to do that for your own wedding.” He turned back, keeping his eyes on the road. “I’m sure you wouldn’t have recognized him, but one of the bankers was in the last pew, watching. I had a feeling that might happen, so it mattered that we made it look real.
    She gasped as her stomach sank, and she dropped her bouquet onto the floorboards of the buggy. Tripped turned to her quickly. “What? What is it? Are you unwell?”
    She wished she saw genuine concern in his eyes. Actual concern for her, rather than just concern for his loan. She caught herself quickly, picked up the bouquet and wondered what she’d expected.
    This wasn’t her dream wedding. It was a business arrangement, she reminded herself. She lifted her chin and looked straight ahead for the