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Initially, Jack just thought Bill Boudreau was trying to keep his third daughter closer to ho what fathers did Later, it would make more sense

"I think I knohat I need to, sir She’s everything I could ever ask for"

Bill sighed "She has her charht, then Best of luck to you, Jack I think you’ll be good for her"

Jack took Hadley to dinner that night at 700 Drayton in the Forsyth mansion, her favorite restaurant Afterward, they walked through the park, and, in front of the fountain, Jack took her hand, knelt down and pulled a little turquoise box from his pocket "Hadley, make me the happiest--"

"Yes! Yes, Jack, yes, let ! Oh, my land, it’s beautiful! Oh, Jack!" She let hier and practically danced in a circle around hi

Originally, Jack was going to give her his iven to hi told hiht just for her, so he’d checked with Faith, then visited Tiffany’s and bought her an elaborate platinu that cost about as et her up to Manningsport, and she was all for it Despite the rushed nature of the wedding, it was a huge affair Hadley had an enore seven, complete with spreadsheets and thousands of pictures on her coements, bouquets, cakes, brides she didn’t need was a gown; she’d bought her wedding dress when she enty-one, she told his were different in the South

Jack learned that at the ripe old age of twenty-seven, Hadley viewed herself as an old ed (or lavaliered, whatever that was) in college The sus, and she’d thought her day would never come When he mentioned he had two uned "Southern women can’t wait to settle down and start a family It’s more of a priority for us"

She beca furious when the caterer didn’t have the right shade of ivory for the napkins Her eyes narrowed at the mention of a cousin who’d "stolen" her idea for a bridal bouquet last summer--everyone knew that Hadley’s heart had always and forever been set on a bouquet of gardenias and bluebonnet, and then That Vanna had gone in and swooped up the idea, and now everyone would compare, and Hadley wanted to be completely unique yet traditional and have the lad to be a guy But as he was one thousand ht her bridezilla antics were kind of cute

"Of course it’s going to be the most beautiful," he said into the phone "Because you’re the bride, baby"

"Oh, Jack! You always knohat to say! But dang it all, I’ to just kill That Vanna when I see her atof parties, there were ement party, for which Jack fleith his father so the parents could meet, and so Jack could meet Hadley’s extended family That had been very nice Southerners really did kno to socialize, and Dad liked Mr and Mrs Boudreau very much There were no fewer than three showers, and Hadley was a little hurt that Jack’s sisters didn’t come to each one There was the bachelorette party, a party the night before the rehearsal dinner, the rehearsal dinner and a brunch for wedding guests the day after the wedding Not today came, which was a relief, because Jack just wanted to beher sweet self and not so was held at her parents’ lovely home, in the vast backyard Hadley had what seemed like thousands of bridesmaids--her three sisters, his three and his niece, her sorority sisters and many cousins, even That Vanna, all clad in pale pink Jack had a couple of friends froe, Connor O’Rourke, a buddy from the navy, and his father as his bestparty he’d ever seen, frankly, and a little e that it was his

But Hadley was radiant and happy, seee, cloudlike dress If she occasionally leveled a steely-eyed gaze at a brideshed too loudly or a kid who spilled juice on a table, well, she just wanted her day to be perfect

Seemed pretty close to Jack It was Southern hospitality at its finest

White-covered tables held elaborate flower arrangements in blue lass bottles of Coke were left at strategic points (Jack had been schooled that Pepsi was viewed as a sin against humanity down here) Mint juleps and neat bourbons were served at the bar, and pitchers of sweet tea instead of water sat on every table There was a groorape leaves The buffet had shririts,cake had twelve layers

"Jesus, would you look at this?" Prudence said, fanning herself "I feel like I’in’ Tara"

The word Southern was tossed around endlessly, as if the guests needed to reood Southern fa, Hadley was such a Southern beauty, what a wonderful Southern tradition, the Southern food was Southern delicious, Barb was such a Southern mama, didja see Bill cry, of course, he’s a Southern daddy, sure is hot, you can count on this Southern weather, oh, look at that beautiful Southern smile!

Jack lost count of the tiht Apparently, the War of Northern Aggression, as it was called down here, was still a sore spot

The dancing went on into the wee hours before Jack could finally carry his bride over the threshold of their suite

Their honey on the beach andwine, opening gifts and talking (a lot) about the wedding Hadley thought it had been ain and again

They flew back to Manhattan for one ht away to break up the travel, and, yes, stayed in one of the posh hotels they’d looked at when they’d just h not the penthouse suite, which caused the briefest pout)

And then, finally, they drove to Manningsport, and Jack felt hireat (if exhausting), the honey forward to Not gettingat ho in his own bed without the unfamiliar sounds of away

And, Jack had to adet back to work, because he loved his job Two solid weeks of not working hadthat so often hung over Crooked Lake, the fields in the randfather, experi to Pops’s traditions, adding his own s by Dad He loved the s vines and reen and purple fruit, the cool damp of the barns and cellars where Blue Heron as stored and aged

But alan

CHAPTER FIVE

ON THURSDAY, WITH a knifelike winter wind slicing off the lake, Jack went into the Cask Room, the stone basement where they stored the oak barrels filled with the red wines of Blue Heron The cool walls, the distinctive s all spoke to the centuries-old art of wine s, he supposed Too little time, and the ouldn’t have the chance to mature and develop all the levels of taste and texture Too much time, and the color would muddy and the flavor would fade