Page 3 of The Wedding Toast
He huffed out a gruff laugh.“Yeah, I guess that’s what I’m saying too, love.”
“I know.And Iamready.I’m more than ready.I can’t wait.But … are you ready?”
“To walk my little girl down the aisle and give her away?Never.”He chuckled.“But I’ll do it, and I’ll be happy that Jacob’s the man I’m walking you to.I say walking you to him because I’m not giving you away.He’ll come into our family – he already has.He’s not taking you away from us, Becs.”
“You’re right, Dad.He wouldn’t want that – and I wouldn’t allow it.”
“Good, so we’re straight then.What are you doing with your day – where is he?”
“He’s gone over to see Bentley, you know – his best man.”
“Right.I like him.He’s another one I wouldn’t have thought much of till I got to know him, but he’s a good kid – hmm, man I suppose.”
Becca laughed.“You know you’re a snob in your own way, Dad.”
“Aww, don’t talk like that, love.How can I be the snob when they’re the ones who own big companies and make fancy wines?”
Becca laughed.“I just think it goes both ways.You think of snobs as judging you for having less than they do; you judge these guys for having more than you do.”
“Nah, I don’t judge them – I had the wrong expectations about ’em, that’s all.I’m happy to have been proved wrong – you’d never hear a snob say that.”
She laughed.“That’s true.”
“And how do all your fancy new friends feel about you asking Callie to be your bridesmaid?You’ve not created any problems for yourself there, have you?”
“No, it’s worked out really well.If I’d asked one of them it might have been a problem – I’ve known them all since Jacob and I got together, I’m close to them all.But asking one and not the others wouldn’t have felt right.And besides, it was never really an issue.Callie and I promised each other when we were seven that if we got married – no matter how old we were – we’d be each other’s bridesmaids.And you don’t ever want to break a promise you made to a seven-year-old girl.”
Her dad laughed at that.“Oh, believe me, I know, love.I know that even better than you do – you’re talking as a third-grade teacher – I’m talking as a dad.”
“Aww.You know, I don’t think you ever did break a promise you made me.”
Her dad cleared his throat.“Not that I know of, Becs.And not just you – the promises you make to your wife, and your kids are the ones you shape your life around.I think your Jacob knows that – maybe more than most since he lost his folks.And I know the two of you are keen to start your family, so you’d do well to keep it in mind.You make your little ’uns a promise, you keep it.”
“I will – we will.”
“Anyway.I didn’t mean to get into a lecture.I’d best let you get on.”
Becca chuckled.“You mean you’re going to have a little nap before Mom gets back?”
Her dad laughed with her.“Something like that.What are you going to do while Jacob’s out?”
“I’m going to call Callie and check in with her.”Callie was the one person who’d been part of Becca’s old life and was now here in her new one.
“Give her my best then.I’m glad she’s out there with you.I know you have a good life there, but you need your roots too.Anyway, I’ll see you on Monday, love.I’ll let you know what time we’ll be there after I talk to Trick.”
After they ended the call, Becca couldn’t help smiling.She loved that her dad now mentioned talking to Jacob’s pilot, Trick, and flying on his private jet as if it were no more out of the ordinary than riding in a neighbor’s truck.
Chapter Two
Callie frowned when she heard her phone ring.She wanted to ignore it; it had taken her all morning to get out here.Now she was in the shed behind the cabin that housed her wheel and kiln, she wanted to get lost in her own little world.If she answered the call, it would take her back to the real world.
She made a face.She felt guilty enough about the way she’d escaped the real world that used to be her life back home in Kansas.If it was her folks calling, she’d feel worse if she missed them.
Blowing out a sigh, she stepped back out onto the porch outside the shed where she’d left her phone.It was probably a dumb thing to do, but she liked to leave it out here.The shed was her own private sanctuary.No one was welcome inside unless she invited them.And silly as it probably was, that meant she didn’t want to bring most people inside with her, even if they were only on the other end of the phone.
She grinned when she saw Becca’s name on the screen.Picking the phone up, she went back inside the shed as she answered.
“Hey, Becs!How’re you doing?One week to go now.Are you all ready and excited?”
