Author's Note: I am so ashamed of myself. A special thank you to 'meg', who pointed out to me that, in fact, Rae wore her mother's veil when she got married. I can do nothing but apologize profusely. It seems I have put myself in quite a knotty situation and, if you really want me to fix the last chapter, please let me know. I'll do my best to undo it. Otherwise, just chalk it up to the fact that my husband was watching CSI while I was writing that chapter and it's very hard to write emotionally AND correctly when there are crime scenes being reenacted not ten feet away and you can't help but hear all the screams and cuss words.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that was in the first two books about Pat Gardiner.

There were two days left until the wedding. Pat was being driven quite mad by the details and last minute problems. Mother, Winnie, and Aunt Barbara did their best to help, but Pat was such a perfectionist she often made it difficult for them. They uttered not one word of complaint, but Mrs. Gardiner drew Hilary aside that morning for a heart to heart. Hilary, who had returned from Vancouver three days before, had been shocked by the change in his bride-to-be and, truthfully, had tried to stay out of her way. She wasn't short or snappish with him, but she had a one track mind and all he could get her to talk about was the wedding. Not being too worried about it himself, he had naturally lost interest and had been spending much of his time with Long Alec and Sid.

He was ecstatic when his future mother-in-law asked him to take Pat for a walk that evening. Preferably a long one. She and Winnie were going to put the finishing touches on the wedding dress and, quite frankly, didn't care to have Pat looking over their shoulders. Mrs. Gardiner also hoped to get some more cooking done. Hilary said he would whisk Pat off that afternoon, leaving more time for her to get things done without being bothered.

The job proved to be more difficult than he had thought. Pat was determined to help her mother and sister with everything. Winnie came into the Bay Shore kitchen just as Hilary asked Pat to go with him for the rest of the day. She left, but curiosity got the better of her and she stayed just beyond the kitchen door. She wanted to know if her little sister could wrap Hilary Gordon around her finger as well as she could wrap their father.

"Come on, Pat. Let's go have a little fun," Hilary pleaded.

"Hilary, I've told you a thousand times. After I finish washing the lunch dishes, I need to start baking again. Then, I'll need to help Mother and Win with my dress. We have to finalize things with the flowers, start decorating the house, get started on thank you letters for the gifts we already received, finalize the RSVP list, .."

Hilary cut off his fiancée's ridiculously long list.

"Pat, we're getting married in two days. There is no way you can do all this yourself. Let your mother and Winnie do some of it. They don't mind. Trust me."

"No, no, no. Hilary, Mother can't be expected to do everything and Winnie has enough to do without dealing with my wedding."

"What about Aunt Barbara? And your Aunt Hazel is coming tomorrow to help. Not to mention your Aunt Jessie and your cousin, Norma. There will be plenty of people here to help you then. Today belongs to me."

"I'm sorry, Hilary, but I just can't spare the time. I'd love to lounge around with you all afternoon, but I can't do it. There's too much to be done. I have a million errands to run and- ."

Hilary lost his temper then and Winnie was proud of him and a little frightened at the same time. Proud because he was standing up to Pat, for her own good, and frightened because she had never heard easygoing Hilary Gordon be so, well, commanding.

"That's it, Pat. I'm tired of hearing what you can and cannot do. You can come with me this afternoon and you will. That's all there is to it. I've waited for you for a lifetime and I won't be denied an afternoon with you now that you're mine. Get a sweater, it may get chilly later on. And then meet me back down here. I will have you all to myself for at least one day before we're married. Weddings may come and weddings may go, but you and I, Pat, are in this for the rest of our lives. We need to concentrate on us for a little while instead of on the wedding."

Winnie held her breath. The silence coming from the kitchen was almost unbearable. Hilary's tone hadn't been mean, but she knew her sister would take offense at some of the things he had said. She listened, waiting for the inevitable fiery retort, but it didn't come. Incredibly, just a few moments after Hilary's speech, Pat came out of the kitchen and went in the direction of the front hall, where the sweaters were kept. Winnie had the presence of mind to grab a nearby duster and appear as though she were innocently cleaning the dining room. When Pat came back, sweater in tow, she didn't miss the angry glint in her sister's brown eyes. She listened intently and then heard the kitchen door slam. Judging from their moods, she wasn't sure which of them had closed it, but she was heartily glad that she wasn't going with them.

Author's Note: I know, I made Hilary into something of a bear in this chapter, but, never fear, all will be amended in the next. My reviewers wanted something about how the wedding plans would affect the two lovebirds, so I drew a little bit on my own experience. Emotions run high during this time and everyone acts ways they normally wouldn't and says things they normally wouldn't. Some more than others. Hilary will apologize bee-yu-tifully and so will Pat. Do not worry. Will update soon.