Page 2 of Sam's Forever
Bren shakes her head, “No, we’ll set something up for my staff, but you’ll not pay for the rooms or the food; that’s my treat. Now, come on, let’s get to your folks and let them know what’s happening.”
Fuck! I love my sister, and I’m grateful she’s found a solution we can work with, and I tell her so. “Thanks, Bren, and congratulations on buying the hotel. I know you’ve had your eye on it for years.”
Bren grins as she wraps her arm around Alec’s, leaning up against him, “I got your back, big bro. Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll get you sorted.” She tugs on Alec’s arm, “Come on, honey, let’s get going before Lexi wakes up.” Turning to us, she tells us, “See you both at the O’Sheas.”
Ally looks relieved and more relaxed. Giving me one more kiss, she climbs back over to her seat and straps in. Putting our vehicle in gear, I check for traffic and pull back onto the road, following behind Bren and Alec.
Taking Ally’s hand, I give it a squeeze, “Better now, beautiful?”
“Yeah,” she gives me a smile, and I can see she is. “I’m better now that we have a plan.”
“Good,” I tell her. “Leave it with me.”
Ten minutes later, we’re driving into her family’s parking. The amount of vehicles is insane.
“Fucking hell,” I mutter. “This is getting ridiculous.”
“It is. It looks like all the aunts are here.”
“Stay there, baby,” I tell her.
Getting out of our vehicle, I walk around to Ally’s door, helping her down. Enfolding her in my arms, I remind her, “You and me, baby, that’s all we need.”
Ally nods against my chest. Giving her one last squeeze, I take her hand, shut the car door, and meet Bren and Alec, who has Lexi in his arms.
We walk towards the veranda and up the steps. I’m not surprised to find Colm sitting there. It seems to be his favourite place. What does surprise me is finding Jeanie with him. I’d thought she’d be in the kitchen where most of the wedding planning seems to be happening.
“Hi, Granda,” Ally bends to kiss her grandfather.
“Milseán,” he pats her hand. Holding out my hand to him, I greet him, “Hi, Colm.”
“Sam,” he shakes my hand, then turns towards Bren, Lexi, and Alec. Holding out his arms, he says, “Give me the baby and go and sort that shitshow out in the kitchen.”
My eyebrows rise at his words, and I look at Jeanie. “I’m staying out here with Granda. I will say, though, Ally, you need to put your foot down. I’m not sure what the hell has got into our normally responsible mother, but she and Abby are going off the rails. If this is what happens, I’m not telling anyone I’m getting married; I’m just going to do it.”
“I agree,” I tell Jeanie. “I’m putting a stop to it today. It’s upsetting Ally, and I’m about done with it.”
Turning to Ally, “Do you want to stay out here or come in with me?”
Ally shakes her head and frowns at me, “We’re a team, Sam. I’m not letting you take on all the responsibility for this. I should have said something sooner but didn’t want to rock the boat.And now that we have a venue and a date, I’ll start being more forceful.”
“You found a venue?” Jeanie wants to know. “I thought you were still looking. The mothers-from-hell were going through a list in there of venues for you to look at next week.”
Ally and I snigger at Jeanie’s description of our mothers. She wasn’t wrong; they’d turned into women we hardly recognised.
“Money bags,” I point at Bren, who laughs, “has bought the Star Hotel and is offering it up for free as long as she can use us as guinea pigs.”
“Damn, Bren,” Jeanie holds up her hand for a high five, “I want to be you when I grow up.”
Once we’d all stopped laughing, Jeanie turns serious, “All jokes aside, that place is beautiful, and it will be perfect once it’s given a facelift. Let me know if you need help with anything, as long as you don’t turn into whatever the hell the mothers have turned into.”
Bren grins, “I promise I won’t. Ally and Sam are going to give me a list of their wants, and we’ll be using that. Now,” Bren claps her hands together, rubbing them, “let’s get this shitshow on the road, go to the pub and plan sensibly, and then Jeanie and I can discuss Ally’s hen party.”
“Sounds perfect,” Jeanie smirks. “Hurry up. I’m about ready for a pint.”
It always amazes me how different the two sisters are personality-wise. Ally is quiet and thoughtful, while Jeanie is loud and has no qualms in telling you her opinion. They may be different, but they are close and always have each other’s backs.
Still holding Ally’s hand, we walk towards the noise in the kitchen. Stopping at the entrance, we listen, and I shake my head.
