Page 65 of Haystacks and Hoaxes

He took it and raised it to his lips, eyes twinkling. “I’msure you’re aware, but your mother-in-law comes with a father-in-law. We’re a package deal.”

“With any luck, the whole lot of you can help keep my sister in line,” Decker announced from the floor, where he was stacking blocks for Gwen to knock over.

Mila pretended to throw something at him, and he pretended to duck.

Unable to dodge the center of attention for long, Johnny chimed in, “I could use a mom, too.”

Mila rolled her eyes. “I thought you had a mom in Wyoming.”

“But Wyoming is so far away,” he whined in a comical voice.

“Come here, you!” In an uncharacteristic show of merriment, Carla Kingston waved him over to her and Chet. “All I’ve ever wanted is this.” Her joyful outburst was muffled against Johnny’s shoulder as he enveloped her in a full cowboy squeeze.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted, too,” Mila murmured, sliding her arms around Rock’s middle.Family. Acceptance. Love.Today had turned out to be so much more than her twenty-fifth birthday. It had also been a day of miracles. A day of dreams coming true.

“Yeah, I know the feeling.” Rock peeked over at Gwen to make sure she was still distracted with her blocks. Then he stole another kiss that wasn’t any less potent for its stealth.

It was cut even shorter by Johnny’s next question as he swung away from Mila’s mother. “I take it you two are getting married on the same day as Gage and Ella?” He shot a questioning look at Rock’s brother. “Due to that childhood promise you made each other.”

Mila blinked at Rock, not understanding.

“Back when they were kids,” Johnny rushed to explain, “they made a pact to marry on the same day.”

Carla Kingston, who was still standing beside him, parted her lips but no sound came out. She’d finally been struck speechless.

Laugher bubbled inside Mila as she shot an accusing glance at Johnny. “If you keep talking, my mom is going to require CPR.” He was entertaining, though. She’d give him that. As she smothered her laugh against Rock’s shoulder, his expression made her grow still.No way!“It’s a true story, isn’t it?”

“We can do this.” Her mother finally found her voice again, albeit a thready version of it. “It’ll take time, but?—”

“How much time?” Johnny demanded, swinging in her direction.

“Johnny!” Mila protested.

He waved her into silence. “Mrs. Kingston, you have no idea how long I’ve waited to boot the Hefner men off the playing field. The rest of us single guys will never stand a chance until they’re good and married.”

More laughter accompanied his claim. Usually, it was impossible to tell if Johnny was being serious, but the fumes of love must have heightened Mila’s sensitivity today. She was pretty sure she detected an underlying note of envy in his impassioned declaration.

Watch out, ladies!Whoever was crazy enough to date a thrill-seeking, attention-hogging jokester like Johnny Cuba was in for one wild ride.

Epilogue

February

The moment Monty Chester was released from the hospital, he started planning his next big holiday function. The posters he printed up and hung around town called it the Festival of Festivals. For the first time in the history of Chester Farm events, however, it didn’t state the theme or the designated charity. Both items had been omitted by Carla Kingston’s special request.

Or royal decree, as he laughingly called it behind her back. And in front of her back. And to everyone else who was in on the secret. What he didn’t know was that the Kingstons and Hefners had reserved his farm as their wedding venue as an excuse to help him rebuild what his nephew, sister, and brother-in-law had destroyed.

Or maybe he did know.

“Thank you again for letting us hijack your victorious return to the stage, sir.” Mila gave a happy twirl in the middle of his newly laid hardwood floor in the living room. Her movements made the white tulle ruffles of her dressfan out around her knees and ankles. She’d been right in her assessment of the dress her sister-in-law had custom designed for her. It made the perfect wedding dress. All it took was a custom designed veil and designer shoes from Modello’s to give it picture perfect finishing touches for her wedding day.

In a twist of pure gold, Chanel had designed a matching gown for Ella Lawton, who was all too happy to wear it. She was somewhere in the house, putting it on right now. Mila was supposed to be helping her, but her mother had chased her off, and Mila was only too happy to let her. Carla Kingston was in her element overseeing their double wedding.

“This isn’t a hijacking, kid. It’s a double wedding that the entire town is eager to celebrate.” Monty Chester ambled her way in his favorite Santa suit to enclose her in a hug. “No one more than me. There’s nothing like a blast of sunshine to chase away the darkness.”

She definitely knew a thing or two about shadows, though hers were fast fading. She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against his velvety shoulder, swallowing a pang of sadness over how badly the suit had hung on his gaunt frame — right up until her mother and Chanel had helped him stuff it with extra pillows.

“You jumped right into the deep end of the pool today,” she mumbled in a voice choked with emotion. “Instead of taking the proper time to rest.”

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