Chapter 18

He laughed and gave her a hug pointing out that it was their turn to go through the line. After filling their plates they joined George, Grace, and Brandon at the table where they were already eating.

Between bites Grace asked, "Mom do you think we could go dress shopping today after school?"

"Since I need a dress too, I think that sounds like a good idea. I can close the shop a couple of hours early and we can go as soon as you get off school."

"I know I don't have your special touch Cassie, but I could keep the store open those last two hours if you'd like," AJ offered.

"Are you sure you wouldn't mind AJ?" she wanted to know.

"Not at all, and anyone that needs you I can tell them to come back tomorrow morning."

"That sounds perfect AJ. Thank you very much."

"We're going to be a team officially on Saturday but I see no reason not to start early."

"That's a very lovely thought, thank you sweetheart," Cassie responded with a tender smile. She leaned over and kissed his cheek as a reward for his comment.

Moments later Brandon and Grace had to hurry off to work and school so George helped Cassie and AJ clean up after everyone was done eating.

The day at the shop went really well and once again AJ was a bit surprised that a shop as unique as her's could stay so steadily busy. Just a bit after 3:00 Grace breezed into the store, quickly dropped her backpack in the back room and informed her mother she was ready to go!

With a laugh that she could hardly contain Cassie said that yes she was ready too. After giving AJ a good bye kiss she left with her daughter to go dress shopping.

It was only minutes after Cassie and Grace left the shop that the door burst open and Martha Tinsdale came rushing in. "I must see Cassie! She left me a message this morning that she needed to talk to me and I didn't have a moment free until just this moment to come over and see what she needed!"

"I'm afraid you just missed her Mrs. Tinsdale. She and Grace just left. However, I do know what she wanted to talk to you about so if you don't mind talking to me instead I would be happy to tell you what she wanted."

"Well I guess if she trusts you enough to run her shop while she is out shopping then I guess I could talk with you about whatever it was that she wanted from me."

"She has actaully trusted me with more than just her wonderful shop Mrs. Tinsdale. She has trusted me with her heart. I asked Cassie to marry me and she said yes. What she wanted from you was to perform out wedding ceremony," AJ explained.

"I would love to do that for the two of you! And congratulations too! Why don't you have Cassie give me a call when you two set a date and I will rearrange anything I have to do I can do this for you."

"We have already set a date Mrs. Tinsdale and we hope that you will be free to marry us this Saturday evening."

"THIS SATURDAY!" she squeaked.

"Yes Mrs. Tinsdale," AJ chuckled.

"Oh dear please call me Martha!"

"Alright then Martha, are you free Saturday?"

"I was going out to dinner with my husband but we can do that Friday or Sunday instead. I would love to perform the ceremony for you and Cassie! She has done so much for this town and for me that this is the very least I can do for her! Oh! I will have to go shopping for a wodnerful gift for the two of you!"

"That's really not necessary Martha," AJ protested and continued, "Marrying us is more than enough."

"But I want to!" she exclaimed and reached out to put AJ's cheek as she turned for the door. "Toodles for now, I'm sure I will see you again soon!"

Shaking his head he focused on the customer that had just come in. "May I help you with something?" he asked the young blonde woman that was wandering around aimlessly.

To Be Continued…