The Wedding Favor by Caroline Mickelson Page B

had pitched in to hire a town car so that Ava would arrive at the Ortega’s in style. “Just because you insist on getting ready for your wedding alone doesn’t mean you need to stress yourself by driving in your convertible,” Marti had said. Ava had been touched by the gesture at the time but now she longed for her own car.
    “Well,” Joe said, as if they had all the time in the world, “I guess we should call for a tow truck.”
    “Great idea,” she replied, unable to stop a bit of sarcasm from creeping into her voice. She craned her neck to take a better look at the front fender of the black town car that was now crushed into an orange and white striped metal construction barrier. The car was probably okay to drive, if it weren’t for the two front flat tires. And, more to the point, Ava wasn’t sure that the driver was fully sober. Now, watching him fumble with his cell phone, she realized that hitting the barrier was not the worst thing that could have happened. Although she didn’t feel particularly lucky to be stuck by the side of the road on her way to her own wedding, at least the driver hadn’t caused a sixteen car pile-up with injuries. “What’s the matter?”
    Joe shook his cell phone as vigorously as a graffiti artist would his spray can. “I can’t get a signal.”
    Ava reached for his phone and attempted to dial the number he gave her but she received the same message that service was unavailable. She handed the phone back to him. “Unbelievable.” She pulled out her phone and tried it again but she didn’t have service either. She groaned. The blasted thing had been ringing incessantly for what seemed like hours and yet now that she actually needed to make a call, it was as good as dead.
    “Probably the mountains,” Joe suggested. He pointed to Camelback Mountain. He looked around and grimaced. “I guess we could walk.”
    Incredulous, Ava stared at him. “Joe, have you happened to notice what I’m wearing?”
    He cocked his head and looked at her as if it was the first time he’d noticed she was wearing a wedding gown. “Oh, right, you probably don’t want to get your dress dirty.”
    Ava nodded. “Bingo. My four inch heels are another reason I don’t think a hike is a good idea.” She twirled around, careful to keep her dress up out of the dirt. There were no other cars in sight, which was odd. This part of Scottsdale saw steady traffic night and day. “Joe, you didn’t happen to pass a sign that had the word ‘Detour’ on it a while back, did you?”
    The driver had the good grace to look away from her. “Might have, I just might have come to think of it.” He looked down at his feet and then back up at her, confusion clear on his face. “Do you think I went the wrong way?”
    Ava closed her eyes and counted to ten. Slowly. “It would seem so.”
    “Any idea what we should do now?” His expression was hopeful.
    She sighed. What was there to do but wait for another motorist to pass by or for cell service to come back on? Apparently she needed to spell that out. “Here’s the plan, Joe. I’m going to get back in the car so my dress stays clean. I’ll continue to check the phones for service. You wait here and watch for someone to pass by so you can flag them down. Okay?”
    He nodded and moved to hold the car door open for her. “Would you like a drink? I have a bottle tucked away for emergencies.”
    “Thanks, Joe, but I don’t think a drink will help either one of us now.” Ava slid into the car, carefully tucking her skirt around her as gracefully as she could before she slammed the door shut.
    She leaned back against the head rest, torn between the desire to laugh and cry. Mateo would be able to see the humor in this situation, that much she knew. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. It was becoming almost impossible to think about him without smiling. His sense of humor made her happy and she appreciated his willingness to see the glass as not only