Best Laid Wedding Plans by Lynnette Austin

you’d come or how long you planned to stay.”
    Chagrin tugged at his conscience. He really should have stopped in to say hello, to share a cup of coffee. After he’d run into Jenni Beth…
    â€œI got in late last night, took an early run this morning, then had breakfast in town.”
    â€œThat’s what we figured. Will you have time to stop by before you head back to the city?”
    â€œSure will. Actually, I’m gonna stay a couple days.”
    â€œOh, your dad will be so happy. He’s missed you.”
    â€œAnd you?” he teased.
    She laughed. “Okay, you caught me. I miss you something terrible. I’ve been naggin’ your dad to take a trip into Savannah to visit you.”
    â€œWell, now you won’t need to.”
    â€œHere on business?”
    â€œYeah. I had some banking to do. Could have done that over the computer, but there were a couple estate sales close by I wanted to check out. I ended up buying a few things. As long as I’m here, I figure why not take a day or two at home.”
    â€œAnything you need me to do?”
    â€œNope. I left the windows open to air out the place.” Renovating the old barn on his parents’ acreage had been one of the smartest things he’d ever done. As much as he loved them, they were all better off with their own space.
    â€œHow about I leave some homemade caramel creams in your fridge?”
    â€œDid I tell you how much I love you? That you’re the best mom ever?”
    â€œYou might have mentioned it a couple times. I know you have lots going on, but can you join us for dinner tonight? I’m makin’ fried chicken, some greens, and my homemade biscuits.”
    A sliver of guilt—along with a huge hunger for his mom’s cooking—arrowed through him, and he waffled. He really wanted to talk to Beck tonight, though, needed his take on this Jenni Beth thing. Nobody knew the inner workings of Misty Bottoms better than Beck.
    He went with his gut.
    â€œHow about breakfast, Mom? I’m gonna be kind of busy the rest of today, and Beck and I thought we’d hook up for dinner. Catch up a little bit.”
    â€œOh, that sounds wonderful, honey. You boys don’t get to see each other often enough anymore. Go out and play with your friend, then come on over for waffles in the mornin’.”
    â€œI’ll look forward to them. Not sure when I’ll get home tonight, so don’t stay up watchin’ for my headlights.”
    She chuckled. “I won’t. I will stick some leftovers in your fridge, though. Just in case you want a midnight snack.”
    â€œAgain, you’re the best. Love you.”
    â€œLove you, too, Son.”
    He ended the call, wondering what he’d do for the rest of the day. He’d fibbed to his mom when he’d said he had plans. He didn’t.
    Actually, he wanted badly to spend the afternoon with Jenni Beth, and, because he wanted it so much, he wouldn’t. Tomorrow would be soon enough to start squabbling with her over what she could and couldn’t do. No doubt they’d butt heads.
    Too bad the circumstances weren’t different. He’d like to make contact with more than that hard head of hers.
    Nothing said he couldn’t take a quick trip over to the salvage yard in Springfield, though. Last time he’d been there they’d had some humdinger columns. The Beaumonts needed four to redo the front of their place. If Jenni Beth thought she’d be able to fix the ones on her porch, she was fooling herself. Way beyond fixing, the columns absolutely had to be replaced.
    He could drive to Springfield, check out what they had, and still be back in time to meet Beck. Good thing he’d left a trailer at his folks’ place. He wouldn’t take it this trip. If he found what he needed, he’d run back, pick up the trailer, then present the columns to Jenni Beth, deed done. Or maybe he’d take her