A week later, Layla and Sheldon rode the Amtrak to Texas to collect his family for the wedding. Layla was nearly beside herself by the time they got to Galveston; it was the first time she was going to meet Meemaw.

Of course Penny and the boys had all told her stories of the mystical lady who had dubbed her fiancé 'Moon-pie', but this was important; she knew how much Sheldon loved his grandmother, and how much her advice meant to him. What if Meemaw didn't like her?

She was pacing the tiny compartment as they approached the station, Sheldon watching her worriedly. Eventually he stood up and put himself in her path.

"Would this be an appropriate time to offer some sort of consolation?" he asked.

Layla sighed gratefully. At least Sheldon was good at following instructions. "Yes,"

"Then I ask you not to worry, and to stop pacing; you're making me nervous." He said. "I feel perfectly comfortable assuring you that the odds of my family being worse than your mother are slim."

She laughed, finally sitting down and taking a breath. "Thanks Sheldon; that does actually make me feel better."

"Really?" her fiancé asked, sitting beside her. "I'm on a roll."

When they exited the platform, Sheldon looked around for his sister. Finally, he pointed with the hand holding his bag, and led her across the station toward several wooden benches.

"Shelly!" a female voice squealed loudly. Layla had to bite back a laugh as a gorgeous woman hurried toward them and enveloped Sheldon in a hug.

"You must be Missy," Layla giggled when the taller woman pulled away.

"And you must be Layla." Missy gave her the once over. "Mama was right about one thing; you are pretty."

"Thank you. So are you."

"Betcha never thought I would be, being a twin to this one," she winked.

"Missy and I are fraternal twins, they come from two separate eggs; they are no more alike than any other siblings." Sheldon sighed.

Layla laughed again. "Come on Sheldon,"

Missy led them over to where a young man was lounging in the deep wooden bench. When he caught sight of Layla, he stood up, stretching his long legs. He was even taller than Sheldon, if that was possible, and he had a broad chest.

"Well hello there," he smiled, his accent twanging pleasantly. "How did my baby brother manage to catch something as beautiful as you?"

"Hello Donny," Sheldon said flatly.

"Hey Sheldon," Donny returned.

"I think it would be safe to say I caught him." Layla smiled, threading her hand around Sheldon's upper arm and stepping a little closer. "I'm Layla Nicholas."

"Donny Cooper, ma'am." Her fiancé's brother replied. The four of them left the train station and climbed into Donny's truck. Sheldon, as usual, claimed shotgun, so the girls got to sit together in the back seat and look over Layla's plans for the wedding.

"So where are the bridesmaids' dresses?" Missy asked, thumbing through the binder Penny had put together with the help of Emily and Isabelle.

"I'm glad you asked," Layla replied. "My younger sister met the guys, and she doesn't want to be a bridesmaid anymore. I think Howard freaked her out."

"She certainly wouldn't be the first." Sheldon piped up from the front seat.

"Exactly. So, I was wondering if maybe you'd be a bridesmaid."

"Really?" Missy squealed, hugging her future sister in law on a whim "Of course! I'd love to!"

"Oh good," she sighed. "Then to answer your question, these are the dresses."

"Oh, pretty! Has Shelly seen them yet?"

"No, he has not!" Sheldon cried. "I have been very clear: I wish to be completely surprised."

"Is that the genius way of saying Sheldon's not helping?" Donny asked.

"I think so, though Sheldon disagrees." Layla laughed. "But he has reserved the right to veto any caterers."

They drove away from the main drag of Galveston, and the roads were more likely dirt than paved. Finally, Donny pulled up in front of a small two story house. The siding was green, and there were bright flowers in the front garden.

"This is lovely, Sheldon," Layla smiled as he helped her out of the back seat.

"Mom likes it," he shrugged, offering his arm. He'd gotten used to small amount of touching in public, and Layla was happy enough with what he'd acquiesced to so far. She wasn't about to push for the shows Penny and her male friends put on in the hallway, and Sheldon holding her hand did more for her than anything she'd ever experienced with anyone else.

"Layla! Shelly!" Mary Cooper cried happily, coming out the front door at a run to hug them both.

"Um, hi Mrs Cooper," Layla gasped around the other woman's embrace.

"Oh honey, you got my Sheldon to settle down—you get to call me Mary." She winked. "Shelly, you go on in; I need to prep your fiancée." Sheldon gave them both a suspicious look before leaving them alone. "So," Mary threaded her arm through Layla's and directed them to the door. "Are you nervous?"

Layla looked at her soon to be mother in law and sighed, "Terrified. "

"Meemaw's been looking forward to meeting you for weeks. She wants to know what you did to keep Sheldon quiet during church."

"Okay, let's do this." The brunette nodded resolutely and let Mary enter before her.

"Meemaw," Sheldon said as she entered the living room, "This is Layla Nicholas."

A tall, well dressed woman stood beside her fiancé, looking at her with Sheldon's piercing blue eyes. Her grey hair was tied back into a bun, and glasses hung from a chain around her neck.

"So," she said, "You want to marry my Moon-pie?"

"Yes ma'am," she replied, looking to Sheldon. He gave her a brisk nod.

The lady smiled and took her hand. "My Moon-pie is special, you understand?"

"Yes ma'am, I definitely understand." Layla winked at Sheldon, whose ears went a little pink.

"Good." Meemaw looked between her grandson and the newcomer, then smiled a little wider. "Then welcome to Texas."