Chapter One

"I'M GETTING NERVOUS about the wedding," I said, twirling a lock of hair around my finger. I sat on the floor surrounded by boxes half-filled with the contents of my room. My trusty laptop sat in its carrying case. "I still can't believe that after tomorrow I'll actually be living in the same house with Prescott Nelsen."

"Yeah." Celeste's blue eyes grew dreamy. She hugged my favorite stuffed animal, Arf, a battered but beloved beagle, and pretended to swoon. "Oh, Rebecca, just imagine Pres seeing you in your ratty chenille robe and fuzzy slippers, your uncombed hair spilling across your shoulders."

"Celeste!" I threw my pillow at her. "I did buy a beautiful new robe, you know. Not to mention a nice pair of satiny slippers."

"A black negligee?" Celeste wriggled her eyebrows.

"Don't be silly." I went to my closet and took out a long, pink quilted robe. "See? Pretty, but modest. I'll be properly covered from my throat to my ankles."

"Nice." Celeste put her hand over her mouth to stifle a fake yawn. "I think Pres would have preferred the black negligee."

"You're hopeless." I hung up the robe and pulled out the petticoat I would wear under my gown at the wedding. I held it up to my waist and swirled around the bedroom.

Celeste flopped down on my bed, sprawling her arms and legs across it. "I wish I could have been a bridesmaid, instead of just a guest," she said wistfully. "But then, lavender isn't really my color."

"Are you kidding?" I sat on the edge of the bed. "Lavender would look great with your black hair and blue eyes. But my mother felt that one attendant was enough. She just wants a small ceremony."

"Well, it is her wedding." Celeste laughed. "At least it was until the women from the Historical Society took over."

"They insisted. They said they couldn't let their favorite town clerk get married without a big fuss, especially since the wedding coincides with the three hundredth anniversary of Sandy Cove. It is sort of cute the way they've helped plan everything. Since the reception is in the Town Hall, Mom can't use the excuse that it's too expensive."

"They even let her time it for spring break so the groom could go on the honeymoon!" Celeste exclaimed.

"They're so sweet," I said. "It's like having twenty grandmothers."

"Speaking of grandmothers, won't yours be lonely once you and your mom aren't living next door to her anymore?"

"I doubt it, since we're only moving a couple blocks away—I'll still be within easy walking distance of you."

I reached over and tickled Celeste, as much to keep from getting teary as from the temptation that Celeste presented in her vulnerable position.

"You rat!" Celeste shrieked. She rolled off the bed and crouched on the floor. "For a sophomore in high school who's about to be a maid of honor, you can be awfully immature at times. Better not try that with Pres."

Though I felt myself blush at the mere thought of tickling Pres, I retorted, "Why not? Because he's two whole years older than I am, and a senior to boot?"

"No. Because I have an older brother and I know how older brothers feel about being tickled by their sisters. They can't stand it."

"I don't think of Pres as a brother, but I don't have to tell you that. You know how I've felt about Pres ever since we saw him starring as Frederick when the school put on The Pirates of Penzance last year."

"That started it all right." Celeste sighed.

"When Mom started dating Pres's father a few weeks after that, I knew for sure that Pres was the perfect boyfriend—blond, handsome, the ultimate all-around guy. One look at Pres, and I knew I'd found my love."

"Of course the fact that Pres is president of the student council and a good athlete, and sings in the school choir could only reinforce your conviction that he is the one for you," Celeste said with a sigh.

"That's true," I said. "Don't forget, he's going to be a devoted lawyer." Unlike Celeste Sullivan, who had an endless stream of boyfriends, I'd dated only occasionally. The day after we'd finished sixth grade Celeste had instinctively learned the fine art of charming every boy she met. She obviously had natural talents that I had no knack for. I decided that I was the type of person who needed to wait for just the right guy to come along, and then things would work out. In the meantime, I'd been content to daydream about boys, rather than actually deal with them.

"By the way, Celeste, Josh is like a brother to me and he doesn't get upset when I tickle him," I said, feeling that I should defend my right to tickle Pres, even though I doubted I would ever try. At least, not until we'd established the perfect romantic relationship. I knew one would evolve once we were living in the same house and we had the opportunity to really get to know each other. "Josh just tickles me right back. He knows it leaves me helpless."

Copyright © 2005 Ann Herrick.